May 19, 2007

Normally we work on Saturday, but we didn't have to today since Rick had to be here anyway. We decided to go for a drive and see some of the country around the Mason area that we had not seen. Every drive that you make around here is pretty with wildflowers, streams and hills. Everything is especially nice this year since the rains and cool temperatures have made everything green. The prickly pears are blooming. The locals say that this is unusual weather for this time of year. It must be global warming.

After driving a good distance, we found ourselves in a little town named Doss. It is about twenty miles from where we are camped located in a beautiful area called Doss Valley. There was a Lutheren Church, a grocery store, the school and little else. A few people were gathered around the school grounds and it looked liked like they were having some kind of event. We parked and talked to some adults and kids and found out that they were having their end-of-school event. The 4H club was having a bake sale and we bought a nice looking lemon bundt cake.

We learned that the little school had 21 students in grades K through 8 with two teachers and two aides. They were surprised to have outsiders visit them so we had a good time talking to the kids and their parents. Several men were smoking barbeque on some huge pits behind the school. We bought some of the barbeque to take home since we had already eaten lunch. They told us that the school kids were putting on plays starting at 7:00 that evening. Since it was about 3:00 then, we decided to go home and come back for the plays.

We went back for the plays and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Before the plays started, we bought some more of the barbeque since it was so good. I think that all 21 kids participated in the plays and skits. They were divided into what was refered to as "the small room" and "the big room". There were two skits by two younger groups and a three-act play by "the big room". They evidently worked hard in preparation and did a really good job. Between each skit and act they drew raffle tickets for variety of prizes. Emily bought six tickets. We don't ever win drawings, but since the top prize was a new Toro riding mower, I figured that we would probably win that (we didn't).

After the entertainment, they announced that the remaining barbeque would be sold for half price. I had paid full price for ours, but figured that was okay since it was for a good cause. When I bought the barbeque, they sacked it up and left it inside the smoker to keep it warm until we were ready to leave. I picked up our sack and was going to the truck when the guy doing the cooking met me and asked if I put some extra meat in the bag. I told him no and he made me go back and get more. We now have our freezer full.

Remember to visit Doss, Texas if you are in the area.