We took the kids to Hermit’s cave outside of Fredricksburg, TX to explore.  I got the following information off of google about the legend of this man and his land. The cave is still intact and is amazing.  It was a really awesome place and Sam even found a real arrowhead.  I love these images of my Dad and my kids.

The Legend of Hermit Berg

At the age of 20, Peter Berg sailed from Germany to the Texas coastline in 1857.  Berg was a talented stone mason and his intention was to work and save money to pay for passage to America for his fiance’.  However, upon hearing tales of horror about the wild frontier and murderous Indians, she rejected him, refused to come and then not long after married another.

Crushed, Berg withdrew from society and became a recluse.  About 8 miles from Fredericksburg Texas Berg built his two story hermitage in a ravine with masonry enclosing the front.  This “cave” along the banks of Cave Creek became his modest home.  Though impaired socially, Peter Berg was a creative and productive individual.  He sewed his own clothing.  He built a stone tower with a Dutch style windmill to pump water and grind cornmeal and he gained a reputation for accurate weather predictions through his observations from the tower.  And incredibly, he built a pipe organ made of scrap wood, paper and brass (see photo).  Berg also built a whiskey still and sold whiskey in Fredericksburg for years until State revenue authorities discovered and arrested him.  He was later released and allowed to return to his meek and now meagre existance in the hills.

Berg returned to Fredericksburg and even though he could not claim the land under his home, the new owner, Mr. Kiehne, gave Berg the right to live on the property for the rest of his life.  Unable to work, the county granted him a special pension of $5 dollars per month.

Though Berg lived a peculiar life, old records from those who knew him stated that people saw him as a “great genius”.  He chose to live in his own way and ultimately chose to die his own way.  Berg arrived in Texas with nothing but he gave our world an inheritance; the elusive legend of the ‘Hermit of The Hills’.

So many of you have asked who won my breast cancer auction.  The grandmother of these two precious clients of mine, WON!!!!  We are still working out where their session will be; however, I am pulling for a fabulous vacation.  I will go anywhere and can’t wait to see where we end up.  These two precious girls have graced my blog many time over the past few years, but this one was an awesome session.  I really love the moments I captured between the two sisters.  What beautiful girls.  I want to thank everyone who bid from the bottom of my heart!  We were able to raise 2000 dollars for the Susan G Komen Organization.  What a blessing!

This precious little one I met when she was a few days old.  She modeled at a workshop I helped at and then this family called me to take her Christmas pictures.  How precious is she?  I love seeing how much babies change.  I also love her hair – you know I am partial to curls!

Yesterday was a very special day!  Yesterday, some of our best friends adopted a baby boy.  Today, I offered to take them dinner, just so I could get my camera on the new little peanut.  I only spent about 10 minutes with him, but got a few precious images.  We are so happy for our friends I can not even express myself.  I also think this baby boy may be the luckiest baby in the world.  His life will be surrounded with such love.  This family is so amazing – I have often wished they would adopt me – so you can only imagine what getting to spend your entire life surrounded by this love and support.  Welcome Baby Brayden – we love you already!

Meet three of the most beautiful little girls that I get the opportunity to shoot annually.  Their mommy is super talented and owns an awesome online children’s store.  She sells everything these three precious girls are wearing.  Check out her site – Doodlebug Designs.  Meet Ellie, Caroline and Bren -