I'm Committed

It's been a really long, hard road fraught with decisions, indecisions, changed minds, over-priced land, and just about anything going wrong that can go wrong. BUT, I have FINALLY settled on a cabin. Is it as big as I'd like? No, but it'll do. Is it the style I'd like? No, but again, it'll do. Is it the best of what I can do within my limitations? Yes, I think it is. I'm happy with it. And it'll be mine.

I still have to complete the land sale, get final financing, pay to drill a water well, pay to have a septic system installed, pay to have a road put in, pay to have it fenced, pay to have a carport build...pay, pay, and pay some more. But it could be worse and lots of people would love to be in my position, so I'm not really complaining. Well, not much I'm not. At any rate, I have paid the 50% down--$47,690.97. So I guess that means I'm committed. Actually, it's kind of exciting!

Amazing What a Little Rain Will Do!

Rain...finally! I'm trying hard to think of the last time I've been able to watch it rain on and off for three days. Let's just say it's been awhile.

There is something soothing about being able to sit on the front porch and knit while watching it rain, and rain, and rain.

Rocky Creek has been more rocky than it's been a creek for the past two years. Any rain has only been enough to fill the deeper holes, and not enough to really run any water. This time however, it did happen! This time water was about 4 feet deep running over the road. By the time I was able to take pictures on Sunday, it was only about ankle deep on the road, but you could still see the debris line from the previous night. Pretty awesome, huh?

Inside the Cabin

Thanks to all of you who have commented on the photo of the cabin. Yes, I love it! It is peaceful and relaxing and the perfect place to just unwind. And having it makes it possible for me to help my parents out on the weekend. Without it I'd be driving 126 round trip! This way we have a "base of operation" for all our activity in the vicinity. So, here are some views of the inside!

Views of course wouldn't be complete with showing you some of the cedar beams that go across the ceiling decorated with some of my handiwork. The turkey-tail fan is from one of MY turkeys! We dried it and I decorated it with beadwork. There's actually six of them--one on each side of the three beams. The wreath is also made from turkey tail feathers. It's hanging high up on the wall--above the fish clock shown in the first photo actually. And of course, my husband Mike and Zoe, one of our Boykin spaniels, sitting on the front steps of the cabin after a successful teal duck hunt. Zoe is particularly fond of retrieving teal ducks because they're small--just like she is!

Blessings from Heaven

Finally, some rain!

With apologies to Shakespeare, it was "mercy, falling as raindrops, blessing all they touched." Rain on Friday night, and rain again on Saturday. You could just about hear the Earth sigh with relief and pleasure. Saturday morning, as I sat at the computer in my upstairs home office posting on the ArtFire forums I could look out directly into a midst of the large tree in our front yard. No fewer than 5 brilliant red male cardinals flitted and played among the raindrops dripping from the leaves. It was hard not to be happy!

More rain Saturday afternoon and Saturday night helped quench the thirst of so many plants and trees. It was so pleasant to be able to sit out on the porch of our cabin and knit while watching it rain! Haven't been able to do that in a very, very long time.

The extreme drought Central Texas is enduring has taken its toll on things. It's so sad to see tall, stately pine trees dead; half-century or more oak trees dead or dying--and all for a lack of any significant rainfall for the last two years. Surface moisture in the ground is long gone, and even deep moisture in the ground is gone. Ponds have dried up, streams aren't running any water. Water is being rationed. It's not a good situation.

But this morning it was different. I drove into work and it seemed as if all the world was green again! It felt so good to see something besides dusty, brown, brittle, and dead vegetation. It was still sad to see the dead trees--victims that didn't make it--among the newly green world, but hopefully those that are stressed will be able to pull out of it with this much needed drink.

Mexicans of South Texas believe that the cenizo blooms as a way of asking God for rain. God finallly answered!