Meanderings at a Horse Ranch

We recently spent the day at Tyson's Corner Retreat and Wellness Center.  Tyson's Corner is a beautiful, peaceful horse ranch in Lampassas, Texas. 
https://sites.google.com/site/tysonscorners/
My husband went on a soldiers retreat a couple of weeks ago,  where they went through Strong Bonds classes (Army approved relationship training)  and experienced some Equestrian Therapy.  Here is a story about a similar event in the local paper...
http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=6363

To be honest, my teenagers did not want to go.  It meant a day away from screens....(Oh my, how awful! Practically child abuse!) and a day with us, their PARENTS, with no escape. However, whenever you follow your intuition concerning what is good for your kids, no matter how uncomfortable at first, your kids usually benefit.  And such was the case this day.   By the end of an hour or so, they were mounted and riding, and enjoying the serenity of nature and the calm of being near horses.

Gene Tyson (a retired Army Chaplain) and his daughter Joanna run the ranch and retreat center.  Below is a photo of Joanna.  She patiently taught all three of my kids how to calm a horse, put on a saddle, mount, and ride at a walking pace.  Which is actually amazing since it was the first time the boys have ridden a horse at all.  

There are fourteen lovely, gentle horses at the ranch. They are so accustomed to being handled, that they are safe and easy to approach.   

Rose will most definitely be spending some time here in the near future.  She is a natural and loves, loves, loves horses.

Oh look, I shot a photo of Aragorn, I mean James... (otherwise known as "Chappy" around these parts).

 I have said before that Texas is more beautiful than I could have imagined.  This place is ultimate proof of that.  But it is a magical place as well.  A unicorn lives here, of course only some can see unicorns for what they are.  Most will see just a white mare below, but a special few will see her for what she truly is.  (If you have ever seen The Last Unicorn movie, you know what I mean.)
Her name is Bella...

Regardless if she is mythical or not, I fell in love with her.  Her amazing blue eyes were difficult to capture, sadly, with my lens that day.

To sum it all up, we had a fantastic day, and Rose and I look forward to spending more time with the horses.

Texas Musings

One would think that being a bohemian at heart, one month of living out of suitcases wouldn't be too difficult.  The movers took our stuff on August 9th and tomorrow on September 5th is when we will have our boxes and furniture delivered.  It is a long complicated boring story.  Next move, I hope to move ourselves.
So, before I receive the sea of boxes, I wanted to jot down some reflections. Texas is so beautiful.  Here is the lake which is right off Post, which offers every type of outdoor recreation imaginable for military families.  Everything from horseback riding to paintball to huge water slides. 

Texas is more beautiful than I had thought it could be.  The sky is large and beautiful, and unlike the big sky of Wisconsin, (where we lived for five years) it is full of color.  In the day, bright blue with large fluffy white clouds.  In the evening, pinks, yellows and every  other imaginable hue.  (Did my best trying to capture it while riding in a moving car with my phone).

The flowers and plants are awesome.

Some prickly pear and a hidden trail behind my house.....

The schools on post are very nice, and very close.  Walking distance, but since the times for the elementary and middle school are not staggered, I am still trying to figure out how to get both kids.  Ransom has a 45 minute bus ride to school, but he doesn't seem to mind.



 This flowering tree, whatever it is, is so pretty....


We have a quiet, tranquil backyard with a gorgeous view of the golf course.  So far, Ethan is learning how to golf in the back, and Ransom is skate boarding every day.

There are so many thoughts in my head right now, but I think this is good for now.  A week with no internet survived and ready to blog some more artsy stuff once I am unpacked.

 And for the most important part, James.....
he is a Battalion Chaplain and he has around 1600 soldiers to serve.  He was made for this job. But it is not going to be easy. Anyone who has family in the military or has served in the military knows what challenges he will be up against and the situations he will be trying to aid. So if he is in your thoughts or prayers... THANK YOU!