Hey, My Darling Siestas! How’s your weekend been? You guys that keep up pretty well know that I blogged last on Wednesday while we were on our way six hours northwest to our acreage in the middle of nowhere. We are now heading back to Houston so once again I’m writing you from Keith’s truck. My man of 31 years is driving next to me, singing to 60’s music and our two dogs are snoozing in the back seat. (He just stopped me and held my hand for a minute because the song was so sweet that he felt romantic.) We got to be away for four nights. The perfect amount of time! I wish I could say it was vacation but I had to take a ton of work with me. That’s ok. At least it was from a different venue and that can help a lot.
(I just got a text from Travis with a picture on it of his youngest son who just lost two teeth. Just living a little life here. Had to stop and text back and tell Levi how cool he looks.)
My heart is full where you are concerned and full with the last four days of life out in the country with Keith. And that’s why I’m going to share a little of it with you: because I love you and love how we can share so many parts of our lives with one another. This is going to be one of those posts when the girls (Amanda or Melissa) might say, “Are you sure you want to share that? You might get hit by somebody for that.” We, the girls and I, provide checks and balances for one another. If we’ve written anything at all besides your garden variety kind of post, we usually run it by one another. Sometimes we talk each other out of an entire post because we’re afraid someone will get offended or out of sorts or just take the opportunity to be ugly or critical. It happens in the blog world which many of you know from your own blogs.
Other times we just talk each other out of a few sentences or a paragraph or two. Most of you should wish you’d seen Melissa’s original Song of Songs Valentine post before I talked her out of a whole chunk. (Yes, we did have a few little words over it. Not a fuss. Just a good, healthy discussion. All four of us are strong willed and opinionated. We just speak our minds back and forth, work through our differences, and, a whole lot of the time, end up making a private family joke out of it.) Those who wouldn’t have wished to see Melissa’s original post are the reason none of you did. (Laughing and with much love.) There was nothing wrong with it. It was just extra colorful – kind of PG13 – because the Scripts happen to be extra colorful – kind of PG14 – in that particular book.
I’m not complaining one iota. To tell you the truth, we get so little ugliness from our commenters. You guys really are so loving and encouraging and patient and understanding and leave ample room for several generations to express themselves here in very different ways. We think we have the most amazing community in bloggerville but we’re not immune, of course. Sometimes we just flat out ask for it and don’t even realize it. Other times we expect somebody may take exception but we just decide it’s worth the risk.
This is one of those times. I’m about to show you guys some pictures – poor quality ones just off my i-phone – to give you a small taste of Moore life out at the acreage our family has. I know in advance that I’m setting myself up for someone to say sarcastically “Must be nice” but I’ll just sigh when I get it and, if it doesn’t get too ugly from there, post the comment anyway and wish she hadn’t misunderstood. The thing is, I love biographies. Glimpses of people’s real lives. Parts of their stories. For instance, every time I talk to Georgia Jan, I wish I could see her surroundings so I could picture her better. Know her in her own world. Every time Mom of Eleven (actually has 12 now, we learned at the SSMT celebration) comments I wish I could see a picture of all of them. It’s one way we, scattered all over the place, take a virtual stroll through a mile or two of one another’s worlds.
Actually, the world I’m about to share with you really isn’t my world. It’s my man’s. But once a couple has been married over 25 years, you really can’t know the one without knowing the other. You can no longer tell for sure where one stops and the other starts. This isn’t land I would have chosen in a thousand years but it’s what my man chose and I chose him. SO, when I talk about us heading to what I call our cactus land, this is the kind of place I’m talking about. I’ll describe it a tad first then I’ll stroll with you through some shots.
It’s a place where your cell phone won’t work and your land line is likely not to.
It’s the kind of place where Keith and I use (or misuse) English in a way we’d never do it at home. We don’t do it to make fun. We, for those few days, say it like we mean it. Like that’s who we are. Like, for instance, just this morning on an early ride with Keith in the old jeep, I heard myself say, “We ain’t seen deer one.”
It’s a place where men are not limited to inside facilities…but I’ll not elaborate on that.
It’s a place where our favorite show is “The Duck Commander.” We laugh our heads off…and, perhaps most worrisome to some of you, totally get it.
It’s the kind of place with a VERY small town nearby that I have fallen head over heels in love with. It has one real grocery story, a “Super S,” and just yesterday while I was picking up a few items, as I live and breathe and without one hint of exaggeration, the woman at check-out got on the microphone for the store and said over the loud speaker, “Mr. Brown, your wife called and wants you to pick up a bag of potatoes.” Ain’t no doubt in my mind he got some. I was so happy I nearly got some, too.
It’s a place with a LOT of these, hence the name:
It’s a place where a woman (even a non-hunter like yours truly) sometimes dresses like this on an early morning ice-cold jeep ride (with no windows in it) with no make-up on:
It’s a place where, if the temperature’s right, a woman would be wise to wear snake boots like mine:
It’s a place where your man’s taller than usual and where manliness can sometimes be gaged by how old and beat up your vehicle is: (For those of you who can’t fathom it, that’s a corn feeder on the front of the jeep for feeding wild life. You guys just have no idea what my life is like at times. Or his, because of mine.)
It’s a place where your man’s favorite hot rod looks like this:
It’s a place where the gate might latch with a horse shoe:
It’s a place where that tiny one hundred year-old German farm house that I told you about in So Long Insecurity resides. My man went to great pains to restore this thing back to its original look. Every window and door in it is a century old.
It’s a place where the sunrise this morning from my little porch looked like this and this one’s not even an especially good one:
It’s a place with, I reckon, my favorite place of all tucked right in it. I swing here and think about all sorts of things and sing hymns and pet Star:
It’s a place where a woman can take her spirals and practice them loud without a single soul hearing or caring:
It’s a place I wish all of you who wish you had one, did. Maybe one day, when you’re older like Keith and me, you will. It’s a place others of you might be bored out of your mind. Maybe your wish list would be a tiny little bay house instead. It’s just all a matter of taste. Sometimes not your own.
It’s a place where my man seems to love me a lot.
So it’s a place I love to go.
Anonymous 
My dream is to have a place in the hill country of Texas. My great grandparents lived in Center Point and I truly miss going to their home. It was a one bedroom home with an attic that was divided into two rooms. One side had one bed and the other side had two beds. All my great grandmothers sewing resided in that attic also. She loved to cook and always, always had some kind of dessert prepared. It was a small community and my Great Grandfather walked to the post office everyday to retrieve the mail and walked to the grocery store to buy their groceries. I vividly remember his pipe that he smoked and 1 small bottle of coke he drank daily. In 1981 they were moved to a rest home in Boerne (99 and 90 yrs of age) where they resided till their passings. He passed at 99 and she at 98. I would love the peace and quite it would bring except for maybe family. I would love to be without phone, tv and radio. Just give me my praise and worship music, books, a porch, sunrises and sunsets.
Aw Beth.. I am just now reading that part in So Long Insecurity.. It is a very real blessing to picture what you were referring to.. So I say thank you. 🙂
We just moved to my husband's neck of the woods where Big Gulps, and RV's and shotguns abound. A place where I don't get it, but where, when I hear him say, "I'm Home." I smile. 🙂 And I have only been married just shy of 12 years! (Next weekend!! thanktheLordohsoverymuch!)
Can't imagine where we will be at 25+.. 😉
So sweet! It made my heart happy to read that (& to see your pictures!)
Beth, thank you so much for sharing your special place with us. You are such a neat woman. So real and funny and I love you so much. You look great in camo! Love the ear muffs!
Forever His,
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Is it wrong that I loved every sentence and every picture of this post?
Although, if I didn't know you were a God-fearing woman, I would be tempted to doubt your truthfulness on the loudspeaker reminder to Mr. Brown. My word but that's funny as only a small town can be.
you could be Beth of Cactus Canyon or Beth of Cactus Country or Beth of Cactus Acres. OK I'm done…gotta go get some boys to clean their room! Thanks for sharing 🙂
More Hugs!
Awww. Thanks so much for sharing these pictures! I was hoping to see a picture of the farmhouse! It's adorable!
I know exactly what you mean. I have the same kind of man. He thinks I'm beautiful when we're outdoors together. The more rustic, the better.
I have similar posts on my blog about a trip I took, way out of my comfort zone, with my hubby last year. I'm so glad I got out of the comfort of home and took the trip. It was so worth it!
Thank you Beth,
I pictured it all wrong. I've only been in Texas an hour as we drove through so I really don't know what it is like. It's lovely thank you for sharing!
PS I am as old as you!
"Darling I love you…but give me Park Avenue!!"
Green Acres ISN'T the place for me…nor my man…but I'd go there if it were. (It's the mountains for us.)
So glad you got a chance to get away and so glad you all love each other well!
Blessings from Alabama
Beth:
Your posting blessed my soul. I had a great weekend with my hubby and I cherish every moment we have together. God is good. Thank you for sharing and by the way…peace and quiet= good living!!!!
Ha Ha. No worries, I stand to inherit a fine place like this one day – well maybe. Except mine will be covered in east texas pine trees. There is a cabin – just barely big enough for a table, bed and other basic necessities. But it is just so great, quiet, snake-ridden, but great. I have to have great boots like that to fight off the mud during the rainy season – my outfits there are equally hilarious :O) Oh, and it's a place where my real accent comes out so I totally get it.
There is something so unique about being in the middle of no where – it is freeing right? The cool thing about the little store near (overstatement) our land – they carry your groceries out to the car! The first time (having been there after being in NYC) they asked me that I about fainted and plus I was a little scared LOL.
Anyway, feel good about it. It's a blessing having a place to go and just live like you mean it. God's given you a little resbit and that is awesome.
Beth,
Thanks so much for showing us your special place! I feel so honored to get to know you and your family in this way. And I am so glad that God gave you this place to be rejuvenated and loved. Thanks again!!
Sarah Rader
Kentucky
Thank you for sharing that with us Beth! What a beautiful place, and right up my alley (minus the snakes :). I am a country girl at heart who just happens to live in a small town instead. But home is wherever God sends us. I'm so glad you had 4 days with your man in God's country. I'm feeling like getting out my spiral and reading it aloud on the porch swing – even if the neighbors do here me 🙂
I SO love it! My parents have a somewhat similar set up. Such an escape. I always feel so much more connected to God out there where there are fewer distractions and such an emphasis on nature and His beauty. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this piece of your life with us!
I love you for posting these precious pictures. We've been in Georgia for almost 2 years now and I am missing Texas something awful. These pictures of "home" were just what I needed tonight. I long to take a drive down 281, stop in Hico at the Koffee Kup for some pie. And then on to Marble Falls. The Bluebonnet Cafe there has some pretty mean pie, too. I wish I could land in Fredericksburg and hug my grandmother's neck – today's her birthday and in her better days we would have taken her for some Mexican Food. Sigh. Anyway – thanks for posting 🙂
With the current struggle in my marriage, I wish my man had a place where he would love me a lot.
Oh Beth! I've said it before, and once again, "I'd just put my money on the idea that our husbands were birthed from the same Momma!" I was showing this to my husband and he had one question as I scrolled down,"What kinda tractor does he have?" And, yes, he was thrilled to see it's a John Deere. Then I told him that Keith drives a Ford. The Moores are cool with him now. Just sayin'.
We, too, have a safe haven away from home. When we bought it, I questioned,"You want THAT?" Over the years, he has built us a little one room shanty that we affectionately call 'The Shack'. He also has built, on his own, a 2 acre pond stocked with catfish and bass. And, yes, it's outfitted with numerous tree stands for him and the boys. It's our safe place. Our favorite place. I don't know which sound I like to hear best there: the whippoorwills serenading us at dusk, the frogs chirping incessantly, the Lab splashing along the shore of the pond, or the kids laughing on the front porch. Perhaps it's all of those in unison. We thank God for such a huge blessing, a dream. And, oh how I wish you and Keith could sit a spell on the porch with us. Much to look forward to in heaven one day!
Thank you for sharing your world with us! We love the Moores!
What a beautiful place. My husband would love it being the same type of hunting man and I'm his non hunting wowman. Although after almost 14 years of marriage I now have a bow to target shoot with him. Who would have thought? (I'm still not going hunting! LOL)
You couldn't have explained it better about seeing people in their surroundings to get to know them better and that is why so many of us in Siestaville feel like you we know you personally. Thanks for sharing.
Oh and I just want to give a little shout out to any of the siestas that went to the Going Beyond Event in Virgina this weekend. We did think about you Beth and Priscilla even mentioned you a bit…all good, LOL.
I think any where you can be with your beloved is beautiful and special…enjoy every moment of your time together and never, ever apologize to anyone for it!
Love you in some camo, love that you share your life with us and LOVE your last line,
"It's a place where my man seems to love me a lot. So it's a place I love to go."
That is a great marriage teaching in two sentences 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing a peak into your life. When I was reading about your farm house in the book, I was thinking I needed to see some pictures…I'm a very visual person!
And I'm glad you aren't worried about the negative comments…it sounds like you are getting over your insecurities! 🙂
I so appreciate you and your girls being so real with us…it makes me feel like we are all one big happy family!
Have a blessed week!
"It's a place where my man seems to love me a lot. So it's a place I love to go."
What a beautiful statement! God bless you both!
Thank you for sharing with us! I love biographies too. I am not big on fiction. Give me the picture of real life. And I love the pictures of your and your man's real life!
The swing would be my favorite spot too. I loved to swing as a child and just think. Still love to when I get the chance.
So glad you had a great time!
Love ya!
I simply LOVE it!
You ARE so blessed, Beth, and I am so happy for you my friend!!
I loved the pics, Beth. Glad you have such a spot. BUT the snake boots cured me of wishing I had a place like that! A little sleet doesn't phase me in my northern white plains but snakes that bite . . . I would live on the roof!
Beth,
"a place my man seems to love me a lot so it's a place I love to go"
that is very unselfish of you and gets me thinking even harder about the next time my man speaks of his dream: to travel the roads in a 1973 Peterbilt.
Also, the sunset pic is gorgeous… but I noticed a "shadow" and thought it was a skunk, but looked closer and I think it is your lovely Star going potty? too funny!!
I love you!
You know that I just get this. Even the camo coveralls.
And especially The Duck Commanders.
I hope you also like "The Red Green Show!" 🙂
I love you. That is all.
OH! And the view of your swing makes me wish I could sit awhile with you and sing a bit. (off key, certainly not perfect, but securely and happily singing–a joyful noise, if you will- "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever!")
Mama,
You work your a** off for all of us. Don't apologize to anyone for having a retreat house for yourselves. Whoever judges you doesn't know the whole story, it could have been inherited for Pete's sake. Regardless, it's their immaturity and I've been there.
Me and my man went to my parent's moutain cabin the same time ya'll were gone. Agreed: somehow with all the noise of daily life gone, he's sweeter to me and God's voice is clearer. No cell phones either; just movies, brownies, trudging through the snow and relishing in togetherness,quietness and the fireplace. I thank God so often for the blessings my parents afford me. We are not rich but we're so blessed. My parents would do anything to help me have it as good as they do. But they worked their a** off too and they deserve whatever they have. They are the last of the generation that stays in one job , not just one career, but the same office!, for 35 years and is able to retire comfortably. I'm so thankful to God that they are comfortable. I am only so lucky to be a recipient of their generousity in sharing what they have.
Anyway, that's not what I meant to post about…soapbox.
Among other things, it touches my heart SO MUCH that you bring your spiral with you everywhere. It speaks volumes to your humble and contrite heart even as famous as you are.
PS-I love Madea movies. Watching one right now. Sorry, don't judge me. Just saw the new stage play and in it the mom is dying of cancer and she tells her daughter she wishes she'd given her more. Then the daughter sings a song called, "you gave me Jesus". Oh…my whole face was wet!
Love the pics, thanks for sharing that part of your life with us. great to have a place to get away, that house is ADORABLE, love the red!! May God continue to bless you and your work.
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I love it for you and Keith. We should never down play a blessing from God. I love that God knew Keith would be so alive here and that you would come alive too. I love your rattle snake boots. A girl has to have her gear. Nothing like sweet fresh air huh. We always say in our family that the well water does wonders. We don't have a well one around us:) Thanks for sharing it with us.
I just love your post!! I am cracking up because my husband and I lay in the bed sometimes at night watching "taped" episodes of "The Duck Commander" ….those guys just crack us up! I'm so glad another wife is also getting to watch this "crazy" show:)
Your first cactus picture made me homesick! We lived in west Texas for 3 years and just moved to northern MN. I never thought I would miss prickly pear catuses but I do! And will miss getting to eat a prickly pear this year! Thanks!
Beth, I think I just deleted my comment- I love that you and Keith have a special place in that part of our state. My husband and I spent many years with dear friends at ranches in the Junction area. Issack's was our diner and the chicken fried steak, a must! Thank you so much for sharing with us and therefore blessing and encouraging us- what a gift- God bless you and yours, Kathy, Austin
Thank you and I love you! I've been under the weather this weekend and just feeling kind of lonely and down. You just have this way…
My heart is always touched. Thank you for sharing with us.
I know that much has been required of you and you serve Our Lord and us so well, you go ahead and enjoy and cherish every bit of every bit that you get
Sharon
*Grin* I love it! And I love how happy it makes the two of you!
That little farmhouse is 'darling'!!!!
Love.Love.Love.IT!!! Talk about a place to get back in touch with sanity! Thanks so much for sharing that.
Thank you so much for the pictures…I have been trying to picture your little German house,and was even talking to my hubs about it. Thank you for the visual. You are such a fun person!
Mama Beth,
what an honor that you let us siestas see your special place that you share with your man. I think it is beautiful place. It is fun to see where you are when you say you are headed there. Now I can picture it in my mind.
I loved the picture of you. How cute.
love you for sharing your life with us.
love
Tammy S
I'm so thankful you shared those pictures!! I was just reading about your place this afternoon, while I was reading "So Long Insecurity", and I thought, "I wonder what it looks like there?"
So thanks again for sharing your home. By the way, my Dadd fixed up a house like that one time (animals were living in it, should have been torn down, but he said "it had straight walls"!)
I love you it Beth! It's precious, unique, warm…thankful that you have a place to retreat to with your man. In our late twenties my man and I are thankful that our house and regular vacations provide such needed sanctuary. I am happy about it! Isn't the Lord gracious…"for of His fullness we have ALL received GRACE upon GRACE." (John 1:16) Praise You Lord for your precious gifts to us! We're so undeserving and so thankful for all these things. Let us use em' up for YOU! Even if that just means we get to have some much needed rest in Jesus name Amen.
In Christ
Regina (aka former LW girl)
I love you it Beth! It's precious, unique, warm…thankful that you have a place to retreat to with your man. In our late twenties my man and I are thankful that our house and regular vacations provide such needed sanctuary. I am happy about it! Isn't the Lord gracious…"for of His fullness we have ALL received GRACE upon GRACE." (John 1:16) Praise You Lord for your precious gifts to us! We're so undeserving and so thankful for all these things. Let us use em' up for YOU! Even if that just means we get to have some much needed rest in Jesus name Amen.
In Christ
Regina (aka former LW girl)
I love you it Beth! It's precious, unique, warm…thankful that you have a place to retreat to with your man. In our late twenties my man and I are thankful that our house and regular vacations provide such needed sanctuary. I am happy about it! Isn't the Lord gracious…"for of His fullness we have ALL received GRACE upon GRACE." (John 1:16) Praise You Lord for your precious gifts to us! We're so undeserving and so thankful for all these things. Let us use em' up for YOU! Even if that just means we get to have some much needed rest in Jesus name Amen.
In Christ
Regina (aka former LW girl)
love the pictures! the first present my husband bought me when we were dating was a shot gun. He wanted to make sure i learned how to shot and gun and then took me out duck hunting with him! talk about an experience! of course once we started having children i had a good excuse not to have to go freeze in the duck blinds with him anymore 🙂 amazing what we will do for our men!!
We live in a very small town in Texas where everyone knows everyone and you almost have to leave town to get married because everyone is related in one way or another. My man and I go for a long drive in the countr for a date, we still get lost sometimes and take the "long way" home. Your place is lovely. Shalom
Love it! Thanks for sharing this special part of your life with us!
That looks like a great place 🙂
My parents have a farm that my boys just LOVE
the tractor and mud are their 2 favorite things when they visit – hehe
God knows what we love and I rejoice when He blesses us with the delights of our hearts
Much love
Kim
Ahh, how romantic!