Chaparral Retreat and Guesthouse

04/23/2024

Another color is blooming today!

04/13/2024

First irises to bloom in our gardens this spring.

04/11/2024

04/11/2024

Happy Spring! Blooming today in the gardens: ajuga, periwinkle, columbine, dandelions, wild violets, Star of Bethlehem.
Irises are about to POP!

04/01/2024

White iris is first to bloom. These came from Marjorie Barrett's iris garden, transplanted to Chicago, brought back to Texas, and finally came home to Oklahoma!

03/16/2024

The grounds are starting to show spring color! Red bud trees, thrift, flowering quince, currant. Irises should begin popping in the next couple of weeks.

03/01/2024

Remember, we are only on this earth for a short time. Do everything you can every day to enjoy life, help others, and make life better for another person.
Jackson Browne once wrote in a song "...these days I seem to think a lot about the things that I forgot to do for you. And all the times I had the chance to."
We still have time to do those things.

02/24/2024

The moon was high and bright in the clear sky last night. This is the view from the patio off of the Texas room.

01/21/2024

Sadie makes herself a "nest" in my bedroom. She knows how to stay warm in these very cold temperatures!!

01/14/2024

It is 4 degrees outside today. It is partly sunny but a little windy. We're spending our time today under blankets, watching movies. We hope everyone out there is staying warm!!

12/21/2023

Our friend Nathan Brown was also mentioned in the article. We've had quite a few awesome songwriters and musicians play at the Retreat!

A Report from the 24th Southwest Regional Folk AllianceHoliday Inn Austin Midtown, Austin, Texas, 27.9.-1.10.2023

11/23/2023

Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

11/13/2023

Changing colors at the Chaparral Retreat

10/13/2023

A busy weekend coming up with art workshops on Friday and Saturday. All slots are filled! We'll be working on Dia de los Mu***os art.

08/12/2023

Last night's 74 mph winds left lots of fallen limbs and leaves around the property. I know what we'll be doing today, in spite of the 90+ degree temperatures. The local airport reported a wind gust of 90 mph last night!!

06/04/2023

The weather is perfect today. We got the Desoto out on the road!

06/03/2023

We've had lots of rain, off and on over the past week. The grounds are lush and green, birds and butterflies are abundant. We sat on the front porch last night, watching the rain and listening to the thunder.

06/02/2023

Today we had twelve young budding artists participate in art activities as part of the Kiwanis Summer Youth program.
Today was the first session for 2023. The kids worked on a "pop art" picture, and then worked with air-drying clay to make cookie-cutter shapes. The kids will paint their figures next week, and we'll do another FUN art activity.
Thanks to Kiwanis Club for sponsoring the summer youth program and to the adult volunteers.

05/23/2023

Signs of Oklahoma spring in our pasture across the highway from the Retreat

05/23/2023

We held a one-day watercolor workshop at the Retreat on Saturday. Now I need to practice, practice, practice!

04/06/2023

Spring is here, and we are in the process of "sprucing up" the property for coming visitors and events. Andy has been working hard: he replaced the fence on the front of the property using cedar boards from trees he cut down from the "way back" of the property. He has been clearing more trails through the woods. The kids planted some fruit trees and though we may not get fruit this year, they have survived and we look forward to future harvests. We have lots of projects to get done this spring!
The redbuds are in bloom, and if we ever get some rain, we'll go out to hunt morel mushrooms! I will begin writing on our blog, "chaparralbb.blogspot.com" later this month, so please check in to see what's going on out here at our little piece of heaven!

04/04/2023

At the Retreat, we like to display art we have collected over the years. This piece is by an artist named Edward Sabia, a serigraph titled "Hopi Prophecy".

03/26/2023

Signs of spring are popping up all around the Retreat.

03/23/2023

March sunset views from the front porch.

03/09/2023

Another sign of spring!

03/03/2023

Signs of spring at the Chaparral Retreat and Guesthouse

02/04/2023

FINALLY replacing the fence on the front of the Retreat. All cedar wood from our property, cut down by Andy.