January 11, 2008, Canyon Lake Texas

Many blessings come my way as a result of owning the ranch.  The big things are well known and well documented, but the extra benefits are often overlooked.

Had we not purchased the ranch in 2001 we would never have met Lorin and Royce Anne Baethge, friends who live outside of Fredericksburg.  At settlement,  I asked the seller,Mary O'Sullivan all about the building of their home, and she told me the story.  The builder and his son built the house , designed by the O'Sullivans  and was completed in 1982.  They lived their until Pete O'Sullivan died in 2000,when Mary moved to be near her children in Bay City, Texas.  I asked for the name and numbers of the builder.

Lorin worked with his father in the building trade, Lorin living in Harper and his father in Doss. I contacted the number, as we were wanting to do some minor changes to the kitchen.  Lorin's father is no longer able to work, but Lorin and his wife Royce Anne came out to see us on a Saturday night, the first weekend we spent at the ranch with David and Suzanne and the girls.  The twins were just a few months old, and I remember that Royce Anne helped to amuse the twins while we did our business.  So Lorin worked on the old house and painted the old house and out buildings.  And He did a very good job.  He told us right off the bat that he was not  speedy but he was thorough.  We were happy.

The ranch house has no good views, and is too small if we are all together.  So Ken and I decided to build a house on the top of the property, where all the views are spectacular.  In one direction the water flows to the Pedernales River, and in the other direction it flows to the Blanco River.  And we designed a very selfish house.  One room on each floor  with porches both front and back and on two levels.  Lorin built it and it is spectacular.  Over the course of one year you get to know your builder very well.  When all was said and done, the punch list had nothing on it.  Everything done properly.  Everything in order and complete.  By the end we were fast friends.

On Tuesday, they invited us to their home in Fredericksburg.  They moved 2 years ago to renovate  Royce Anne's grand parents property.  While the renovation is going on, remember he works as a builder all day so renovates weekends and evenings, they live in an apartment that Lorin built at the back of his very large metal workshop.  When they move into the renovated home, the apartment will work as a guest room, and perhaps will work for Royce Anne's parents, who now live on the property.  The property has 278 acres, where they keep cattle and horses.  It's a great story.  The apartment is large and lovely, the renovations are moving along, and we were delighted to enjoy the most wonderful meal together.

So one of the benefits of owning country property is having dinner with our friends Lorin and Royce Baethge.

January 10, 2008 # two. Texas Lake House

It is  kind of interesting how it all came about. Ken and I wanted to own property on water. Also we wanted a place to stay when we visited David and Suzanne.  David was brought up having a country home for weekends.  One year after they married they purchased their first home. One year after that Ken and I asked if they would be interested in purchasing a lake house.  Both had good jobs so they said yes.  So Suzanne and Ken and I went looking at all the properties for sale. An agency in Canyon Lake gave me a list of everything for sale and with my Bethesda card we went knocking on the doors and asked to see the properties. Fortunately most housed were empty so we just peeked in the windows and looked over the yard, looking for an easy slope down to the lake.  Canyon Lake is in a canyon after all.  We selected three properties for the three of us to inspect and we purchased  this little tacky home on this great lot.  David and Suzanne had no children yet so they could afford the purchase.  We bought the place 50\50 and it has worked spectacularly well for everyone.. Two years after the purchase Ken and I paid for the renovation's  while David took over the mortgage.  We still keep $500. a pop in an account where Suzanne pays the utilities.

Our rule was that anyone could buy an object for the lake house for under $100. and get compensated from the kitty.  Anything over needs a vote. If you buy prior to consultation you have bought the object yourself for the house.  We had such fun together working through the renovations.  And everyone has enjoyed the property a lot.  Two of their friends also have purchased on the lake .  So the whole project has been a success, from the time we purchased in 1955 until today.

In September, 2001, Ken and I were visiting the family at the lake.  David asked if we would be interested in purchasing a ranch in the hill country because in two years or so he would like us to both buy a ranch no more that one hour from their home.  The lake is 45 minutes from their home in San Antonio.  Ken got on the computer and discovered that the cost of ranches was already beyond our means within the one hour span, but if we went west of Kerrville and Fredericksburg the land was affordable to us right now.  So Ken and I went looking right then and we purchased on that visit.  Remember this was just after 9\11 and no one was flying let alone purchasing country property.  So we did what we usually do and that is we bought what we could afford at the time.  And a good thing too.  Ranch land now sells for a lot more money now.  And that is how we bought our small ranch in the Hill Country in Texas.  We have 150 acres and a 20 year old ranch house, where David & Suzanne stay, and Ken and I build us a house on the top of the property.  But more about that the next time.

January 10, 2008 Texas Lake House

The little girls were not the only girls who objected to the calves going to auction.. The heifers and the bull were bawling long and loud.  But by Tuesday they had forgotten the whole thing and were back to worrying about their special treats.  We have the cheques deposited in the bank.  The calves sold at an average  $1.30 per pound  at a total of 1600 pounds.  I'm certainly glad I don't make my living  in the cattle business.

We have no Internet connection at the ranch, so no little epistle these few days.  It is very interesting how we acquire a habit so quickly.  I have been writing these small web logs for 30 days or so, and already I feel somewhat anxious if I don't complete my 500 words at the computer.  My best character trait has always been my work habits, and I suppose once I have decided  that my task in my 70's is to write this small log, this task has become a priority for me .

I am often asked these two questions.... where on earth how did you find this out of the way place? and what do you do there all day?  Both two good question, which I will answer at a later  date.

January 6, 2008, Texas

Today the calves go to auction in Junction Texas.  The four little girls are not pleased.  We have 8 cows, 2 steer and one bull. This year these cows produced 7 calves, so the girls have had the fun watching these calves grow up, which any  are fun to watch.  They jump straight up in the air and frisk around their mothers.  Of course all the cattle have names.  Their favourite is Rachel, also the friendliest.  She will eat right out our hand.  And the 7 calves also have names.Rachel is named after one of their cousins when she came to visit the family from Hamilton one summer.  The girls liked her, so their favourite cow is Rachel.  She is pretty in color brown and spots of black, and she makes good looking calves.  Big Tex is their next favourite.  He looks and acts as a bull, and everyone gives him wide space.  These cattle are Texas Longhorn cattle, and they look as they are named.  Their horns are big and long.  Both sexes have long horns so you have to be careful to watch out for their horns whenever you are close to them.  David stays on the opposite side of the fence from the cattle at all times except when to is driving through the pastures.

But today the calves have to go to auction.  The size of the land determines how many cattle will survive without supplemental feeding, and as we are not here all the time, the calves have to go.  In Texas, country property is taxed lower if you are in the agricultural business, and not being totally stupid, we went into the cattle business.  We choose longhorn cattle because they were bred to survive on their own, out in the pasture.  Also they seem to fit with a small ranch in Texas in the hill country.  So look it up on the map.  Our ranch is just east and north of Harper Texas.  So the calves go to auction on Monday and we will find out how much money will come from those 8 cows.  We'll let you know.

Januart 4, 2008, Mexico

Four little girls and an afternoon and evening in the town of Puerto Vallarta provides a whole years memories and laughter.  First we took the water taxi which is an experience in it's own right.  The last time we took the water taxi all 12 of us went, the water was very rough, the girls almost got sick, but a school of dolphins swam beside us for a long time.  The upshot is that the girls only remember the dolphins and have forgotten the miserable trip.  What they do remember was that Grandma couldn't got out of the boat at the public dock in Puerto Vallarta.

The dock is ancient, looks like an Elizabeth Taylor vintage, the tide was very low, the boat was very small, and the boat was way way below the dock.  As we approached the dock I told Ken that I would never be able to get up to the dock. Of course every one said it would be no problem.  But they were wrong.  Everyone else leaped up to the dock, with the help of the three strong men lifting the six children.  First of all , you had to leap this three feet up, then you had to walk about six feet along a very narrow walkway that was only two feet wide.  I wouldn't do it.  So the men hailed a fisherman  in a small dugout fishing vessel.  He brought his very primitive boat alongside out water taxi where I carefully transferred to the dugout for transport to the shore where they beached me. Like a whale.  Of course all four adults and six children cheering me on.  Ken stayed back with me until I beached.

This taxi ride was uneventful but beautiful.  The waterfront in the town has a wonderful stone boardwalk, which is dotted on it's length of the most wonderful and whimsical bronze statues.  Every 200 yards or so another statue.  The girls loved them,and wanted their pictures taken by every one.  In between the statues are sand castles,one more marvelous than the last, done for a competition at the Christmas season.  So there is a full nativity scene in sand,and a large Santa, and several scenes of tropical animals.  Between the sand sculptures and the real sculptures the children wiled away the afternoon.  Of course a visit to the flea market for gifts followed a most wonderful dinner at the Barcelona Tapas restaurant finished up the lovely day.

Tomorrow we all go to Texas.  I always enjoy a trip to another  spot.

January 2, 2008, Mexico

Here is another good Christmas book..."October" by Richard Wright,given to me by Dave & Irene.He is another Canadian author worth reading.  He also wrote "Praise for Clara Callan".  And of course, if you have never read any Robertson Davies, start now and you'll be in for a treat.  Of course he is not  a contemporary writer but he is wonderful.  And then there is Alice Munro.  She is the only writer who has made her career writing short stories.

I have no recollection of not being able to read or swim.  My parents would be the only people who might likely know both pieces of insignificant information, but they are not living.  My brother and sister were more involved with their own lives so have no clue about my reading or swimming.  But I can not recall a time when I could nor read or could not swim.  Both activities have been important to me all my life, and both now provide immense pleasure, so I am grateful for whomever taught me .  Now I wonder if I have a faulty memory or did I learn to read or swim prior to memory being developed as a child?  That is yet another of those unanswered questions.

January1, 2008 Mexico

It really all began January 1, 1956.  That day a group of us, organized by me and Gord Fairbank, spent the day skating on the frozen canal in Peterborough, Ontario.  We  were a group of about 20, and the  plan was to visit the Gibson Family for dinner and skate , leaving for home about 9 o'clock.  We played hockey, skated, played hockey and skated,ate dinner and drove home.  Nothing seemed too significant.  But everything changed for both Ken and me.  Before that day all I knew about Ken was that He was skinny kid from Parry Sound who was working for a year before he went to University and then Medical school.  Several days later I received

 a letter from Ken telling me that I had the qualities he wanted in a wife, and that I should get read, because some time he was going to ask me to marry me.  I laughed out loud, and couldn't conceive of the audacity of this young man.  But we have been a pair from that day to now.

The celebration last night was wonderful in every direction.  Now I wish every one of you a happy and healthy new year.