I am so grateful for our past. Our plans of many years ago allows us to enjoy our present. Many friends and acquaintances speak to us about our life style and our homes and family, not really aware that it has all been in the grand scheme. For instance, friends have mentioned how fortunate we own a place where the children and grandchildren enjoy visiting. We agree with them that we are very fortunate, but what they don't seem to appreciate that even though they are wealthier than us, they chose not to prepare a place for the family to gather. We are grateful for our past actions that allow us to enjoy our today.
Today, on New Year's Eve, we look forward to our future, realizing that we are foraging into unfamiliar territory. I have spent my life around a lot of people. As a child, I was accustomed to a busy and hectic environment. As a teacher I was always surrounded by children and other teachers. Raising the children and as a graduate student I had a host of friends for support and friendship and of course as an agent and a manager I basically talked all day. I thrived in that busy milieu. Now my life will be different. Our homes are in isolated spots and I will not be surrounded by friends all the time. Life will be different but I feel sure the year will provide me with much pleasure. I am counting on it!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
December 30, 2010. Canyon Lake, Texas. Leaving Again.
Yesterday late afternoon everyone left the ranch except Ken and me. They all left to return to San Antonio as David needed to put in a full days work today to finish up his year. The ranch is very quiet without those children so Ken and I spent all evening at our Top house reading our books and getting used to the silence. I have heard of parents welcoming the departure of the children and grandchildren after a holiday season but I have never experienced the sensation, perhaps because we always stay in our own place. This morning we drove to the lake to organize our belongings for our return to Mexico on Saturday.
Our life is complicated, always getting clothes packed or unpacked. We keep clothes in every house plus we leave supplies with David and Suzanne just in case we stay with them for a few days when we first arrive. We put Allison out of her room when we stay with them. She says she doesn't mind, but I mind putting her out of her room so Ken and I have decided to stay at a hotel quite close to them when we remain in San Antonio. It is much cheaper than buying a condominium!! For the number of nights we stay in San Antonio each year we could stay fifty years before we have exhausted the down payment.
Tomorrow we will all be together and celebrate the New Years. It's going to be a dance contest on Wii. Andrew and Christina and the girls leave early Saturday and we do too. Poor Suzanne and David and the girls get to pick up the pieces.
Our life is complicated, always getting clothes packed or unpacked. We keep clothes in every house plus we leave supplies with David and Suzanne just in case we stay with them for a few days when we first arrive. We put Allison out of her room when we stay with them. She says she doesn't mind, but I mind putting her out of her room so Ken and I have decided to stay at a hotel quite close to them when we remain in San Antonio. It is much cheaper than buying a condominium!! For the number of nights we stay in San Antonio each year we could stay fifty years before we have exhausted the down payment.
Tomorrow we will all be together and celebrate the New Years. It's going to be a dance contest on Wii. Andrew and Christina and the girls leave early Saturday and we do too. Poor Suzanne and David and the girls get to pick up the pieces.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
December 29, 2010. Harper, Texas. Jan Miller.
She is older than me yet she runs the ranch all by herself. Today she took us on a tour of her property and let the girls feed all her animals. The seven girls were charmed by it all, along with four adults, especially the small goat being bottle fed by hand in her kitchen. Her land is lovely with a stream running through the middle. In the Hill country, streams are hard to come by especially streams that run all throughout the year.
Jan. is a kindly soul and provides a good home for her animals. It takes her over two hours each day to feed them. She has many many goats along with several horses and burrows, three dogs, numerous feral cats, ten emu's and eight llamas, also a dozen fancy ducks, all housed on her three hundred acre ranch. This is the first year since her husband died that the ranch has been profitable.
Her goal is to able to have the ranch sustain itself, so she is pleased for this year of success. Her peach crop was large and she sold much of the fruit to a local market. She regularly takes the young goats to the auction for sale and she sells the young llamas too. And that is the extent of her income from the ranch. But she is happy working hard around the ranch and she works hard to keep healthy. Many people would not enjoy her life style, living alone in a remote part of Texas, but she loves it. Her children who all live in Colorado think she is daft, but she wishes to work herself to death rather than rusting out from lack of activity.
She is a good neighbor and I am pleased to have gotten to know her since we moved to Texas. Each of us left with an emu egg to take home and eat. The eggs are dark green in color and 6 6o 8 inches long with very hard shells. Each egg will feed four adults, the eggs are so large. What a surprise.
Jan. is a kindly soul and provides a good home for her animals. It takes her over two hours each day to feed them. She has many many goats along with several horses and burrows, three dogs, numerous feral cats, ten emu's and eight llamas, also a dozen fancy ducks, all housed on her three hundred acre ranch. This is the first year since her husband died that the ranch has been profitable.
Her goal is to able to have the ranch sustain itself, so she is pleased for this year of success. Her peach crop was large and she sold much of the fruit to a local market. She regularly takes the young goats to the auction for sale and she sells the young llamas too. And that is the extent of her income from the ranch. But she is happy working hard around the ranch and she works hard to keep healthy. Many people would not enjoy her life style, living alone in a remote part of Texas, but she loves it. Her children who all live in Colorado think she is daft, but she wishes to work herself to death rather than rusting out from lack of activity.
She is a good neighbor and I am pleased to have gotten to know her since we moved to Texas. Each of us left with an emu egg to take home and eat. The eggs are dark green in color and 6 6o 8 inches long with very hard shells. Each egg will feed four adults, the eggs are so large. What a surprise.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
December 28, 2010. Harper, Texas. The Fire Pit.
Everyone loves an outside fire. Sitting watching the fire is endlessly enjoyable. I am not sure why. Tending the fire is another source of interest. First thing in the morning, when they return from hunting, either David or Andrew will make a fire in the fire pit and keep it going all through the day. Throughout the day groups of two or more gather for conversation or rest. It is one of the most enjoyable spots on the ranch.
The area is shaded, which in Texas is an advantage. Also you can watch the sunsets. The former owner, Pete, put in the bonfire area, and at first I thought it daft, putting the fire pit under the live oak trees. I felt sure we would start the trees on fire. We did burn down a couple of branches, but now we know he did a good thing. Also a smoker is right adjacent so we cook there too. It is a great spot, enjoyed by both children and adults.
The children are having a wonderful time here at the ranch, and they especially enjoy the fires.
The area is shaded, which in Texas is an advantage. Also you can watch the sunsets. The former owner, Pete, put in the bonfire area, and at first I thought it daft, putting the fire pit under the live oak trees. I felt sure we would start the trees on fire. We did burn down a couple of branches, but now we know he did a good thing. Also a smoker is right adjacent so we cook there too. It is a great spot, enjoyed by both children and adults.
The children are having a wonderful time here at the ranch, and they especially enjoy the fires.
Monday, December 27, 2010
December 27, 2010. Double D Ranch, Texas. The Ranch.
We are so fortunate we were able to purchase the ranch. Just this day itself would have been worth the acquisition. Nothing dramatic occurred, but every one was happy and engaged and productive, so at the end of the day, everyone said "we have had a great day".
The men hunted in the morning and Andrew shot a buck. All the children slept in. We had turned the dining room into a play room, with an old credenza serving as a toy storage unit. Anytime any of the children are in the house, they play in that room and as the three Mississippi children have never seen these toys, they are delighted with the new objects. The four Texas children are only at the ranch every-so-often, so the toys are new to them too. Most of the time they play out of doors, especially on a beautiful day such as today, which means that when ever they are indoors, they are all happily engaged with the train or the doll house or the blocks.
David and Andrew built a fire just as they arrived back from hunting this morning so the rest of the day we hung out by the fire. Robbie and Joyce came over to visit after lunch and chatted with us by the fire. In the late afternoon Abigail went out hunting with Andrew and shot a deer while Sarah and David saw the biggest deer they have ever seen, but he went back into the woods. Sarah was so excited she missed her next shot.
Pat L. arrived to fix our refrigerator at the top house. After he was finished, he stopped to chat by the fire. He was born and raised in Harper, in fact, he lives in the same home he was born. He is of German descent and somehow we got talking about smoking sausage the old fashioned way. He described the process in Harper prior to refrigeration. It was fascinating. Also his accent is very country and very Texan, which I love.
The girls fed the fish and with Suzanne's help, fed the cattle. A full day, but not dramatic. Just good old fashioned fun.
The men hunted in the morning and Andrew shot a buck. All the children slept in. We had turned the dining room into a play room, with an old credenza serving as a toy storage unit. Anytime any of the children are in the house, they play in that room and as the three Mississippi children have never seen these toys, they are delighted with the new objects. The four Texas children are only at the ranch every-so-often, so the toys are new to them too. Most of the time they play out of doors, especially on a beautiful day such as today, which means that when ever they are indoors, they are all happily engaged with the train or the doll house or the blocks.
David and Andrew built a fire just as they arrived back from hunting this morning so the rest of the day we hung out by the fire. Robbie and Joyce came over to visit after lunch and chatted with us by the fire. In the late afternoon Abigail went out hunting with Andrew and shot a deer while Sarah and David saw the biggest deer they have ever seen, but he went back into the woods. Sarah was so excited she missed her next shot.
Pat L. arrived to fix our refrigerator at the top house. After he was finished, he stopped to chat by the fire. He was born and raised in Harper, in fact, he lives in the same home he was born. He is of German descent and somehow we got talking about smoking sausage the old fashioned way. He described the process in Harper prior to refrigeration. It was fascinating. Also his accent is very country and very Texan, which I love.
The girls fed the fish and with Suzanne's help, fed the cattle. A full day, but not dramatic. Just good old fashioned fun.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
December 26, 2010. Double D Ranch, Harper Texas. Excitement!!hewaspleasedtogoouthuntingwithDavid
Mary Frances is 10, a calm, cool and collected young miss. Until today when she became ecstatic. She shot her first deer. David, her uncle, gave her a Christmas gift consisting of a hunting license in Texas and a guided private hunt with him, along with the processing of the meat. She was pleased with the gift, all beatifically given in a document meant to keep. She never thought she would shoot her deer but she was pleased to go out hunting with David.
She and David went out to hunt at 4 this afternoon and by 5:30 they were racing in to tell me the good news. Her face was beaming. I have never seen her so excited. David pointed out to her the fact that you only shoot your first deer once in your life and for her to shoot her first deer on the first time she went hunting was extra special. He was proud of her, his niece Mary Frances.
It was an exciting day at the Double D Ranch in Harper Texas.
She and David went out to hunt at 4 this afternoon and by 5:30 they were racing in to tell me the good news. Her face was beaming. I have never seen her so excited. David pointed out to her the fact that you only shoot your first deer once in your life and for her to shoot her first deer on the first time she went hunting was extra special. He was proud of her, his niece Mary Frances.
It was an exciting day at the Double D Ranch in Harper Texas.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
December 25, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. Christmas Morning.
Every year gets a bit more organized. As the girls get older they get more appreciative and seem to really enjoy and cherish each gift, or perhaps I enjoy the process more each year. This morning was a delight. Seven granddaughters opening gifts one by one, thrilled with the gift, then looking for the next. The part they enjoyed the best was giving their gifts to us and to their aunt and uncle, all carefully selected by them and in some instance, hand made by them.
The girls slept in until 7:30 a.m. By the time Ken and I arrived at 8:00 they were just sitting down to the serious task of opening gifts and drinking coffee. It was great fun. All adults were pleased. By ten we were ready for breakfast, Christmas casserole, hashed brown potatoes and cinnamon rolls, the traditional meal. We sat around the living room admiring the gifts until noon, and since then all the girls have been playing the new WII games, having many many contests. The kids beat the adults, which pleases the kids big time.
The living room is still a well organized mess. The furniture is pushed back to the walls. Each child has an area for their gifts, carefully displayed for all to see for some girls while others just pile them up. It is interesting to see the difference. Sooner or later we will have Christmas dinner of roast beef, our favorite meal. For now, all is calm. The girls are playing, Molly is playing by herself in her new play castle, the adults are talking or reading, so all is well in the Dickie family. Christmas mornings just get better and better!!
The girls slept in until 7:30 a.m. By the time Ken and I arrived at 8:00 they were just sitting down to the serious task of opening gifts and drinking coffee. It was great fun. All adults were pleased. By ten we were ready for breakfast, Christmas casserole, hashed brown potatoes and cinnamon rolls, the traditional meal. We sat around the living room admiring the gifts until noon, and since then all the girls have been playing the new WII games, having many many contests. The kids beat the adults, which pleases the kids big time.
The living room is still a well organized mess. The furniture is pushed back to the walls. Each child has an area for their gifts, carefully displayed for all to see for some girls while others just pile them up. It is interesting to see the difference. Sooner or later we will have Christmas dinner of roast beef, our favorite meal. For now, all is calm. The girls are playing, Molly is playing by herself in her new play castle, the adults are talking or reading, so all is well in the Dickie family. Christmas mornings just get better and better!!
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