And the new year begins

I have never been more ready to say good-bye to a year that 2011. It was rough all the way around. No rain, hot as HELL, the world's most horrible disease took Mom, we had to clean out and sell the home we grew up in.

BYE 2011
HELLO 2012 - Glad to see you

With the new year comes all sorts or new beginnings -
There are baby bluebonnets in our back pasture
It has already rained
First salad from the garden - ok it was only 3 bites but well worth it

Stay tuned there will be many more updates this year

Addition and Subtraction

So just thinking back at all that has happened in the time that I have posted nothing at this sight, I really don't even know where to start. It was a great spring in 2010. The wildflowers were abundant which made me very very happy. It probably had to do with the fact that we had lots of rain over that winter, if you want to call what we have here in South Texas, winter. Actually we did have temps in the teens.Unfortunately the 2011 wildflower showing did not live up to my hopes but I do have some pictures from 2010. Lets see if i remember how to do this.

Blue Bonnett - Lupinus Subcarnosis

Indian Paintbrush

Phlox

Winecup

Primrose (Buttercup)

Peppergrass

Dew Berry

False Garlic

I have tons more pictures of wild flowers and now that I have re-educated myself on how to post them they will be up soon.

It's been a while

The world has been just spinning by and it has been over a year since I posted anything to the La Sonrisa site. I am going to make it my goal this next month to get caught up. There has been new purchases, new roofs, new furniture, new dogs, no rain, and many visitors. Stay tuned........

Tin Roof Rusted

So come on and bring your jukebox money

I think we are ready for the gang to come play
Do you remember what it looked like at the beginning
Tin building, plywood floor, metal walls and ceiling
No electricity, no AC, no insulation
Now we have all of the above and we like

Our Tin Roof Rusted

The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together

The loft

The Sleeping area

Main Bed

The kitchen


and a place to eat and play

Now we just have to add a few touches
We have stuff for the walls
Just ran out of time

This weekend we have to be ready cause

"Everybody's movin', everybody's groovin' baby!
Folks linin' up outside just to down
Everybody's movin', everybody's groovin' baby
Funky little shack! Funky little shack!"

Could not have done it without our helpers
Bart was a lifesaver
and here is the rest of the crew

It even made Panzer tired

"Bang Bang on the door baby! Your what
Tin Roof, Rusted!"

Don't you just love that song!!

Floor - BEAUTIFUL Floor!!!

We swept and vacuumed and swept again. Then one by one, row by row, we made sure the nails and staples that held the plywood down were not sticking up. Ok - Now i already have raw spots on my knees and have not even started the hard part. Then we put the underlayment down and started the floor. Slow and easy, gentle - don't hit to hard or it dents. The guy's cut to length for us. 5 hours later we have a floor......and blisters, and bruises and places we did not know we could be sore. But check it out - it was worth it.

Even the inspector thinks so.

And then

Chillaxin at La Sonrisa

AND WE HAVE POWER

And we did it ourselves!!!

He thought and he studied and he thought and he studied.

He cut a hole in the wall and put the AC in.

He drilled holes in the studs and pulled the wiring.

He installed the plugs, and the breaker box.

He dug a ditch,

And burried the wire.

WE FLIPPED THE BREAKER

and the AC worked!
And Panzer is confused

Now if we just had insulation because there is no airconditioner that can cool down this building when it is 95 outside unless the room is insulated.

And for grins and giggles - look at the size of the grasshoppers

and the doodle bugs

Work, Work, and more Work

It has been so long since I posted last I almost forgot how. We have done more than I will ever be able to remember and put pictures up of but I will hit on some high spots. On Memorial day 2010 we worked on the ROOF LEAK. We discovered it while putting up twinkle lights in the drizzle. There was a big "nasty" spot that needed new deck, tar paper and shingles. We had lots of help, family and friends. The guys worked outside while the ladies fixed lunch and made pickles. The pickles should be ready today. We will have to check them out. So here are some pictures and a smile or two.

First you get to see the new sign I made for the front gate.

And these cows belong to the neighbors that lease our place for grazing. Aren't the cows and the grass pretty.

OK, now for pictures of the work. Here are my roofers. Don't know how to thank them enough since it rained again the next day.

And the ladies made pickles and fix the fresh produce grown in their garden.

FUN and DONE!!!

Casa Contenta at Las Sonrisa in progress

So I have painted and we have hauled "stuff" to add some furniture and fun. There is nothing new. And lots with many memories of our past. Hoping we are making this a fun place to share with family and friends. Click here to look around.

What would the country be without dogs?

Just a few silly pictures of the dogs. They like La Sonrisa. Click hereand see.

And Grumps just had to cut down a tree.

So they cut. Click here to see

We we took over El Tecolote this is what it looked like

When we took over El Tecolote this slide show is what it looked like. Remember it now belongs to me. The lady that cannot handle white walls or the expected.

Click here to view what we started with.

We finally did it!!!

On December 17, 2009 we became the owners of 36.5 acres in Smiley, Texas. We are the proud owners of La Sonrisa. Much more to come!!