2025

There are high expectations for this year as a new administration takes office.  Hopefully the end of some wars, the end of illegal border crossings, and some sane adult views and actions on spending.  Many promises and hopes have been made; we'll see shortly what comes to pass...

Meanwhile at the ranch, all is calm and bright.  Big Mama had a bouncing baby bull on Christmas.  We named him Jesus (Spanish pronunciation).  Unfortunately Big Mama has no other mama in similar circumstances to help out with the baby sitting so she's having to care for little Jesus herself.  This means a lot of walking around to check on him, as he still naps most of the day while she grazes.

Though it was 88 degrees a couple days ago, we are expecting some winter temperatures and maybe precipitation next week.  I'm not looking forward to any of it.  I am still recovering from the horrible storms from a couple years ago!!!  

Grandkids are enjoying driving the Polaris around the ranch when they're here.  Hours and hours of driving around and around along the fence line... They say they are practicing for the "real thing" and getting their licenses.  No stop signs, traffic, etc. so it's a bit of a stretch...  

Well, have a very Happy 2025!!!

The Happiest Time Of Year

 We received an early Christmas present yesterday.  We got word that we could place our mailbox on our side of the FM we live on.  Traffic speeds can exceed 60 miles per hour and include big rock haulers.  There have been days I've gone out to get the mail and felt like I just had a near death experience.  Also the big trucks seem to find it fun to jerk their steering wheels "just so" to whip their trailers into hitting the mailbox knocking it down.  I've had to look for the downed mailbox which ends up being 10-20 feet from where it is suppose to be.  I suspect the problems will continue but at least I'll be on our side of the road!

Speaking of Christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful time and gets to enjoy loved ones!  Merry Christmas!

Finally, A Little Rain!

 I love the rain and I hate the rain.  I love all of the beneficial things it does for the land, the waterways, etc.. I hate the rain because of all the mud!  We've only gotten a few tenths so far during this forecasted rainy period and already we're living in the mud. We have muddy doggie feet, muddy people feet, muddy tires, muddy pants, mud, mud, and more mud.  I don't know what else I can say...

Red went to the Vet yesterday for her hoof problems.  She had foot rot and elf slippers.  Her feet were cleaned, trimmed, and an antibiotic was administered.  When we checked on her this morning, she was laying on a hay pile.  I think she is probably still hurting some.

Some of our Red Oak tree leaves are finally turning red.  The weather has been so warm until recently, that we were seeing no color.  It is magnificent now!   Always strange here in Texas to have the leaves turning just as the Christmas lights are going up.  The two seasons just run together some years.

The crows were very loud and made a lot of ruckus this morning as they zeroed in on a hawk they found in the trees.  They chased it across the pastures, from tree clump to tree clump until they disappeared a couple properties to the south.  Crows do not like hawks or owls on their turf and make a big deal when they want them gone.  They'll do the same thing when they encounter a bobcat.  I wish they had been chasing a bobcat!!!

Our Thanksgiving was great.  The grand kids had a blast playing with each other and riding the Polaris and golf cart all over the pastures.  The cows just laid in the shade, chewing their cud, as they sped by.  

Finally, the coyotes have tuned up big time and the dogs are beside themselves barking at them.  A cool clear night means lots of noise!

Beautiful Weather

 It was about 34 degrees this morning, no wind and sunny!  There was even some frost in places!  I love it!!  The cows, specifically the calves, are bouncy and full of "it."  

The Vet was by yesterday to give the second round of baby shots, do an ear tag and a brain surgery.  Peg had everyone coming and going perfectly so we actually had a little momentum and finish timely.  Red is now up with the teenagers because her back hooves look like elf slippers again.  It is painful to watch her walk.  She will see the Vet, in town, for a hoof trimming in a couple weeks.  I always hope for success.

The "troops" are showing up for Thanksgiving and we expect to feed multitudes.  It is getting harder to find the old materials for the old family recipes.  We made a trip down to Austin to pick up mincemeat and fruitcake fruit.  It was a vary expensive endeavor when it was all said and done.  The culture is changing and I've lived long enough to see it happen!!!  Eating turkey McNuggets and fries on Thanksgiving will be common in 10 years!!   

Bo has been on a diet for the last 5-6 months.  I'm happy to report she has the ever so slight beginning of a waistline.  I wish there was someone around who could throw a couple cups of diet kibble in a bowl for me on a consistent basis!!   

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!!

Fall

 The summertime birds have left and the wintering birds are here.  It's cooler, the grass is browning up, acorns harvested including a bur oak acorn, and the coyotes are yelping as they run through the pastures at night. We've even gotten some measurable rain.  The deer are beginning to herd up with a couple of big bucks sighted!  What a great time of year!

We had a baby bull born on Benjamin's birthday so we named him Ben.  I never know if the namee is flattered or insulted.  Anyways, he's cute and full of bounce! He and Fancy are always together running from mama to mama at full speed.  The new adult members of the herd, Dawn and Showers, spend a lot of their time babysitting the two youngsters too. 

That coyote that was spending too much time up by our house and the neighbor's, kept getting bolder and bolder so she was killed.  It was a disaster waiting to happen...  On a happier note, with the cooler nights, the neighborhood coyotes are really howling up a storm.  Whether it's early evening or early morning, they're out and about.  Of course, the dogs are not happy about any of it!!  We can't have them out after dark or they become crazy barking fools.  

We are putting out hay as needed for the cows and we're opening up the big hayfield for short periods of grazing.  There is fear that the girls may eat some Johnson grass and become sick.  We've talked to everyone about the possibility of toxicity and get too many different answers, so we are being cautious. 

With the cooler weather, we need to gear up and do some ranch work that needs to be done.  It's more pleasant to ride around or sit enjoying the cool and nature.  Hopefully we'll get to the work.... 

Correction

It is with much embarrassment that I announce that Frank, the baby calf, is really Fancy, the heifer!  I'll not go into the specifics of how we finally reached this determination but, let's say, it is definitive that she is a she!

The cold front finally came through and it was 46 degrees this morning.  I think we have a high of 77 today.  We had eight loads of dirt and gravel delivered yesterday.  This weekend it will be spread around in various locations where there have been washouts and low places.  I'm glad to get this done before winter and the rains set in.    

 

 

The Coyotes Are Back

Yes, the coyotes are back.  We're starting to hear them yipping as they run through the pastures at night.  We even have one young coyote that recently has been hanging out in the pasture up by the house.  He'll show up mid-day and hunt mice in the grass.  It's fun to watch him as he jumps high up in the air to pounce on his victim.  BUT of course, there is an obvious downside!  We have babies out there!  The neighbors say he is showing up in their pasture too.  The guy has little fear of humans and is becoming bolder.  What is interesting is they have donkeys over there that are suppose to chase off critters to protect the babies they have.  Unless this coyote makes some changes, he is not long in this world!!!

I put up the hummingbird feeders last week.  It is so nice to reclaim that portion of the kitchen cabinet devoted to their stuff.  The scissortail flycatchers have also pulled up stakes and have headed south.  We're starting to get wintering hawks.  Also the horned owls are showing up earlier in the evenings (because it's cooler) for their hunting activities.  There have been many sightings but I've yet to hear them calling to each other, which I find so interesting.  

Calfie had her baby who we named Fancy.  Well, upon closer examination, Fancy is actually a Frank!!!  Also, Blanca is fixing to domino anytime now.  So far, Lance, our new bull, has sired nine bulls and only one heifer.  Very strange to have it so one sided I think....

It's still very hot (90s) here in the afternoons, but with the low humidity, it cools off in the evenings quickly.  The mornings are lovely.  It's too dry and we need rain but none forecasted into the foreseeable future.  This is my favorite time of year.  Enjoy!