The Swallows Have Returned

 The swallows have returned and I was ready for them!  Ben had hung the sparkly swirlie things and I had ordered and put out the snakes.  The swallows are here and flying thru the porch areas but we've had only one nest built (the sparkly swirlie things blew down on the front porch).  We knocked down the nest and put the deterrents back up, so all is well at this time.  The bad thing is the hummers are frightened off also.  I'm not sure, long term, how this will shake out as the real pressure to nest is still a couple weeks off.

Also returning are the purple martins and scissortail flycatchers.  Neither are a problem.  Just good to see them return!  Turkeys have been spotted in the culvert and in other pastures nearby.  They add a "different call" when listening to birds that are around.  The coyotes are planning for future feasts.

Fancy continues to make a nice adjustment so will be turned out with the herd soon.  The Vet is scheduled for Saturday to ear tag, give shots, and do brain surgeries on the six babies.  It's going to be challenging to figure out who belongs to who as several of them could be carbon copies of each other.

We were feeding the cows in the big pasture a week or so ago and discovered major damage to the double gate into the 8 acres up by the house.  Either the bull or a cow had tried to "hop" the gates with terrible results.  We put a cow panel up over the damage in hopes they won't try again.  I guess over $1000 in damage was done.  

Praying for rain as we're about 4 inches short so far this spring.  The new plants in the fields can't go on much longer without it.  Long term, we might get some in a week or so... 

Fancy's Return

Fancy returned to the farm last night.  She "hopped" off the trailer and immediately started to graze.  According to Ben, she had not been able to graze since starting show biz (schools, etc. put harmful chemicals on their grass so she couldn't eat it).  Within minutes she had trotted away from the pens into the eight-acre pasture reuniting with Fria and other friends.  This morning she was grazing with everyone and moved with the group up for breakfast.  If I were to bet, it looks like she has transitioned nicely.  Longer term with everyone else, we'll see....

We have purchased a new ATV.  The Can Am was a beast requiring boat loads of gas and constant servicing.  It was loud and just not a good fit for us.  Our new Landmaster is all electric and has a dealership who will pick it up, service it, and return it.  I won't have to deal with buying the stuff to service it (waiting on back orders, etc), gassing it up, and trying to find a friend or neighbor to do the service. In other words, less headaches for me.  In many ways it's like a golf cart but with more power and amenities like a winch and 4-wheel drive.  It still is not lab friendly, but maybe with a rug or two it'll work for the dogs too.

Peg had her other cataract removed last week.  All seems to have gone well.  It will be good to have her back helping with feeding etc..

The grandkids are all involved in sports of various kinds. Ben with baseball, Beckah with track, Cinco with track, Evie with track, and John Reeve with rodeo.  Their parents are very busy driving and attending their activities.  Peg just punches in an address, and her car takes her to events all over Central Texas.  She has no idea where she's going or where she is BUT the car does and it has not been lost once!  That's what Peg wanted, so she is very pleased with her Tesla purchase.