December - Winter & Christmas Season

 We're experiencing the winter season for the first time here in Texas. We are anxious to experience all the seasons this new state has to offer. We regularly compare other places we've lived and the temps and weather...Arizona, Idaho, California. Mid-December and its been great thus far, no complaints! We've had a handful of colder overnights dipped into the 40's - days have ranged from 60's to 80's but primarily 70's and just lovely out. We're told Jan into the first week of Feb is the coldest here so we shall see what the next few months bring us!

 The other day we were just talking about the summer and how it really wasn't a huge adjustment to make to the heat here as we've experienced high temps in AZ for a long time. The humidity we thought was going to be a bigger adjustment than it was - it truly wasn't that bad! Of course just like other places we've lived you have those really uncomfortable days but for the most part it was perfectly fine.  

So fall and winter thus far have let us wear light weight long sleeves and even skirts and tank tops!

Leaves are everywhere - the pecan trees around town went bare first and some of the oaks are still full of leaves, others are half bare. It definitely looks more fall-and-winterish here!

 To kick off holiday season, Christmas season, we went to our town's courthouse lighting and Christmas lights parade. It was spectacular. 

This last week we ventured to a town 30 minutes away for their two-day downtown Christmas event and did their drive-through Christmas light tour at the park which lasted an hour and was truly amazing. We did not expect it to be so large! We also went to our church Christmas dinner and were able to talk to new friends and get to know people even more in our new area.

And around here- piggies are still settling in. I love that I can go to our backyard and catch a glimpse of them. 

The holiday season this year is different for us - getting used  to being in a new place, new traditions, new  places to go. We don't have our decorations with us- so no tree this year, ornaments, lights. But we're together, we're happy and we have each other and nothing more matters.

And one more photo that was posted on our community group to share of our town lit up- 

Our girls are HOME to Texas!

 Its been a long time, so long since I've seen mine and my son's pigs. Our girls were boarded mid-March so that we could embark on our 3-4 month (possibly up to 6 month) RV travel trip. Now December - -  9 months later they are finally home. We had no idea when we left them it would be so long or that we would be relocating them 'home' to Texas. God is SO good and ensured their care, safety and bringing them home to us. Between having the most amazing caregiver for our girls while we we traveled, to our awesome new landlord who is providing space on his own land for a pen and cover for our girls, and the caring church family who lent us their trailer when we couldn't find one in time that would work. Miracles, blessings all along the way....and now they are finally home and here with us.

They traveled well, Scarlett better than Ro-Ro but they did amazing for a 2 day trip and an overnight all spent in a trailer.  They have never seen grass in their lives living in Arizona...and now they have green grass everywhere and a big tree above them. They are together, they have cow and chicken friends come over to say hello, they are happy - and we are happy!

I've of course snapped about a million pictures in under a week - they have my heart. A lot of people if you don't have pigs, and have never been around a pot belly pig don't really understand - but they are as bonded and close to our family as your family dog is. But they are smarter! Pigs are incredibly emotional creatures, smart and bond to each other as well as to their caretakers and family. Its a forever bond. When they got home and heard my voice they got excited and came over- they still KNEW me. I tried out their tricks/commands and they still knew all of them. My heart overflows, I love these girls so much. Now for some photo catch up below.....

Traveling from Arizona to Texas - 16 hour trip - 2 days, 1 overnight - - but they had each other!

Seeing grass for the first time and checking out their new home and pen. Cow friends came by to say Hi.

Settling in - getting their meals, getting used to their routine, and getting plenty of belly rubs!

Our happiness, our home. Life together as a family, with our animals, in this place and space, in this town, in Texas. We are just feeling so incredibly blessed.

Thankful & Grateful - Happy Thanksgiving

NOVEMBER - -  Life is good. There's always ups and downs, highs and lows but its how we choose to see things, what we choose to focus on. We don't have to be pulled down by life's hard times, we can acknowledge the hard, feel those feelings, cry out, but choose to focus on our blessings. There's always blessings to be felt, seen, acknowledged in our lives and for that we are thankful and grateful. 

Every morning I take Ernie pup on our walk I feel those enormous blessed feelings and I thank the Lord for the little things, big things, in between things - all the things. The sunshine on my skin, its warmth, the beauty of the large oak trees surrounding, the way their leaves rustle, the intricate way the moss and vines climbs up the limbs as I look above, the ability to move my body each day, the gratitude I feel for being in this place, this town, this state, the wonderful people we've met, how it feels more like home in our hearts than anywhere has, that we are all together in this space and place right now as a family. Life is so amazing and so full of beautiful blessings.

 This month.....

I had my birthday, hubbie has his tomorrow.

1st Thanksgiving in Texas

Cooking the very first holiday meal in our RV / tiny RV oven!

Fall looks like its here - leaves everywhere

Market Days in town

Park walks with the pup

Exploring rivers and parks

For my birthday we did breakfast in Flatonia at Darlin's Diner, antique window shopping and site seeing in Smithville and some chocolate birthday cake that evening! It was our first time to this cute little diner but after seeing rave reviews a while back I was excited to try it. It did not disappoint and I can't wait to return to try other menu items.

Darlin's Diner Menu

Weekly Monday night family board game evenings....this week was Life. Ernie pup laying at our feet while we laugh and play together. We now have a loveseat, recliner, and chair in the tiny cabin so we go over there for some space and place to play.

Texas sunsets.

Our neighbor cows. #35 and 36 are exceptionally friendly and come out to the fence line that meets our backyard to say hello. They are super interested in our pup but he doesn't care much. 36 let me pet its head. Cows are awesome.

Luckily our landlord behind us also has chickens that venture into our yard on a daily basis so it makes me less miss having chickens of my own. I told my husband the minute we get our own land I'm getting a flock!! I can't wait!!

Kale and several types of lettuce are holding strong in this gardening zone here in south central Texas. For now we are container gardening but we're making large garden plans (and dreams) for when we aren't in this space and have our own place. For now finding contentment with just a few plants. We also have tomatoes and peppers.

Yard views out front...It's officially FALL y'all!  Leaves everywhere but yet still a lot on the trees and still pretty green everywhere we venture. We're loving Texas and can't wait to experience a full year here.

Pup walks every morning at our city park.

Day trip to La Grange to check out a fishing spot along the Colorado River. There's also a nice spot along the same river in the town of Columbus.

Venturing to city parks in other cities. We've officially hit all the ones up in every town surrounding us.

We are loving Texas, loving our new area, still trying to settle into a routine here and anxiously awaiting to pick up our pot belly pigs, our sons pigeons and the remainder of our items in our storage. We are blessed.

Around Here - Walks & Home Projects

 Happy October 1st! How is it October already....this year has flown by. Perhaps its because Jan-Feb-March was all about prep to leave for our big adventure April 1st. Then RV life and travel. And finally being guided to and planted in Texas. We have one more big to-do next month in November to pick up some of our belongings from Arizona and also pick up our girls- our pot belly pigs then I think come December we'll be able to breathe....a whole year of go-go-go. Its been a whirlwind of ups, downs, highs, lows, huge blessings and miracles, tough times, and tender mercies - 

WOW >> what a life adventure. 

A little photo catch up of what's been going on around here....

Morning park walks with Ernie dog. I LOVE our city park. Tons of oak trees, trails, picnic tables every where, several playgrounds, swings scattered about, tennis courts, the city pool, sports fields. Its got it all and yet its so incredibly peaceful. Its my favorite way to start the day - walking our  dog there.

Projects around the house....

1) Address posted, welcome sign and hanging plants hung on the tiny cabin.

2) Deck and stairs built for the RV.

Two of my favorite spaces in our new place. Siting in the front yard beneath the trees with our pup so he can breathe in the air, listen to the sounds of birds. My other favorite place is the front deck of our tiny cabin. Its SO incredibly peaceful and beautiful in our new space. Trees and wildlife everywhere. Quiet, serene. I just sit for a few minutes gazing out and feel so recharged, so blessed, so grateful for God's guidance to be planted here in this town, in this state and here at this farm.

Foggy morning....if you think it looks 'cool' - - it was like a HOT sauna outside.

Photo dump of the cows from our old neighborhood. I love cows! They are so adorable and friendly!