As the world became a game of "No Touchy!" and Covid played bouncer to our favorite hangouts, we found ourselves sweating it out in the Arizona heat, armed with a cooler of adult refreshments and a kiddie pool as our makeshift oasis. Desperate for family fun and a break from our indoor inferno, we scoured AirBnB for the perfect vacation rental within striking distance of Austin, Texas.
Nineteen months prior, I had moved into a swanky new condo in North Phoenix. At the ripe young age of 50, it was the first time I had ever lived solo – no parents, kids, or husbands (I swear they came in that order! 😂). The condo was my sanctuary. When my daughter Brandie hit a financial snag, I invited her and my granddaughter Cadence to bunk with me and rent out their family home. But before we could even break in our new living arrangements, Covid crashed the party.
With my jet-set lifestyle grounded and the sweltering heat closing in, we knew it was time to skedaddle out of Dodge. A road trip to Austin, where my oldest daughter lived with my grandsons, was the perfect escape. Little Cadence, a Spirit-obsessed 3-year-old, sealed the deal when she spotted a ranch guesthouse with horses that looked like they were straight out of her favorite show.
Our Date with Destiny
Twin Oaks Ranch, nestled between Schulenburg and Hallettsville, became our home away from home. My bestie Kim flew out to join us, and we reveled in our 100-year-old guesthouse with a wrap-around porch overlooking a pond and the animal fields. Our gracious hosts, Craig and April, introduced us to the ranch's equine residents and even invited us to a BBQ. We pinched ourselves to make sure this wasn't a mirage!
Under the Texas stars, we drank wine, played Phase 10, and watched the kiddos frolic barefoot (and sometimes bare-bottomed!). We were smitten. We craved the grass, trees, animals, and blissful isolation. I yearned for a fixer-upper and my dogs (currently bunking with my ex-hubby). Our four-day taste of Texas ranch life had us hooked, and when Brandie and I get an idea in our heads, you'd have better luck wrangling a greased pig than changing our minds! 🐷🤠
As we left Texas to head back to Arizona, we had no idea of the adventure that lay ahead of us!
Adios, amigos! Belinda, Brandie, and Cadence – the Rambunctious, Rural, and Ridiculously Charming Rancheras of Kindred Spirit Ranch! 🌵🐖🌄
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