Davis Ranch Retreat

08/25/2026

Ranch introductions, DRR style. The longhorns hold court in the pasture, the chicks run the place. Here's the family.

08/18/2026

A few quiet hours in Texarkana. We stayed in the Red House, stood under the pecan trees a while, and Eloise found herself a spot to watch the sun finish the day.

08/18/2026

Sharing in the lives and adventures of my sister’s children and grandchildren is one of my great joys. This is Eloise, one of Beth’s granddaughters, who signed on as a DRR ranchhand and has now added road trip companion to the list. Seven hours to Texarkana, and not a single complaint.

08/11/2026

Looks like I'm going to milk this birthday for everything it's worth.

It started in Austin, where my fav newly weds, Sam and Victoria, took me to a wonderful dinner. Then I went on to Texarkana and it just kept going, with more cakes and presents than any one person needs.

Thank you to my dear friend Dodie, and to the Heens, who drove all the way from Houston just to see me. And to Robin and Jim, who make Texarkana feel like home. I'm a very lucky woman.

08/11/2026

Thank you all for the birthday messages and loving notes this year. They made me smile through a few tears.

My birthday has never really been just mine. My baby sister Beth was born on it, the day I turned six, and she was the best birthday present I ever got. Nothing has topped it since.

For years the two of us celebrated together with our sisters. I miss her, and I felt every bit of your kindness.

07/08/2026

06/22/2026

There’s a song by Tracy Lawrence that says, “ you’ll find out who your friends are.” Well, here’s one of my bffs. On my recent trip back to the Ranch from Minneapolis, we noticed that we were circling around the airport in Dallas for quite a long time. The captain came on and said because of Weather we’re gonna keep circling but minutes later he said “we don’t have enough fuel to keep circling so we’re going to San Antonio.”
So when we landed in San Antonio, I thought I’m only 70 miles from the Ranch. I wanna get off here. But the captain wouldn’t let anyone off. We didn’t even go up to the gate. We just started refueling on the tarmac. After a while, apparently several people in first class began complaining, and the captain came on again and said (in a very resigned voice), “if you think you can make your way home by getting off here in San Antonio be my guest.”
So nine of us got off and into a waiting van and we went into the bowels of the San Antonio airport. There were lots of doors with big red red signs saying Do Not Enter and we were told by the driver of the van that we had eight seconds to get through the door without it sounding an alarm that would bring all kinds of havoc down onto the airport, so the nine of us crowded through the door in eight seconds (actually nine of us plus the driver of the van). It was a holding room and the door on the other side took us to the baggage claim area.
From there we had to “find our own way home according to the captain. So I called my BFF, Dodie, , and as the song says.
You’ll find out who your friends are Somebody’s gonna drop everything, run out and crank up their car, hit the gas, get there fast, never stopped to think what’s in it for me or it’s way too far. They just show up with their big old heart. That’s when you’ll find out who your friends are. “

She brought me to my car in Austin and then turned around and drove back to San Antonio. In our 66 years of friendship, we’ve had lots of fun together on trips, including Ireland, ( where she gave new meaning to ‘A Pub Crawl’), Seattle where we saw 8 of Pete Nelson’s tree Houses, Charlotte, Natchez, Laurel, Mississippi. And of course she’s a baby calf whisperer, too.Now THATS A FRIEND “. .

06/18/2026

Playing ‘catch up’ on summer travel: Beautiful home in beautiful Minnesota to share two big events with sister Beth’s beautiful family: Danny’s starring role in ‘Oliver’ and Patty Sue’s confirmation. Twins Allie and Bella taught me games galore and gave lessons in the use of AI. And I got to visit with Amos & Courtney. What a bonus weekend !!!! Thank you Zach and Joanna for sharing your precious family with me

06/16/2026

I never get tired of checking out the animals here. And sharing them with guests. And I’m always surprised that my guests seem to be comfortable with these critters….sure makes me feel good. I thought I had a great video of HUGE Jack rabbit…..but I was so surprised by his size as he loped down the path, thatI didn’t get the record button pushed. I thought I had seen a kangaroo!!!!

06/16/2026

And then there’s this. Yeah. This is what I love.