Creature Comforts in the Country

If you've been keeping up with any of my blogs, you know that I generally write about the simple, easy going life on the Windmill Ranch. There's no doubt that I think it's a hidden gem, a life away from the rat race, and a getaway from the daily grind. But in truth, we do have all the creature comforts too. You know, the stuff you'd expect from a nice hotel.

For example, we have satellite TV. I watched a ton of football yesterday. Did ya see the end of the Saints/Eagles game? Great stuff. My youngest son is visiting. He watched "That's So Raven" and other younger audience stuff on one of the many childrens' channels. The boss, Marianne, nestled down last night for "Desperate Housewives." We don't have a TV in the individual quarters, but we do have a good one in the pavilion.

We also have wireless internet. You don't have to worry about missing that important email or keeping track of that pressing project. Just log-on to your laptop and find a comfortable spot to check your work. Personally, I'd recommend the front porch or pool deck at sunrise. I'd head to the back, rock patio in the afternoon.

There's also a land line w/ unlimited long distance. Don't fret over 'will I get a cell phone signal,' because you won't. Just grab one of the cordless phones, wonder and talk to check on loved ones back home.

For anyone looking for a business meeting, we have a tremendous amount of room in our pavilion with electrical outlets galore. We even have 'em outside on the front porch. Plug in and go!

If you want a country wedding, we have all the normal stuff for a sit-down reception dinner or a buffet. Don't forget our chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America and with famed Paul Prudomme. FYI, book a tent for your wedding night. (see previous blog)

The BIG HOUSE has central air and heat. The LIL' HOUSE has a unit that could cool the equator or warm Antartica. And each tent has either refrigerated air or a swamp cooler for the warmer months and wood burning stoves for the cooler times.

Come visit. You won't miss the big game, that important email or call. All the creature comforts are here. It's just the other stuff that'll make you feel like you're a million miles from the chaos and grind of daily life.

Bill Robertson
Mgr, Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200

Tents, Rain & Romance

I just got up from a night in Tent #3. The gentle rain fell all night long, at least I think it did. I slept so hard that I didn't open my eyes til' my Monday morning alarm sounded. But when I got up, it dawned on me (even though it's still dark) that a day & night with the person you love (or wanna love or like a whole lot) in a tent, in the rain might make Viagra look like Vitamin C.

Right now, I can't think of anything more romantic (and I'm not really a romantic kinda guy) than a whole day lounging (that's censored language) in a tent.. especially if it's raining. If it's not raining, maybe I could rig a sprinkler for sound effects.

I've always liked the tents. I've always bragged about the tents. I've always wondered about the tents. Now, I can say w/out hesitation---if you and you're partner want the most romantic, most hidden, most private, most "what happens at the ranch-stays at the ranch" type of getaway... come to the Windmill Ranch Preserve and book a tent.

Here's another good idea. Tell us your coming. Subtley, tell us your intent. We'll make sure you never have to leave those quarters. We could rig up some 'walkie-talkie' system. You could call down and request anything and we'd bring it... call it room service in the wild.

So book a tent. Ignite a relationship. Re-ignite a relation. Confirm a relationship.. or just enjoy the absolute peacefulness.

One other thing.. you might want to check the forecast. If it's sunny, I'll have the sprinkler on standby.

Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200

Town & Country, The Epiphany

I just had an epiphany, thanks to a young, out of town visitor. I think I may have given many people the wrong impression, albeit a peaceful impression.
Many times in my blogs I've talked about nature's this and nature's that. I think I even entitled one blog, "Nature's Wake-up Call." My point is, I concentrated on the simplistic, wonderful life of living in the country.
Unwittingly, I may have given some readers the impression that Windmill Ranch Preserve is in the wild west Texas sticks and anyone who lives in this area has more tractors or livestock than teeth.
For example, this young visitor asked: "Where to y'all do your shopping? Do you have any markets to buy your groceries?"
The truth is, we have a fine UNITED grocery with polished concrete floors, a deli section, a pharmacy, even books.
Then, this innocent visitor asked;" Do the kids go to school?"
In fact, Snyder has a triple-A high school, a pretty big junior high school and the city's building a behemoth elementary school. We even have a college... Western Texas College with a pretty famous rodeo team.
Another good question was, "do y'all have toilets at the ranch?"
I promise we have toilets, two kinds in fact. We have the standard white toilets in most homes and we have state of the art electric potties in our incredible walled tents.
We also have a hospital, a world famous taxidermist, an airport, a chamber of commerce, many restaurants, several motels, county government, a vital role in wild west buffalo history, a museum, a movie theater, a bowling alley, more than one lumber yard, a lot of banks, a Wal-Mart, a CVS pharmacy, a town square and more.
I've lived in many cities. Some bigger than others. If I've given the wrong impression of Snyder and the Windmill Ranch it is completely unintentional. I try to never say never, but it'd have to be pretty incredible circumstances for me to return to the 'rat race.'
We have just about everything you need here the ranch and in Snyder and many things you want, too. It's kind of like that old TV commercial... "try it---you'll like it."
Visitors and new residents are always welcome. Come for a weekend or a lifetime. See what you're missing.
By the way, even this young visitor said... "Wow, look at that sunset."
Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200

Coffee before sunrise

I have a lot of favorite times at the Windmill Ranch. But this one may be my 'most' favorite. It's coffee before sunrise.
Right now, it's 7:12am and still pitch black. I can remember less than a month ago when we had plenty of light by 7am. But not now.
I think what I enjoy most about the early morning dark is.. I (or you) get to see and hear the day as it comes to life. Right now, it's very quiet.. very! But in a matter of minutes, a bird, critter, dog or anything else will be begin to stir.
Then almost simultaneously, the sun will begin to peek through the trees to the east of the pavilion. Then, the wildlife begin to rustle, bustle and move. Then almost instantly, it's like the alarm's sounded and the bus has arrived. Everything starts moving. The change in nature's volume goes from almost nothing to conspicuous.
It feels like I have a front row seat to something no one's ever seen. Each day is a lil' different.
Come visit. See for yourself. But don't worry. If you want to sleep in, nature won't wait--but a new show starts w/out warning.
Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200

It doesn't get better than this...

I'll give you $1,000,000 if you can beat my afternoon. Of course, I'm kidding. I can't give you $1,000,000, but I can give you a priceless, unforgettable time away from the rat race.
Right now, it's 6:52pm on a Tuesday. I've had a full day.. got lots done. Now, I'm just kinda chillin'.
About the only thing I need to worry about is.. where to chill. I just walked in from watching doves on the line and the scissortail duke it out on the southwest horizon. That was after I took a seat in the shade at one of our three picnic tables. That was after, I sat on the front porch and watched the sun slowly begin to set. That was after, I flipped through the channels in our pavilion and watched a lil' ESPN. But before that, I walked down to Tent #3, felt the breeze and heard the windmill kick into gear. Did I mention that now it's only 6:55pm?
I've been in the Rat Race. For years, I thought it was the only choice. Ask anyone in my family. Not so. This place, Windmill Ranch Preserve feels like it's locked in time... certain things happen every day, but each day they're different.
We had a good rain yesterday. Now, the sky's a deep, indescribable blue. The wind's shifted out of the north. The sun's going down a few minutes earlier. The wildlife's making it's changes, too.
I sure wish you'd come visit. I can't give you a $1,000,000, but I bet you'll feel like a million when you get here.
Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
325.573.1200

Maintenance Man & Innkeeper

As of this afternoon, I've been on the job nine months and 10-days. I think that's roughly 280-days. My math's bad b/c some months like February have only 28-days, while others have 31-days. So, I'm roundin' it off at 280. The precise number isn't important.
What's important is.. I used to think my old job in TV offered variety, which of course is the spice of life. Now, I'm finding this job is a smorgasboard compared to blue plate special.
You see, I started this job with specific tasks.. many specific tasks. Each job was new to me. I'd finish one task and then start another, and another and another. Gradually, WRP, as I envisioned it, began to take shape. That's a good thing.
Then, the big jobs were done. So, Max (who knows nothing about plumbing) and I began new jobs. Now as he and I were talking this afternoon over formica--we realized we have no less than 10-BIG JOBS on our plate. Any one of them could lead our 'priority list.'
Add to that, the maintenance it takes to maintain the old, BIG JOBS. Everyday, I see something that needs attention. Not because it's broken or because it's ruined, it needs attention b/c we're in a rugged place and that comes with unusual wear and tear.
Add to that, we're seeing a lot of customers at the ranch.. THANK GOODNESS. So now, the role of innkeeper is beginning to develop. It as much fun as maintenance man and just as immediately gratifying.
For example this weekend, we had two sets of moms and dads and their children. At one point, I realized the parents were dining under candlelight while the children were making s'mores over a roaring bonfire. I thought.. this is what we wanted. This is just as we talked about WRP, more than a year ago. Then, the next morning--I asked one of the mother's about her stay. She said, "I can't think of anything to complain about."
That felt great.. instant. Kinda like fixin' a path or laying a stone patio or building a pool deck.. instant!!!
Come see us. I bet you'll feel relaxed in an instant. And the good news is, if something's broke---I can hand Max the tools that he needs to fix it--hopefully in an instant.
Bill Robertson
WRP Manager
325.573.1200

Deer Feeders & The New Deck

Hola everybody! We've just added a few new things to jazz up your enjoyment at WRP. They are a massive, fine, two level deck around our soon to be completed swimming pool and deer feeders.

Deer feeders?! Huh? What's the big deal? I tell ya what's the big deal for me and maybe it'll ring true for you too.

I live in the country now. But for most of my life, I was a city boy. My idea of seeing wildlife was the neighbor's dog running loose or possibly roadkill on the side of the road. Now, I'm seeing everything 1,000 acres has to offer: deer, turkey, quail, dove, bobcats, coyotes, hawks, owls, ducks, cranes, scissortails..

The deer feeders (3 of 'em) are just going to increase the eyewitness possibilities. But as I learned the hard way, don't stand too close to a feeder when the motor goes off or you get peppered with cracked corn. I bet even Jimmy wouldn't like that.

As for the big deck, it's amazing what you can see when you get three feet off the ground. Then, it's really fun to when you step up to five feet off the ground. The view is tremendous!!!

I can't wait for it's completion. I want to enjoy early morning coffee or late afternoon fun while watching the sunrise or sunset. Talk about relaxing. It'll be like that relaxing feeling when all the bills are paid, the kids are spending the night out, you're favorite movie's on TV and you don't have to be anywhere the next day... you know, those times when you're mind and body get into sync and you just sit back w/out a care in the world.. at least for a lil' while.
Bill Robertson
Mgr., Windmill Ranch Preserve
Snyder, Texas
325.573.1200

This isn't a bad place to live

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to DisneyWorld. My son, Joe who lives in Tennessee, and I flew to Orlando, had a ton of fun and returned w/in 48-hours.
Imagine a 12-yr-old loose in the Magic Kingdom and imagine a dad shuffling along at a break neck pace--that was our weekend. I bet we walked 50-miles in one day and had the times of our lives. In fact, Joe turned to me over lunch (maybe it was supper) at Epcot (maybe it was MGM Studios) and said to me, "dad, this is one of the best days of my life." Wow.. it really doesn't get better than that.
Anyway, I had a few weird (usually freak me out) experiences. We got to Orlando and it was.. crowded. I live on a ranch now, eight miles west of tiny Snyder. My idea of crowded is two people at the post office or waiting for Wally at the hardware store.
But all of a sudden, we became swamped with strollers and northerners from.. well the north. The crowd was amazing!!! I mean incredible.
Don't misunderstand. I've lived in New Orleans. I've visited big.. really big cities. But, I haven't really been anywhere since I moved to the 'ranch' in west Texas. It was weird.
All of a sudden, I was surrounded by people... giant crowds. Please don't misunderstand--I wasn't angry. I wasn't impatient. I wasn't grumbly. I wasn't anything, but kinda in awe.
It was like.. what's this? Who are these people paying a fortune to take a baby to DisneyWorld? Why are these people with very thick accents angry? Why are all the babies crying at precisely 3:30pm? Napping.. maybe?
Joe and I had the time of our lives. It couldn't have been better.. really. We rode all the rides, I almost threw up many, many times. Joe was such a big boy. He figured out the system and we scooted through lines.
Unfortunately, the quick trip came to an abrupt end. Joe returned to his house in Tennessee and I returned to the Windmill Ranch.
As I sat on the porch at the ranch, looking at the 'fire in the sky sunset' this afternoon, I realized.. Orlando (or any other big city) is a real nice place to visit, it's a great place to take the children, and a wonderful place for family bonding... but my simple life in west Texas is pretty amazing too.
I sat there as a woodpecker tapped on the telephone pole. Then, the sun began to set. Then, a slight breeze dashed in from the southwest.. then.. well, does it really matter.
The point is, I realized: this place is a place to sit back, realize 'who needs the traffic, the crowds, the hustle/bustle'?
So, if you're swamped, if you're bombarded by deadlines, needs, timetables, crowds, traffic, a hectic lifestyle.. come and visit us at WRP.
It's like Joe and I talked about.. those big cities sure are fun to visit.. but nothing compares to the laid back lifestyle of the BIG COUNTRY.
I promise, you'll forget your mortgage, car payment, insurance and your next appointment.. at least for a few days.
Bill Robertson
WRP, Ranch Manager