Mr. Black He’s gone now… it happened several weeks ago… I haven’t wanted to talk about it until now.   He came to the door of the ranch house several years ago, skinny and scruffy and VERY vocal.  I had seen him in the fields out from the porch that fall.  I watched him from the porch with great interest as he stalked mice in the field and snakes and frogs down near the pond.  He was obviously on his own and foraging for food.  Why he came to the ranch I don’t know, your guess is as good a... Read Full Story

Mr. Black He’s gone now… it happened several weeks ago… I haven’t wanted to talk about it until now.   He came to the door of the ranch house several years ago, skinny and scruffy and VERY vocal.  I had seen him in the fields out from the porch that fall.  I watched him from the porch with great interest as he stalked mice in the field and snakes and frogs down near the pond.  He was obviously on his own and foraging for food.  Why he came to the ranch I don’t know, your guess is as good a... Read Full Story

One of the best definitions I’ve heard for escrow is: “A procedure in which a third party acts as a stakeholder for both the buyer and seller, carrying out both parties’ instructions, and assumes responsibility for handling all of the paperwork and distribution of funds.”  In a real estate transaction or home purchase, the title company becomes the “third party.”  If you purchase a home through a real estate agent or broker, he/she will prepare the purchase contract or agreement.  Within th... Read Full Story

One of the best definitions I’ve heard for escrow is: “A procedure in which a third party acts as a stakeholder for both the buyer and seller, carrying out both parties’ instructions, and assumes responsibility for handling all of the paperwork and distribution of funds.”  In a real estate transaction or home purchase, the title company becomes the “third party.”  If you purchase a home through a real estate agent or broker, he/she will prepare the purchase contract or agreement.  Within th... Read Full Story

When I built the ranch some years back, I built a full length, deep, covered porch on the front of the house.   It provides wonderful shade and protection from the rain and hot sun, and the house is situated so that if there’s any wind at all, it blows the full length of the porch.  In the summer in Texas, wind is a good thing. Now the whole point of having this wonderful porch is to take advantage of the outdoors and nature — so over the years I’ve added bird feeders and ... Read Full Story

When I built the ranch some years back, I built a full length, deep, covered porch on the front of the house.   It provides wonderful shade and protection from the rain and hot sun, and the house is situated so that if there’s any wind at all, it blows the full length of the porch.  In the summer in Texas, wind is a good thing. Now the whole point of having this wonderful porch is to take advantage of the outdoors and nature — so over the years I’ve added bird feeders and ... Read Full Story

Owner financing is often attractive because it doesn’t appear to have the hassle involved with endless credit checks and personal employment and resource verifications.  It’s difficult to qualify for a home or commercial property loan if you are self employed or if you don’t have a verifiable employment history of at least 24 months.  If your credit score (FICO) is below 620 and you have a few glitches on your credit history it will be difficult to qualify for a property loan these days wit... Read Full Story

Owner financing is often attractive because it doesn’t appear to have the hassle involved with endless credit checks and personal employment and resource verifications.  It’s difficult to qualify for a home or commercial property loan if you are self employed or if you don’t have a verifiable employment history of at least 24 months.  If your credit score (FICO) is below 620 and you have a few glitches on your credit history it will be difficult to qualify for a property loan these days wit... Read Full Story

July 4th Fireworks Summer is here with a vengeance, it’s been over 100 degrees almost every day for the last several weeks, and there’s no end in sight.  Mowing the ranch yard has gone from a pleasure to a chore because of the heat — early mornings the grass is covered with heavy dew, and by the time it evaporates, the heat has begun.  And dry, it’s so dry in Texas in the summer, especially in July and August.  It’s against the law in most cities to set off fir... Read Full Story

July 4th Fireworks Summer is here with a vengeance, it’s been over 100 degrees almost every day for the last several weeks, and there’s no end in sight.  Mowing the ranch yard has gone from a pleasure to a chore because of the heat — early mornings the grass is covered with heavy dew, and by the time it evaporates, the heat has begun.  And dry, it’s so dry in Texas in the summer, especially in July and August.  It’s against the law in most cities to set off fir... Read Full Story