If there is one thing Texans of all cultures, colors and communities have in common, it’s moving. According to the Texas Demographic Center, about a million Texans move between counties each year, which is a larger number than the number of folks who move from out-of-state to Texas.

Comparative Religions Never talk about politics or religion. You have probably heard that all your life.

Rustic Ramblings I’ve honed procrastination to a fine art --- at least in some areas. My kids make fun of my endless to-do lists and large calendar.

The City of Clifton Main Street invites you and yours to Historic Downtown Clifton for the 21st annual FallFest on Saturday, Oct. 15.

I’ve come down with a cold. I was germ phobic even before COVID. Long ago eschewing obligatory handshakes, I avoided viruses for years -long before masks, hot and cold running handsanitizer ops, social distancing and pandemic fears. I wondered if I’d finally developed antibodies for all the 100 or so mutations of the common cold virus. This was a futile hope, an erroneous theory. This cold comes as a nasty surprise, and I’m disgusted. I still mask up in airports, on planes, and in crowds. I don’t deserve this! I have no time to be sick or to feel this tired. --- or have sleep interrupted by coughing. My free, USPS COVID test is negative. So far. At least there’s that.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said Friday he opposes a push by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to end tenure for new professors at the state’s public universities and to revoke it for faculty who teach critical race theory, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest estimate, which indicates Hispanic residents in Texas make up more of the state’s population than white residents. The new population figures from the American Community Survey indicate Hispanic Texans comprise 40.2% of the state’s population last year, while non-Hispanic white Texans made up 39.4%, as reported in the Texas Tribune.

We’ve had some much-needed rain, grass is green and growing, the kids are back in school, it’s getting cooler outside – little blessings! I’ve said this before, but autumn is my favorite time of year. The last few days we’ve had cool mornings, which is putting my mindset into fall – pumpkins, changing leaves, plus orange is one of my favorite colors. Go Pokes!

I’ve always loved clothes. The grandparents I never knew were a tailor and a milliner. Maybe it’s genetic. This started early. Many of my clothes were made by my mom, my aunt or by Mabel, a wonderful seamstress. I knew about sewing, fabric and how clothing was made. Sort of like knowing that eggs come from chickens and don’t live in grocery stores awaiting purchase. Two of Mom’s first cousins were men’s clothing manufacturers in Dallas. Huge remnants of fine wool suiting material ended up as skirts and jumpers for several girls in the extended family-and some of the women. I well remember that factory, cutting tables piled high with tall layers of fabric being readied for sewing. It was fascinating. I also made the requisite potholders for my mom, aunts and their cousins. Now, weaving with small looms is back, with better materials. So I’ve jumped once again onto that bandwagon.

More than three-fourths of Texas teachers say they have seriously considered quitting the profession largely because of a perceived lack of respect and support, according to a new survey by the Charles Butt Foundation. Excessive workload and inadequate pay were other major reasons that teachers are considering leaving, The Dallas Morning News and other media outlets reported.