Friday, July 29, 2011

Leyland Wilson honored

They had their big annual dinner at the Agriculture and Vocational College last night.  Leyland Wilson was honored with the poultry science achievement of the year award for developing a new breed of rooster, much to the delight of many hens in the area.  Sarah thought it was bad form to serve chicken.
Floyd got home early from his Homeland Security Committee meeting.  They were supposed to review their Ready Alert program, but they had to postpone it until someone can find the key to the supply closet.
I got a letter from Aunt Lucy today.  My grandson Ryan brought the mail when he came to visit, but he got distracted and ripped the envelope on the barbed wire fence.  We lost the third page, so I'm not sure why Uncle Jake is in jail.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Film festival opens

There was a nice ceremony at the ballfield last night to dedicate the new outhouse.  The evening ended on a down note, though as the Mudder Cluckers dropped another game, along with most of the pop flies.
The Hoake's Mill Film Festival opens tonight.  It will feature a new film by Daryl Hucks' son Jimmy "The Fish of Jumping Branch Lake" and videos of Darlene and Jack Rodgers' trip to the Grand Canyon.
Our youngest son Wayne is back on the dating market.  Jamie, the new second shift waitress at the Main Street Cafe on Poplar Street, must be interested because she brought him extra napkins with his lunch today.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Monday, July 25, 2011

Meeting postponed

My friend Darlene hosted a surprise stork shower last night for her daughter Dinah.  The most surprised person was Dinah's husband.  She's been so busy getting her students ready for their dance recital that she hadn't gotten around to telling him she was expecting again.
The art museum at the library will be closed this week.  The children's librarian got married over the weekend and left for his honeymoon, but he forgot to leave the key to the closet where they keep the good pictures.
The Once-A-Week Club had to postpone its monthly meeting.  My sister Elaine was to host, but her cucumber crop came in and she'll be pickling that day.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Friday, July 22, 2011

Heat wave

Like much of the country, it's been a bit warm here the past few days.  It caused some difficulty at the Morning Club's meeting yesterday afternoon.  The guest speaker was an ice sculptor.  The a/c in the meeting room wasn't working too well, so his planned sculpture of an bald eagle looked more like a sparrow.
Everyone's looking forward to the big grand opening of Charlotte Hunnicutt's new antique shop on Poplar Street this weekend.  The high school band is going to take advantage of the expected large turnout by selling doughnuts to raise money for the tuba fund.
The Convention and Tourism Bureau is hosting a fancy dinner at the high school on Saturday.  The home economics students from Plantsburg Agriculture and Vocational College are preparing the meal.  We understand they have made wonderful progress since the Jaycees dinner, so they should be able to get through the evening without bothering the fire department.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

New feature at the funeral home

Floyd said that Leyland Wilson came into the hardware store today to buy a new smoke alarm for his house.  Sarah said it was a waste of money because if it went off during the night she would never be able to hear it over Leyland's snoring.
Our daughter Alice saw an old movie on TV last week and in one scene the female star was wearing a beautiful long, flowing diaphanous negligee.  Alice decided to get one for some fun on her and Peter's anniversary.  It was going well until she tripped on the hem and landed in the potted fern.
E.J. Greenwood had a nice article in this week's newspaper about the new digital visitors' book at the funeral home.  Floyd's brother Harper thinks it is a terrible idea.  He said that pretty soon folks will just tweet their condolences.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Monday, July 18, 2011

Class reunion

We had our annual class reunion party at the high school Saturday night.  There was some excitement when Jess Smith wandered into the ladies' powder room by mistake.  Darlene Rodgers wasn't sure it really was a mistake since he did the same thing at the graduation dance 43 years ago.
Cleve and Charlotte Hunnicutt attended their niece's wedding this past weekend.  The reception was catered by the coffee shop at the motel on the edge of town. Charlotte was a bit taken aback when people started doing something called the chicken dance.  She said that her parents raised chickens for 50 years and she knows those people were doing it wrong.
My sister-in-law Vicky just called with big news.  She's been having to go to the laundromat since her washer flooded her laundry room.  Today she found out that they've put in a TV so now she won't miss Divorce Court while she's folding the clothes.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Friday, July 15, 2011

Scandal at the Main Street Cafe on Poplar Street

Gayle Mosely has put a lot of effort into her rose garden this year and we all thought she would win the Hi Hoe Garden Club's Garden of the Year award.  Tragically, the day the judges came she had overlooked a spent bloom on her stunning "Mister Lincoln."  Gayle is maintaining a low profile for a few days.
Big news from Mavis down to the beauty shop.  One of the girls who waitresses at the Main Street Cafe on Poplar Street just had her husband run off with his lover, Harold.  The poor girl was so upset that she had to take a few days off work, and went camping with her boyfriend. 
Cleve Hunnicutt and my brother Billy Ray played golf today up at Jumping Branch Lake.  Billy Ray reported that Cleve spent most of the time in the woods looking for his golf ball.  Cleve claimed it was simply cooler in the shade.  
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Play ball!

The community talent show was a huge success.  So many talented people.  The winner was Dr. Bruckner's niece, who performed a stunning rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" on the bass drum.  She's a lovely girl.
My niece Sandy (Boyce and Barbara's oldest) was over this morning with her daughter to pick some flowers.  Hers aren't doing too well.  Barbara claims she must have overwatered them because her other children's flowers look fine, but when both of your parents are teachers your entire life is graded on a curve.
My brother-in-law Harper's grandson started playing Little League this summer and we went to his game yesterday afternoon.  Bill Mudder generously agreed to sponsor the team to promote his chicken farm, so they're proudly wearing Mudder Cluckers uniforms.  They lost 8-2.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Monday, July 11, 2011

Snake!

There was some excitement over to the Wilsons' house today.  Sarah found a snake in her garden watering bucket.  Leyland flailed away with his cane until he killed it.  You can barely notice the lump he left on Sarah's head.
Last night the town council appropriated money to put a second bathroom in the jail.  It will save a lot of time for Chief Wilkins who several times has had to send a deputy to re-get somebody who wandered off while going over to the gas station to use the facilities.
The annual Hoake's Mill Talent Show will be held tomorrow night in the high school auditorium.  I hear they have quite a line-up of performers.  I'm afraid we won't be able to attend, but E.J. Greenwood has promised that it will be covered live by the newspaper.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mills.
Love,
Caroline



Friday, July 8, 2011

Post office re-opened

Our dear friend Darlene Rodgers won the peach pie baking competition sponsored by the Hoake's Mill Ladies Club yesterday.  Gayle Mosely was a bit miffed that she was disqualified after Chief Wilkins helped himself to an extra big slice and didn't leave enough for the rest of the judges to taste.
My sister-in-law Barbara's niece and her new husband just returned from their honeymoon trip to Mexico.  She said they saw lots of goats just like they raise at home but couldn't understand them because they bleated in Spanish.
The repairs at the post office are finished.  We all appreciated Cleve Hunnicutt giving up space at his store for mail distribution during the construction.  My sister Elaine thought it worked fairly well, except that she got some unusual stares walking out of the feed and garden store with her packages from Victoria's Secret.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

What a weekend

We had 78 people here Sunday for the Crowder family reunion.  When I cleaned up I discovered several platters and casserole dishes that people left behind, two jackets, a pair of pants and one child.  He looks like a Crowder.  I'm sure someone will be over to claim him in a few days.  I am a bit curious about who left without their pants.
There was a big turnout for the annual 4th of July fishing tournament and fish fry up to Jumping Branch Lake.  It was a lovely event although the meal was delayed while they made an emergency run to the grocery store for some hot dogs and hamburgers after Daryl Hucks accidentally overturned the boat carrying the morning's catch.
Everyone gathered Monday night for the Independence Day concert and fireworks at the fairgrounds.  The community orchestra played selections by Irving Berlin, John Phillip Sousa and Conway Twitty.  The budget for fireworks was cut back severely this year, but mot people brought their own sparklers so it looked really pretty.
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.
Love,
Caroline

Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy 4th of July!

I don't have much time today because we're all so busy preparing for the big Independence Day weekend events.  The new junior high school band has been practicing for the 4th of July parade tomorrow.  It will be their first public performance and their parents are so pleased.  They should really be something when they all get instruments.  
I talked to my sister Elaine today.  She said that general sessions court was cancelled so Judge could get ready for the Jumping Branch Lake fishing tournament this weekend.  He is determined not to be outfished this year by anyone he sent to prison before.
I must cut this short and go check to see what Bryan and Ryan are blowing up in the backyard.  I hope it isn't another chicken.    
And that's what's happening in Hoake's Mill.  Have a safe and happy holiday.
Love, Caroline