The week between

By Lynette Sowell   It’s that in-between time of year, when the weight of the previous months has piled up behind us. Most ofthe time, I like the  idea of hibernating and doing nothing for that final week. It’s quieter, for one thing. Businesses slow down, some even close for abreak.

Comfort and Joy

by Renae Brumbaugh   This year, I have decided not to make any New Year’s Resolutions. I’m going to make brownies instead. After all, studies have shown that only about 12% of people actually achieve their New Year’s goals. Eighty-eight percent of us fail. So, with those statistics, why bother?

Austinites eat Christmas dinner at the Driskill

by Bartee Hailie   Citizens of the capital city with the cash and connections ate Christmas dinner at the brand-new Driskill Hotel on Dec. 25, 1886. Even though the population had more than doubled over the past dozen or so years, less than 15,000 people lived in Austin in the early 1880’s.

Time to make some soup

By Lynette Sowell   There’s an old folk tale called “Stone Soup,” and you might be familiar with it. It goes something like this: A hungry stranger comes to a village, asking to be fed, but the villagers tell him they have nothing and turn him away.

New Year’s Eve with amateur drunks

By Willis Webb   When someone asks me what I’m going to do on New Year’s Eve, I usually tell them I’m going to be athome in my comfortable  recliner watching something representative of the holiday, most likely a football game.

Comfort and Joy

By Renae Brumbaugh   My dog, Moses, is all about the Christmas spirit. Oh, not the giving part . . . he’s pretty broke. And considering the last time he tried to give me a gift, two of my chickens ended up dead, let’s just say he’s off the hook for Christmas shopping. It’s all good.

Christmas at the Battle of the Bulge

By Rich Lowry   “Sir, this is Patton talking ... You have just got to make up Your mind whose side You’re on. You must come to my assistance, so that I may dispatch the entire German Army as a birthday present to your Prince of Peace ...” -- Prayer of Gen. George S. Patton, Dec.

The naughty and/or nice list

By Lynette Sowell   Just one sight of the man in the red suit and white beard can strike fear into the most ornery of younglings, during the days leading up until Christmas. Even doubters at that “I’m too old to believe in Santa” age don’t want to hedge their bets at this late in the game.

Way yew pernounce words yew must be frum…

By Willis Webb   Texas’ regional accents are a source of fascination. Trying to study them is difficult, probably even for an English professor. If you’ve read my missives more than occasionally, you know I love Texas, I love Texans and I love Texas lingo.

New Spark

By Renae Brumbaugh   A few years ago, my kids got a surprise the week before Christmas. A go-cart. Yellow and black, with two large headlights. It looked like a bumblebee. Their dad and I took turns test-driving it. For safety purposes, you know.