John\u2019s 68th<\/sup> birthday was celebrated with our daughter driving out to visit us \u201cdown on the farm\u201d and a first for John, a trip to Brenham\u2019s awesome creamery, Blue Bell Ice Cream. Decades ago I had taken both kids when on a Girl Scout outing and then again when I was home schooling. John never was able to tag along.<\/p>\n The tour is now six dollars per person, up from \u201cfree\u201d a few decades ago but at the end, instead of a small sample, you get an enormous scoop of one of their 13 flavors. If you can\u2019t decide, ask for a taste of several and you\u2019ll get nice rounded sample spoonful. If you have room for a second scoop it\u2019s only one dollar.<\/p>\n We were very impressed with this little creamery, starting out with one small delivery truck and now standing alongside the big boys, Dryers and Breyers and keeping up with them nicely in sales. Many of the employees that began decades ago have generations of family members that continue to work for Blue Bell.\u00a0 The day was so dreary and overcast that I took a few pictures from the internet to post.\u00a0 Below is their first delivery truck.<\/p>\n Nikki, our tour guide, was fun and full of interesting facts. She also inserted just enough cheesy dairy jokes to keep us moaning once her words were understood by us all.\u00a0 Picture of the cow and milkmaid are from the internet.\u00a0 My pictures had dozens of little kids posing for their parents with not much of the cow or maid showing.<\/p>\n The company is still run by the decedents of those responsible for its rise, beginning in 1907 and continuing on today. Closed on weekends so families can be together, all shifts are home by 8pm. Each of the line positions are rotated every 40 minutes to keep spirits high and the break room is stocked with a freezer full of their awesome blue bell ice cream, as much as wanted for free! No pictures of the employees area are allowed but we received smiles, waves, dances and were shown the contents of what was being poured into vats at each viewing through the tour windows.<\/p>\n Next morning we met up at Cozy Grape Wine Bar and Bistro in Montgomery, Texas for what we hoped was an upscale dining experience before visiting Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary. This small eatery did not disappoint. Local art d\u00e9cor, comfortable seating and wonderfully eclectic offerings like a combo eggs benedict of green eggs and ham, the green being pesto, alongside a crab cake benedict.<\/p>\n On our way to the Wolf sanctuary, the weather cooled and misted over. We passed a Trail Ride gathering of wagons, horses and cowboys ready to continue their journey through to the Houston Rodeo in spite of the dampness.<\/p>\n Once we arrived at the Wolf Sanctuary, two barking part Shepard dogs dashed to the fence, taking turns assessing our every move as we opened the gate. Our entrance was adjacent to their guarded territory or we would have been shown their sharp canine protective characteristics along with a few wolf fangs.<\/p>\n The whole area was covered with warning signs, most advising visitors that poking fingers through the fence would be considered a meat treat offering by the four legged guards.<\/p>\n Inside we were met by our tour guide, a young man who had a past working with wild animals in zoos and private facilities across the United States. The wolf side quietly observed our movements but as we looked down the row progressing to the pure dog side, the restless pacing and activity turned hyper. Feeding time began with a wagon rolling out a feast of raw meat to fill stainless steel bowls, all secured to metal wire so the wolves would not grab them and run off.<\/p>\n The wolf pack activity reached a frenzied state with yips and aggressive nipping at those on the bottom of the pecking order. Dinner was carefully slid through the narrow opening in the fence keeping fingers clear of the sharp fangs and took mere minutes to devour.\u00a0 Next came the clean-up of waste, another carefully choreographed plan using two caregivers, one keeping a watchful eye on the moves of each of the caged occupants while the other picked up.<\/p>\n After wolfing down dinner, our guide told the tale of how these wild animals came to the sanctuary, some from various now defunct refuges, some from private homes and others by accident. The \u201cby accident\u201d happened when animal control incorrectly labeled dogs that looked like wolves. In Texas it is illegal to own a wolf unless one has the proper sanctions and licenses. Those said to be part wolf by owners are sent to the sanctuary, their fate sealed, spending the rest of their life in a sanctuary as the cost to decipher their lineage is not affordable for the sanctuary.<\/p>\n We were able to meet two of the full timers, Tala and Tracker, Tala being the ambassador for the sanctuary, Tracker being \u201cin training\u201d. Tala sniffed us on the first go round, then we were allowed to pet her gently. Note her wolf attribute, paws placed one directly in front of the other when walking.<\/p>\n Tracker was much friendlier, stopping to lick several of the visitors and paused for several moments to groom John\u2019s beard and verbalize how much he was enjoying the task.\u00a0 Sadly the camera refused to focus on John as he was seated next to me and we were told not to rise from our seats during the experience.\u00a0 A picture of the look on John\u2019s face during the cleaning would have been priceless.\u00a0 Astonishment is an understatement.\u00a0 After the tour, a walk back to the car in the damp air and soggy grass, a quick stop at WalMart for groceries and to watch the giant masses of birds swarm all over the cars,<\/p>\n warming up with the heater turned up full blast and arriving at the farm in time to view our backyard sunset. All was quiet except for Chrissie growling at our back window and the sound of our pack of yipping coyotes roaming around the park.\u00a0 Howling would begin as soon as the sun set and continue on after darkness took over the park.<\/p>\n The beginning of our third year has brought many insightful realizations to our current way of life. Not surprisingly, I found that 30 days of minimal human contact other than John is my maximum. Spending countless evening hours alone on … Continue reading ![\"John's](\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Johns-birthday-at-Blue-Bell.jpg\" "\\"John's")
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