Sommelier Logistics

Will Rogers once said, "The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer." I know that I’m an optimist and my crazy cynical husband has optimistic bones underneath, too. This is the final installment to Our Adventures Number 1. Part 1 detailed our December 16-19 weekend together and referenced working on our property and our pickup drama. Part 2 detailed the story about our pickup drama. Part 3 will now describe what we plan for our property and the progress that we’ve made to date, which includes what we finished on December 18....read more

What can you say about a pickup truck?

“If it ain’t covered in mud, It ain’t a real truck.”

“True love is when a girl loves a guy as much as her truck.”

“If you think this truck’s smokin’, you should see the driver!”

“Some of us grew up playing with tractors and trucks. The lucky ones still do.”

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While visiting Les this past weekend, we were met with a series of 'adventures' as we call them, and Les mentioned that maybe we should start documenting our 'adventures'. So, here we are, or so, here I am documenting our eventful weekend together. ...read more

We started moving our car collection to our property in Hico Memorial Day Weekend.  When our collection is brought up in conversation, we are often asked "How many cars do you have?"  Well, let me tell you:

1) White MG BGT (1969 I think) that is rusted out with plants growing in it.   Whatever plans we had are likely sidelined.  Les was going to use it for spare parts anyway.  This car is still in storage.

2) Forest Green MG BGT (1972 I think) that's in better shape than the white one.  We hope to restore it.  This car is still in storage.

3) Yellow and rust MG BGT (1970 I think) that's in the best condition of all 3.  Les wants to put a Mazda motor with a super charger in it.  We moved this car to Hico.

4 and 5) Austin Healey Sprite (? year) is a convertible.  The body is worthless, but the motor should be good.  We bought a chassis for a MG Midget (? year) to put the engine into. The MG chassis is actually at a body shop to start the restoration process. The Sprite is still in storage.

6)  Volvo 780 (1985 I think) is a rare car as it's a coupe. It has a blown head gasket.  It needs a new engine and new interior due to leaky sunroof.  It's now in Hico, with the yellow MG.

7)  Volvo Wagon (1990 I think).  It's at a shop for restoration but I can't pay for it, so who knows what will happen to it.  I'd love to get it running but the shop will probably take ownership.

8)  Fiat (2012) 300 is my daily driver.  I need something bigger as soon as we can swing it.

9)  Dodge pickup (? year) - the little version.  It's a workhorse and great to have.  It's an old beater without AC.  It runs great and we can haul stuff, so what's not to like?

So that's the rundown.  The three at storage will be moved the next 3-4 days that we have together.  We clearly will need a good mechanic in Hico and we will definitely need a good restoration specialist in Hico.

We moved into our first mobile home, which is a rental located in Bryan last September.  We live on just over an acre and the dogs love their backyard haven of 1/3 acre.  Later in September we purchased our piece heaven in Hico.  We OWN 20 acres!!  Les is now 60 and I am approaching that landmark myself in 2023 and we own property outright for the first time ever.  It's rather surreal.  I will share more of our plans later.  Stay warm, friends!!

On Thursday, May 13, Les and I signed a contract for the sale of our home of ten years.  We have found ten acres in the Hico area and hope to have a contract on that property soon.  If that isn't exciting enough, we have been working with CPS to take temporary custody of a 6-month old baby, while they work with the parent to stabilize living conditions.  We plan to live approximately half way between our current base in Spring and Hico for 12-18 months while we begin the process of building our dream.  Our dreams continue to come true with hard work and feistiness.  

August 1 was our first official grape harvest delivery.  We met the wonderful owners of Mil Veranos Vineyard and Ranch in 2019 and we became fast friends.  Mil Veranos and their customer Haak Vineyards and Winery gave us this opportunity.  When we arrived, there were still grapes to harvest.  Les helped to load the grape bins into our truck.  I got a quick tutorial on how to pick grapes, picked up some shears and began picking grapes.  There was a light rain the night before, even though the lightening storm and thunder indicated a much stronger rain.  God gave us the most beautiful summer day.  The summer heat was minimal, the skies were beautiful and the temperatures were cool.  I thoroughly enjoyed helping our friend and I am hoping that this becomes an annual event.