Visitors

We have a nice collection of Visitors at the feeders.  Amazingly they even seem to tolerate each other to a degree...

Then those with less than honorable intentions show up...

The "table" empties pretty fast!!!  I have to say, that I am tickled that we have these rascals around.  If they take down one of their "meat sources" occasionally, I can live with that.
We still are waiting for our big "capture," the elusive cougar!  When we get it, we'll post it
 

And There Are Deer At The Feeders

Even though I have shown the raccoon parties taking place at the feeders, deer are also coming in for a corn snack.

"Howdy!"

I see this big boy often.  I think he's the biggest deer I've seen this year at the feeders.  The battles for the girls are also going on.  We have lots of activity!

Farmers

It has taken us a while to get here, but we are finally farmers.

  Here's Peg shredding...

 
The new pickup truck...

Modern version of a cow pony...

AND a barn...

Bandit's Party

As fate would have it, Bandit told his friends about the "abundance" at the deer feeder...  They partied hardie!!!

If you look closely at the bottom picture with the raccoon on the far right, you will see his tummy is about ready to explode.  Yes they know how to party!

Deer Feeder?

One of our chores recently was to set up the deer feeders.  We have moved the protein feeder up close to the house because of the cows knocking it over all the time.  Every morning I see deer around this feeder; lots of deer!  The only actual visitor is this little guy...

Thank goodness he's able to reach in and get what he needs.  I don't know if it would be possible without the help of the "block".  I've named him Bandit!

Emergency Surgery

Driving out yesterday morning we were shocked to see one of our two pecan trees not just bent over, but broken midway at the trunk.  What could have caused such destruction?  The winds have been low and no grandchildren have been around lately...  I noticed that the six pecans were gone and determined that either a squirrel or large bird of some kind had sat on its upper most branch and caused the break.  So we taped the trunk backed together and reinforced it like a broken arm or leg. Looking at the top of the tree this morning, it appears that the leaves at the top have not shriveled; a sign we may have saved it.

 As this is one of two pecan trees that form the basis of our future pecan grove, we are hopeful it will make a full recovery.  This tough little tree produced at least six-seven pecans this year!  We don't want to start over.  On the other hand, those pecans may have contributed to its current condition!

Hurricane Harvey

How did Harvey impact us?  Well, we ended up with over eight inches of rain.  Normally we get a big rainfall like that within a 2-3 hour period.  Thankfully the rains were moderate to light over a 48 hour period.  The result was all the water was mostly absorbed.  What didn't get sucked up by the thirsty soil, drained into our three tanks.

When I took these pictures (24 hours after the rain stopped here), there was still some run-off occurring.

We dodged the 52+/- inch rains Houston got.  The impact from Harvey in this part of Central Texas was some much needed beneficial rain.  Rain in August is always good!