May 21st, 2018

It started as a whim. A thought over Christmas wine that evolved into a realistic idea. An idea that grew and grew until we were like the little engine that could and  just finally did. My girls and I love the ranch. We love horses and cows and dogs and sheep and goats. We love sitting on the screened in porch in the evening and watching the sun set behind the mountain. Then we get down to the business of wine and laughter and food and babies and family and all the chaos that goes with it. We love cooking, and long breakfasts and riding in the Ranger feeding cows and chasing jackrabbits and catching up with a neighbor over the fence. Sitting on the porch with the fires or fans going and talking late into the night about our lives long after the babies are in bed.  Waking up to giggling children in jammies and a line for the coffee pot and a fire going on the porch to warm our toes while we wait for breakfast in all its baconized glory.

One of my girls lives on a  12,000 acre ranch in the heart of Texas that her husband manages. One is way up in Washington State with her husband for the next two years. My son, the third apple of my eye, lives in Andrews with his beautiful wife, two daughters and baby boy. And me. Living in Midland, with a ranch in Coke County splitting my time in both and not having the time I need for either.  I'm 58 and I don't feel it. Oh, my body may ache and my heart may hurt because it's gone through a lot in these years but honestly, most days I look in the mirror and I am surprised by the life lines and bags and grey staring back at me. The outside sure doesn't match the way I feel inside. And I suppose that's a good thing. It means I have the energy and the enthusiasm to greet another day.

So here we are. My precious daughters and I launching Black Angus Boutique. Resisting the urge to buy all these pretties ourselves and feeling the pain when a piece we were particularly fond of is sold. Our love of turquoise and the ranching way of life and the beauty and history of Native American jewelry caused us to do something way out of our comfort zone. The fun of throwing a phrase out there and having it become a really cute tee is amazing. Each purchase is gratifying. Taking the leap. All six feet and six hands and three bodies.  And it's been good.