When driving down Hwy. 185 and 15th, you might see Mr. Dan Raby working in his garden. He first planted corn this year, which reminded me of the movie “Field of Dreams”, but with the drought this year, he has had to do a lot of watering to get anything to produce. Maybe next season will be better.  Mrs. Joyce Raby does most of the picking and preparing of the harvest.

Photo by La June Pitonyak

A very special lady suggested I read a book named The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, whose background is extremely interesting. The book is set in two places in Virginia during the colonial period from 1791 to the early 1800’s in both rural Virginia and Williamsburg, the previous capitol. The kitchen house was exactly that, the outlying building in which the meals were prepared for the ‘big house’. The captain of an ocean-going ship and owner of Tall Pines, the Virginia plantation, arrives at home following a voyage from Ireland in 1791, bringing with him a small 7 year old Irish girl. Lavinia is the young girl and she has been orphaned on the sea trip from Ireland. The captain then places Lavinia in the care of Belle, his illegitimate half Negro daughter. Belle is in charge of the kitchen house and there Lavinia stays for several years until she is taken to the ‘big house’ to help with the care of the Mistress.

Growing up, one hears and learns of the power that the Master of the plantation had over his slaves, a life or death matter. And the death could be decided by a whim or a lie from another white person. The book brings out this power and amplifies it to its end. An extremely well written book, the author speaks of her discovery of an old map during the restoration of an old plantation tavern in rural Virginia. On it was an area labeled “Negro Hill” and the author then decided to learn what possible tragedy this meant. After much research concerning the area and the lives of the resident slaves, the book came into being.

David Baldacci’s newest The Sixth Man has an opening that is definitely different from those of the usual books he writes. The first scene shows a man seated before an enormous wall screen constantly changing with data flowing across the screen. He also has earphones attached to his head that forward more data. Pleading for the never ending attack on his intellectual capacity to stop, he is then led from the room to a waiting vehicle where he is murdered by the inhabitants. Skipping several months Baldacci returns previous characters Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, former Secret Service agents, to the plot when they discover the body of an attorney, Ted Bergin, on a country road in Maine. And the plot continues from there, running back and forth to the ambitious Homeland Security secretary to a Federal maximum security prison for insane criminals.

As usual, Baldacci’s plot draws you in while it drops unbelievable hints along the way, all misleading. The climax and ending will, of course, surprise.

Sharon Sala is a new writer to us of a donated book, which is listed as romantic suspense by the publisher, but there seems to be very little romance in it. Suspense, yes. Entitled Missing, a returning soldier from Iraq and Afghanistan goes to Fort Benning, Georgia, following his release from a POW camp. When an explosion levels the commissary and his wife and 6 year old son are killed, Colonel Wes Holden of Special Ops leaves for parts unknown and soon finds himself walking down a mountainous country road in Blue Creek, West Virginia. There he finds himself becoming a resident in a small house, a member of the community and a neighbor to both Granny Devon, the local “seerer”, as well as Ally Monroe, her father and two brothers. And frightening circumstances, involving both neighbors and a strange scientist develop. Easy to read book and the plot flows well.

We have a number of books, both hard cover and soft cover, available for sale at the prices of $1.00 for hardcover and $0.25 for the soft. They make excellent companions when you go on a trip and don’t want to worry about a due date from our Library. Do come and check them out! You won’t be disappointed.

“When an old person dies, a Library burns down.” -Karin Gillespie

July 22: Patrick Overton; Jayson Amason

July 23: L’Roy Bell Jr.

July 24: Jose Chavez; John Spears; Lyla Kallus

July 25: Lucas Taylor; Chase Amason; Chelsea Whitehead; Linda Marie Carrera; Pastor Carrera

July 26: Eloisa Newsome; Monica Torres; Manuel P. Sandoval

July 27: Marie Richter; Andrew Ureste; Katie Redding; Pam Weathersby; Rachel Watts

July 28: Phillip Lewis; Glynis Spencer; Rudy Covarrubias

July 29: Johnny Rhyne; Joel Kelly; Michelle Ureste

July 31: Angelica Villarreal; Donna Maxwell Ovens

August 1: Lisa McLean; Iris Garcia; Amber Ziechang; Parker Luna

August 2: Adolfo Covarrubias Jr.; Elliott Bakey

August 3: Cherice Apostalo; Mary Christy

August 4: Michael Anthony Luna

August 5: Scott Gayle; Ronnie Carriles

August 6: Collin Haynes; Jamie Harper

August 7: James Lively; Samuel Uresti; Adriana Carriles; Kamryn R. Chandler

August 8: Andy Vuichard; Bianca Locke

August 9: Barbara Crouch

August 10: Robert Lopez; Nick Cockrell; Kiara Akoon; Lauren Weatherly; Charlotte Romine; Brandon Sparks

August 12: James Overton; Sophie Perry; Martin Martinez; Mario Rodriguez

DiMaggio

This is a rare pose for DiMaggio as this young guy is “energy plus.” But he’s a puppy, about 10 months old, and that comes with the territory. Lanky and lean with some greyhound in him, he bounces around having a great time, always with a big grin on his face. He’s really a beautiful fella, and gets a lot of compliments. You can’t help but be happy when DiMaggio is around.

Three little kittens…Well, there were until Brother Salem (far left) was adopted recently. Sister Zoe in the middle is a picture perfect Seal Point Siamese with all dark points and feet. Sister Princess, aka “Hot Lips”, has white feet, lips and chin. About 4 months old, they will have those blue eyes forever as well as lots of that distinctive Siamese personality and, of course beauty.  Come see the kittens and DiMaggio and all the other animals at the Port Lavaca Animal Shelter, 201 Stringham Drive (across from the rodeo arena), Monday through Saturday, 10 to 2, or call the Calhoun County Humane Society, 553-8916. You can also view them and other animals ready for adoption on line at www.calhouncountyhumanesociety.org
Thanks and we’ll be waiting for you!

I’ve traveled paths you’ve yet to walk
Learned lessons old and new
And now this wisdom of my life
I’m blessed to share with you.

Let kindness spread like sunshine
Embrace those who are sad
Respect their dignity, give them joy
And leave them feeling glad.

Forgive those who might hurt you
And though you have your pride
Listen closely to their viewpoint
Try to see the other side.

Walk softly when you’re angry
Try not to take offense
Invoke your sense of humor
Laughter’s power is immense!

Express what you are feeling.
Your beliefs you should uphold
Don’t shy away from what is right
Be courageous and be bold.

Keep hope right in your pocket
It will guide you day by day
Take it out when it is needed
When it’s near, you’ll find a way.

Remember friends and family
Of which you are a precious part
Love deeply and love truly
Give freely from your heart.

The world is far from perfect
There’s conflict and there’s strife
But you still can make a difference
By how you live your life.

And so I’m very blessed to know
The wonder you will do
Because you are my grandchildren
And I believe in you.