COUNTY LIFE
By BARBARA GREEN
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Home is where your story begins. You may travel far and wide, but there is always a tether to the place you were born and raised, especially if it is a place you love.
William “Billy” Nabours was 21 when he left his family farm in Montague to serve in the Air Force during World War II, and while he never really came back home to make his life he always anchored himself here with family and his love of the small hamlet.
Billy was 17 years old before his youngest brother, Jack was born, but through the years they became and remain close. In more recent times brother Jack has been able to learn more about his family thanks to the tales Billy has shared through his letters. Jack took some of that information, along with other family stories and wrote a book in 2016, “The Way it Was,” about growing up in rural Texas.
On Sept. 18 Billy celebrates his 100th birthday and while he lives in Dallas with his daughter, the link to his only remaining sibling has been reinforced by those hand-written messages. Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will only be a small family party.
You all remember letters? Words put to paper to share a story or ask a question. In today’s digital era, the written word has been somewhat lost. Billy has kept it alive scratching a few lines on a note pad or filling sheets of legal paper with his memories and his reflections.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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