My husband, Jeff, and I both grew up in the same small town in Southeast Texas and have known each other since high school. We picked that same small town to raise our children and we had a plethora of cows, goats, dogs, and pigs during our time there. We loved the home and close proximity to family, but about 10 years ago we decided it was time for a move.

Jeff wanted the new ranch to have some topography, a pond, and some mature trees. I wanted, a new home to transition to "empty nesters" in, redbud trees, and fainting goats (still waiting on the fainting goats!). We found a beautiful old horse farm that Jeff instantly fell in love with. Me, not so much... Although the property was beautiful, on top of the perfect hill was a 1950's smelly old house, that had been poorly added onto several times. This wasn't the diamond in the rough, call Chip and JoJo farmhouse, it was a total tear down. One demo project and 5 months later and we had built a beautiful new home.

This is my home that I share with my husband, four dogs, one donkey, cows that seem to be multiplying weekly and a pond full of fish. All of which, become subjects for photography practice, as have most of the neighbors animals too. Here on the ranch, I experience an abundance of breathtaking sunsets that are always helpful for honing my photographic skills.

The dogs, were a late developed passion of my husband's. The donkey is the meanest animal we have and the cows give a real air of nostalgia to the property. Jeff always says, "Raising cattle is not about making money, it's all about the romance of it." I must agree, there's something magical about sitting in a porch swing watching the dogs run and the cows graze on the hill while enjoying the breeze.

I hope you enjoy Our Southern Life as much as we do!