Between the Wind and the Bloom
Mother Wind making her presence known before the light broke through.
It’s been a minute since our last blog. The house is coming along, but at times it feels like we’re standing still—even though we’re not. There’s so much happening behind the scenes, yet when you glance at the structure, it looks unchanged. It’s a strange place to be—between what’s visible and what’s becoming.
Maybe that’s how I’ve been feeling too.
Winter’s Stillness
Winter has a way of slowing everything down. The trees go dormant, the grass fades, and the sky hangs heavy with stillness. And if I’m being honest, I think I do the same. There wasn’t much to photograph this season—turns out HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work don’t exactly make for dreamy content—but it was still a season of growth in its own quiet, gritty way.
Spring Awakens
But spring is waking up, and with it, so am I.
The trees are budding. The grass is greening. The Indian Paintbrushes are rising from the earth like little brushstrokes of fire.
The first signs of spring—quiet, gentle, and full of promise.
The turtles, deer, wild boar, raccoons, skunks, bunnies, birds, beavers, and squirrels are all back, as if on cue. I think they’re ready for spring too.
The Power of the Wind
And then there’s the wind—she’s made herself known more than once these past few weeks. A wild windstorm knocked out our power for 24 hours. It was so turbulent in the RVs, I genuinely thought we might wake up in the Land of Oz. Mother Wind is fierce out here. Sometimes I wonder what stories she carries. What she whispers to the trees, to the land, to us. She’s not just strong—she’s wise. And somehow, she always shows up right before the light breaks through.
She swept across the land, fierce and graceful—reminding us that even in stillness, there is power in movement.
Finding Inspiration in Nature
Photographing nature has become something I truly love. It’s inspired me again when I haven’t felt all that inspired lately. There’s a magic in capturing a fleeting moment—a bloom, a sky, a shadow—that reminds me to slow down and pay attention.
The first Indian Paintbrush of the season—a fiery little promise of spring.
Designing the Greenhouse
Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy making selections: interior stone, tile, lighting, roofing, siding, exterior finishes—it’s a full-time job, and then some. April recently went to Round Top, and we bought the first pieces of furniture for the greenhouse.
The first treasures for the greenhouse—four velvet chairs and a stone table, inviting, grounded, and filled with soul.
Yes, the greenhouse. And yes, it has a sitting area, a chandelier, and of course—a water feature. Because it’s not just a place to grow food—it’s a place to breathe, gather, and dream.
We’re still far from breaking ground, but the vision is already rooted deep.
Shon’s Dedication to the Land
Shon has a vision for The Essex Ranch, too—and I can tell you, no one is coming between him and that vision. Every weekend, he’s out here trimming trees, mulching, mowing—tending to the land with a quiet kind of purpose.
The land breathes a little easier with every tree cleared and every vine released.
The ranch was beautiful long before we came, but now, it’s being loved into a new kind of beauty. The trees are being freed from years of tangled vines, from the slow suffocation of growth without care. There’s a lesson in that somewhere. Maybe even a metaphor.
He’s had help from Alex and Kevin, and I love seeing how invested they’ve become. There’s something special about watching people put their hands on the land and leave it better than they found it.
Cherished Visits
Speaking of Alex—his beautiful wife Sonja came to visit recently, and we had the joy of hosting them here. When she’s around, the boys miraculously work a little less and laugh a little more. It’s good for the soul.
A Close Call
Now, back to Shon. Somehow, both times I’ve gone to bridal showers recently—first my daughter-in-law’s, and then Hannah’s this past weekend—he managed to nick his leg with a chainsaw. What are the odds? Let’s just say chainsaw chaps are in his future.
Embracing Ranch Life
Life out here isn’t always peaceful—but it’s real. And I wouldn’t trade it.
Spring is arriving, and we’re ready for it. We’re dreaming about gardens and chickens and the smell of dirt after a warm rain. We’re building something slow and sacred and sometimes frustrating—but it’s ours. And through it all, we’re learning what it means to be stewards of the land, to listen, to grow, and to let go.
Thanks for walking this journey with us. We’ll keep sharing the beauty, the mess, and all the little in-between moments that make The Essex Ranch feel like home.
Until next time,
The Essex Ranch
