Hi Friends!
Summer has arrived in Texas! Thankfully, we are getting some much-needed rain, enough to make the grass and flowers flourish, making the landscape look even more stunning around the property and surrounding hill country.
Many of our guests are coming to the area for June weddings, anniversary and birthday celebrations, concerts, car races, rodeos, July 4th festivities and other summer festivals. Mainly guests are looking for ways to stay cool while they are having fun in the Wimberley area. There are several places to get in the water, but one of our favorite local watering holes is Blue Hole. When planning your trip, be sure to make advance reservations at Blue Hole Regional Park to secure a time to dive into the cool clear waters of Cypress Creek. If you prefer fishing or boating, check out the outfitters around the beautiful blue waters of Canyon Lake to reserve pontoon or ski boats, jet skies and other water sports. If floating down a peaceful cold river is more your speed, check out the various outfitters on the Guadalupe River where you can rent tubes and canoes.
The mornings and evenings still offer cool breezes on the porches here at the Inn, and the perfect place to take in the views and watch birds and wildlife. Birdwatching is one of my favorite activities here at the Inn. This pastime began soon after building the Winters Mill Cabin where we often began and ended our days relaxing on the porch. It was from this vantage point that we discovered all the amazing birds. To attract more birds, we put up bird houses and feeders all around the property.
Many of our guests enjoy this hobby as well and are thrilled to share their findings from their strolls of the property. We are often asked what birds they can expect to see, as well as what have been our rarest sightings. We will never forget the first time we heard a screeching call coming from the valley by our spring-fed creek that sounded more like something you would hear in a rain forest or a zoo than in our Texas hills. The mystery was solved a few days later when we saw the biggest most beautiful peacock hanging out with a group of wild turkeys just steps away from the cabin.
A few years ago, I began collecting books to help identify the various birds, and Lynn gave me an awesome pair of binoculars to help assure more up-close views. Recently one of our sweet guests shared a bird watching ap with us called Merlin Bird ID that allows you to record the calls and songs of birds in the area which immediately lists the names of all the various birds in the recording. Some of our local favorite birds are Cardinals, Blue Birds, Painted Bunting, Doves, Goldfinch, Wood Ducks and Wild Turkeys. Those rarer for our area that we recently heard and viewed on the property are Indian Peafowl, Red Winged Blackbirds, and Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.
In addition to the birds, guests often report sightings of various wildlife. Some of the recent include a mother fox with her babies playing by our garden, and another baby fox by our woodshed. Many have reported seeing several white-tailed deer, and a few with their new spotted babies. We also saw wild turkey both in our back yard, and some have been spotted making beds where they can lay their eggs among the wildflowers. And I was able to capture a video of a newly born calf that was still wobbling as it walked, trying to catch up to its mother. What a treat to experience the gift of all the new life happening here in our little slice of heaven here at the Inn.
We’d like to wish all of you men a Happy Father’s Day! For us personally June is a special month in that both of our sweet mothers celebrate their birthdays, and we are so blessed that we can still call them and let them know how much we love and appreciate them on their special days! Unfortunately, I lost my dad much too young several years ago, but we are thankful we can still honor Lynn’s amazing dad on Father’s Day.
Whether you are coming to celebrate Father’s Day, a birthday, anniversary, a retreat, or just a summer get away, we’d love to have you stay here at Inn at Sunset Mill Ranch. Let us know how we can help you plan your next trip to the beautiful Texas Hill Country!
Hope to see you soon!
Diana & Lynn
