Spring brings so many welcome sights and so many return guests!

 This year the wildflowers of TEXAS are incredible and even if my well meaning husband wants to grate up all my poppies from the drive area, the few blue bonnets and the hard to start Indian paintbrush are making a debut in many of our cottage locales!

 At sunset, the native Texas redbuds are still our reliable rosy glow on these lovely Spring evenings.

 Round up of the 44 Farms bulls is done on horseback... this year using Jag, the new and amazing mare.

 For our quick turn arounds, I have 2 awesome helpers with broom and vacuum! So fun to have family cottages and family share time. We even get to leave chocolate bunny surprises for our Easter guests... Hope they especially enjoyed the hand written notes of the little ladies who love surprises!

 Fossil hunts, scavenger hunts, sandpile digging and just plain ole country fun are always happening somewhere around these cottages of ours.

 Flowers on the ground our in the pond are too lovely for words!!! so many new kinds! and if anyone wants the most incredible sight ever... go over to the adjacent Buffalo Gap Cemetery where Forrest and Mabel Reynolds have planted blue bonnets for years... the entire area is covered!!! Even if our unique and wonderful Forrest is no longer with us... there is an ocean of blue that has become his legacy!

Easter has many traditions at our home.... hope each of you have your own as well.

One of the best gifts we give our families is a Godly heritage that reveals the hearts of love for the ONE WHO made us and called us to His family!

Happy Springtime friends.... join us sometime soon!

Late January and February Rains fill ALL the tanks and make WILDFLOWERS ready to SPRING FORTH!

AS Troy looks over our newly overflowing tanks... he says "Carla, this is water for years in this place!"
I agree.... the tanks we've just dug have all been filled to overflowing with these late January, early February rains over Texas. MOST unusual rain pattern!
WE even found a waterfall in the prayer chapel tank... simply the heavy runoff from our rain drenched Texas land.
The muddy road is hopefully going to be replaced with the grasses and wildflowers the grandchildren planted on the new East property tank. We are praying it holds water as we believe this is one of our most valuable resources and gifts from a loving GOD!
All the wildlife will be loving this spot!!! it is their favorite watering hole, and now it is again filled!

Happy New Year 2010

The holidays of 2009 into the beginning of 2010 brought special guests!
Our neighbors had family in both cottages and we loved getting to allow a place for fun,
exploration, and more room for families to gather!
Loved having you Petterson crew and Martin family!
Glad Barbara's leather coat made it through the snow!
Troy found it over the outside chairs and it was still in great shape after being covered in snow!
Better check out that brand!
Babies, and kiddos were in abundance at the 2 bedroom....
Loved giving you guys a cozy place to place and enjoy the holidays!
A place by the fire is always welcome in these cold temps of New Year 2010!
Our newest improvement, my Christmas gift for 2009, a new tank!
In my opinion, as any of you who have been our guests know,
WATER is one of our greatest resources.
A truly valuable gift!
For a day, the good top soil made a great "mountain" for those looking to conquer the heights!
Then... it was laid on the tank sides
allowing us to plant wildflowers and grasses for this new aspect of our land!
Hopefully, this spring will bring wonderful flowers to the GATEWAY!!!
I already see an abundance of bluebonnets ready for the Spring 2010 debut!
Come to Texas this spring... I guarantee....
It's gonna be a banner year for our Texas wildflowers!!!