Journal

Notes on country living and the local area

Stories, guides, and observations from the Shannon Miles Group about life in Northeast Texas.

Golden-hour light inside a rural Northeast Texas workshop with a classic pickup, a workbench of hand tools, a blaze-orange hunting vest, and pipe fencing visible through the open garage door

2026-11-05 No. 01

2026-11-05

Shop Life in November: Deer Season Prep and Winter Projects on Your Northeast Texas Acreage

General whitetail season opens Saturday, November 7, and the first freeze follows by mid-month. Here is what shop life looks like in November on your Northeast Texas acreage: deer season prep, equipment winterizing, and the winter projects that take over the bench.

A rustic Thanksgiving table with a plaid runner, pumpkins, and candles set before a glowing stone fireplace inside a hand-hewn log cabin

2026-11-02 No. 02

2026-11-02

Thanksgiving on the Homestead: Hosting Family on Your Northeast Texas Acreage

November in Lamar County means the table gets longer and the fireplace gets lit. Here is what hosting Thanksgiving on acreage in Northeast Texas looks like, and why a log cabin like 6260 Farm Road 197 fits the season.

A feral hog at the edge of a foggy Northeast Texas pasture at dawn, with golden light, a pipe and barbed-wire fence in the foreground, and an oak tree line behind

2026-10-29 No. 03

2026-10-29

Feral Hogs in Northeast Texas: Hunting, Trapping, and Protecting Your Acreage

Fall acorns bring feral hog activity across Lamar County. Here is what Texas landowners should know: the open-season rules on private land, trapping a whole sounder, and protecting gardens and fencing on acreage near Arthur City.

Dusk on a Northeast Texas log cabin acreage with glowing jack-o-lanterns on the porch steps, warm string lights along the railing, and amber fall leaves beside pipe fencing

2026-10-26 No. 04

2026-10-26

Halloween in Northeast Texas: Trunk or Treat in Paris and Family Life on the Acreage

It is Halloween week in Lamar County. Here are the family events happening in Paris right now, from the city Trunk or Treat on October 30 to the Bywaters Park pumpkin patch, plus why a place like 6260 Farm Road 197 makes the season better.

Golden October light on a small wooden chicken coop with straw bales, a galvanized waterer, and amber oak leaves on a rural Northeast Texas acreage

2026-10-22 No. 05

2026-10-22

Winter Prep for Chickens in Northeast Texas: A Coop Checklist Before the First Freeze

Late October is the last call for winter coop prep in Lamar County. Here is the Northeast Texas chicken winter checklist: ventilation without drafts, deep dry bedding, heated water, and the first-freeze date to watch near Paris.

October light on a raised garlic bed in sandy loam soil at a Northeast Texas log cabin acreage, with a basket of garlic bulbs, straw mulch, and amber oak trees

2026-10-19 No. 06

2026-10-19

Planting Garlic in Northeast Texas: A Fall Homesteading Guide

Mid-October is garlic planting time in Lamar County. Here is how to plant garlic in Northeast Texas, which varieties handle our winters best, and how the sandy loam at 6260 Farm Road 197 fits a small homestead garden.

Early winter morning on a Northeast Texas log cabin acreage with chimney smoke rising into a pale golden sky, frost on the pasture, and pipe fencing in the foreground

2026-10-15 No. 07

2026-10-15

Winter in Northeast Texas: Cozy Log Cabin Season on Your Acreage

Winters in Lamar County are crisp and made for wood fires. Here is what cozy season looks like on acreage near Arthur City: the fireplace, the wrap-around porch, winter hunting, and Paris holiday nights.

Three goats grazing in a fenced pasture on a Northeast Texas acreage at golden hour, with pipe fencing and a wooden gate in the foreground and a log cabin among oak trees behind them

2026-10-12 No. 08

2026-10-12

Raising Goats on Your Northeast Texas Acreage: A Starter Guide

Thinking about raising goats on acreage in Northeast Texas? Here is how to start near Arthur City: breeds that handle our heat, fencing that keeps them home, and what a small herd needs on a place like 6260 Farm Road 197.

Golden-hour fall campsite at a Northeast Texas state park lake with a canvas tent, campfire, and oak trees in autumn color beside calm water

2026-10-08 No. 09

2026-10-08

Fall Camping Near Arthur City: Cooper Lake and Bonham State Parks

October is the best camping month in Northeast Texas. From the Corps campgrounds at Pat Mayse Lake to Cooper Lake and Bonham State Parks, here is where to pitch a tent near Arthur City.

A modern entertainment resort glowing with warm lights across the Red River valley at dusk, seen from the Northeast Texas side, with oak trees and pasture in the foreground

2026-10-05 No. 10

2026-10-05

Choctaw Casino Events Near Arthur City: Entertainment Just Across the Red River

The closest Choctaw Casino to Arthur City is in Grant, Oklahoma, about twenty minutes across the Red River. Here is what is happening there this October and why easy evenings out pair so well with acreage living.

October sunrise over Pat Mayse Lake with mist on the water, a jon boat and fishing rods at a wooden dock, golden fall foliage, and a log cabin on the distant ridge

2026-10-01 No. 11

2026-10-01

Fall Fishing in Northeast Texas: Pat Mayse Lake and the Red River

October is prime time to fish Pat Mayse Lake and the Red River near Arthur City. Here is what the fall bite looks like and why 6260 Farm Road 197 sits right in the middle of it.

Golden-hour homestead scene at a log cabin in Northeast Texas with a chicken coop, raised fall garden beds, and pipe fencing on 4.5 acres

2026-09-28 No. 12

2026-09-28

Homesteading in Northeast Texas: A Beginner's Guide

Thinking about homesteading in Northeast Texas? Here is how to start on acreage near Arthur City: chickens, a fall garden, food preservation, and the country living that makes self-sufficiency stick.

Whitetail buck at the edge of a foggy Northeast Texas pasture at first light, with a log cabin among oak trees in the background

2026-09-24 No. 13

2026-09-24

Deer Hunting in Northeast Texas: 2026-2027 Whitetail Season Dates

Archery whitetail season opens October 3 in Lamar County. Here are the full 2026-2027 deer season dates for Northeast Texas and what hunting country near Arthur City looks like.

Metal pipe fencing and gated entrance along the gravel driveway at 6260 Farm Road 197, with the log cabin among mature trees in the distance

2026-09-21 No. 14

2026-09-21

Fencing Your Acreage in Northeast Texas: A Practical Guide

From pipe gates and barbed wire to goat-proof woven wire, here is a practical guide to fencing your acreage in Northeast Texas, plus what Lamar County's closed-range stock law means for you.

Misty dawn on a Red River valley marsh with duck decoys floating in calm water and bare oak trees along the bank

2026-09-17 No. 15

2026-09-17

Duck Hunting Season on the Red River: A 2026-2027 Guide for Northeast Texas

North Zone duck season opens November 14, and early Canada goose season is open right now. A 2026-2027 waterfowl guide for Arthur City, the Red River, and Pat Mayse WMA.

Golden late-September evening light on a log cabin with a wrap-around porch, pumpkins on the steps, and a pink sunset over Northeast Texas pasture

2026-09-14 No. 16

2026-09-14

Fall Events in Paris, Texas: Red River Valley Fair and Festival of Pumpkins

From the Red River Valley Fair to the Festival of Pumpkins, here is the fall events calendar near Arthur City and 6260 Farm Road 197.

Early fall light on a log cabin with a wrap-around porch, a stacked woodpile, and a wisp of chimney smoke on Northeast Texas acreage

2026-09-10 No. 17

2026-09-10

Fall Prep for Your Log Cabin in Northeast Texas

Cooler mornings are returning to Lamar County. Here is a practical fall checklist for your log cabin on acreage: freeze-date planning, fireplace and chinking checks, water and fencing prep, and fall events in Paris.

Early-fall light on a rural Northeast Texas acreage with a small well house beside a gravel drive, pipe fencing, and a log cabin among mature oaks

2026-09-07 No. 18

2026-09-07

Well Water and Septic Care on Your Northeast Texas Acreage: A Fall Checklist

Private wells and septic systems come with rural property. Here is the annual maintenance routine and fall checklist we recommend for homesteaders and acreage owners in Northeast Texas, timed for September before the first freeze.

Golden-hour light on a pipe and barbed-wire fence line beside a green pasture with mature oaks on Northeast Texas acreage

2026-09-03 No. 19

2026-09-03

The Texas Ag Exemption on Acreage: What Lamar County Homesteaders Should Know

Thinking about homesteading in Northeast Texas? Here is what the Texas ag exemption really is, how Lamar County assesses acreage, and the deadlines that matter.

Shoppers browsing wooden produce stalls at the Paris Farmers and Artisan Market on a late-summer Saturday morning

2026-08-31 No. 20

2026-08-31

Shopping Local at the Paris Farmers and Artisan Market: A Guide for Northeast Texas Homesteaders

From the Paris Farmers and Artisan Market to feed stores and the county extension office, here is how Northeast Texas homesteaders and acreage owners shop local in Lamar County.

Golden hour landscape on a rural Northeast Texas highway with a sign pointing toward Pat Mayse Lake and Paris, Texas

2026-08-27 No. 21

2026-08-27

Day Trips from Arthur City: Exploring Northeast Texas from Your Acreage

From Pat Mayse Lake and the Red River to Paris attractions and Choctaw Casino, here are the best day trips from Arthur City on your Northeast Texas acreage.

Raised vegetable beds on a rural Texas acreage in late summer with a log cabin in the background

2026-08-24 No. 22

2026-08-24

Fall Gardening and Food Preservation on Your Northeast Texas Acreage

Late August in Northeast Texas means the garden is at its peak. From planting fall crops to canning tomatoes, here is how to make the most of your acreage for growing and preserving your own food.

Warm golden hour light on a rural metal workshop in Northeast Texas with a vintage pickup and gravel driveway

2026-08-20 No. 23

2026-08-20

Workshop and Shop Life on Your Northeast Texas Acreage

From restoring classic cars to welding projects and equipment maintenance, a workshop is the heart of rural property life. Here is how acreage in Lamar County makes shop life possible.

Dawn on a rural Texas acreage with mist rising from the pasture and pipe fencing in the foreground

2026-08-17 No. 24

2026-08-17

Preparing for Hunting Season on Your Acreage in Northeast Texas

Late summer on acreage in Northeast Texas means preparing for hunting season. From September teal to archery deer season, here is what to know about hunting near Arthur City, Pat Mayse Lake, and the Red River.

Golden sunset over a log cabin with wrap-around porch on acreage in Northeast Texas

2026-08-13 No. 25

2026-08-13

Late Summer on Your Northeast Texas Acreage: Porch Life, Fire Pits, and the Paris Balloon Festival

Late summer in Northeast Texas is the best season for outdoor living. From porch sunsets to the Paris Balloon Festival, here is why acreage like 6260 Farm Road 197 shines in August and September.

Golden sunrise over a log cabin on acreage in Northeast Texas with mist rising from the pasture

2026-08-10 No. 26

2026-08-10

Country Living in Lamar County: What Life on Acreage Really Feels Like

What does country living in Lamar County really feel like? Quiet mornings, wide skies, and a different pace of life on acreage near Arthur City, Texas.

Dirt track race cars kicking up dust on a red clay oval in rural Northeast Texas at golden hour

2026-08-07 No. 27

2026-08-07

Dirt Track Racing Near Arthur City: Your Guide to Northeast Texas Speedways

From Rocket Raceway Park in Paris to tracks across the region, dirt track racing is a beloved Northeast Texas tradition. Living at 6260 Farm Road 197 puts you minutes from the action.

Golden hour scene on a Northeast Texas acreage with a log cabin, open pasture, and room to roam

2026-08-07 No. 28

2026-08-07

Why Families Are Choosing Acreage in Northeast Texas

More families are trading city lots for acreage in Northeast Texas. Here is why space, safety, and a slower pace are drawing them to properties like 6260 Farm Road 197.

Rustic log cabin facade with wrap-around porch

2026-08-07 No. 29

2026-08-07

Log Cabin Living in Northeast Texas

Why more buyers are choosing rustic log homes for full-time living, weekend retreats, and small homesteads in the Red River region.

Pat Mayse Lake on a calm summer morning with mist rising off the water

2026-08-07 No. 30

2026-08-07

Pat Mayse Lake: Your Backyard Playground in Northeast Texas

Just minutes from 6260 Farm Road 197, Pat Mayse Lake offers fishing, boating, camping, and hiking in a peaceful Northeast Texas setting.

Aerial view of a rural property with open pasture and trees

2026-08-01 No. 31

2026-08-01

What to Know Before Buying Land in Texas

From soil types to fencing, utility access to tax considerations, here is what buyers should evaluate when purchasing acreage in Lamar County.

People walking through a grassy field on a rural property

2026-07-25 No. 32

2026-07-25

Raising Chickens and Small Livestock on Your Acreage

A beginner guide to keeping chickens, goats, and small livestock on a rural Texas property with pipe fencing and sandy loam soil.