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H/4/1966-1-
April 5-1966 - In our 103rd Year
At The Highlands with Bob and Mary Reading Miller

Those of us who had been used to an older, much larger
home at "The Highlands", including countless spacious rooms, many
buildings, several children, various animals and expansive farm
acreage, can be well content with what is now found at the new
"Highlands". Here we find the same gracious hosts, the same warm
welcome in new surroundings, the same lovely furniture and house-
hold appointments, the same evidences of good gardening and horti-
culture, and above all the same enjoyable hospitality.

Evidences of Spring were beginning to show everywhere, but
the singing of our birds was somehow drowned out by the general
hubub of our becoming acquainted again, catching up on the news
and gossip after six months' vacation. After a tremendous dinner,
our President Ulric Hutton called the Society together at 7:45 pm.
He welcomed our visitor from England, Miss Hunter who is a guest
of the Farquhars; and we noted the absences of the Bentleys, the
Goffs, V. Hussman, Claire Hutton, the Lawrences and the Francis
Thomases.

The minutes of our last meeting were read by the Secretary
and accepted by the audience. He read a letter from Wendy Lawrence
explaining their absence, due to her mother's illness neccessita-
ting a last minute change in our meeting place, and expressing the
hope of seeing us all at their place in May. A letter from the
Mid-Montgomery County Jaycees received in November in reply to oursof
September First, was read and discussed. The Weskes reported on
having had bushels of cans picked up. Miss Hunter informed us that
being a litter-bug is a "fine-able" offense in England. Caroline
Hussman spoke of police trailing some people who threw out trash,
and others mentioned various experiences. It was suggested that
the Secretary acknowledge the Jaycees' letter.

Our Reader for the evening, Douglas Farquhar, is also our
weather recorder and prophet, who delights in giving us an imposing
array of "mean" and "cool" figures. He combined a great deal of
both kinds, including rain and snow for the last six months, into
the following abbreviated summary: Mean Temperatures were for Nov.
46 degrees, Dec. 40 degrees, Jan. 33 degrees, Feb. 33 degrees, and March 43 degrees. Rainfall for Nov.
1.2 " " .3" " 1.5" " 2.5" " " .7", 1" snowfall in
Dec., 29" in Jan. and 13" in Feb., both precipitants way below the
normal. Temperatures by months for the last six years were given
to show variations of only 5 or 60 at the most for each month. He
predicted normal temperatures for April, with extra showers, while
May would return to cool wet weather with frequent thunderstorms.

Douglas' daughter mailed him an article from the Baltimore
Sun, which was very entertaining. The author got a jump on Spring
by forgetting television, radio and all household chores, and con-
centrating on making plants grow and glow. His contemplation over
tending his indoor plants, petunias, asters, platycodons, forget-
menots; the use of special lights, particular care of sprouting
grape cuttings; his excellent descriptions of daily happenings in
the trays and the bright prospects of an excellent harvest, all
this reminds us that something wonderful happens in Spring to
everyone and everything.