New Book Published —-“Not Yet” My new book is available on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback. Non-fiction dealing with aging, life during the pandemic, loss of an adult child and homeschooling a grandson. Laugh, cry and be...
Read MoreLatest Book Haven’t posted in a coon’s age, however long that is. The latest book, the fifth is titled, “Ready Set Go,” and is available at Amazon. I have continued short term lodging here at the ranch and the five properties are listed on VRBO under Texas Hill Country, Ambush Hill Ranch, Barksdale, Texas. More to...
Read MoreNew Book Published
My new book, “Saplings, Switches, and Twigs is now available from Amazon in paperback or digital. A quote from the Preface follows. And the old man said, “Before these crowded streets, trees stood here.” This book is not about trees, but about the sturdy roots and branches of a family, similar to a tree and to all tress that grow for short periods or for centuries and give...
Read MoreSaplings, Switches, and Twigs
My new book, Saplings, Switches, and Twigs will soon be published. The book is an interesting account of my family, some nice things and some sad things, but all memories that signal a journey into the past, a trip that aging encourages. This picture is of me and my sister-in-law riding in a World War II Leopard tank at the Oxley Ranch in Uvalde County, about an hour away from my ranch. The...
Read MorePredators
Predators in my world are mostly four-legged though the bird predators have only two legs. Unable to raise lambs or even axis deer, I acquired two donkeys to protect the two herds of sheep in different pastures. Last year I raised four lambs, this year I am down to only one surviving and I expect that single lamb to be gone every time I call the sheep to feed them some alfalfa. The coyotes,...
Read MoreChristmas Memories
Memories of Christmas past return this cold clear Texas morning. Most of them are of the early years in the lives of my children when we lived in the country outside the town of New Iberia, Louisiana. The Bayou Teche ran along our backyard. One particular year I had three Christmas trees, one on the front porch, one in the living room and one in the children’s play room. I don’t...
Read MoreBeware of over the counter remedies
As part of the unpleasant aging process, my hair became thin and my nails tended to shred. I first noticed it when my part widened. I resorted to the internet and my daughter’s advice and ended up with a bottle of Hair Renew, $35 at the health food store. After taking two a day for less than a week, I experienced stomach pains between my breasts and waist. Knowing it was the capsules...
Read MoreGlimmer of Hope
For the past eight years I drive to Crockett, Texas the first weekend in December for a meeting with my three brothers and for a party hosted by one of them. The 400-mile drive is across the heart of Texas and takes me through Fredericksburg, Johnson City, Austin, Elgin, Rockdale, Hearne, Franklin, Centerville and the outskirts of Crockett, bypassing the town to arrive at my brother’s...
Read MoreAmbushed by America
The publicity campaign has just been launched for my third book, “Ambushed by America.” The reviews I’ve received have been marvelous, which is a bit of a pleasant surprise. I favor my second book, “Roundtrip from Texas.” Perhaps the third one is the charm, but I’m not quitting with this one. The fourth book, “Saplings, Twigs, and Switches,” is...
Read MoreSanta Fe Opera
What a wonderful week in Santa Fe. The climate is delightful compared to southwest Texas in August and the company of my three brothers and their spouses for our yearly visit proved wonderful. As always we stayed at the same hotel along with several other couples, Texas friends, and wined and dined with enjoyment. The opera, “Golden Cockerel,” was entertaining but I must admit,...
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