Hot Time in the Old Town

What an unusual autumn we are having here in San Angelo. In the past week, we have set several new records for high temperatures. Each day, we seem to creep over that 90 degree mark, and our nights are only getting down to the upper 60s. But a cool front will start working its way through tomorrow, and we should enjoy more seasonal weather soon.

I've mentioned before that I'm something of a genealogist. Back in June 2013, I wrote an entry called "Digging Up Bones" in which I detailed some of my favorite online tools. I recently submitted a DNA test, which led to my making contact with a before-unknown cousin on my mother's side of the family. This lady has even written a wonderful book on our families. I've been reading through it lately.

I've used Family Search and Find a Grave extensively over the years, so I've been trying to give back lately. In recent months, I've volunteered for transcription projects with Family Search, and this week I've started trying to help folks who have requested pictures of tombstones of family members through Find a Grave. I printed a list of photo requests for our largest local cemetery -- Fairmont -- and then printed a map showing the blocks of the large cemetery. Donna and I went out this afternoon and could not find a single grave listed on the requests. I guess the locations on Find a Grave did not match the map. Well, perhaps I need to start with something smaller. I'm looking at some of the smaller cemeteries in the area, and I'll try one of those later this week or in the near future.

We have really enjoyed the wildlife in our neighborhood lately. We see turkeys everyday that we drive through the neighborhood. Each night, we set out just before dark and watch a parade of deer wander through our back yard. When I woke this morning, 2 does were bedded down just beyond our back patio. On my walk this morning, I encountered deer on at least 3 occasions. We do enjoy watching the wildlife out here.

We have a new H.E.B. store less than a mile from our home. We really like H.E.B. We had hoped this would be one of their super stores, but it isn't. It is a very nice store, but not that much different from the old store that has been here for years. Still, it's nice to have an H.E.B. so close. In an age when there are very few locally owned grocery stores, we try to shop as much as possible at H.E.B. since it is at least a Texas-owned company.