David Ruppert

We see some cool stuff out at the property. Cottonmouths, rattlers and copperheads unfortunately make the list. As of the past few weeks, there’s been a number of large hogs tearing up the trails.

Several weeks ago we ran into this snapping turtle waddling down the road.

I inched a small stick in front of him. He snapped. I tinkled ever so slightly. We left.

A few weeks ago, we were packing up and I started to clean out the Mule. This caterpillar was crawling around some folding chairs we had sitting in the back.

On the way home from a wedding in Pearsall, TX this past weekend, we stopped near Johnson City to visit the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.

I snapped a few pictures while we were out there.

On the way into the ranch, there were whitetails roaming the property . . completely out in the open. We pulled right up, stopped and took a few pictures. It’s awesome to see these guys in this type of setting . . one where they’re not petrified of every noise, movement or scent.

The next stop is the show barn where President Johnson kept some of his prized animals. The park ranger told us that there was a calf in the barn that was just over a month old. This bugger looks a little big, but he’s the only calf in sight.

This hoss was in one of the holding pens by the barn.

At the end of the dirt road sat the last pen with this little fella.

As we walked through the barn, we noticed a sign asking visitors not to touch the animals. Anne did her best to follow directions, but she really can’t be trusted.

To be fair, the horse touched her first. But then she broke. She’s so predictable.

The last stop was the house itself. The house had previously been completely closed up while Lady Bird was living there. After her passing in July of 2007 they decided to begin opening portions of the house. In August of this year they opened the first room, the office.

The house itself sits on the banks of the Pedernales River. In front of the house sits the most awe-inspiring 400 year old live oak tree.

While driving out of the park, you pass right in front of the home.

Just a few shots from a July 4th party at my cousins house in Omaha, NE. We recently made a trip up to the great white north[ish] for a family reunion.

After that it was up to Sioux Falls, SD to stay with Anne’s family.

This is the power pole outside of her parents house. He’s taken all of these deer from the area. I’m jealous to say the least.

The ‘falls’ part of Sioux Falls. Honestly, I had no idea they existed, but I’m a bit of an idiot.

I’ve finally decided to pull the trigger on a new camera. I can’t tell you how long I’ve put it off.

My inherent thriftiness gives me the shakes when I consider buying something that I know . . . . know . . . . will be worth half its purchase price within about 2 months.

This is a little ironic considering several months ago I purchased an iPhone with the understanding that one day [uhh . . . today actually], a better version of that phone would be selling for half what I shelled out for it.

Authors note: I threw up a little in my mouth as I typed that.

Regardless, I finally eased my ferocious grip on my wallet and brought home a new Panasonic Lumix FZ-18K. I’ve always like the Lumix line of cameras because of a larger than normal zoom and very crisp photo.

This camera leaves little to be desired as well. Most professional reviews are positive minus some less than stellar comments on low light photographs. I haven’t yet experienced this problem.

This could be due to the fact that, one . . . I haven’t taken many [if any] low light photos so far. Or two, I’m about as amateur as it gets when reviewing digital cameras. Lets face it, I get ice cream headache as soon as someone even mutters the term aperture or exposure.

So my new camera courting phase begins.

The ol’ girl’s finally starting to show her age.

We visited some friends on Richland Chambers lake this weekend. I shot a few pictures on my phone [forgot my other camera at home].

Activities included eating, pre-nap movie dozing, sitting, eating, full blown nap, eating, puzzle contemplation and eating. Oh yeah, and drinking . . . we drank too.

Good times.

Well, I’m finally getting around to uploading some pictures from our trip to Cozumel last fall with Anne, Josh and Kimberly. View the entire set on Flickr.