Pioneer Woman Trek

Kelly and LeighAnn

These 2 sweet friends surprised me in December.  They kidnapped me and presented me with PW's new Cookbook and then we drove to North Dallas for a booksigning at a Borders Book store.  The day remains a fantastic memory.  As I write this more than 6 weeks after, I know that this made the "top 10" for 2009.


Now these ladies have become precious and FUN friends.  Both of them are lovely Christians, "stay-at-home" moms and women who dearly love their husbands.  They both are incredible cooks and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to serve.  Kelly Bowland, on the left, has 6 beautiful children and LeighAnn has 7.  So, how they ever have time for me is, well, unexplained except by God and His timely blessings.   I am truly honored with their friendship and humbled by their gracious spirits when I spend anytime with them at all.

On this day we had quite an entourage, joined by Prairie Kerri and her children and Madison, Kelly's oldest daughter.
We enjoyed a casual lunch in the Big City and strolled through some great stores, then went to Borders.  I think we got in line around 5:00 and finally made our reconnaissance with Ree around 11:30 pm or something.  Amazingly, the time in the line was NOT boring, as the gals were quite entertaining and there was plenty of "people watching" to do.  Kelly has this incredible gift of being able to carry on humorous conversations for HOURS.

Kelly drove us safely home, handling the heavy rain with skill. 
Meeting Ree?  We had maybe 30 seconds to fill with meaningful conversation and then whisked away for the next admirers.  So, what do you say?  UMMMM, Hello, for starters.......then I babbled on and on how Jody is a happy well-fed husband due to her great website............pictures and moved on.  If there was a cattle prod, we couldn't have moved any faster.


The day was packed with fun being with LeighAnn, Kelly and Kerrie.  The memory is filled with that comraderie, 4 ladies in Christ, laughing, talking, watching and sitting for hours.  I would do it again in a heart beat, not to see a celebrity, but to hang with these great ladies.........anywhere, anytime.

Thank you for my cookbook, gals.  Love you!!!!

Marigrace's Lamby

 He is a BOY!  And before his immediate future changes I thought I would document this friendship.  In October we were given a Dorper newborn lamb who was abandoned by his mama.  Marigrace took it upon herself to bottle feed "Boy" and adopt him as her "new best friend".

He's been living on our back porch.  He LOVES Marigrace and follows her everywhere like an obedient dog.  Even when Marigrace rides her pony, the lamb is sure to follow her.  He, however, does NOT like anyone but Marigrace.  And now that he is full grown and all MALE, this poses a problem for his future (immediate) and Marigrace's love affair.

We have tried putting him "out" with the rest of the animals, but he cries and cries for Marigrace.  At night he sleeps by the window, getting as close to her as possible.  He also has a love affair with the laundry hanging on the line.  Once I have it hung up, it is difficult to get it back down as he butts me, quite upset with my taking down his "friends".

Needless to say he HATES men.  He challenges Jody and Joel mercilessly.  At first it was quite cute, but now he's a terror.

But, with Marigrace he continues to love and protect.  So, do we have lambchops??  Or, better yet I am sure he would LOVE a cutie pie ewe his same age.  He then could roam a pasture together forever.

 

Our Texas Home

Our little home, or "bunk House" is located at the highest point in the area. Now around here, there are no mountains, so this high point is a slight elevation from the rest of the country. At night the lights from surrounding towns are beautiful and far away. On this 600 ranch the trees are not by the home, but are about 500 acres away, and there the Oaks are absolutely breathtaking. Walking down to the Oaks is a reward that I enjoy. Although, one day on my hike around that 100 acres, I came across a HUGE animal print in the mud. It was wider than my foot. It definitely looked like a CAT!!! And, yes, there have been rumors most recently of a mountain lion in the area. Needless to say, I pack protection with me. Back up at the bunk house, (see photo). It's quite simple and snug!!! It is 1000 square feet, so it's easy to clean in a hurry. On the downside, we don't have room for our books, which are in storage, or ANY closet space. But, the porch is a great place to have people over and serve up a big meal. And with this much acreage, we have room for a garden. Jody LOVES to garden. He tills and tills with the trusty tiller and then he tills some more. Marigrace and Reagan are his chief helpers and water--ers. There is lots planted in this space. Corn, about 200 bean plants, over 20 tomatoes, 20 or so peppers, 500 onions (yes we LOVE those Texas sweet onions), lettuce, spinach, chard, black eyed peas, sunflowers and tons of other flowers. Oh, and potatoes and a bed of carrots. Wind, wind, we have LOTS of wind. Jody put old hay bales around some of the "sensitive" plants to shield them. It was 40 degrees and VERY windy when he and the girls first planted, hence the layers of clothing. Funny thing, Marigrace got a little bored, so she started playing with the water bucket. And got stuck!!! She looks like a BIG Bumble Bee, Huh!!! And those boots!!! Where'd she get those?? Hilarious!!!There's more, so MUCH more you could know about this place. We love it here in Central Texas and are blessed to have such a place to live. I'll keep you posted on the garden update as the produce comes in. Maybe some canning too!!! To our precious God and Creator and Provider be all Glory!!!

A Poem by Reagan

Reagan is the writer of our family. Earlier this spring she submitted her book entitled Miss Belle, A Mouse's Tale of Courage to a contest and won the Newbery Award. She thinks in words of flamboyance, illumination, thrill, grandeur, all those words that describe things like a Thomas Kinkaid painting. So, today she went for a walk after the 4 inch rain. Now, THAT was quite something.....not Reagan walking, but the RAIN. Everything that could go on with a rain, WENT ON. I mean, tornadoes were sighted in our area, although we didn't see one, HAIL, lightening and thunder like never before had we experienced and the BUCKETS of water falling from the sky. WOW!!! It was of Biblical proportions, for sure. One friend asked if we had room available on the ark. That was after I had made the comment that our house could double as an ark, as it is an all wood structure and could float away, if necessary. Anyway....Reagan went out when it was still misting and spent quite a while walking through the fields. After some time, she came back in and wrote down this poem. I asked her if I could put it on my blog, as I hadn't written on it for months. So, she put the little flower back ground on it!!! Oops, I couldn't get that to transfer, sorry....it is really pretty!!! Oh well!!! Enjoy the poem anyway. And as Martin Luther said: "Ask God the Creator to overwhelm you with a sense of wonder so that your adoration of Him overflows with amazement and delight."

His Glory

I look up in the heavens tall All hooded and cloaked with gray And watch the raindrops as they fall On this cold, wet spring day Twirling through the air, oh what a sight Each dewdrop like a pearl perfectly made Dancing down to the grass to alight Each stem like a crystal encrusted blade The sun breaks through the clouds Bringing light and warmth the same The grass no longer lies in gray shrouds But is burning with color aflame The wonder and beauty of this field With the sunlight shining upon it That even if it's fullness of life it could yield No artist on earth could capture it Only God expressing His artistic Glory, As across this canvas I gaze, Could create such a picture story Worthy of all mankind's praise