Tag Archives: Texas sunsets

A Unique Marriage Occurs at Medicine Spirit Ranch

A Texas Wedding January 22, 2024 1 Comment

Although we have been honored previously with several marriages taking place in the barn at our ranch, never before have we had one performed on a hill overlooking Live Oak Valley. The fact that the groom, Colonel Tom Norris, is my best friend and his bride, Danese Dunaway who has become a close friend, made the occasion truly special.

Tom and Danese

Tom and Danese first met when I was driving Danese and my daughter’s mother in law and Danese’s best friend, Pam O’Neal, around our ranch. We drove through Tom Norris’ ranch and found him working on his property and stopped for a brief introduction and chat. Later that afternoon we invited Tom to drop by our house for Happy Hour at which time he and Danese struck up a lively, largely two person conversation. As they say, the rest is history.

Two years later Tom and Danese asked if they could have their wedding on our ranch where they had  spent much time exploring in Tom’s ATV, a John Deere Gator, and enjoying many lovely Texas sunsets. Trudy and I were thrilled by their asking.

For both Tom and Danese this marriage was late in life. Danese had been divorced for over twenty years, was fully independent and happy. Tom had tragically lost his wife to illness about three years earlier and had suffered through tremendous grief only to accidentally find a new and beautiful life with Danese who redirected his emotions to a much happier state.

From left to right, yours truly, Colonel Tom, Danese, Pam O’Neal, and Bruce O’Neal (all photos courtesy of Trudy Hutton)

Tom and Danese chose to have a private ceremony with the Reverend Bruce O’Neal officiating, Pam O’Neal as matron of honor, Trudy as photographer, and me as best man. They wanted to be married on a hill I’d named LOV Lookout (LOV is taken from Live Oak Valley) or as the original Germans referred to these hills (as well as Danese) as mountains, hence, LOV Mountain. They chose late afternoon for the ceremony when the light is softer and appears magical followed by the traditional cake cutting, champagne toasts, and finally with the end of day being blessed by a Texas sunset.

Cake cutting taking place in the back of a Gator

 

Rings exchanged

 

Champagne toasts and laughter

 

The bride and groom standing at ranch entrance

 

Colonel and Mrs. Norris departing the ceremony in their John Deere Gator

While Trudy and I may be a bit prejudiced, we believe this was the most unique and joyful wedding we have attended. Congratulations Tom and Best Wishes Danese. We are so glad you found each other and thanks for sharing your excitement and happy times with us.

The Urge To Blog

Animals on the ranch, Creative Writing, Life On The Ranch, Raising Cattle, Ranch animals, ranching, Retirement, The Writing Process September 1, 2016 Comments: 3

Why are some compelled to write blogs? My own desire grew after assuming a new  identity in retirement, that of a newly minted rancher. The novelty of it intrigued me. Being a “city boy,” nearly everything including raising livestock, operating ranch equipment, mending fences, and building barns held a strong fascination.cropped-header-option-1.jpg

The thought occurred if I enjoyed learning about and living a rural and retired lifestyle, then perhaps others would like to read about it too. This interest eventually led me to begin blogging about my writing process and finally to aspects of my book. Admittedly, I also needed to decompress from my busy former career as a clinical and research neurologist and thought others might enjoy reading tidbits resulting from my inevitable backward glance at my life.

While still a young blog, I consider Views From Medicine Spirit Ranch  to have been successful. Its  popularity supports my original premise that others might enjoy reading about this subject matter. I very much appreciate receiving comments from readers and learning from them. The only experience better  is having friends and family visit the ranch, especially those who “get it.”

Two Longhorn cows and calf

Two Longhorn cows and calf

Certainly not everyone who visits our ranch leaves with an appreciation for the land and for the animals in a way like Trudy and I do. That’s okay. Some would rather sit on the back porch and work their smart phones than absorb the tranquility and develop new ranch experiences.

Nevertheless, some who visit throw themselves into ranch life. A recent visit to the ranch by good friends LaNelle Etheridge and Madeline Douglas were two cases in point. Incidentally, both La Nelle and Madeline have been beta readers for many of my writing efforts and have fully supported my efforts to market my book, Carrying The Black Bag.

La Nelle and Madeline herding 'em up

La Nelle and Madeline herding ’em up

La Nelle, Madeline, Trudy, and I recently worked calves. This consisted of vaccinating for blackleg and ear tagging them. Both visiting ladies threw themselves into the effort, helping and enjoying the novel experience.  Both also managed to avoid being stepped on or pooped on. This was an accomplishment. Between swims in the pool they also tended the vegetable garden and hiked the steep green hills of our ranch. Both ladies are extremely intelligent and mindful such that our conversations on the back porch were for me especially pleasing.

Vaccinating and Ear Tagging with La Nelle, Madeline, and Luke

Vaccinating and Ear Tagging with La Nelle, Madeline, and Luke, the neighbor’s grandson

I could see excitement in their eyes as they became engrossed in their experiences that were so different from their usual lives in Lubbock. They sensed the tranquility of a Texas sunset from atop a hill while sipping a glass of chilled wine. These “Sundowners” have become a regular feature of our ranch life.

The dogs and I enjoying a "Sundowner"

The dogs and I enjoying a “Sundowner”

Years ago at my retirement party my brother-in-law presented a large number of T-shirts on which was written “Tom’s Ranch Hand.” Paul Plunket in his humorous way predicted I would put friends and family to work on the ranch and possibly even avoid the need to hire any help. In this he was correct only to a degree.

T-shirt read Tom's Ranch Hands

Madeline on left and La Nelle on right with their T-shirts that read Tom’s Ranch Hands- Hutton Ranch

I had two T-shirts left over from my retirement party. At the conclusion of La Nelle and Madeline’s  visit, I presented a T-shirt to each. Both appreciated the gift, small tokens though they were. This further convinced me of the wonderment that exists at Medicine Spirit Ranch set in these green hills of central Texas. It is a wonderment for at least some. Perhaps that is the way it always is. Different experiences resonate for different folks. I hope for future visitors to our ranch and to describe in writing the experiences for those unable to experience it directly.

A Texas sunset

A Texas sunset