Franklin, TX

I have always had a love affair for trees. I love watching them grow from saplings until they are stately and tall . Of course that can take a while! Still, we can go back to some of the subdivisions we worked on years ago and those trees that were pencil size then, now are towering over two story homes.

I have tree identification books because I am always on the prowl for unusual trees that may not be native to our neck of the country. And of course there are those trees the settlers planted on their homesteads. Sometimes I enjoy finding a grove of non native trees and studying the site to see if an old settler's home was once there. In this area they would plant fast growing and sometimes medicinal trees.

One of my favorites is the "Tickle Tongue " or "Tooth Ache" tree.

We have a few of these unusual trees on our property. They aren't the most attractive things. If you chew on the berries or seeds it is almost akin to when a dentist preps you. ( Now don't go out experimenting by putting some unkown berries in your mouth!) The early Texas settlers didn't have the luxury of dentists, so hence "the toothache tree," was one of their remedies. Another name for the tree is "Hercules Club Tree" because the limbs have round nodules on the bark with small spikes at their tip. I guess the limbs would make an awsome club.

If you enjoy selling farms, ranches, and rural properties it always helps to know a little about the native flora and fauna just to make things more interesting and attractive to your prospects.

Have a prosperous week!

www.treythurmond.com

This week the seismic survery crews have been doing what they get paid to do in the local area around our home. They have been setting off charges and taking their seismic readings, all a necessary part in the exploration of domestic oil and gas. Lord knows I am for focusing our primary efforts domestically in this search.. But this exploration in our neighborhood is getting a little close for comfort. Last Friday my wife called and all the somoke detectors where going off in the house, without the presence of smoke and they came on and went off all day long. We finally concluded it had something to do with the explosions the seismic crews were setting off. It stopped over the weekend.

Well today my wife called me again and said the house was shaking so bad, that she was afraid things would start falling off shelves and walls , and that this had been going on all afternoon. Yep. They were setting off charges again today, only this time it was closer to the home than last week, and last week the house wasn't being shaken like a mild earthquake each time they blasted.

Does anyone out there know if these charges are supposed to shake homes? I don't want to appear to be complaining, but we are just a little concerned about not being home when things do start falling off the walls.

Have a prosperous week!

Trey

www.treythurmond.com

All week long we have had helicopters flying back and forth over our home. They are hauling large bags of cable for seismographic surveys being conducted in the neighborhood for petroleum and natural gas. Many of these surveys are in densely wooded areas and apparently it is much easier to haul them with choppers as opposed to 4 wheelers.

Today I asked someone about the cost and if they charged by the hour or miles traveled and he just laughed and said "oh no." I said "well how then?" He replied it is by the trip. and then said $1,000 per trip. Now I don't believe that the round trips are over 15 miles or so and it only takes a few minutes.

My gosh no wonder oil is skyrocketing! They spare no expense when exploring for it. It truly is "black gold" And then we all pay for it at the pump, don't we.

Have a prosperous week!

Trey

www.treythurmond.com

Our area of Texas does have bluebonnets in spring , but nothing like the hill country. We do however have an exceptionally neat yellow flower that just covers the open pastures in my little area between Blackjack and Wheelock, Texas. From a distance it is almost blinding, as the fields look golden...maybe this is what the Spaniards thought were the Golden city hundreds of years ago. Regardless we really enjoy the views!

Have a prosperous week!

Trey

www.treythurmond.com

All you have to do to know that this little central Texas county has something going on is to take a drive from one end of Robertson county to the next. Fluorescent surveyor ribbons are tied up and down the highways and FM roads. Take a look at the skyline at night and you will see the lighted drill derricks everywhere. Go to the county clerk's office in Franklin..or just go to Franklin and you will see a little town changing overnight. A brand new High school, a motel that stays full and a shortage of affordable housing for the multitude of workers both in the oil and gas fields and the power plant facility currently under construction in the area. I just hope it doesn't change too fast. Franklin has always had a certain a charm about it.

It seems there are lots of folks just waiting to see who will be the next overnight millionaire in Robertson County , Texas. This gas exploration and drilling is far enough advanced that courthouse squabbles are beginning to unfold over who owns what share of the minerals on different parcels. And I have been kept awake at night myself by the lights and noise.

If you are an agent working sales in Robertson county it would be wise to pay attention to the mineral interests now, more than ever when working on a contract. When you list ...ask what the sellers own and if they will let go of any part of their minerals or wish instead to reserve them. In Texas if a seller owns the minerals and doesn't put a reservation in the deed, they will pass with the sale. Just be careful and always consult a qualified attorney in mineral matters.

Have a prosperous week.

Trey

www.robertsoncountyland.com