Our Colorado Getaway

On New Year's day we left for a short vacation getaway to one of our favorite places, Durango, Colorado. With all of the snow, it was a beautiful winter wonderland. The overnight temperature dropped to 9 degrees one night, but like people say, it didn't seem that cold. Right!! With no set agenda, we decided to ride the narrow gauge Durango-Silverton Railroad train the first day. During the winter the train doesn't go all the way to Silverton due to the heavy snow and reduced passenger demand. However, it does go up to Cascade Canyon where we got off, warmed up by the fire pit, and enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery (we honestly believe the sky is bluer in Colorado). The train passes through the narrow canyon walls close enough that you can reach out and touch both sides of the steep bluffs. On our way back, we spotted a couple of bighorn sheep high on the rocks above the train.

Along the way we saw a number of isolated cabins and houses, one of which was used in a scene from the movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." During the 5 hour trip, we got acquainted with some of our fellow passengers which for the most part were from Texas! We met people from Burleson, Austin and the Houston area. Part of the bunch departed the train on the way back to meet up with a group that would take them snowmobiling. We planned to go snowmobiling the next day, but a winter storm warning and falling snow changed our minds. We wished that we had known about the train/snowmobiling package earlier and we would have taken advantage of it.

We stayed at the DoubleTree Hotel on the banks of the Animas River. It was so nice and we would recommend it to anyone! We came back through Pagosa Springs and across northern New Mexico. The highway that goes across to Red River was closed due to snow drifts so we had to go further south and then back to Angel Fire and Eagles's Nest. The roads there were icy and the wind was blowing snow across them which made for a "fun" driving experience! It was a great getaway for our anniversary!

All aboard!! Leaving Durango

Watch out for that curve!!

At the stop in Cascade Canyon

Waiting to head back to Durango

I told her not to get too far away!!

A nice warm up by a great fire!

Starbucks coffee!! Yum...

Beverly at the train depot

Starting to snow...

A view from our hotel room

The drive home...filled with excitement!

Late evening after a long day...

Our One Year Blogging Anniversary

Today is not only the birthday of Elvis Presley, but it is also the one year anniversary of our blog "Jeepers Creepers." Ironically, our first post was about Elvis as well (I think that was Beverly's doing!). In the past year we have enjoyed sharing our blog with family and friends. We haven't posted as much as we originally thought we would but sometimes life is just too busy. Hats off to those of you that blog daily, but I just don't see that happening here.

We will try to do better in 2009 and we want to wish all of you a Happy New Year.

Happy Birthday, Elvis! You will always be the King of Rock n' Roll, man!

Happy Anniversary To My Sweetheart

On December 27, 2008 Beverly and I will be married 33 years! I tease her and tell her it's been the happiest 15 years of my life!! That is not true at all, of course. Each year has been different in its own way and the years have gone amazingly fast. It seems like yesterday that we were young newlyweds starting out in Eastland in a $100.00 a month frame house behind the fire station. I remember well the night the siren went off and a startled, sleepy Beverly jumped up from sleep asking "Mama, what is it?" I'm thinking "I'm not your Mama!" During the next three years there our first baby, Jennifer, was born and the rent went up $25.00.

Every since then, we have lived here in H-town, raised 3 children and grown older and wiser. The past 33 years are filled with so many memories and we often talk about those Alan Jackson "remember when" days. We have been fortunate in so many ways. We haven't grown wealthy by any means, but we are wealthy in terms of our family, our children, grandchildren and friends. God continues to bless us richly and we give him credit for all of the wonderful blessings we enjoy. Our children are all happily married now and are where we were those many years ago. I pray that they will have the same happiness we have experienced.

Beverly, you are the love of my life. You are my best friend, my confidant, my counselor, and a wonderful wife and mother to our children. I hope we can look forward to many more years together doing things like jeeping in Colorado and enjoying each other's company. Remember, I love you the most and always will!

Our Little Man Turns Five

It's hard to believe that it has already been five years since our grandson Taylor first came into our lives! But, this past week, Taylor turned five years old! Next year he will be in school and everyone knows how fast times goes once they start to school. As parents we all know how much we love our children, but like people say, there is something very special about grandchildren. He has filled our lives with so much enjoyment and love and is a constant source of laughter, awe and amazement. He loves his PawPaw and BeBe and we have spent a lot of hours together. We know that someday as he gets older he will find other things more exciting than being here with us, but we are hoping he will remember these days and look back on them with good memories. It has been a busy week with birthday celebrations at pre-school, with family and a birthday party with his friends on Saturday. Now we look forward to the next six birthdays in our immediate family from now until New Year's Day. Wow! Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Here are a few favorite pictures of Taylor. We had to include one of Presley as she tried on Taylors boots and hat!

Songs About Life

What little I know about blogging, at least the format portion of the blog, I learned from Ashley and from trial and error, mostly error! One of my favorite things about this blog is the ability to download songs that really touch you from time to time. Music has a way of expressing your own thoughts when you can't express them yourself. I admire good song writers and one thing they all seem to have in common is plenty of life experiences. I think you need that in order to really tell a good story. Experience is the best teacher and from their experiences their songs are born. So here lately, when I have a little time, which doesn't happen often, I like to look for those songs that fit how I may be feeling. So, when you hear some of our blog music, you can get an idea of what's on our minds. Just some rambling thoughts from someone with some life experiences of his own. I think I'll go get my guitar and write a song!

The Lawn Ranger and His Field of Dreams

It seems to me that all I have done this summer is mow! With the recent rains, which we are very thankful for, the grass has really been growing. Not only do I take care of our yard, but I also have a lot of mowing and shredding to do at the orchard. Also, last year, the local Park Board needed someone with some knowledge of athletic fields to help them establish four new fields at the new park. Someone probably said, "Get Danny. He's retired and he knows about growing grass." So, I have been the official Forest Gump of the park for the past couple of years. I'm on a mower so much that when my children send birthday or Father's Day cards, the cards all have something to do with mowing. Jordan sent me a card about the Lawn Ranger, and that is about the truth.
The fields, 2 baseball fields, 1 softball field and 1 football/soccer field are all seeded in a hybrid bermudagrass called Princess 77. It has really grown well and we are in our second year of play on them. We are lucky to have this facility in our community.


The Lawn Ranger and his horse John Deere!

A view of some of the fields. In the background are two old bridges that once crossed the Leon River and are being "recycled" at the park and will become a part of the walking-biking trail.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Like many of you, we have been suffering through the summer with hot temperatures and no rain. But, thanks to God and Edouard, all of that changed yesterday. God does answer prayers, sometimes in a big way. During the night on August 6, sometime around 2:00 a.m. the rain started and when it was all finished we had received almost 6 inches here at the house. It was a lot of rain, but even more came at the orchard. We got around 9 inches there! There was an advertisement in this weeks Hamilton paper that simply said "Pray For Rain" and it worked. We are very thankful for this blessing. We hope that if you were not in the rain path this time, that you will receive what you need soon.


This isn't a very good picture, but the water was almost over the bridge on the little creek behind our house.


By the end of the day, the water was down, but flowing swiftly.


The Leon River overflow was up over this 5 wire fence.


The Leon River crested yesterday. Muddy, but still beautiful!


This reminded me of Colorado, but it is a little low water crossing near the house.


Today, everything looks peaceful and quiet.