A Week on a West Texas Ranch

We just returned from a 5-day visit with my sister and brother-in-law at their ranch in West Texas. B-I-L Maxie and his two siblings were each given approx 5.5 sections (3520 acres) of their parents' ranch about 20 miles west of Iraan where Maxie, Sharon and I grew up. M&S are building a hunting cabin on their part of the ranch and we decided to go out and help them.

We worked hard the first two days, finishing up the forms for the foundation that was poured on Thursday (pictures will be forthcoming as soon as Sharon sends them to me -- I forgot my camera!). Suffice it to say that I added rebar "wire twisting" to my construction skills resume!

After work, lunch, clean-up and a nap, we would take a ride in their 4-wheeled Polaris Ranger. In addition to the longhorn cattle, sheep, and goats they raise on the ranch, we saw quail, dove, roadrunners, jackrabbits (which JJ and Grover LOVED chasing), cottontails, deer, a variety of butterflies and even rattlesnake tracks. JJ and Grover also kept us safe from vultures touring the area by barking at them whenever they came into view. One afternoon, it showered on us as we were riding around -- quite refreshing!

One evening we were treated to a spectacular lightning show -- one that only the skies of West Texas can produce.

While there, I collected some cacti for our desert garden at home: cholla, horse-crippler, lace cactus and another type I'm unsure of.

Every evening after dinner, we played 42 -- Carl and I managed to win enough so we were not totally humiliated!

It was a great week and it reminded me of all the things I loved about living out there. . .

Freezing, Drying, Cooking -- Oh My!

A blessing, and a curse, of closing down the kitchen at Camp Meeting each year is dividing up the food that is left -- most of which is perishable.

Carl and I have spent the last two weeks processing this food:

• we made 9 quarts of tomato sauce from the tomatoes;
• I made quarts of cream of carrot and cream of broccoli soup;
• I have squeeze dozens of lemons and limes into ice cube trays;
• we packaged 3.5 quarts of de-veined and de-seeded roasted Anaheim peppers;
• we stuffed 2 dozen green bell peppers;
• we took 2.5 dozen eggs, whipped them, and froze them into 15 snack bags;
• we took an additional 2.5 dozen eggs and cracked 2 into each of 15 snack bags;
• cut up multiple pounds of chuck roast and vacu-sealed into manageable portions; and
  
• cut the meat from 2 large watermelons and froze into manageable-size packages.

It is test of our kitchen skills -- we LOVE it!

It's a Small World After All!

This morning Carl let JJ and Grover out and heard the sound of a chain saw close to our property. Upon investigation, he found a woman with her husband and a friend. When they introduced themselves, Carl realized he knew the woman. They began the game of trying to figure out where they knew each other and finally realized that she, Cindy, worked at River City Grill where Carl and I frequented and became friends with her.

She and her husband now own the property two lots down from us and we are all thrilled!

No Smoking, Please

I was working at my laptop when I suddenly smelled the faint odor of cigarette smoke. Since there are only four of us who live here and (1) I have NEVER smoked, (2) Carl quit 30 years ago, and (3) to our knowledge, JJ and Grover haven't taken up the habit, I was quite puzzled. I called Carl into the room but he didn't smell anything.

I continued my work and, periodically, I smelled the smell. I finally realized that I the smell was strongest when my hands were close to my face. Sure enough, my hands smelled like cigarette smoke! The only thing I had done different was to open a new jar of Burt's Bees' Hand Creme, which smells like almonds in the jar, and smells like cigarette smoke on my hands!

I love Burt's Bees' products, but I think they need to work on the fragrance of this one. . .

Weekend at the Beach

We spent the weekend at the beach in Port Aransas with 4 other couples. Some of us fished (amoung those creatures caught was a large sting ray), some played in the surf, others built sand castles and all enjoyed the weekend.

Friday night we ate the best pizza I've ever had at a dive called The Gaff; were we to be there next weekend we could participate in the belt sander races they are hosting (if you don't have your own belt sander, you can borrow one from them!). Only in Texas!

Camp Meeting 2009

A belated posting for a fabulous 12 days, during which time we enjoyed a respite from the grueling drought and triple-digit temperatures we are having in the Hill Country -- we had 6 days of steady, gentle rains and we wore jackets much of that time!

Additionally, we experienced:

• spiritual revival through wonderful pulpit messages, congregational singing, and special music;
  
• learning my new favorite game, "Settlers of Catan";
• climbing the mountain for the first time in 25 - 30 years;
• quality time with family and life-long friends; and
  
• enjoying breath-taking mountain vistas.
  

Enjoy the picture show: