The Mad Hatters Thanksgiving

Well, this Thanksgiving we were going to have a large group of family come and celebrate with us, then little by little our group dwindled to just three. When all was lost to having a large feast we got a reprieve, Ash and Jon were coming after all. We so enjoyed every moment and minute, maybe because it might not have happened at all. We woke to the most amazing weather, warm and sunny. We all sat around drinking our coffee and eating snacks, listening to movies and comics as our Thanksgiving feast cooked in the oven. This year, I prepared little bits here and there a week before so that when the day arrived we didn't spend it cooking all day. We ate about 2PM and the table was so crowded with food some of us didn't even know we had certain dishes and missed out all together. I didn't even burn anything! 

We "bowed for fun" and put a zombie rat target up; only shots to the head and water bottle hits counted for points. We all managed to bead in and found the perfect target spot for finding arrows when we didn't. Jon was the winner!

Played some Bocce Ball according to our own set of rules and the air of competition thickened every time a new rule was added. I am truly thankful for the great day we had at our little cabin in the hills.

Good Company

Simply sitting and visiting with good company. Being in the moment, taking time to rest from the work week, listening to some good tales; this is entertainment!

Is this really December in Texas?

The day was so unseasonably warm and sunny; could this really be December? Took the goats and dogs on a walk and shot some photos, none of which revealed the rich color of the hills around us. The goats gobbled the pretty leaves they could reach and the dogs roving-wrestled like it was spring. How beautiful The Creation!

Bluegrass Festival

So we went to the Bluegrass Festival in Kerrville this last weekend. Went early and had dinner with Carie, Scott, Vic and Sherry. We dined on hamburgers and wine/beer. We laughed enough to add a year or two to our lives. Ahhh, the stories we heard…

We were late to the festival, found our seats and listened to bluegrass for a couple of hours. There were three bands and I liked the last one best, which had some really good folk songs.

Blood Brothers

Bill's friend Jerry came to visit for the weekend. It was great seeing Jerry for more than a few hours and I got to know him more; finding out why they are still friends after all these years. They went to the Fireman's BBQ, listened to music by local artists and hung out at the house remembering old times and making a few new memories.

Kringler's Kool Kickback

Went to the neighbors' Mountain Dew shindig and met a few of our fellow 2107's. Segrid and Volcer were fabulous hosts and provided a feast for all of us. Met Carie's beau, Scott, totally loved him - what a character! Scott's Dad and his wife joined us as well. Volcer and his band played us old country music from their hearts love of Texas. We finished the visit with Killepitsch and Peach white lightening. Country living at its finest with people who love life; what a rich tapestry we all wove.

The Breeding of Oonagh and Teagan

Well the season of breeding has come around and I have made 3 trips to take the "girls" to visit their boyfriend Pollo, quite the "handsome man"(And rather stinky too).  Learning to read the signs of heat are harder than I anticipated. I believe Teagan settled her 2 little doelings on that second visit and Oonagh,

her 2 little doelings on this last and third visit. (Yes, the aforementioned comment is positive thinking) And we shall continue as we started - hoping for the best. I think, as we head into the breeding season that the "girls'" heats were intensifying. Teagan wanted nothing to do with Pollo on this last visit and cried after me as I drove away - kinda felt bad - but Oonagh only had eyes for Pollo. Ahhh, goat love! So come this Febuary 21st and March 13th, we will be ooohing and aaawing over 4 beautiful little doelings.

Really Rad Roadtrip

What did we do this summer of 2013? Well, a road trip to New Mexico from our Texas hill country cabin. Luri and I drove to Albuquerque where we reconnected with family and had a few adventures, like riding the tram up to Sandia Mountain and having a picnic. What a view!

Or going to the St. John's Tearoom with big hats on, laughing hysterically as we devoured our appetizers like staving women. Note: eat lunch a couple of hours before you go!

The Cumbres & Toltec Railway is a charming chug through alpine forests and meadows up to Colorado where we disembarked, had lunch, then reboarded  for a return trip back to Chama. We got up around 4:30 am to be sure we had plenty of time to make our boarding time of 9:00 am. We used Mom's outdated GPS which decided to take us through an old waypoint west of our destination. As the sun came up we were weaving in and out of the most gorgeous canyons and bluffs. I might want to add at this time, it only takes 2.5 hrs. to get there from Rio Rancho. So, needless to say we had some time to kill before we boarded even though we drove out of our way to get to Chama. We ate breakfast at Foster's

quaint cafe and looked around town, talking to a few locals. As we boarded our train car it was as though we stepped through time. The employees all dressed in period clothing as they told us about the history of the area and the old working rail line used for mining ore. Our seat mates were great as well. One man and his wife were taking their grandson, as they took their son years before. We were allowed to walk through the cars and visit, get drinks and snacks, and hang out in the open-air car to take pictures while listening to the guide tell us more about the landmarks as we chugged along. The coal smell and debris in the air coated every inch of us and made me think of how it must have been like to travel cross-country and why so many people wore hats. :)

Thanks, Mom, for giving us such a great adventure! We laughed, sang, teased each other and danced with life. That was one of the best road trips ever.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Wow, an old friend of Bill's, Jim, his wife Laura and his grandson, Damien came over for dinner the same night the Germans came over. Carie and her beau, Frank, also came and we had a blast as we ate Mexican food, consumed wine and beer and enjoyed one another. Good times and memories made. Love these gatherings as much as planning them, like painting a picture.

The weather was perfect; with a slight breeze to keep the bugs at bay and us cool. Our little cabin at the end of the road is a blessing and a sanctuary, so peaceful and picturesque. The seasons have been cooler this year and make gatherings like these a pleasure.

Mother's Day * Empress Treatment

Oh, how wonderfully blessed I have been to have two daughters, and a son now, who love me so. Thank you all for such a fantastic Mother's Day. I was given a manicure/pedicure, blaved at rummy, walked to the river (pushed in, got my revenge though - "Sure, the waters' not cold, come on in!), three gourmet meals complete with chocolate raspberry tart, and a fantastic foot massage. I enjoyed every moment and the weather was great! As the day was winding down, I didn't want it to end. Who would, right? Bill worked on the  chicken coop design, and Jon kept the cool refreshing drinks coming. Did I say how blessed I am yet?

Caragh and Champ loved running freeeeeeee and swimming in the river. All the animals got along well. Jon adopted the black rooster, now dubbed "El Diablo". Jiggi decided he deserved a place at the table and somehow managed without being seen like a table-ninja, to secure a corner of it. We laughed a lot, reminisced, laughed some more and ate till we were bloated. I guess I got my wish too, when I wished for more days like this.  Blessed - yes, truly blessed!

Radical Rollercoaster Rush

Wow, what a rush! Went to 6 Flags Fiesta in San Antonio and rode every knuckle clinching, adrenaline pumping ride in the entire park for EJ's sixteenth birthday celebration. White Water Bay opened for the first weekend this season and the weather was perfect, the Tornado frightening!  All the rides were a short wait, about 5 minutes average. Bill said he wasn't riding any of the roller coasters every time he got on one :) and my favorite was the "Superman".  We spent eight hours straight pumping our adrenaline and we all felt it today; worn out and exhausted. EJ wants to go back as soon as she can and Bill never wants to go back. I'm somewhere in between. Ash and Jon have season passes and plan on coming back later this spring. My second favorite ride was the Frisbee, made by the germans :), that almost made me want to yurk my funnel cake. All in all, a great fun family time.

Spectacular Stone Staircase

Wow, how I love stone! Bill heaved all these stones into place over a couple of months; about 32 hours overall time spent placing all these puzzle pieces into the perfect spot. Bill sure can produce a beautiful result with anything he puts his hand to. I sure appreciate that about him! Stone has a way of making anything look like its been there a long time and has withstood the elements. I think Bill and stone have some similar character traits. Think I might add some succulents to a nook or cranny here or there too.

Sweet Sixteen and a cake by E Code Design

Since we are going to Six Flags later this month, we gave EJ a little bit of a precelebration on her actually birthday. A Betty Boop card and chalk for her blackboard wall in her bedroom, her favorite dinner (steak and mashed potatoes with a green salad), plus a cake she came up with. It was a white and chocolate cake (four layers) with german chocolate icing. It was really good. Ahhh, Sweet Sixteen, never to be seen again. Our girl is a young woman and we are getting really old! :p

Playground Climbing Toys

Teagan and Oonagh have some new toys to play on now. Free from the local construction project nearby. They love them and pose for pictures as they are told how beautiful they are. They fight for "Queen of the Mountain" on the top spool. 

I will be breeding them this fall, August or September, to have baby goatees in January or Febuary. I can hardly wait. Went to see someone else's babies and Bill fell in love with one little doeling. EJ evens wants one of her own. 

We will be milking them by this time next year, with their little ones running and jumping full of life, while we make cheese and soap. Aaahhh, the true good life! 

Beebee Gun Blitz

Wow, what a hoot we had when we got the bee-bee gun out and heckled each other about our shooting accuracy. EJ, by far, hit the most targets. Bill swears he could see the itty-bitty pellet pass to the right or left of the target. Yeah, right! I was just grateful that I could even see the target to shoot at all.

The Best Ol' Gal on the Block

Chloe, the best ol' gal on the block is giving the best milk around to two inexperienced milkers. Bill and I milk twice a week and find that it is a great time to spend together and talk as we milk. It takes us about an hour to feed and water Chloe's daughter, Clover, 6 horses, and milk Chloe. The horses are fed first as they get a bit grumpy if they have to wait while we feed Clover. Once that is done, Chloe is ready and moves to the milk barn on her own to be relieved of her milk. She is bomb proof, any loud noise and she just keeps on munching on her pellets while we get things ready to milk. She, however, does not like her head to be touched:).

Wish We Had More Days Like This

Austin in December

So enjoyed the day in Austin, a little bit of everything. No planned route or destination, just going with the flow, in the moment, no expectations just "oh, let's go see that." "ok."

Hey Guys, I think we have an infestation!

Got some baby chicks last Thursday. Three each of Cuckoo Marans, Americanas, and Black Australuopes. Everyone but the dogs have fallen in love already, they are reserving their feelings on the matter until it can be determined that we don't have an infestation problem.

Relaxing River Respite

Walked down to the river with the whole gang, Bill, Diana, EJ, Oonagh, Teagan, Raspberry, Chunk, Lady, and Jiggy. The days are beginning to heat up. The water was cold and made for some sharp breaths, but sure did cool us down quick.

A FAMILY BEGINS - A NOBLE ENTERPRISE

SABORI NEWS

A done deal, a promise made, vows given, a hand taken, a price of great value paid. A little thunder, a little lightening. A spark, a fire. Give and take, sing, whistle, skip, twirl, dance, giggle, laugh, snort!

The desired expectation. All for one and one for all. We will seize the day and take leaps of faith. Into the fray, to live and die each day. Search out the hidden, watch the flowers bud and bloom. Solve a problem and invent a thing. Love, be noble, grow!