Community

One reason to travel is to discover how things are done all over again. My husband, Peter, and I are in Mexico, and I was thinking this as we stood, confounded, in front of the washing machine.

April Dillon, retiring after 24 years as Hemphill County head librarian, was honored at a reception on Jan. 28. Family and friends gathered in the library’s downstairs meeting room to enjoy cake and punch. Celebratory banners hung on the walls, and tables were decorated with vintage children’s books and fresh flowers. Gifts and a money tree adorned one table. County Judge George Briant spoke of Dillon’s longtime service to this community and praised her for her fiscal responsibility. He got a chuckle from the crowd when he said, “She spent every penny, but never went over her budget.” In a December interview, Dillon told The Record that she looks forward to working in the large garden she and her husband have, and to having the time to read. She will be succeeded in her role as head librarian by her longtime assistant Juana Garcia, who was offered the job following a December interview with county commissioners and with the recommendation of Dillon and others. Garcia assumed her new duties on Feb. 1.

The Citadelle Art Foundation and Museum is pleased to announce the opening of Seven Masters: 20th-Century Japanese Woodblock Prints, an exhibition showcasing a new art form called “shin hanga,” developed by a small group of artists in response to Japan’s rapid Westernization and industrialization.

Looking at this week’s frigid weather forecast had me longing for a warm and comforting soup. This easy recipe, from www.iwashyoudry.com, is like a creamy loaded baked potato, only better. Like many soups, this one is even more delicious the next day; that is if you have any leftover… Enjoy!

In my dream, the jungle was thick and dark. There was a river running through it, and I was on a small raft, careening down it.