Summer's In Full Swing

Unlike last summer where we enjoyed relatively reasonable temperatures, this summer is turning into the typical oppressive Texas summer.  The problem has been the humidities which are in the high 70s to mid 80s.  We'll survive as we always do, but not without a whole lot of complaining!

The albino deer has been named Luna.  She is still hanging out in our trees around the culvert.  I expect her to stay put for now as there is plenty to eat and a water source.  

Last year our cows birthed mostly bull calves.  This year we have mostly heifers.  With our original mama cows going into retirement, we plan to replace them with those offspring.  This will mean Lance, our bull and the father of those babies, will have to go.  Where?  Who knows....

Knock-on-wood but the new world screwworm has not arrived in our neck of the woods yet.  We have stuff to treat any infected members of our herd; I hope we don't have to mess with all of that!!

We managed to break our washer stuffing it full of towels, etc. that we have to use to wipe the dogs and floors off with.  We are to get a new commercial grade washer today.  None too soon as far as I'm concerned!!!  Washing dirty ranch stuff by hand is not fun!!! 

Our flag is up and we look forward to fireworks and celebrating America's 250th!!!!  We are blessed to be citizens of this great country!!  Happy Fourth of July!!!!

 

An Albino Deer

 Our neighbor texted me a few days ago to tell me she just saw an albino deer hop our mutual fence and run into our culvert.  A couple days later, I saw the strange critter.  Most of the deer we have running around on our property are use to us and only slowly move away to hide.  This poor white doe is very afraid.  To see her, I have to be in the right place at the right time.  Honestly her coat so white, and it contrasts with the dark green of the foliage she's hiding in, making seeing her in theory easy.  We'll see if she makes it through hunting season...

Vet was here yesterday giving the babies their second round of baby shots.  We probably will keep a couple of this group of heifers to replace our old mamas.  For some reason I thought we would just keep all of our mamas when they went into retirement.  That's not the plan and they are destined for Waco...

Ben has a new showbiz heifer, Dawn.   She's a beef master.  We'll see how they do this year....

Everyone is going out of town this weekend so we'll be babysitting three dogs.  Our cleaning people are here today so "that money" is thrown into the wind!!!

The swallows threw caution to the wind and built nests every place available.  I have ordered the sonic deterrents for next season.  Also, the purple martins are finishing up raising their babies.  The babies are beginning test flights.  Everyday there are fewer hanging out around the condo.

Ah Summer...

 Yes, summer is officially with us.  The vacation schedules are set, summer sports leagues and camps have started, and the daily heat is intensifying.  We are once again babysitting grandkids, grand dogs, and whatever else gets dropped off at our doorstep.  The mosquitoes are big and hungry, as are the Chigers and tics.  Encounters with any of the above is unfortunate, leaving nasty itchy welts.  Throw in the fire ants, and an outdoor experience can become a nightmare!  AND now we have the really nasty flesh eating flies on our side of the border!!!  That's the bad news....  The good news is we have DEET in our bug spray which seems to be a pretty good deterrent.  The key is to apply it before our outdoor ventures.  Unfortunately, often we forget!!!

Three grandkids will be in high school this year.  One is even going to be a senior!!!!!  What happened to the idea that these are grandkids?  I thought they would be "kids" forever!!!  While it's interesting to see them grow and mature, I long for the simpler times....

The ranch notes include the cutting and baling of the first hay crop.  It was not a stellar crop.  We need a really good second cutting to be even halfway ready for winter feedings.  We may need to put down some more fertilizer.  But if we get little or no rain, it's wasted.  Hence the farmer's dilemma...

Had a skunk sighting the other morning!  The rascal was huge and close to the house.  We've had spray encounters involving the dogs in the past and do not want to have them repeated!!  Since its been several days since I last saw the critter, I'm hoping it's moved on.

Remember your bug spray and enjoy the heat!!!!

 

We Had Momentum

 The Vet was out for a Ranch Call yesterday to do yearly shots, a couple ear tags, etc..  We had a new cowboy recommended to us to help.  We were done in about an hour and a half (it's usually taken 3-4 hours in the past).  A record!!!  This guy was calm, knowledgeable, and young enough to do all of the hard physical stuff that make these visits very difficult for us.  We had momentum!!!!!  

We said goodbye to Calfie as she made her final trip to "Waco."  Calfie was such a wonderful cow;  always happy and calm.  Her downfall was her elf slipper hooves which caused her a lot of pain and required almost constant trimming.  Brownie was scheduled to go too (prolapse), but she jumped the fence and took off into the pasture.  She will make the journey another day.

We are looking at several of our older cows who have not had babies as they should.  They will be "retiring" and we'll be replacing them with their prodigy in the coming months.  I'm sad about this because these girls have been such good and reliable mamas!!  This change will necessitate a bull change as we don't want to breed back heifers to their father.  Lots of change....

One really neat thing, in the bird sighting department is, I've seen a pileated woodpecker couple flying through our little stand of trees.  These woodpeckers are magnificent and the biggest in the U.S.A. since we've lost to extinction the Ivory billed woodpecker.  They are not common here so a wonderful sighting!!

Ben is looking into showing another heifer next year.  He's looking at the Beefmasters.  I shutter at what it will cost him to buy one!  We'll see how that all shakes out in the coming weeks.

The Purple Martins

 The purple martins returned last month en mass and now occupy all of the units in the Martin condominium complex.  This is a first and probably reflects the tightening of the housing market due to the flood of illegals (yes, I said illegals).  The group is noisy in a happy purple martin kind of way which I find pleasant.  

On the other hand, the swallows are nesting and messy as ever.  Unfortunately beginning last year, they have brought a bunch of house sparrows with them.  The constant sparrow chirping is very annoying and they are even messier than the swallows!!!

On another note, I saw a family of grey foxes cross the road ahead of me the other morning.  They were happy and yipping as they called to each other.  Not a common sighting but one I was glad to witness.  Also, I understand someone released a bunch of turkeys several weeks ago.  We have seen them here and there since.  I would love to have them settle into the area but the coyotes make long term residency highly unlikely.  

The weather has been very pleasant and cool for this time of year.  More rain is in the forecast.  The farmers are happy as the corn and wheat grows.   

The Rains Came

Finally, the rains have arrived.  We needed them and the farmers are happy again.  They get very sad and negative if there's no rain during this time of year especially.

Fancy is avoiding all her humans.  She is still trying to become a 100% part of the herd.  Her time away has caused some tensions because of jealousy or time away.  Who knows, but she wants nothing to do with us.

I have lost the battle with the swallows!  It was a good fight but I was outnumbered and less motivated during this nesting season.  There are eggs in the nests so nothing can be done at this point.  I'll be ordering the sonic system for next year.

The pastures have been fertilized and the hay is beginning to grow.  Everything was a beautiful green until the fertilizer was sprayed on.  It seems to burn what's growing.  The cows don't like the fertilizer taste and are back eating the remaining bales that were put out.  BUT I see the new healthy grasses coming in and all will be fine in a week or so.

Repeat And Repeat

My attempts to make the porch areas as undesirable as possible have failed and the swallows are nesting!!!   I go out again and again to knock down nests and move snakes as needed, but the little guys are persistent.   May have to go to Plan C, sonic deterrents.

Ben came by to pick up the doodles and wanted to see/connect with Fancy.  She wanted nothing to do with him!!  He tried to walk up to her and she didn't just move away, she ran away.  I think she is happy to be back with the herd and is over Show Business!