While I was away at the ranch, Don and some friends set up our new windmill. It is big. It looks so great and creaks and sounds like a windmill should. It will pump air into our new pond. I just love it! I have always wanted a windmill and now we have one. It is quite the envy and conversation piece of the neighborhood. Don has done an outstanding job of digging this pond and putting together the windmill. I am so impressed and so excited by it all. When we get rain and the grass grows and we add a little landscaping it will be so beautiful and relaxing.
Thank you, Don, for all your hard work. I just love it! And, I love you.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Julie, Alisa, and Blue's Hill Country Adventures
What a glorious weekend I had! Alisa and I left for the ranch on Friday about 5. We were driving "Ole Blue", Don's now retired, 1990 old blue pickup, which has become our garage sale truck. It was a beautiful, but HOT, spring afternoon, and Blue's AC decided to go kapoot. I must say this was the most miserable drive to the ranch ever. The sun was so intense and the wind was so HOT. I dreamed of cold ice tea...or a frozen Margarita..waiting for us at Mamacita's in Fredericksburg. It was the longest drive........but finally, we got there, and what a wonderful thing it was to walk into air conditioning and sit down and cool off and have that ice tea, glasses and glasses of it. We tried to stay as long as we could but that sun was still up when we finally left, and since we were driving west, directly in our eyes nearly blinding us. What a relief just to get to the ranch!
All the goats, sheep, and cows came rushing to meet us as we arrived. We had stopped at the feed store so had treats for them--50 pound sacks of feed and a fresh bale of hay. They were all thrilled. We enjoyed watching them. There are 9 baby goats, 7 little lambs, and 1 baby calf--so cute and frisky.
We left before daylight Saturday morning to head out to the garage sales in Fredericksburg--11 of them. BUT, in the early dawn of a beautiful spring morn the countryside was just too alluring with so many sights to behold. We stopped to watch several flocks of wild turkeys, and many, many deer were out, and the sun coming up giving that special haze to the fields and farmsteads--so many kodak moments. We stopped to take so many pictures (we both have new cameras). It was a beautiful, slow trip to town--early morning is just such a pretty time.
The garage sales were fun but not the greatest ever---no real treasures sitting there waiting for us to find them. I guess my greatest find was a hand carved wooden Nativity set from Paraguay. I just love it. And I found a really pretty quilted purse for $1. Found some books for the grandkids and thats about it. But we enjoyed looking--it is fun just getting to drive through all the neighborhoods of Fred. and see all the many old houses. I love Fredericksburg--so much history and German culture everywhere.
We were done with the sales about 11 so headed for Mason to an estate sale there and to have lunch at a little place visited by the Texas Country Reporter. It was a great little Mexican cafe that opened up in an old gas station. Had terrific gorditos and guacamole and lots of cold tea and DP. It all tasted so good. Estate sale was ok--that is where I found my nativity set. Then we just walked around Mason, a really old, small Texas town with lots of history. The writer of "Old Yeller" was raised here and the setting for the book took place here. Lots of neat old buildings and homes. We shopped a little in the shops then drove around taking more photos of grand old houses, old movie theatre, and lots of windmills. Alisa and I both love windmills.
We took a small little county road back toward Doss. Stopped and took lots of windmill, old barn, old farmstead, creeks, Llano river, and livestock pictures. Also, stopped at Hilda and took lots of pics of a beautiful old Methodist church just sitting out there all by itself in a big field. So very picturesque. We stopped and talked with some of the local people who were out and were warmly welcomed. At Doss, we stopped and got a DP at the Doss country store and took photos of the Doss school, one of the few remaining open one room school houses in the state. Then we headed back to the ranch through more back roads taking more pictures of old farmsteads and windmills and anything else unique and interesting. We had such a wonderful time. What a pretty spring day and so much beautiful country to see---and the wildflowers are not even out yet and it is still pretty. Though VERY DRY! We need rain really bad.
We got back to the ranch and crashed. Sat in front of the TV and watched movies and ate fritos and bean dip and Hot Tamales (candy) for supper. We were exhausted but sure had a grand day.
This morning we got up and got to work. Cleaned all the hunter's stuff out of the upper cabin and scrubbed it down and fixed it back up pretty to look like a guest cabin again. What a makeover! It looks so pretty and cute with colorful quilts on the beds instead of camo sleeping bags.
Then we cleaned up our cabin so it would be ready for Beki and her guests Easter weekend. All the critters came down so we treated them to somemore feed and said a sad goodbye. It is always so hard to leave the ranch. We headed home a different way through Llano on the back ranch roads. Stopped to take old school house pictures and then spent some time watching the baby Eagles in their nest outside of Llano. It looked like they were getting flying lessons. They would flap their wings and lift up about 6 inches from the nest and back down again. We took a ton of pics but I think they were still too far away for great photos. But it was fun to watch them. A great ending to our weekend. Just had to share our wonderful weekend with you.
All the goats, sheep, and cows came rushing to meet us as we arrived. We had stopped at the feed store so had treats for them--50 pound sacks of feed and a fresh bale of hay. They were all thrilled. We enjoyed watching them. There are 9 baby goats, 7 little lambs, and 1 baby calf--so cute and frisky.
We left before daylight Saturday morning to head out to the garage sales in Fredericksburg--11 of them. BUT, in the early dawn of a beautiful spring morn the countryside was just too alluring with so many sights to behold. We stopped to watch several flocks of wild turkeys, and many, many deer were out, and the sun coming up giving that special haze to the fields and farmsteads--so many kodak moments. We stopped to take so many pictures (we both have new cameras). It was a beautiful, slow trip to town--early morning is just such a pretty time.
The garage sales were fun but not the greatest ever---no real treasures sitting there waiting for us to find them. I guess my greatest find was a hand carved wooden Nativity set from Paraguay. I just love it. And I found a really pretty quilted purse for $1. Found some books for the grandkids and thats about it. But we enjoyed looking--it is fun just getting to drive through all the neighborhoods of Fred. and see all the many old houses. I love Fredericksburg--so much history and German culture everywhere.
We were done with the sales about 11 so headed for Mason to an estate sale there and to have lunch at a little place visited by the Texas Country Reporter. It was a great little Mexican cafe that opened up in an old gas station. Had terrific gorditos and guacamole and lots of cold tea and DP. It all tasted so good. Estate sale was ok--that is where I found my nativity set. Then we just walked around Mason, a really old, small Texas town with lots of history. The writer of "Old Yeller" was raised here and the setting for the book took place here. Lots of neat old buildings and homes. We shopped a little in the shops then drove around taking more photos of grand old houses, old movie theatre, and lots of windmills. Alisa and I both love windmills.
We took a small little county road back toward Doss. Stopped and took lots of windmill, old barn, old farmstead, creeks, Llano river, and livestock pictures. Also, stopped at Hilda and took lots of pics of a beautiful old Methodist church just sitting out there all by itself in a big field. So very picturesque. We stopped and talked with some of the local people who were out and were warmly welcomed. At Doss, we stopped and got a DP at the Doss country store and took photos of the Doss school, one of the few remaining open one room school houses in the state. Then we headed back to the ranch through more back roads taking more pictures of old farmsteads and windmills and anything else unique and interesting. We had such a wonderful time. What a pretty spring day and so much beautiful country to see---and the wildflowers are not even out yet and it is still pretty. Though VERY DRY! We need rain really bad.
We got back to the ranch and crashed. Sat in front of the TV and watched movies and ate fritos and bean dip and Hot Tamales (candy) for supper. We were exhausted but sure had a grand day.
This morning we got up and got to work. Cleaned all the hunter's stuff out of the upper cabin and scrubbed it down and fixed it back up pretty to look like a guest cabin again. What a makeover! It looks so pretty and cute with colorful quilts on the beds instead of camo sleeping bags.
Then we cleaned up our cabin so it would be ready for Beki and her guests Easter weekend. All the critters came down so we treated them to somemore feed and said a sad goodbye. It is always so hard to leave the ranch. We headed home a different way through Llano on the back ranch roads. Stopped to take old school house pictures and then spent some time watching the baby Eagles in their nest outside of Llano. It looked like they were getting flying lessons. They would flap their wings and lift up about 6 inches from the nest and back down again. We took a ton of pics but I think they were still too far away for great photos. But it was fun to watch them. A great ending to our weekend. Just had to share our wonderful weekend with you.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Lovin' this spring weather!
Thought I would catch you up on our life so here come the bullets:
- Don and I went to Kyle to visit Josh and Kara and see their new home. Wow! It is so nice and we both just loved it. Great floor plan, just a great house. And brand new! I am so happy for them and know they will have fun decorating it and just making it theirs. Josh cooked us a wonderful lasagna dinner and we had a fun visit. I was disappointed not to get to visit with their two cats, Sunny and Rosey, who are still traumatized by the move and in hiding. And we all need to pray for Kara to find a job in Kyle---that commute to San Antonio is about to do her in.
- Alisa and I are going to the ranch tonight to check on things AND to go garage sales in Fredericksburg and Mason tomorrow. We are just looking forward to getting out there and having fun together. It has been way too long.
- A couple of weeks ago we had a big group over on Saturday and finally got the liner put in the big pond Don dug on our acreage next to house. It was quite a project. Then he worked for a week putting together the windmill that will aeriate the pond. He said he never had seen so many nuts and bolts in his life......Now tomorrow he and friends will put the windmill in place. Don has been filling the pond for the last 10 days with the hose. I have been really praying that the well and pump holds out. We are on a really huge aquafer but still......I really don't want to be hauling buckets of water to the house from the pond for our use....... It is almost full and looks really pretty. Don wants to put fish in it and get a little boat and just use it to have fun with grandkids swimming and fishin' in it. He is putting some sod and grass seed out, too, and will line it with big flat rocks. It should really be nice when all done.
- Tammie and I leave on our adventure to Georgia to see Adam graduate from boot camp on Tuesday. We are looking forward to the time together and to get to see Adam.
- I have the planting bug. I just love this time of year with all the pretty bedding plants in the nurseries. Love potting flowers. And even wish I still had my big vegetable garden...but we are just gone too much for that. Anyway, I keep looking for the wildflowers to pop out--saw just a few bluebonnets on the bridge going to Kingsland. Can't wait though to try my new camera on the wildflowers though.
- Speaking of my new camera...I have had more fun using the telephoto to take pictures of the birds coming to my feeders. I have a finch sock that is always full of pretty, colorful little finches and another feeder that attracks the cardinals and nuthatches. I just love watching the birds and especially love that melodial water dripping sound the Purple Martins make--and the cheerful songs of the Mockingirds and the mournful calls of the doves. I just love spring!
- That's all for now--I need to finish potting my new marigolds and lantana--the outdoors bekons......
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Happy Birthday, Tammie
I have written before about how much God has blessed me by giving me the desires of my heart. Growing up an only child I had always yearned to have a sister--my idea of a sister was like having a best friend that was with you all the time--you got to share living in the same house.
Another desire of my heart was to have a big family--extended family living together or close to each other. I remember my neighbor in Houston sharing with me how she grew up in a big old house in the country with her cousins and grandparents--several families living under the same roof and how fun it was and how close they were. That was the kind of life I wanted.
And it all happened--a little bit at a time--but God fulfilled those desires of my heart. And one of those answered prayers came in the person of Tammie. Tammie and my oldest son, Brian, married very young and had two children--Adam and Amber. Their marriage fell apart and in 1989 Tammie and my two grandchildren moved in with us. Adam was almost 3 and Amber was 9 months old at the time. Our family already numbered seven: Rick, me, Micah, Christy, Josh, Jenny, and Gina (who was then our foster child). And we had foster child number 2, Robert, a failure to thrive two-month old, on his way to us as soon as he was released from the hospital. So we quickly became a family of eleven.
What can I say but that God’s grace was all over this. Tammie and I got along fantastically and shared in the raising of these kids and the many other foster children that would pass through our doors over the next seven years. Tammie blossomed from a frightened, insecure teenager who didn’t even have her driver’s license yet into an awesome, nurturing mother, a fabulous cook, a creative homemaker, an excellent college student, and a leader of the Children’s program at church, and a dear friend. Together, we home schooled, led Girl Scouts, survived T-Ball, Little League, Little Dribblers, Gymnastics, Vacation Bible School and various other kid activities along with enjoying the trials and tribulations of the older kids teen years.
Ours was a crazy, rambunctious, but fairly orderly and disciplined household. It was everything I ever dreamed of and more. And Tammie more than fulfilled my longing for a sister. Yes, technically she was my daughter-in-law, but we just had a closer, more equal, relationship than that. We were peers raising our children together; she became that sister I always wanted. Two women living in the same house can often be a disaster but for us, because of God’s grace, it was a beautiful success. Tammie is my very closest female friend whom I love dearly and thank God for bringing her into my life. I treasure those 7 crazy years together and cherish the wonderful memories we shared--and the memories we continue to make.
I am awed by her--she inspires me. She completed her degree while living with us and is an excellent, well-respected Occupational Therapist. She can just do anything she sets her mind to--a very hard worker whose creativity and love for others just spills over into everything she does. And I am so happy that God saw fit to put Jess Fisher in her life and bless her with such a wonderful husband who loves her so much.
So all this to say Happy 40th Birthday, Tammie. You are wonderful and I pray you will have 40 more wonderful birthdays to celebrate. And may our times and adventures together just get better and better. We soon will be GRAND-PARENTING together!!! Yipee!!!
You are loved.
Another desire of my heart was to have a big family--extended family living together or close to each other. I remember my neighbor in Houston sharing with me how she grew up in a big old house in the country with her cousins and grandparents--several families living under the same roof and how fun it was and how close they were. That was the kind of life I wanted.
And it all happened--a little bit at a time--but God fulfilled those desires of my heart. And one of those answered prayers came in the person of Tammie. Tammie and my oldest son, Brian, married very young and had two children--Adam and Amber. Their marriage fell apart and in 1989 Tammie and my two grandchildren moved in with us. Adam was almost 3 and Amber was 9 months old at the time. Our family already numbered seven: Rick, me, Micah, Christy, Josh, Jenny, and Gina (who was then our foster child). And we had foster child number 2, Robert, a failure to thrive two-month old, on his way to us as soon as he was released from the hospital. So we quickly became a family of eleven.
What can I say but that God’s grace was all over this. Tammie and I got along fantastically and shared in the raising of these kids and the many other foster children that would pass through our doors over the next seven years. Tammie blossomed from a frightened, insecure teenager who didn’t even have her driver’s license yet into an awesome, nurturing mother, a fabulous cook, a creative homemaker, an excellent college student, and a leader of the Children’s program at church, and a dear friend. Together, we home schooled, led Girl Scouts, survived T-Ball, Little League, Little Dribblers, Gymnastics, Vacation Bible School and various other kid activities along with enjoying the trials and tribulations of the older kids teen years.
Ours was a crazy, rambunctious, but fairly orderly and disciplined household. It was everything I ever dreamed of and more. And Tammie more than fulfilled my longing for a sister. Yes, technically she was my daughter-in-law, but we just had a closer, more equal, relationship than that. We were peers raising our children together; she became that sister I always wanted. Two women living in the same house can often be a disaster but for us, because of God’s grace, it was a beautiful success. Tammie is my very closest female friend whom I love dearly and thank God for bringing her into my life. I treasure those 7 crazy years together and cherish the wonderful memories we shared--and the memories we continue to make.
I am awed by her--she inspires me. She completed her degree while living with us and is an excellent, well-respected Occupational Therapist. She can just do anything she sets her mind to--a very hard worker whose creativity and love for others just spills over into everything she does. And I am so happy that God saw fit to put Jess Fisher in her life and bless her with such a wonderful husband who loves her so much.
So all this to say Happy 40th Birthday, Tammie. You are wonderful and I pray you will have 40 more wonderful birthdays to celebrate. And may our times and adventures together just get better and better. We soon will be GRAND-PARENTING together!!! Yipee!!!
You are loved.
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