Fancy

 I delayed this writing so I could update Fancy's show information.  Last weekend in La Grange, Fancy took another third place at the show.  Then Thursday evening, Fancy Placed 2nd in a show in Leander.  Ben was particularly excited because he won a buckle.  In all other "sports" winners receive trophies but in livestock/rodeo events, buckles are the prize.  Tough both events had few participants, Fancy held her own and looked beautiful!

Today we are dealing with a winter storm.  Lots of hay being moved around and worries over water troughs freezing.  This is not my favorite time of year!!!  As for the cows, they wait for food and hay to be delivered a couple times a day.  They just wait for us to deliver both.  No grazing or making any effort on their parts...  They just wait for "Uber Eats."

   

Lance Is Back With His Girls

There was not a happier bull in the world as when Lance was let back into the pasture with his girls.  He ran with the Can Am towards the gate leaping, twisting, and "yelling" as he learned he was returning!  It was scary! Yep, 2500lbs plus of moving happiness...  The girls for their part were not impressed...

Brillante had her first baby and we name him/her Star.  We don't' know what we have yet, bull or heifer.

Fancy has a show in La Grange next week and one in Leander somewhere.  I was talking to Peg about how she will ever fit in back with the herd after all of her pampering.  Ben bathes her with shampoo and conditioner then brushes and blows her dry. She has no competition for food and basically snoozes all day waiting for him to show up to lay out a couple daily meals. 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

  

Fancy Came In Third

Yes, Fancy Placed in her first appearance as a show girl!!!  She arrived well coiffed and picture of beauty.  During her time in the ring, she wowed judges by her calm demeaner and dazzling looks.  While several of her competitors broke free of their restraints, Ben and Fancy remained positioned for evaluation/competition.  Third Place is an excellent first showing!  Her next show is in La Grange, then on to San Antonio and Houston for the big competitions.  The girls at the ranch are so proud of her!!!

Our brief stint with winter has been cut short by an advanced look at spring.  Temps from now thru Christmas will be in the 70s!

 Red had her baby sometime early this morning, We're not sure whether it's a heifer or bull.  As always, she's just the best mom!

Lance, the bull, is at the end of his separation from his girls!  He's going to be so happy to be back with them!!!  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

The Cold Fronts Are Coming Through

 I think we are in Winter now.  We skipped Fall with our extended summer and now it's cold, wet, dark, and gloomy.  Having missed fall, means no color in our leaves which is disappointing.  I like to have some delineation between seasons, but it is not to be this year.

Fancy has her first show sometime next week.  Everyone is speculating that her competition will be the black angus.  If she presents well (which is always a question), I think she might do okay.  All "the girls" here at the ranch are routing for her!!

We went into the barn the other morning and there were two kittens.  They were crying up a storm.  Peg took the lead on feeding them, getting them into a crate, then delivering them to the shelter.  Cats just aren't in our future.....  

I haven't mentioned any new Tesla stories lately....  Peg says she loves the car....  We were talking last night about some feature and I suggested she ask Ara about it.  Peg's comeback was, "I'm not talking to Ara!!"  So I can only assume they are not on speaking terms right now....  AI is factoring into our lives in interesting ways these days....

  

Happy Thanksgiving

 I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!  Our temps have been warm in the afternoons, but mornings are cool and pleasant.  So I guess our fall is in the mornings...

Mamas who had babies in January (there were four), are starting to domino now.  Dawn had a little heifer, Sunrise.  She's a real cutie!!  Red is showing signs that she'll be next to birth.  We're a little concerned about Big Mama because she should be birthing by now.  She's one of our oldest girls and her producing days may be behind her.

We sent Rosie to Waco as she was prolapsing,  She had a c-section and lost her baby early last summer.  We weren't sure she would be able to have any more calves.  Turns out she miscarried, etc., etc..  Very sad turn of events!

Rains scheduled to come in tonight.  With the warm temps, it should promote more grass to grow which is good.  We'll take whatever we can get.... 

Cooler, Cooler, Cold...

 The temperatures have turned cooler and cold mornings are predicted early next week.  Can't wait!!!!  We ended up getting 4.5 inches of rain with the storms from a couple weeks ago.  It was wonderful except for the mud.  The ground was so dry, that although we had mud for a couple days, it soaked in rapidly.  

I hear Fancy has been given the "all clear" to compete in shows.  I think her first show is in December.  This is our first experience with competition.  Fancy is Fancy and we'll see how she fares in the ring!!!

We were feeding the mamas and babies this morning and Lance started mooing softly to them from the other side of the fence.  It was mournful and it spoke to how lonely he is without his girls. I wish his time away from them was over. I think January 1st is when he can get back together with them.  

 Our winter birds are back.  We are seeing a bunch of Wrens, bluebirds, phoebes, etc..  I have not seen any geese, ducks, or sandhill cranes yet, but we should see them soon.  The sandhill cranes are one of my favorites as they squawk loudly while circling slowly toward the south. The deer and other critters are also active now that it is cooler.  

  

Rain?

 We may get some rain this weekend.  It'll be first we've gotten since July.  The ground is cracked and the dust is ungodly.  Still, I heard on the weather report last night, we are about an inch ahead of schedule for the year.  As always, we are never satisfied with where we are when it concerns moisture.  TOO much or Too little!  I'm hoping we'll get some cooler weather with the change.

We had our fence builders out to finish putting the electric fencing around.  It should save the permanent fencing we have and help keep the bulls in the various pastures where they need to stay.  

The Tesla news is good...  Peg has solved most, if not all of her questions and problems with the car.  She seems pleased and that's what matters.  I've been in the car twice when it has driven us someplace.  It seems to be trustworthy and is not unreasonably aggressive on the road.  I still don't like that "Ara" maybe be listening to us. Thoughts of 1984 can't be dispelled....