It is so beautiful to see the trees and grass still lush and green here at the Ranch. Our spring-fed creek is flowing in the valley next to the garden, and the mornings and evenings have remained very pleasant for sitting outside on the porch for an extra cup of coffee in the mornings and a glass of iced tea or wine in the evenings. The sunsets have been especially spectacular these last few weeks, and we have captured most of them on our cameras.
In addition to our beautiful sunsets, our precious dog, Maggie, has been the subject of most of the photos on our phones. A few years ago, our good friend and artist Mary Owens painted Maggie’s portrait and I gave it to Lynn as an anniversary gift. You can check out Mary’s paintings and art at her website at maryowensfineart.com, and you can find her works, as well as other amazing local artists, in some of our excellent art galleries in Wimberly such as Art on 12, Wildflower Art Gallery, Hill Country Collectibles and 220 Fine Art Gallery. You can even find various works of art by local artists in several of our wonderful shops on the square such as the Old Mill Store.
From the day that we adopted Maggie, we knew that she would someday break our hearts. Having previously experienced the great loss of our other best friends before her (Abbie and Lacey), we cherished every day that we had with Maggie. We lost her on a Monday in July, and a week later we discovered Chris Stapleton’s “Maggie’s Song”. We added the song to our breakfast music playlist. Listen if you would like a good cry to a beautiful song. A dear friend put together a video honoring our precious Maggie that includes some of our favorite photos as well as Mary’s painting and combined the photos with the audio of “Maggie’s Song”.
A friend once told us “Every dog has a job.” Maggie had many. One that she did without even knowing it was to bless us every day with her joyful spirit. Her beautiful presence and sweet demeanor graced our lives for almost 15 years. As every dog lover would agree, not nearly long enough, but nevertheless a long life for a cocker spaniel.
The job that Maggie took very seriously was to greet the guests every morning with a smile and wagging tail. She would occasionally sneak past us while we were busy in the kitchen, and make the rounds in the breakfast room, enjoying the adoration and pets from each guest.
Another of Maggie’s jobs was being our faithful and friendly companion. She was always a great traveler and loved staying with us in hotels and B&B’s over the years. When she was a puppy, we flew to New York to pick her up, and she enjoyed making friends at the airport, and continued in that role of gathering friends her whole life.
One of the greatest roles that all our sweet “best friends” shared is that of a teacher. Some of the most important lessons we learned from them include:
- Welcome everyone you meet, especially friends and family, with joy and a smile
- Take time for playing, walking and napping
- Communicate your love by sitting close and snuggling with your people
- Remember, life is short, so cherish every moment with those you love
The house is too quiet. We are dog people so one day soon we will have another “best friend”, probably a puppy, and probably another cocker spaniel. Right now, we are content to savor the memories of our precious Maggie.
For those traveling with your dog, the Granary and the Winters Mill Cabin here at the Inn are both pet friendly. Many of the restaurants in and around Wimberley also allow you to dine with your pets on their outdoor patios. Let us know how we can help you plan your next trip, and we can share other recommendations whether or not your get away includes your four-legged companion.
Blessings,
Lynn & Diana
