A Texas Hill Country Thanksgiving

I thank my parents for raising me as a horse loving Texas Hill Country girl.   Nine Thanksgiving ago my sisters and I lost my mother. We lost our father nineteen years ago. They loved family and every holiday, plus some we were making the rounds to visit loved ones. We were shown through example that family matters.

A few years ago my sisters and I started a new tradition for Thanksgiving. We rented a cabin by the Frio River in Leakey, Texas. (our parents married in Leakey) A cousin from my family and a cousin from my brother-in-law’s joined in and we stay for four days.

The rest of my mother’s family, including her mother, join us. We bounce between 30 to 50 people on Thursday.  In a world that moves fast and people spend more time looking down at a screen than into the face of real people, personal connections with extended family gives  us roots and a healthier life. As humans, the need for relationships with others and nature is built into our DNA. To me Thanksgiving is not  about the food…it’s the people and getting away from the rush of daily life.

Old Giant Oak tree in Texas Hill Country. Leakey Texas.

These old trees make me think of how time moves and the world changes, but God is constant. We come and go but the world keeps turning. I love to take time and enjoy the peace these trees give me.

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Roads through the Texas Hill Country
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Taking time to walk off some of our Thanksgiving feast in the Texas Hill Country. Leakey Texas

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Enjoying the Frio River even in the rain. Two aunts and uncle and one of my sisters. Leakey Texas
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It helps if you have someone that plays the guitar and maracas.

Play some games! How to have fun at a Texas Hill Country Thanksgiving.

My Grandmother and seven (of ten)of her great-grandchildren from her oldest child, my mother, Cindy French Guinther. She has a total of thirty great-grandchildren.

Longhorn on a  Texas Hill Country Ranch Country
Longhorn on a Texas Hill Country Ranch Country

Since we are on a Texas Hill Country ranch we have to include a Longhorn.

Even thought we had rain we had fun. You have to set your mind to it sometimes but it can always be found. Play in the Rain!

Play in the Texas Rain with Jolene Navarro!
Play in the Texas Rain with Jolene Navarro!

Play in the Rain! Life is too short to wait around for the right time. Give thanks for the rain and the sun, the wind and the opportunity to experience it all.

What do you do to connect with people or nature?

 

 

Fall foliage on the Frio River

T for Texas Seasons. Yes, there is more than one.

Texas Seasons
T Texas Seasons

There’s a rumor about Texas that we only have one season.

Some say we have two seasons..hot and hotter than hell.

I’m here to tell you it’s not true, not for the Hill Country anyway.  We have football season

Fall is for Football
Fall is for Friday night light! Football in Texas.
Fall is Football Fun! Bridger Navarro is #78
Fall is Friday Night Lights., Football Fun! Bridger Navarro is #78

Then we have baseball season…

Enjoy a cool night during baseball season
Enjoy a cool night during baseball season. Watching my cousin play in Round Rock Texas with Mr. D&H

And the favorite in the Navarro household…Basketball season!

Basketball means Spurs!
Basketball means Spurs!

What? You weren’t talking about sport seasons? Well, than we do have hunting season….

Hunting lease across for Garner State Park
Hunting lease across for Garner State Park

Oh, you mean the seasons of weather? We do have more than HOT…let’s look at the evidence.

One of my Favorite seasons is fall or as some might call it autumn. A great deal of our trees and plants stay green but we do have some beautiful reds and yellows along the river.

Fall foliage on the Frio River
Fall foliage on the Frio River
Fall foliage on the Frio River
Fall foliage on the Frio River

Our winters are pretty mild. Ice is our worst enemy, but it never last past noon! LOL We have been known to get a few flurries of snow. Now remember, I’m central Texas, in the southern tip of the Hill Country. So West Texas and North Texas they have their own set of weather patterns. The hills must break up all that cold stuff that blows down from Canada. Poor Dallas. We do get all grey and cold looking but if it last more than a week we think something has gone wrong.

Winter in the Hill Country
Winter in the Hill Country

winter-5

Real Snow! It never sticks around though. Leakey Texas
Real Snow! It never sticks around though. Leakey Texas
The only snow we get most of the time in the Texas Hill is the fake kind.
For winter the only snow we get most of the time in the Texas Hill is the fake kind.

Aww..Springtime. Everyone loves spring , right? And it would not be a post about Texas If I didn’t include the Texas State Flower.

Texas Bluebonnets in front of the ranch next to our house.
Texas Bluebonnets in front of the ranch next to our house.
Texas Bluebonnets - Watch out, snakes like to live here.
Texas Bluebonnets – Watch out, snakes like to live in the Bluebonnets, Storm Navarro
Texas Bluebonnets in front of the ranch next to our house. Photo by Shawn Streib Gray
Texas Bluebonnets in front of the ranch next to our house. Photo by Shawn Streib Gray
Spring time and the babies arrive in my back yard.
Spring time and the babies arrive in my back yard.

And then we have one of our most famous seasons and our longest…Summer. In Texas summer is best if you are on are by water.

Summer on the Frio River
Texas Summer is best on the water. Summer on the Frio River
Texas Summer is best on the wate
Texas Summer is best on the water. Canyon Lake
Texas Summer is best on the water
Texas Summer is best on the water. Port Aransas.
Texas Summer is best on the water. Port Aransas
Texas Summer is best on the water. Port Aransas

So what is your favorite season?

Garner State Park with the Frio River

Busting sterotypes of Texas with the Hill Country

Generations of my family have been born and raised in the Texas Hill Country and now I write about fictional characters that live in the same beautiful county.

Some people have an image of Texas as a giant state of flat lands with tumble weeds and golden grass. There are parts of Texas that would resemble that stereotype there are more places that bust it.

Texas Hill Country heading to Utopia at sundown..
Texas Hill Country heading to Utopia at sundown.
Texas Hill Country Frio River at ConCan
Texas Hill Country Frio River at ConCan
Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country

In my books the sun is often raising or setting over the hills of Texas. I love the area of Frio Canyon, where the head waters of the Frio River can be found. Garner State park is nestled in this area between Kerrville Texas and Uvalde, north of San Antonio and south of Austin. It’s my favorite piece of earth.

This Thanksgiving some extended family along with my husband and kids with be renting a cabin in in the woods by the river to celebrate our blessings. We won’t be the only ones.

Texas Hill Country Frio River at ConCan
Texas Hill Country Frio River at ConCan

You can’t talk Texas Hill Country without at least one picture of cowboys. Not everyone owns a hat or rides a horse, but the ones that do are fun to watch.

Texas Hill Country Rodeo Cowboys
You can’t talk about the Texas Hill Country and ignore the rodeo cowboy.
Garner State Park with the Frio River
Garner State Park with the Frio River

Do you have a favorite place on earth and do you have the pleasure of living there or just dream about living there?

Fresh Homemade products at the Farmer’s Market at the Cibolo Nature Park

Fresh Homemade products at the Farmer's Market at the Cibolo Nature Park

The entry gate to the Farmers Market at the Cibolo
The entry gate to the Farmers Market at the Cibolo

The Texas Hill Country is full for fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables. You can also find homemade products made from this produce here in Boerne Texas at the Farmer’s Market at the Cibolo Nature Park.

The best tasting vegetable are the ones straight from the farm
The best tasting vegetable are the ones straight from the farm

I think we get so removed from our food, hows it’s grown and with so many perspectives and chemicals we forget what real food taste like.

Join me for a walk through the booths. The textures and aromas are inspiring and I know one of my characters has to grow their own foods and sell at market.

If you don’t live in the San Antonio area I know you can find a local market close to you. If you visit your local Farmers Market you are supporting your local growers that provided fresh, local, and seasonal products that they themselves planted, raised, and harvested. You can’t beat the flavor.

Mouth-watering fresh Texas berries
Mouth-watering fresh Texas berries
The hardest part with Handcrafted Harvest Jam is picking just one or two.
The hardest part with Handcrafted Harvest Jam is picking just one or two.
Fresh berries and cream for dessert in a jar.
Fresh berries and cream for dessert in a jar.
Fresh Texas peaches make some of the best jams
Fresh Texas peaches make some of the best jams
Organic fresh baked bread
Organic fresh baked bread
Farm fresh eggs from free range chickens
Farm fresh eggs from free range chickens
Happy chickens give you the best eggs!
Happy chickens give you the best eggs!

I love buying the locally grown flowers from the market – I know they’re from my area and ready for the flowerbeds around my house.

Local grown flowers you can take home and plant in your own flowerbeds.
Local grown flowers you can take home and plant in your own flowerbeds.

flowers

My hero and helper loading the truck with our finds
My hero and helper loading the truck with our finds

Don’t forget to give your helper a treat!

Organic cookies made with fresh ingredients.
Organic cookies made with fresh ingredients.

You can find more than food – crafts and home products

Colorful bird houses made from gourds
Colorful bird houses made from gourds
Homemade creams made from farm fresh produce.
Homemade creams made from farm fresh produce.

The Farmers Market at the Cibolo in Boerne Texas
The Farmers Market at the Cibolo in Boerne Texas

Vegetable & fruits picked right from the garden, products handmade from organic produce, bread, jams and creams are just a few of the items you can find in the early morning of the Farmer’s Market. Boerne’s Cibolo Farmer’s Market is young, only in its second year, but it is a true treasure. If you are in the area they need your support. There is also games, music and a beautiful community garden.

Schedule and Location:
Every Saturday, 8:30a-12:30p
33 Herff Road, Boerne, TX 78006

Do you have a local market you visit? Do you have a favorite recipe using fresh produce from your market?

F is for Flowers or Football?

The Bluebonnet is the most famous of the all the Texas wildflowers
The Bluebonnet is the most famous of the all the Texas wildflowers

It’s spring time, so here in the Texas Hill Country the wildflowers are blooming. Our most famous flower is the beautiful Bluebonnet.

Blooms at the old homestead at the VanPelt Ranch in Con Can Texas
Blooms at the old homestead at the VanPelt Ranch in Con Can Texas
Bluebonnets in Boerne
Bluebonnets in Boerne

Texas wildflowers are hardy, strong and independent, while maintaining their natural beauty. The people of Texas share many of the traits.
Another of my favorites ways to spend time is watching football. Yes my husband coaches it and my boys play it. My daughters truly enjoyed their time playing power-puff football

Storm's Sr. year - on the line. Ended the game as MVP.
Storm’s Sr. year – on the line. Ended the game as MVP.
.

This year was my oldest son’s last year to play, my youngest has at least two more years. So I still have a bit of drama, conflict and excitement for a few future Friday nights.

Friday Night Lights in Texas means High School Football
Friday Night Lights in Texas means High School Football
Tate Navarro Defending the line
Tate Navarro Defending the line

Just for fun I’ll throw in a bit of NFL action.

Julius Thomas running with the ball.
Julius Thomas running with the ball.

So are you more of a flower fairy or a football fan?

C is for Cowboys –

I am taking on the Blogging A to Z April challenge. http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com. My theme is thing that bring me joy and happiness. One of my favorite heroes to write about is cowboys. Salt of the earth, a little rough around the edges, hard working, kind and a throw in a bit of crazy.

Watching the action at the Mesquite Texas Rodeo
Watching the action at the Mesquite Texas Rodeo
The running of the Flags at the Tejas rodeo in Belverde Texas. Jaken by Jolene Navarro
The running of the Flags at the Tejas rodeo in Belverde Texas.
Waiting for the Bull Riding event. Tejas Rodeo Bulverde Texas. Taken by Jolene Navarro Waiting for the Bull Riding event. Tejas Rodeo Bulverde Texas. Taken by Jolene Navarro

 

 

 

Cowboys

Do you have a favorite type of hero?

Celebrating the Sunrise and Sunset

In the sky I see my smallness and my greatness. The knowledge that the world spins, seasons come and go and each day will have a new beginning and an end comforts me in it routine. Great things will happen and I will celebrate; bad things will happen and I will survive. The mysteries of life are in God’s hands and I’m just to do the best I can.
My father loved and savored the daily events of a sunrise and sunset. I’ve been known to make my family stop so I can take a picture and for a moment think of the permanent change that is our life. Add your favorite sky picture you have taken.

Here are a few of my pictures along with a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

THE HOUSE OF CLOUDS. 1841

I would build a cloudy house
For my thoughts to live in,

Castroville Texas, the reflection of the sunset over the football game.
Castroville Texas, the reflection of the sunset over the football game.

When for earth too fancy-loose,
And too low for heaven.

Sunset in Texas Hill Country
Sunset in Texas Hill Country

I sleep, and talk my dream aloud,
I build it fair to see—

Boerne Texas Sunset - by Wade Beard
Boerne Texas Sunset – by Wade Beard

I build it on the moonlit cloud,
To which I looked with thee.

Sunset over New Orleans off the Mississippi River
Sunset over New Orleans off the Mississippi River

Cloud-walls of the morning’s grey,
Faced with amber column,

Sunset over Texas Hill Country on the road to Leakey Texas from Bandrea Texas
Sunset over Texas Hill Country on the road to Leakey Texas from Bandrea Texas

Crowned with crimson cupola
From a sunset solemn—

Sunset on the road to Leakey Texas
Sunset on the road to Leakey Texas

For casements, from the valley fetch
May-mists glimmering,—

Early morning back road in Boerne Texas taken by Brandi Quinn
Early morning back road in Boerne Texas taken by Brandi Quinn

With a sunbeam hid in each,
And a smell of spring.

Sunset from my driveway in Texas Hill Country
Sunset from my driveway in Texas Hill Country

Build the entrance high and proud,
Darkening and eke brightening,

Sun rise in Galveston Texas.
Sun rise in Galveston Texas.

Of a riven thunder-cloud
Veinëd with the lightning.

Sun rise ans storms in Galveston
Sun rise ans storms in Galveston

Use one with an iris-stain
For the door within,
Turning to a sound like rain
As we enter in.

Sunset over Hondo Texas
Sunset over Hondo Texas

For the fair hall reached thereby
Walled with cloudy whiteness, Take the blue place in the sky,
Wind-worked into brightness—

Sunset Port Aransas
Sunset Port Aransas

Whence corridores and long degrees
Of cloud-stairs wind away—

Sunset over Castroville during at a high school football game.
Sunset over Castroville during at a high school football game.

Till children wish upon their knees,
They walkëd where they pray.

Early evening over Boerne Texas Main Street. during Dickens On Main
Early evening over Boerne Texas Main Street. during Dickens On Main

Be my chamber tapestried
With the showers of summer,

From my driveway as I arrive home - Texas Hill Country
From my driveway as I arrive home – Texas Hill Country

Close and silent, glorified
When the sunbeams come there—

Sudden harpers, harping on
Every drop as such,—

Early evening over Boerne Texas Main Street. during Dickens On Main
Early evening over Boerne Texas Main Street. during Dickens On Main

Drawing colours like a tune,
Measured to the touch.

Bring a shadow green and still
From the chesnut forest—

On the Mississippi heading into New Orleans
On the Mississippi heading into New Orleans

Bring a purple from the hill
When the heat is sorest,—

Texas Hill Country Sunset from my driveway
Texas Hill Country Sunset from my driveway

Spread them out from wall to wall,
Carpet-wove around;    And thereupon the foot shall fall
In light instead of sound.

Sun rise, from my balcony in Galveston Texas -
Sun rise, from my balcony in Galveston Texas –

Bring a grey cloud from the east
Where the lark was singing—

Clouds and storms trying to block the sun as it climbs into the sky over Galveston, Texas
Clouds and storms trying to block the sun as it climbs into the sky over Galveston, Texas

Something of the song at least
Lost not in the bringing,—

Slow rise over Galveston, Texas
Slow rise over Galveston, Texas

And that shall be a morning chair
For poet-dreams,—when with them
No verse constraint—the floating air
Their only, lovely rhythm.

Te sun rising as I leave for work - leaving the Texas Hill Country and heading to San Antonio
Te sun rising as I leave for work – leaving the Texas Hill Country and heading to San Antonio

Bring the red cloud from the sun—
While he sinketh, catch it,—
Bring it for a couch, with one
Side-long star to watch it—

Fit for a poet’s finest thought,
At curfew time, to lean;

Peaceful morning on my balcony in Galveston Texas
Peaceful morning on my balcony in Galveston Texas

When things invisible are brought
More near him than the seen.     Poet’s thought, not poet’s sigh!—
Alas! they come together!

Cloudy walls divide and fly
As if in April weather.

Castroville Texas, the reflection of the sunset over the football game.
Castroville Texas, the reflection of the sunset over the football game.

Hall, corridore, and column proud—
My chamber fair to see—
All pass—except that moonlit cloud
To which I looked with thee.

Night on the porch as the moon slips across the sky
Night on the porch as the moon slips across the sky

Let them!– Wipe such visionings
From the fancy’s cartel;
Love secures some frailest things,
Dowered with his immortal.

Suns, moons may darken—heaven be bowed,—
But here unchanged shall be,

Walking into Jackson Square late at night.
Walking into Jackson Square late at night.

Here in my soul—that moonlit cloud,
To which I looked with thee.

Show us you best sky picture. Always looking up!