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🪶 Letter from the Editor

January has a way of sneaking up on us.

Not loudly at first — just a subtle shift. The calendar flips. The inbox refills. Schedules snap back into place as if the pause never happened. There’s no dramatic moment, just a growing sense that things are getting louder again.

For many of us, that first full week back feels oddly disorienting. Not because the work is new, but because the contrast is sharp. We tasted a different pace — slower mornings, quieter evenings, fewer demands — and now the world seems to expect us to sprint simply because the year has turned.

This edition of The Townie is an invitation to resist that reflex.

Not to reinvent yourself.
Not to rush into resolutions.
Not to manufacture urgency where none is required.

Instead, it’s about orientation.

Before the year gets loud, there’s a brief window where we can still feel the difference between importance and urgency. Between momentum and noise. Between effort that sustains us and effort that quietly drains us.

You’ll see that theme woven throughout this issue — from the business insights we’re hearing across Main Street and ranch-adjacent operations, to the steady rhythm of community events, to the quieter wisdom tucked into our garden, horoscope, and porch conversations.

There’s nothing here asking you to overhaul your life or business.

Just an encouragement to enter the year deliberately.
To choose clarity over speed.
To move with intention instead of reaction.

January doesn’t need to be conquered.
It doesn’t need to be optimized.
And it certainly doesn’t need to be rushed.

This month doesn’t own us.

I’m glad you’re here, settling in with us — before the year gets louder.

— Katie Milton Jordan
Editor, The Townie
📬 [email protected] // 📞 325-475-4991

The Two Insights Your Business Needs Right Now

Running a business in this region has never been simple — but right now, it’s especially easy to misread the signals.

Some things are working better than they look. Other things feel “fine” right up until they aren’t. Based on what we’re seeing across shops, services, ranch-adjacent businesses, and Main Street operations, here are two insights worth sitting with this week.

Insight #1: Clarity > effort when margins tighten

If things feel heavier lately, that makes sense. When margins narrow, the instinct is to compensate with more effort — longer days, tighter control, extra push. That response comes from care, not failure.

What often gets missed is that effort multiplies whatever it’s aimed at. When priorities are fuzzy, more work doesn’t stabilize the business — it amplifies the strain. Clear positioning, clean decisions, and fewer exceptions tend to protect margins better than sheer output in this phase.

This isn’t about doing less for the sake of it. It’s about deciding where effort still pays rent — and where it quietly leaks it.

Insight #2: Stability as a chance to reshape, not push

On the surface, steadiness can feel uneventful. Bills get paid. Customers keep coming. Nothing is on fire. For capable operators, that often triggers the urge to push anyway — to force growth or manufacture momentum.

But stability offers a rare window most businesses don’t recognize until it’s gone. It creates space to reshape terms, boundaries, and expectations without the pressure of survival. Small adjustments made here tend to hold longer and cost less than changes made under stress.

This is a season for quiet recalibration, not acceleration — even if that feels counterintuitive.

A Small Townie Takeaway

Right now, many smart business owners are standing at the same intersection — steady, capable, and quietly asking, What’s next?

The answer usually isn’t louder marketing or more hustle.
It’s clearer positioning. Better boundaries. And conversations with others who can see the pattern from the outside.

That’s where community becomes more than encouragement — it becomes perspective.

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Fresh off the Porch

Events

• Mason — Mason County Chamber Annual Awards Night (Thu, Jan 29, 6:00 PM, Old Peanut Mill) — Mason County Chamber of Commerce.
  A celebratory evening for the community and Chamber members, featuring an appreciation banquet and reflections on the past year. Locals gather to honor outstanding businesses and citizens in a warm, small-town atmosphere.

• Junction — Kimble County Chamber Annual Awards Banquet (Thu, Jan 15, 6:00 PM, Coke Stevenson Center) — Kimble County Chamber of Commerce.
  An evening of recognition and networking as Junction’s Chamber celebrates another strong year. The banquet highlights community achievements and thanks those who help keep the Land of Living Waters thriving.

• Fredericksburg — Second Annual Fredericksburg Book Festival (Sat, Jan 17, 9:00 AM–4:45 PM, Pioneer Memorial Library & downtown venues) — Friends of the Written Word.
  Back for its second year, this free book festival brings Texas authors together for readings, Q&As, kids’ activities, and conversations that celebrate Texas stories. Organizers expect an even bigger crowd than last year.

• Luckenbach (Gillespie County) — 51st Annual Luckenbach Hug-In & Valentine Ball (Sat, Feb 14, 7:00 PM, Luckenbach Dancehall) — Luckenbach Texas.
  Love, music, and Texas two-stepping take center stage at this iconic Hill Country Valentine tradition. The celebration culminates with a Valentine’s Ball under the oaks, welcoming couples, families, and music lovers of all ages.

• Brady — 37th Heart of Texas Country Music Festival (Thu–Sat, Mar 19–28, times vary, Ed Davenport Civic Center) — Heart of Texas Country Music Association.
  Ten days of classic country music return to Brady with dozens of live shows and dances. This long-running festival draws visitors from across the state to the Heart of Texas for legendary performances and honky-tonk fun.

• Llano — Llano Earth Art Festival (Fri–Sun, Mar 27–29, 11:00 AM daily, Grenwelge Park) — Llano Earth Art Festival Committee.
  After a hiatus, this internationally known festival returns to the Llano River with large-scale land art made from stone, wood, sand, and natural materials. Live music, vendors, and the World Rock Stacking Championship round out the weekend.

• Mason — 10th Annual Mason Chamber Music Festival (Fri–Sun, Mar 27–29, various times, Odeon Theater & First United Methodist Church) — Mason Chamber Music Festival.
  A three-day celebration of classical music featuring world-class musicians. Events include free community performances, an evening gala concert, and a Sunday matinee in Mason’s historic venues.

• Mason — Spring Mason Arts & Wine Festival (Sat, Apr 4, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, Mason Square) — Mason County Chamber & local wineries.
  A lively spring gathering on the courthouse square featuring local artists, craft vendors, Texas wines, and live music. A relaxed, family-friendly way to welcome the season in downtown Mason.

Community Features

• Mason — Historic Home Secures Major Restoration Support
  The Seaquist House has received a significant matching grant to support exterior restoration work. The funding helps preserve one of Mason’s most iconic historic homes and encourages community contributions toward its long-term care.

• Fredericksburg — Ice Skating Tradition Celebrates 20 Years
  Fredericksburg’s outdoor ice skating rink marked its 20th season, welcoming families throughout the holidays for skating, cocoa, and winter fun. Proceeds from the seasonal rink support local education and charitable causes.

Business / School Highlights

• Brady — Manufacturing Expansion Brings New Jobs
  A livestock equipment manufacturer has announced plans to open a new manufacturing operation in Brady. Local leaders see the expansion as a positive step for job creation and long-term economic growth in McCulloch County.

Awards & Recognitions

• Brady — Local Firefighter Promoted to Chief
  A longtime Brady firefighter and paramedic has been promoted to Fire and EMS Chief, stepping into leadership after years of service. Community members are proud to see a hometown professional leading emergency services.

• Llano — Yellow Jackets Earn District Honors
  Llano High School’s football team capped off a championship season with numerous all-district honors. Players and coaches were recognized following a perfect district run and an exceptional year for the program.

Hill Country Weather

Expect mild winter conditions this week, with daytime highs in the low to mid-70s and cool evenings in the 50s. A weak midweek front may bring a brief cooldown and a small chance of light rain before sunshine returns.

Rural Policy & Funding Watch

Rural Texas communities continue to benefit from recent investments in healthcare access, disaster preparedness, and agricultural support. Additional funding aimed at strengthening rural hospitals and clinics is expected to roll out this year, helping close service gaps in smaller counties.

Economic & Small Business Intel

Small-town economies are entering the new year with cautious optimism. Manufacturing expansion in Brady signals confidence in rural industry, while Main Street businesses report steady post-holiday traffic driven by heritage tourism and local loyalty. Workforce development and broadband remain ongoing priorities.

Agriculture & Livestock Notes

Recent winter rains have improved pasture conditions across parts of the Hill Country, offering some relief from drought stress. Stock tanks are holding better, and winter grazing looks stable. With county stock shows underway, youth agriculture programs are in full swing across the region.

Market Snapshot

Cattle prices remain historically strong as 2026 begins, reflecting tight supplies. Hay inventories are adequate but closely watched, with prices holding steady. Pecan harvest volumes were lighter but high quality, supporting favorable pricing. Goat and sheep markets remain firm with steady demand.

Grant Watch

Several rural-focused grant programs are expected to open later this spring, including funding for healthcare facility improvements and local history preservation. Small towns and nonprofits are encouraged to prepare early and explore available rural funding resources.

Tourism Pulse

Winter travel remains steady as visitors seek quiet getaways, winery weekends, and hunting season traditions. Lodging bookings are already picking up for spring festivals and wildflower season, with communities preparing for increased visitor traffic in the coming months.

Editor’s note: All listings verified and current for the January 8, 2026 edition of The Townie.

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Before the Year Gets Loud: Choosing How We Move Into January

There’s a particular kind of culture shock that hits on the first day back after the holidays.

You finally let yourself rest. Not in a glamorous way — just enough to feel human again. Mornings stretched a little longer. Evenings were quieter. The calendar loosened its grip. For a brief window, life moved at a pace that didn’t require constant explanation or urgency.

And then suddenly, it’s back.

The inbox fills. The phone starts buzzing again. Schedules snap into place. Expectations return fully formed, as if the pause never happened. It’s not dramatic — just loud. Loud in the way only January can be, when the world assumes you’re ready to sprint simply because the year has turned.

That first day back can feel jarring. Disproportionately so.

It’s not that the work itself is new or unreasonable. It’s that the contrast is so stark. The quiet taught us something — about what it feels like to move without constant pressure — and the noise arrives before we’ve had a chance to decide what we want to keep.

That’s the moment worth noticing.

Before the year gets loud, there’s a brief, fragile window where we still remember what steadiness feels like. Where we can tell the difference between urgency and importance. Where we haven’t yet mistaken motion for progress.

January doesn’t announce this moment. It doesn’t send a reminder. It just shows up in the form of overwhelm — that subtle sense of I forgot how loud this gets — and dares us to respond the same way we always have.

But we don’t have to.

Clarity, in this season, matters more than speed. Not clarity as in having everything figured out, but clarity about what actually deserves immediate attention — and what doesn’t. About which conversations require depth and which can wait. About what kind of pace is sustainable, not just impressive.

The temptation is to match the volume around us. To respond quickly, say yes reflexively, and let the calendar decide the shape of the month. That’s familiar. Efficient, even. And exhausting.

The quieter option is harder at first: choosing how we re-enter.

That choice doesn’t require dramatic changes or declarations. It can be small and almost invisible — delaying one response, protecting one morning, letting one decision take a little longer to settle. It’s less about slowing everything down and more about refusing to let urgency set the tone by default.

January doesn’t need to be conquered. It doesn’t need to be optimized. And it certainly doesn’t need to be rushed.

This month doesn’t own us.

We are allowed to ease into it. To move with intention instead of reaction. To decide — quietly, without ceremony — that we won’t do this year the exact same way just because it’s familiar.

There’s time. More than the noise would have us believe.

And before the year gets louder, it’s worth choosing what we want to hear — and what we’re willing to let fade into the background.

One more thing, since this is a Townie porch…

If you really knew me, you’d know that alongside publishing The Townie, I also spend a lot of my time teaching people how to use AI in practical, grounded ways — not to hustle harder, but to create clarity where things feel overwhelming.

In December, I hosted a free 4-part AI Action Class based on The Best Year by Intelligent Change, focused on reflection and thoughtful preparation. Those sessions are still available to watch anytime on YouTube.

In January, I’m doing it again — this time with a new free 4-part AI Action Class inspired by Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory. It’s about releasing unnecessary pressure, choosing clarity over urgency, and letting go of what isn’t yours to carry.

The series starts January 15 at 9:30am CDT. If you’d like to join, just hit reply and I’ll send you the calendar invite. Y’all are welcome.

Here’s to choosing how we move — before the year gets loud.

Dear Hazel Mae & Fern,

Every January I stand at my kitchen window, coffee in hand, looking out at my garden beds like they personally betrayed me. Dead stalks, compacted dirt, weeds I swore I pulled last year. Folks keep saying “now’s the time to prep the soil,” but honestly — is it? Or is that just something organized people say? What’s the real truth about January gardening around here?

— Side-Eyeing the Backyard in Mason County

Hazel Mae: Alright, let’s get something straight right off: January is not here to impress you. She’s here to tell the truth.

And the truth is this — your garden didn’t fail last year because you didn’t love it enough. It failed because the soil’s tired, compacted, and probably holding grudges. And January? January is when you listen instead of arguing back.

You don’t need seed trays, fancy plans, or a Pinterest vision board yet. What you do need is a shovel and five honest minutes. Go outside and scrape back the surface. If that dirt is hard as a church pew and sticks together like biscuit dough, congratulations — you’ve got Hill Country clay doing what it does best.

Pull the dead stuff. All of it. If it looks diseased or buggy, don’t you dare toss it in the compost — haul it off and let it go. Then leave the roots of healthy plants where they are; they’ll break down and feed the soil like nature intended.

And listen to me clearly now: do not work wet soil. If it squishes into a ball, back away slowly. Messing with soggy dirt will wreck its structure faster than a well-meaning cousin with a rototiller.

January gardening isn’t about action — it’s about restraint. Which, frankly, is harder.

Fern: This is the quiet month. The listening month.

January asks you to slow down and touch the earth without demanding anything from it yet. I like to think of soil prep now as setting the table — not serving the meal.

A thin layer of compost spread gently over your beds is enough. You’re not digging it in aggressively; you’re letting winter rains and microbes do that work for you. If compost’s scarce, shredded leaves, aged manure, or even chopped straw can help protect and nourish the soil surface.

If your ground is heavy — and around here it usually is — adding organic matter is far more important than adding fertilizer. Structure matters more than speed. Healthy soil drains better, warms faster, and forgives mistakes.

And this is a good time to reflect. What struggled last year? What thrived without fuss? Your soil remembers. Pay attention, and it will tell you what it’s ready for — and what it’s not.

January doesn’t promise abundance.
But it does promise honesty.
And that’s where every good garden begins.

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🌅 New Year Orientation Readings — Week of Jan 8, 2026

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)
You’re itching to move, but this week asks for orientation before acceleration. Like pulling onto a backroad before the fog lifts, it’s wiser to pause and look around. Notice what still feels true, not just what feels exciting. A small recalibration now saves you from a loud correction later. The year isn’t asking you to slow your fire — just to aim it.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)
You’re standing at the edge of something new, boots planted, testing the ground. This week is about settling into the year the way you settle into a porch chair — adjusting until it fits your body. Don’t rush decisions about money, home, or commitments yet. Let your senses guide you. If it doesn’t feel steady, it’s not ready.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)
Your mind is already halfway through February, but January wants a word. This is a week for sorting thoughts like old letters on the kitchen table — deciding what to keep, what to answer, and what to finally recycle. Conversations may circle back unexpectedly. Say what you meant the first time. Clarity is your quiet superpower right now.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
The year opens softly for you, like a lamp left on in the early morning. This week is about emotional orientation — where you feel safe, where you’ve been over-giving, and where you want deeper roots. Tend to your inner home before rearranging the outer one. A boundary drawn with kindness is still a boundary.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
You’re used to leading with confidence, but this week invites a subtler kind of authority. Notice where you’ve been performing instead of living. The year ahead asks for authenticity over applause. Spend time with people who know you without the spotlight. Your warmth still shines — it’s just being used more intentionally now.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
This is your kind of week: lists, realignment, quiet improvement. But don’t confuse orientation with perfection. You don’t need the whole plan — just the next honest step. Clear one space, finish one task, forgive one old mistake. The year begins to cooperate once you stop micromanaging it.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
Balance feels slightly off-kilter right now, like a picture frame that needs adjusting. This week asks you to notice where you’re compromising too much to keep the peace. Real harmony starts with truth. A decision you’ve been postponing will feel lighter once named. You’re allowed to choose yourself without apology.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
You’re shedding quietly, like something slipping beneath the surface. This is a powerful orientation week for you — one that asks what you’re done carrying. Secrets lose their grip when brought into the open, even if only to yourself. Trust that what’s leaving is making room for something stronger, steadier, and more aligned.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Your spirit wants wide open roads, but this week is about checking the map first. Where are you headed — and why? Revisit intentions you made in excitement and see if they still hold meaning. A grounded plan doesn’t limit your freedom; it protects it. Adventure will come — just not at the expense of your values.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
This is your season of orientation — and you feel it deeply. The year opens with responsibility, yes, but also recognition. Pause long enough to acknowledge how far you’ve come. Not every goal needs to be monumental. Some just need to be sustainable. Build this year like you build everything else: steady, honest, and built to last.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Your perspective is shifting, like seeing the town from a new hilltop. This week encourages experimentation without pressure. Let curiosity lead instead of expectation. You don’t have to explain your vision yet. Sit with it. The year ahead rewards originality rooted in truth, not rebellion for its own sake.

Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
You’re sensitive to the tone of the year, picking up on undercurrents others miss. This week is about grounding your intuition — writing it down, speaking it aloud, anchoring it in something real. Dreams want structure now. A gentle routine will help you carry your magic forward without losing yourself in it.

💫 Until next week, may the year meet you where your feet are planted.

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