His & Hers Trade Days is celebrating 3 years of being in the community.  Countless miles have been traveled to find treasures for customers.  From the barns of east Texas to the Mississippi River in Iowa David and Charlotte (Morris) Carter have sought to find things that are unique and catch our eye.  They feel blessed to have found goods in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Virginia, Indiana and Iowa. Charlotte said, “A “pick” that comes to my mind was right here in Joaquin, Texas.  We got a lead of an old farm that had been left a few years back and the family was trying to clean it up. There were five out buildings most of which had not been opened in several years.  There we found an old North Judd spur probably from the early 1900’s. We never found the match to it and gave it to the owner who was assisting us. This pick was a lot of primitive handmade items which are not so much valuable for profit as the value in just being able to see the handmade cuts in the wooden tools.   It is our customers that we enjoy as much as our treasures.  We meet people from all over the United States and even other countries.  Our 10’ chicken went to Mississippi and just this last week two of our oil and gas signs went to Ohio.  We capture a lot of traveling folks and many drive at least 2 hours to shop.  In order to keep fresh items in the store David picks 2 – 3 days a week plus we continuously have people bringing stuff in. We are always on the look for antique and vintage items!” Don’t forget to stop by and browse this weekend, April 22-24, and let them know how much we appreciate their business being here.”

On Saturday April 16^th, the DHS Class of 1976 held a 40^th reunion at the home of Tom and Marty (Grumbles) Harris. Everyone enjoyed seeing each other and catching up on life events. Those in attendance from the Diboll/Lufkin area included Donna (Allen) and Larry Jansen, Cindy Grandgeorge, Jimmie Lee (Harris) Porter, Mona (Kilgore) Adams, Shirley (Porter) Smith, Lisa (Grantham) Crager; Dennis Lenderman and wife Karon, Bobby Porter and wife Nelda, Dianne (Parrish) Ulmer and hubby Kurt, Patsy (Rush) Colbert and hubby Bobby. Out of town attendees were Jean (Sheddan) Branton from Farmersville, LA, Delia (Guerrero) Lopez and hubby Gilbert from Pharr, TX. Teachers in attendance were Bettye Greer, Garvis Baldee, Ann (English) Richardson, Mary Ingram, Fran McGilvra and former DHS band director, Judy Ellison from San Antonio. Charlotte Morris-Carter (class of ’77) and hubby David came by. Fajitas were catered by Los Jarritos and one of Fran McClain’s awesome cakes was there for dessert. A prayer was given by Larry Jansen to bless the food and to remember the classmates that are no longer here.

Earl and Joyce Carr traveled with Patsy Weaver and 16 others members of the Huntington Home Town Travelers Club to Louisiana on a chartered bus and spent four nights in Baton Rouge. On the way, the group stopped in DeQuincy and visited a railroad museum. While in Baton Rouge, they toured the state capitol and the Louisiana State Museum. Another day was spent touring two beautiful plantation homes; Houmas House and Oak Valley. This group even took a swamp tour and observed alligators up close and watched a raccoon named “Bonnie” follow them along the bank of the swamp. One day was spent in New Orleans attending a cooking school. They watched as the chef prepared some of Louisiana’s favorite foods that included Cajun Jambalaya, Etouffee, bread pudding and pralines. Everyone was invited to eat and received copies of the recipes. A tour of the French Quarters was seen from a carriage pulled by mules. Earl said he saw sights there that I shouldn’t write about. A native tour guide took them to visit the Mardi Gras House where the huge floats are made and shared Louisiana customs about beads in the oak trees and the story about the Lazarus Fern. On the trip home, the group stopped in Lake Charles and bragged about the po’boy sandwiches at Darrel’s. It was a good but tiring trip for Earl.

Joyce and Earl were also proud to announce their grandson, Jimmy Carr, made the fall 2015 Dean’s List at Angelina College and was inducted into the Upsilon Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and Who’s Who at Angelina College. He and others were recognized at the recent Honors and Awards Ceremony at the Temple Theater. Jimmy’s parents are Ray and Cathie Carr of Pollok.

Keith Dover was tickled to find some obsolete lawn mower blades stored in a back room here that fit his Farm King mower. Keith had searched everywhere, even on E-bay and found it at the Everything Store. He also reported that his dad, Carroll Dover, was coming home the next day after completing successful rehabilitation at Castle Pines. Keith and his brother Gary had already planted his garden with a push planter and promised their dad he could plow it with his tractor. Their mother Ann was tired of the daily trips to town and is extremely happy to get Carroll back home.

Dianne Gibson has celebrated another birthday. Mike treated her a new washer and dryer because he said the old dryer was shrinking his clothes. He also gave her a “walker” to sit on when she got tired of following him and promised her a new water heater in a few days. Dianne is always happy, in a good mood and is definitely a good sport; not many women would appreciate the items she received as “birthday” gifts.

Glen Shivers came in with his son Mike to buy feed and said he was so happy to be able to get off the porch. Glen is doing well after having by-pass surgery. Ira John Williams joined the round table Saturday morning and was in town to carry his mom, Vera Jones, back home with him for her to see the bluebonnets in the Hill Country. It was good to see George White now that he has retired. Saturday morning he and a neighbor of his from Apple Springs, Roy Tullos, unloaded a couple of pretty mules and hitched them to a good looking trail wagon. They waited here and joined about 40 others on a trail ride to the Henderson Expo center promoting the rodeo that will be April 20 – 23^rd.

There will be a very special prom for the seniors at Trinity Mission this Saturday, April 23^rd at 5PM and everyone is invited to come and enjoy this fun occasion.

Enjoy your week and come see us…’round the table.

 

 

 

The Diboll Business Association is sponsoring a Ribbon Cutting today at 4:30, Thursday April 14^th, at Miss McGillicuddy’s in Diboll. The shop is located in the building formally occupied by Simple Simon’s on Highway 59 (Temple Dr.) The owner of this unique shop is Mandy (Smith) Foley and the public is cordially invited to attend and welcome this new business to Diboll.

Pam Burnette and four Methodist churches, Burke, Diboll, Ryan Chapel and St. Paul’s are planning another “Tea Cake” ministry. Volunteers from these four churches take orders and bake tea cakes to sell and give the money to people in need. This time, it’s close to my heart because it is for Jessica Pouland who has lived with Cystic Fibrosis for all of her 25 years. She is the wife of my grandson Brandal and the mother of our first precious great-granddaughter, Addison Grace, who shares my birthday (she will be five on May 8 and my age is unimportant.) Anyway, Jessica is on a waiting list for a double lung transplant. The money made from selling tea cakes will be used after the transplant for extra expenses of having to live near the hospital for several weeks. The tea cakes are $5 a dozen and will be baked April 18-22. To place an order call Pam Burnette at 829-4631 or Diboll First Methodist Church at 829-4470 and Pam is always looking for people to help bake. May God continue to bless this special ministry.

It’s not hard to imagine that it takes a good golf outing to get Jim McClain to come back to Diboll to visit in his hometown. When he did this past weekend he brought three guys with him that love to play golf as much as he does. One of them was Mike Hicks who has been the golf pro at Pine Forest Golf Club in Bastrop for 2-1/2 years. Before that he was the golf pro at Baylor for 8 years and has also been at The Links at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso, NM; Ventana Canyon in Tucson, AZ and White Bluff Resort on Lake Whitney, TX. Mike loves golf but he was quick to let me know his passion is singing. He graduated in Music Education from Texas Tech University and enjoys singing in the praise band and sanctuary choir at First Methodist church in Bastrop where he recently had a solo in their Easter cantata, Living Hope.

Dr. “D.C.” Jason Trowbridge, Chiropractor has lived in Bastrop for the last 10 years. He met Jim while playing golf at Pine Forest Golf Club. I believe he was from San Angelo but while living in Atlanta GA attended the Masters Tournament every year from 1998 until 2001.

Don Lafayette, another golfer that came in with Jim, lives in Austin where he works for Premier Property Marketing Group what time he isn’t playing golf at Colovista Golf Club, a beautiful Texas Hill Country course. Don said he got his love of golfing playing on the Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin which was constructed by the Lions Clubs in 1928.

Lions Club International is starting a new chapter in Diboll. It’s not too late to become a charter member along with the 55 others of us who have committed to joining. Gary Gores is the president; Martha Chacon is treasurer; Marcy Boren is secretary and Jonathan Terrell is membership chairman. Other officers include Bobby Cheshire, Tracy and Jason Nicols, Sarah Thompson, Jan Wilkerson, Richard Nelson, Justin Barkley and John Ralph was elected “Tail Twister”. Contact any of these if you are interested in becoming a charter member of the Diboll Area Lions Club.

The Diboll PTSA is looking for sponsors for something new, GRAD Run 2016, a One mile fun run at the Diboll ISD track with different age groups. The last run will be just for 2016 graduating seniors who will be cheered on by spectators lining the track and a special surprise for them at the end. This event will be May 26^th from 6 to 8PM and will benefit kids and teachers too! If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Crystal Williams at 635 6607 or email her at crystal@mcwilliamsandson.com.

Lots of folks have been coming in for garden seeds, plants, fertilizer and potting soil. We have a good selection of bulk seeds and fresh bedding plants. Veteran gardeners deciding on what to plant included Keith Spencer, Fred Flournoy, Kenneth Capps, Charlie Mann, Marvin and Mae McKnight and many others. Donnie Jenkins came in excited about have a small raised bed on the patio and decided on tomatoes, okra and plants that were blooming.

Fran McClain came in for Colorado pinto beans and chow chow to take with her to the hill country to visit former Dibollians, Linda and Bill Fulmer in their beautiful home outside of Kerrville. Linda stills says she misses the people in Diboll.      Jake Havard was buying mixing oil to go in his trimmer. He said he trims the weeds for exercise!

The Pineywoods Beekeepers Association is sponsoring their 11^th course that includes “hands-on” management skills and the option to acquire your own honey bee colony. The course involves three Saturdays, April 23 and April 30 from 10AM until 5PM at the AgriLife Extension Service in Lufkin and on May 21 at the association’s bee yard in Moffett. The price is $60. For more information call 936-632-2272 where you can also learn about the opportunity for youth, ages 12-19, to receive bee school training and mentoring from a PBA member. Applications are also available online at pineywoodsbeekeepers@gmail.com

There is still enough time to purchase a ticket to the Huntington Garden Club’s Scholarship Tea Party, April 23^rd at 3PM in the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Admission is $15 and includes assorted delicate sandwiches, quiches, desserts and teas on beautifully decorated tables. There will be entertainment, door prizes and a silent auction. Call Othal Lowery for tickets and more information 422-5459

The Diboll ISD National Honor Society left a box here at Pouland’s to collect gently used and new children’s shoes. Please remember to help them with this worthy project.

Hummingbirds are arriving, we have some really beautiful and unique feeders as well as the nectar, so don’t forget to

Come see us…’round the table.

 

 

 

 

 

Mark and Donna Rivers had an exciting Easter gathering of 77 people at their home in Beulah. This is the 21^st year they have been having this family gathering. There are nine brothers and sisters in Mark’s family and eight in Donna’s. They came from Houston, Rusk, Madisonville, Alexandreria, LA and Diboll to enjoy good food and fellowship. Mark and Donna provided the brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken and hamburgers and everyone else brought a covered dish in an Easter basket. There was more than 300 candy-filled eggs to hunt, two piñatas to break while others pitched washers or horseshoes. It was a good day.

Bettye Greer and Garvis Baldree enjoyed seeing fields of Dutch tulips in Texas. Texas-Tulips is located at Pilot Point close to the DFW area. You’ll never believe this Texas farm is a result of the TV show, Dallas. The story of the farm begins 40 years ago and more than 5,000 miles away in Holland. Pieter Koeman, owner of Texas-Tulips said, “Every Friday night (in Holland) we would sit with my mom, dad and sisters and I thought to myself, when I grow up I want to live there.” At that time his family grew millions of brightly-colored tulips for the flower auctions in the Netherlands. After his father died, the family decided to change their course. Four years ago they visited Texas for the first time and after miles of searching, Texas Tulips was born in an old peanut field in the heart of horse country between Aubrey and Pilot Point. Check out their website at Texas-Tulips.com

“Congratulations” is not politically correct to say to someone getting married, so “Best Wishes” to Kevin Carter and Rhonda Flowers who were married in a private ceremony on Rhonda’s grandfather’s birthday. Her grandparents are Arthur and Mary Ricks. Some may remember Mr. Ricks who worked for Montgomery Ward after retiring from the Texas Foundry. Mr. Ricks gave his wife Mary a beautiful diamond ring on their 25^th wedding anniversary. That special ring was passed on to Rhonda and is now her wedding ring. The wedding was in Pennington and their close friend, Dennis Ivey, performed the ceremony. Kevin Carter and Dennis Ivey are well known names in the music world. Kevin has “fiddled” with several popular singers and bands including Gene Watson, Johnny Bush and Darrell McCall, dueled with ‘lit Red Hayes and has been inducted into the Western Swing Music Society. The wedding reception will be at a later date with lots of talented musicians some of whom will be Landon Dodd, Bryan Harkness, Glenn Lenderman, Steve Nelson, Dennis Ivey and others. After the party is over and things settle down, Kevin and Rhonda look forward to living in their “barndomium” on their land in Evergreen.

It was good to visit with Cody Bettes who taught Ag at DHS for a while before managing ranch properties and putting into practice some of the Ag principles he once taught. Cody is now married to his Ag Teacher wife, Brittney, who teaches in the Central ISD. They have two children, Lila and Rory. Eddie and Carolyn Smith came in for more seeds to feed their birds. A couple of hummingbirds have been spotted in the area so it’s time to put out the feeders. Andrea has some beautiful red and blue glass- bottle hummingbird feeders and of course, the concentrated feed they love. Judy Hale enjoyed looking over our selection of garden plants and decided which ones she needed. Leonard Robison is trying a new style of gardening this year that he saw on TV using pallets and says his garden is “looking good”. I’ve already turned in my order for tomatoes. Jack and Donnie Jenkins came in to get new fishing licenses and also bought apricot jelly. Ima Weisinger and Jane Horn couldn’t resist planting caladiums. Bobby Cheshire was in buying lime to put in his garden. Rhonda and Mike Shivers bought vegetable bedding plants after having raised broccoli, cilantro and Brussel sprouts.

Shirley Ivey accepted the invitation to spend a week in Branson when her son, Brad, was unable to go with his family. Shirley traveled with her daughter-in-law Tabitha Ivey who lives in Many, LA and her grandchildren: Dylan and his cousin Carter; Breeanne and Paige. On the way, besides stopping at bakeries they spent time in Hot Springs visiting and attending church services with friends that Shirley and Lewis met when they lived there. Their accommodations in Branson was a beautiful condo. The group was thoroughly entertained at Dolly Parten’s Dixie Stampede where guests are seated in a rodeo-like arena with long tables and served a full course meal of soup, biscuits, pork loin, a Cornish hen, corn on cob and an apple turnover for dessert; everything except eating utensils. It’s hard to imagine but they all successfully managed the task of eating.  At the Sight and Sound Theater, the entire group was amazed at seeing the Old Testament come to life in the biblical epic of MOSES with the parting of the Red Sea, the Burning Bush, the Plagues, the Ten Commandments; it was hard to describe except “wonderful”.  Another day was spent at the Bass Pro Shop eating at their restaurant over the water on Table Rock Lake. Shirley was disappointed she couldn’t convince anyone to zip line with her. The group also enjoyed Mel’s Hard Luck Diner where wait staff sings to you; attending Easter services with good gospel singing; visiting the home of Laura Ingle Wilder; Silver Dollar City and Legends with Johnny Cash Tina Turner, Blues Brothers, Elvis and Michael Jackson. Shirley wasn’t ready to come home and could have stayed and seen more shows.

Othal Lowery made a special trip to the round table to tell us about the Huntington Garden Club’s Scholarship Tea Party. This special event will be held at the First Baptist Church’s Family Life Center in Huntington, April 23 at 3PM. The $15 admission fee includes assorted finger sandwiches, quiches, desserts and teas on beautifully decorated table. The entertainment will be provided by “Strings of Grace” and there will be door prizes and a silent auction. To make it more fun, “tea party” attire and hats are encouraged but not required. The proceeds will benefit their scholarship fund.

If you haven’t had the chance to help support Ryan’s Chapel Church’s Rebuilding Fund, you can send your donations to Shirley Terrell, 1410 N. Hendrix Street, Diboll, 75941. Members had a ground breaking ceremony last Sunday afternoon and are getting close to starting construction on the site where the historical landmark burned about a year ago.

Attention to all who enjoy running. The Livingston High School Alumni Association is having a Green/White 5K Fun Run/Walk, Saturday April 16, 8 AM at Livingston High School. The proceeds will benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund. For more information, call Patricia Snook, 936-328-0128

Enjoy your week and come see us…’round the table.