Follow Your Bliss

Christmas in Goliad

2010-12-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

We drove down to Joe and Donna's on Christmas Eve and saw the progress they are making on their RV Park - "Angels in Goliad RV Park".

And another new adventure!

2010-12-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

Over the past several weeks, I have been interviewing with two separate companies for the position of General Counsel. One company is in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the other is in Houston. I still have kids, family and friends in Minneapolis and John was game for "moving back" if necessary, but I must admit the film footage of the winter snowfall (and the Dome collapsing) seriously had me worried. Could I live like that again - shivering in the car on the way to work, snow tires, ice scrapers.......Hmmm....... In many ways, I think the decision was made for me because the company in Houston moved quicker in the process. I was offered (and accepted) that job and ended the interview process with the company in Minnesota. The weather has been over 80 degrees and sunny here every day since I made the decision, so I am guessing that is a good sign.

Now, Houston is three hours from where John and I currently hang our hats (notice how Texan I have become over the past 4 years?). John will continue to work at Embree in Georgetown and remain Austin-based. We love this house and plan to retire here (6 months here in the winter and 6 months at the cabin in Wisconsin in the summer.) However, a 3 hour commute (each way) is just too long and since the new company is pitching in relocation dollars, we have been exploring all options - real estate, renting, corporate apartments, etc. Today, we made the decision that (for now) I will live in an RV park in Houston during the week and commute home on week-ends.

I think I may be more excited about living in the RV than I am about the new job - it feels like a life-sized dollhouse. Seriously, once Joe and Donna got into the RV world a few years ago and we started actually looking at some of these, I had no idea how nice they were inside - and roomy! We found this RV in Houston and will have it moved over to my new spot with a view in about 2 weeks. In the meantime, I will stay in a hotel for my first week or two of work. Eventually, we will probably get a condo or townhouse in Houston (at which point we can park this RV in Jarrell which adds more sleeping space for when large groups of friends or family come visit - hint hint). I will have a pull-out couch in the RV and we have the guest bedroom (with pool and hottub) in Jarrell - so visitors can now fly into Houston (and drive back to Jarrell on Friday with me) or fly directly into Austin or San Antonio (and/or fly back out of Houston) in order to come visit Ranch Stange.

2010-12-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

2010-12-21T16:57:00.000-08:00

2010-12-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

Decked the Halls...

2010-11-29T06:28:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I have decorated the house for Christmas. I love tradition!

A fabulous Thanksgiving

2010-11-29T06:23:00.002-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. Sean flew in from Des Moines to 80 degree weather and we cooked a feast. Christy made a brussels sprout dish and a Paula Dean pumpkin dessert that was out of this world. Katherine whipped her potatoes into a frenzy, made the gravy, a fresh salad and an upside down apple pie. John's turkey, stuffing and Minnesota wild rice dish were also delicious.

2010-11-29T06:23:00.001-08:00

Perfect!

2010-11-29T06:20:00.000-08:00

2010-11-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

2010-11-29T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sean and John do prep work

2010-11-29T06:16:00.001-08:00

Cool Fall Morning

2010-11-19T13:37:00.001-08:00

It is getting cooler here by the day - the high today is only 70! BRRRRRRRRRRRRR. John took this photo this morning (the overnight low was 30, so the pool was steaming).

Looking forward to Thanksgiving next week - Sean is coming!

Branding

2010-11-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Our boss, Philip (a native Texan) had a few co-workers over yesterday afternoon to help brand the new longhorns (and give the big ones their shots). John (a Chicago native), Christy (originally from Atlanta), Dave (Ohio) and myself (a Minnesotan) put on our boots and hats and went out to his ranch. After we used the ATVs to get the last 2 stragglers into the stalls, the vet arrived. Shots were administered and then we got down to the serious business of branding.

Philip branded himself (the burn looks like a "1") and then he branded the 2 new longhorns. Noone passed out. I believe this is considered a successful branding.

2010-11-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

What are those gringos doing over there?

2010-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

2010-11-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

My favorite cowboy

2010-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

Beep! Beep!

2010-11-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint, we bought a used Mini Cooper last week. John caught these pictures on his cell phone as I drove it home.

Foggy morning

2010-10-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Fall has not arrived here yet (yesterday it was 87 degrees,) but the mornings are getting cooler. This morning it created a low cloud over the ranches we pass on the way to work.

Our favorite snow birds, Joe & Donna are back in town!

2010-10-13T07:33:00.001-07:00

View from our room

2010-10-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

We spent a glorious week-end on Hilton Head for Emily and Dan's wedding with our favorite group of people - the Dudes and the Divas (more pix to follow).

This morning on the back porch

2010-09-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

We couldn't think of names for them...and then it hit us - Sigfried and Roy!

2010-09-26T15:14:00.001-07:00

Donkeys in their new home

2010-09-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Donkey Roundup

2010-09-26T15:09:00.001-07:00

More donkey round-up pix

2010-09-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

2010-09-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

We went with Philip to look at small asses (miniature donkeys) for his ranch. These two guys will be perfect company for Philip's horse, Charm.

Fog in the yards this morning

2010-09-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

This frog better be "resting" (and not resting in peace) on my pool flotation device!

2010-09-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

It's true - everything is bigger in Texas

2010-09-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

John spotted this spider crossing the road on the way home from work yesterday - it stopped traffic!

A sure sign of fall....bonfires in the back yard

2010-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Mending Fences

2010-09-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we went to Philip's ranch to help repair the fences washed away in the flood. It was hot and humid! I picked up logs and seaweed until about 1:00. The guys (Philip, John adn Dave)didn't finish until about 5pm at which point, they were sunburned and had cramps in their fingers and toes.

They did finish the job and the longhorns are back grazing in the pasture. Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures (my bad).

Staying dry

2010-09-09T06:36:00.001-07:00

When we closed up the house in Edina (over 2 years ago), we put boxes of photos, books, kids art projects, etc. into storage where they sat, clean, dry and untouched. A few weeks ago, those boxes were delivered here and we stacked them in the carport. I had decided that sorting, tossing and organizing would be a great football season project. My goal was to drag one box at a time into the house and get through all of the boxes before the Vikings went to the Super Bowl again. Then, it started to rain......

At 1:00 am the day before yesterday, John and I were hauling wet boxes from the carport into the house in the torrential rain. We spread things out and blotted everything dry. It doesn't look like anything was ruined - however, it does look like a bomb went off in our house!

This guy washed up when the creek level went down

2010-09-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

Turn around - don't drown

2010-09-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

We hear that message alot in Texas - 6 inches of water can move an SUV. This low water crossing is at the back entrance to our gate. The gates on the front entrance were ripped off by the creek.

2010-09-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

20 inches of rain in two days!

2010-09-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

After Labor Day...

2010-09-07T13:52:00.001-07:00

I got a nice sunburn on Saturday floating in the pool. Sunday evening we traveled back to Tow for a party at Theo and Kathy's on the lake and saw old friends Carole, Jeanette, Bob, Ralph, Elaine and their gangs. On Labor Day, Katherine and Jim Walther spent a relaxing day with us on our porch watching the sun peek out in-between rain showers.

By today, my sunburn has turned a lovely brown and it is raining cats and dogs. Oh well, back to work......

Green Acres is the place to be!

2010-09-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

OK - Everybody Out of the Pool!

2010-09-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

This frog seems to have moved in under the waterfall. Last week, there was a small snake swimming in the shallow end...

Fast Facebook Friends

2010-09-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

My pen pal, Alma, has be-friended some of my peeps on Facebook, most notably Katherine Walther (formerly of Llano and Minneapolis and now a resident of Horseshoe Bay, Texas). So, we went to the Walter's home for a meet and greet and then went to the Lost Creek Vineyard for a delicious dinner. It was really fun.

An even better aside to this story, is that Katherine (formerly of Select Comfort) is interviewing here at Embree tomorrow!! John and I would love to work with her again.

Cowboy Up!

2010-09-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Gloria from Down Under

2010-09-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Alma's traveling companion, Gloria, was absolutely delightful!

Alma also brought photos from her daughter's wedding and her Grandmother's "brag book" to share

2010-09-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

A Texan from Down Under

2010-08-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

Pen pal of 40 years

2010-08-31T14:43:00.001-07:00

I just spent the most amazing 4 days with Alma Sutherland, my childhood Australian pen pal. She had saved every letter and photo I sent!

Childhood pen pal arrives Thursday

2010-08-24T13:39:00.001-07:00

If you follow my blog, it may be hard to believe that I have anything going on in my life OTHER THAN the new pool. Not true. This Thursday at 4:30, I will be standing at the airport holding up a sign that says "Alma" so that my childhood pen pal from Australia can pick me out of the crowd. We started writing 40 years ago and have never met in person.

Alma has always been better at staying in touch and found me again a few years ago on Facebook. She and her friend, Gloria, will be spending a few days with us in Texas before heading to Disneyland. Maybe someday I can visit her Down Under.

The life of Zoey....

2010-08-22T14:32:00.001-07:00

John left for Florida this morning. I thought I was going to have a quiet day to myself in the pool. Instead, Zoey tips me over and takes over the flotation device.

Everything comes with a remote....hottub on....hottub off....

2010-08-17T06:26:00.001-07:00

Of course, put in a pool and NOW it rains!

2010-08-17T06:23:00.001-07:00

The pool is officially open!

2010-08-16T11:27:00.001-07:00

2010-08-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

2010-08-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

Filling with the garden hose.....

2010-08-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

This could take AWHILE......

Clean up the yard and start filling it with water!

2010-08-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Fill in the holes

2010-08-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

2010-08-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

We are hoping that our resident toad will move into this house in the garden rather than in the pool.

Start the plastering!

2010-08-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Wet/Dry vac the pool to get ready for plaster

2010-08-12T06:23:00.000-07:00

Finish tiling around the hottub

2010-08-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

Install the skimmers

2010-08-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

Almost done with the rock walls

2010-08-10T06:15:00.001-07:00

Building up rock perimeter

2010-08-04T07:09:00.001-07:00

Next step: Drop the gas tank in the ground - torpedoes away!

2010-08-04T07:07:00.001-07:00

Add some rock to the outside of the hottub

2010-08-02T16:41:00.001-07:00

Start building rock walls

2010-08-02T16:40:00.001-07:00

Add some tile

2010-08-02T16:39:00.001-07:00

Waterproof around the edges

2010-08-02T16:37:00.001-07:00

2010-08-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

Next step: Water the pool twice a day for a week

2010-07-30T06:02:00.001-07:00

John in the deep end

2010-07-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

I will be spending winters in the hottub....

2010-07-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Step 10: Let cement cure

2010-07-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

It is starting to look like a real pool

2010-07-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Step 9: Bring on the cement!

2010-07-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T07:48:00.001-07:00

Step 8: Install pool filter equipment

2010-07-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Dinner is served

2010-07-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Love this houseguest

2010-07-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

Christy and her pup, Ginger, are staying with us for a few weeks until their new townhouse is ready. A few weeks ago, Christy's parents were in town from Atlanta and it became apparent that Dorothy (her mom) taught Christy all of her Greek cooking secrets. So..... today while the guys are outside working on the pool, Christy and John made spanakopita, dolmades and tzatziki. WOW

Step 7: Introduce rebar and PVC

2010-07-24T12:32:00.001-07:00

Step 6: Frame in the hot tub

2010-07-24T12:30:00.001-07:00

Step 5: Frame it in!

2010-07-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

2010-07-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Step 4: Dig a big hole

2010-07-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Step 3: Call the professionals

2010-07-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Step 2 - Pick a design

2010-07-16T17:51:00.001-07:00

Isn't this the perfect spot for a pool?

2010-07-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Step 1: Relocate septic line so it doesn't run thru middle of new pool!

2010-07-01T12:04:00.001-07:00

Hot...Hot....Hot

2010-06-24T08:23:00.001-07:00

It has been unseasonably warm here. This will be our first summer in Texas where we are not living on a lake. Plans for a pool are in the works!