About Us

Linda and David bought a ranch in the tiny hamlet of New Ulm, TX, halfway between Houston and Austin, 45 minutes from Katy Mills. On the ranch sat a precious, little 900-square-foot A frame which was named Lily Pond Cottage after
the lake across from its covered porch and balcony. They built their main house at the opposite end of the ranch where Curly Q Petting Zoo is.

David owned a custom made mattress company. He made mattresses for customers based on their requirements for comfort, adapting corners for single or double notches or curves. He shipped to homes in all 50 states.

Linda was an English teacher then wildlife rehabber for small mammals. Many times, she fed newborn squirrels, opossums, raccoons, rabbits every two hours around the clock. After a hurricane in the Houston area, she accepted 30
baby squirrels whose nests, high in the trees came crashing down. Neighbors and cottage guests helped her feed. Linda would give each volunteer a syringe (no needle) of the correct amount of formula based on their weight, then
hand them a baby squirrel. Sometimes, the baby would jump out of the cage as she caught it in mid air before handing it off for feeding.

Now, Linda cares for David with dementia, keeps her babies in her petting zoo happy, and cares for guests at Lily Pond Cottage. The common sound of Whewww, a sigh of relief emits from the guests as they step onto the ground at the cottage. Time stops in these woods where mosquitoes don’t seem to exist, and it’s cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.