Follow the Little Dirt Road

October 4 of this year marked a milestone for John and me.  It was the one-year anniversary of the sale of our home near Volente and our “official” move to the farm…down a little dirt road half-way between the small towns of Cranfills Gap and Jonesboro.  

We love it here, and haven’t doubted our decision for a minute.  We are able to live on this beautiful property we share with my brother and his family.  We have beautiful views off our back patio toward the upper stock pond…

and 225 acres of pasture, woods and stream to explore.

The Bagley Pack members are in Dog Heaven.  There are squirrels to tree, cows to herd and acres on which to run and sniff and dig.

The last year has been dry, but a bit of rain has fallen in the last couple of months.  The stock ponds are still low, but no longer so low that we are concerned that a cow might get bogged down in the mud.

The winter grass has begun to appear, and there is a fringe of green in the low places and under the trees.  The cows and calves search out mouthfuls between trips to the hay buffet.  It’s peaceful to just wander among them, watching the antics of the calves and the cows jockeying for position in the pecking order.  And they really appreciate it when we appear with a bucket of cubes.

And then, there is G.W. our handsome Hereford bull.  He was just a teenager when he joined the herd, but has grown into quite an impressive fellow. 

And the best part is that he has a wonderful disposition, respectful of us and the dogs and attentive to his ladies.  (Thanks to Linda Lorentz for the pics of the cattle and me!)

A few weeks ago, the Spanish oaks and flame sumac put on their fall colors, and splashes of red and orange appeared on the hillsides between the deep green of the cedars.  The bright yellow elm and pecan leaves have now fallen, creating drifts that will soon turn brown.  The post oaks, too, are getting ready for winter.  Their dusky green foliage has turned a rusty brown and most has fallen.  We are now able to see the bones of all the deciduous trees and bushes, marking another transition.

Our lives are full, as are our social calendars.  You might think Cranfills Gap, Clifton, Meridian, Jonesboro, Gatesville and Hamilton are sleepy little towns, but there is a lot going on here, and most people participate in something.  Church and Bible study are a big part of our lives, as are community activities like the monthly Gap Chamber of Commerce get-together and the Clifton Norwegian Country Christmas Tour.  The tour included a number of historic homes, and, special to us, a concert by our friend, Sheffie Kadane at St. Olaf Kirke, commonly known as The Rock Church, a Bosque County treasure located outside Cranfills Gap.  

We were so glad we went, as the choir loft was open for the occasion. Not only did we get a close-up view of the beautiful old pipe organ,

 we were also able to get a bird's-eye view of the altar.

We’re not exactly residents of Bosque County, but we’re close.  Our farm sits in the very corner of Hamilton County, adjacent to Bosque County on the north and Coryell County on the south.  We claim “citizenship” in all three, since we spend time not only in my home town of Hamilton, but in all the neighboring towns.

So, this year, as they say  “Spring has sprung; fall has fell; winter has come and it's colder than Hell.”  (Or at least it was last week!)  We look forward to each new season and the joys and heartaches each will bring.  We miss our friends back in the Austin area, but we’re really happy to be here…down our little dirt road.  Come for a visit if you're in the area.