Zach and Lacy with Love: A Keepsake Journal of Memories

By Gina Ronhaar

This book is a memoir about my grandchildren and our family. There are memories about our trips to Alaska and Vermont, our cruises, stories about the ranch and the animals, about our lives during good times and not so good times.......lessons to learn from our peacocks and cows and calves and raccoons and country life in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rustik Haws LLC
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781649341389

Gina Ronhaar

I was inspired by my great-grandmother who had written her own journal about her trip from Germany to the U.S. and her continuing life in America. Strangely enough, I noticed when I picked up her book, Memoirs of a Texas Pioneer Grandmother, that when she started her book, she was exactly 72 years old - the same age as I when I started this memoir. My grandmother was born in August 1836 and I was born in August 1936 - 100 years apart. Things haven't changed: we still want to make a good life for our families and always look for the rainbow.

Book preview

Zach and Lacy With Love by Gina Ronhaar

This book is written to provide information and motivation to readers. Its purpose is not to render any type of psychological, legal, or professional advice of any kind. The content is the sole opinion and expression of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher.

Copyright © 2020 by Gina Ronhaar

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form by any means, including, but not limited to, recording, photocopying, or taking screenshots of parts of the book, without prior written permission from the author or the publisher. Brief quotations for noncommercial purposes, such as book reviews, permitted by Fair Use of the U.S. Copyright Law, are allowed without written permissions, as long as such quotations do not cause damage to the book’s commercial value. For permissions, write to the publisher, whose address is stated below.

ISBN: 978-1-64934-090-0 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-64934-091-7 (Hardback)

ISBN: 978-1-64934-138-9 (eBook)

Printed in the United States of America.

Rustik Haws LLC

100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 600

Tampa, FL 33602

https://www.rustikhaws.com/

Dedication

To Zachary Paul and Lacy Marie with thanks for bringing us happiness and laughter and a special love at a time when we approached the autumn of our lives …..

… and to Ron and Jen who work very hard to teach them courtesy, discipline, responsibility, kindness, and unselfishness in their formative years…..

…and thanks so much to Paul and to Ron who lent their computer expertise in helping me to prepare the text and pictures for printing…I love you all!

…and thanks to Amanda at Printworks who was always patient and pleasant.

Contents

Dedication

Preface

December 15, 2004

January 21, 2006

Feb. 11, 2006

Feb. 12 2006

March 15, 2006

April 3, 2006

May 3, 2006

May 24, 2006

July 21, 2006

July 29, 2006

August 10, 2006

October 10, 2006

November 17, 2006

November 30, 2006

January 14, 2007

April 10, 2007

June 2007

August 24, 2007

October 2, 2007

November 16, 2007

Feb. 9, 2008

April 14, 2008

May 22, 2008

June 7, 2008

August 3, 2008

November 5, 2008

Nov. 6, 2008

December 10, 2008

January 4, 2009

January 23, 2009

March 30, 2009

Easter 2009

July 8, 2009

September 6, 2009

October 29, 2009

January 7, 2010

April 5, 2010

July 8, 2010

December 14, 2010

May 20, 2011

June 6, 2011

Preface

I was inspired by my great-grandmother, Otillie Goeth, to write a diary or journal of sorts recording the goings-on of my beloved grandchildren and our family here on Rocky Mountain Ranch. The journal entries include information about the children’s lives from birth until the first grade. When they are grown, I hope they can look back on this period of time and reminisce about their early years.

When I picked up my great-grandmother’s book, Memoirs of a Texas Pioneer Grandmother, I noticed that she was born August 1836, came to Texas with her family from Germany in 1845, and began her memoirs when she was seventy-two. Interestingly enough, I was born precisely 100 years later in August 1936 and was writing the memoirs when I, too, was seventy-two.

Lacy Marie and Zachary Paul have brought much happiness to our lives, and I am sure they will grow up to be kind, honest, successful adults. I know they will be loving because they have already proved that to us.

December 15, 2004

Dear Zach,

This morning was the first hard freeze of 2004. The grass was covered in white frost, the little fountain on the verandah was frozen solid, and white frosty air was coming out of the guineas’ mouths. The animals went about their way as usual, looking for bugs to eat for breakfast.

Last night, Papa prepared the place for this 24 degree morning. He moved all my plants into the garage or sat them in the gator which was in the garage for the cold night. He put black plastic sleeves on all the faucets outside, covered his bougainvillea with a tarp and a light, put a cozy blanket in the garage for Cashmere and L.C. to sleep on, and built a big fire in the fireplace for Gigi and Papa.

Today is supposed to get to 60 degrees, however, and Papa and I will meet you, your mom and dad and Grandma Sharon at Rosie’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch. You were just 10 months old yesterday and I can’t wait to see you.

Love ya,

Gigi

(your grandma Gina Ronhaar)

your dad’s mom

January 21, 2006

Dear Grandson Zach,

Well, it looks like I skipped a few years. Now I will try to keep up a sort of diary for you so that you can look back and see what was going on when you were small. You are almost two years old now, and as independent as can be. You run so fast I can barely catch you. I love your first sentences: the first was when trick or treaters came to your house in Oct. When the kids in costumes got their candy and turned around to leave, you yelled, You come back here! (Do you think maybe you heard your mom say that???) Later, in about December, you and I walked out the walkway at the ranch, and we noticed that the peacocks were all on your mom’s car. I said, Oh, my gosh! Get off of mommy’s car and don’t come back! For a month or so, every time you saw them on the car, you’d yell, Oh my gosh. GET OFF OF MOMMY’S CAR!!!

Today Papa and I are enjoying a quiet Saturday. We are expecting rain after not having any for six months and we are in a severe drought. There is no grass and our tank is almost dry—the water is very low. Instead of 35 cows, calves, and a bull, we are only able to have about 15 cows. We hope to get a slow, soaking rain tonight and tomorrow.

We are looking forward to your sister’s arrival in about three months. It will be nice for her to have a big brother like you.

Somewhere in this book, I will tell you about your grandparents (Papa and me) and about my parents and Papa’s parents, too. That way you can have the history of your ancestry. We love you and enjoy watching you grow up. Take care of mommy and daddy—they are very good to you.

Love Gigi

Feb. 11, 2006

Dear Zachary,

Today is Feb. 11, 2006. It was a special day BECAUSE IT RAINED!!!!!! It was a slow rain that soaked into the ground. Remember I had told you that we were in a severe drought with the tank almost dry and no grass for the cattle. Now after the rain about a week ago and the rain today, green grass is growing again and the cattle are up grazing contentedly on new grass. (Before, they just lay around waiting for hay to be brought to them by Jeff.)

I went to Galloway-Hammond recreation center this morning where I go several times a week for Yoga and Pilates. After that, Papa and I met some friends and had lunch in town, then went to the grocery store. Papa had spotted a recipe for Chicken Enchiladas and needed ingredients to make the dish for our supper. It was GOOD!

Tonight we watched the San Antonio Spurs game, relaxed and went to bed. After a warm winter, colder weather is predicted—in fact 30 degrees tonight and in the 20’s tomorrow night.

Guess what? On Feb. 14 we are going into Austin to your birthday party. You will be two years old. I’m taking you a warm-up suit, three t-shirts and matching pants, three books, socks, and a pair of Thomas the Train pajamas. (Mom said you already have tons of toys and they are getting you a bicycle with trainer wheels and a train set.). One t-shirt has a basketball on it and one has a helicopter on it. You love trucks, airplanes, trains, and balls. I think maybe we are spoiling you; when I was a child, I