The Swallows Are Gone!!!!

Yes, the swallows finally headed south!  They slowly started leaving around the 20th and were gone by the 23rd.  Peg spent three hours reclaiming the back porch.  It is pleasant to be out there once again.

Thanksgiving and Brillante got their Bangs vaccine and Blaze and Early became steers yesterday.  We plan on keeping the two heifers as replacements.  Showers, who has been growing up and was 16 months old was let into the big pasture with all the cows.  She and Dawn found each other quickly and are the two lowest ranking members of the herd.  It's always good to find your equal so you can complain together. Tho the temps were in the 70s early, the humidity was at least 90 percent.  We were dripping in sweat, but the job is done.

Plan to ween Rojo, Red's baby, and March, Tara's baby, this weekend.  Red has been loosing weight and needs relief from nursing.  Peg's old boss from Italy is coming this weekend to have a "ranch experience."  Hope he is not disappointed. 

Saw a burr oak acorn on one of my trees yesterday.  It's too immature to pick but I'll keep an eye on it so maybe I can plant it.  The squirrels were nowhere in sight, so I have a chance! 

It's Hot!!!!

Big surprise, it's hot and it's summer!  We really have had a fairly "mild" summer by all accounts.  A couple 100 degree days in June and that's been it.  But our good fortune couldn't last...  The last week and forecasted into next week are to be 100 degrees plus.  It's tough on the cows and the humans.  We are back in the house by 10:00 AM after feeding, watering, etc.  The cows have no relief.  I am starting to really think about fall...

Since last posting, we had another little bull, Early.  That means Lance, our bull, has "created" six bulls and only one heifer this year.  I was noticing that the neighbors just had three calves born in the last couple months and they are all bulls too.  Maybe there's something in the water...  The Vet comes on the 23rd and will make our group of bulls all steers.  She will also give the Bangs vaccine to the two heifers we plan to keep, Thanksgiving and Brillante.  

I am pretty miffed that the swallows have not left yet!  The porch, furniture, etc. are covered in poop.  Our grill is right there too so grilling is not pleasant!  All I can say is we are getting closer to the time when the swallows leave and head south!

Tension is building for the Texas A&M versus Notre Dame football game August 31.  I could care less other than everyone around me is happier whenever A&M wins. In my opinion, college football has been  ruined with the compensation of the players.  There is no team loyalty, etc. anymore.  Very sad!

I Have Confirmation

 About a month ago, I called Peg into the living room because I was watching a mama deer with three babies.  Of course, she missed out on seeing them at that time.  Finally, one evening last week, Peg was able to see that there were indeed three babies.  When I checked with our neighbors a couple days, they said they had seen the mama with the triplets and that they bedded down in the woods near them.  Yeah!!! Triplets are a first for us.  We've seen lots of deer with twins, but triplets are a first!!!  I will say they are about half the size of a regular fawn at this time of year.  I worry that their mama will have trouble keeping everyone fed.  So far, so good!!

Raquel had a little bull a couple days ago.  He's a cutie and we've named him Blaze.  Now we are waiting on Rosie.  She looks like she is going to pop, so it'll be anytime now.  Lance's first progeny are being weened.  They and their mamas are pretty noisy.  The neighbor texted me asking if there was a problem over here because they were making so much noise.  We're into day four and things have quieted down.  It's always pretty tough on "everybody" going through this process.

We've gotten 2.9 inches of rain in the last 4-5 days and we're suppose to get more.  It's in the eighties and everything is green!!!  Strange July weather!  Farmers are worried about corn still out in the fields!!!

A Summertime Cool Front

We had a cool front move through early this morning and the temps outside right now are glorious!!  Of course the line of showers that came through with it occurred as we were loading up a couple calves to go to the auction barn.  We're not made of sugar so we didn't melt but it made loading more interesting.

It will be a few more days before the swallows head south.  I'll not gross you out telling you how horrible the back porch is...

We only got a little wind with Beryl but large areas of Houston are still without electricity!  This is a government competency issue.  Once again, the government let down those who they are elected to protect and serve!!!

The farmers just started to harvest the corn.  For the next two to three weeks we will be encountering the big trucks and large farm equipment on the roads.  The good news is, as the corn is harvested, we'll have good views of the roads around curves and corners. 

Summertime Blues

The Little Bluestem Doggie Kennel and Spa has been booked solid since the end of May.  I'd like to say we're making a killing on fees and tips.  If such things are counted in kisses and tail wags, we ARE getting rich!!! The heifers up by the house are becoming tolerant of the barking, but I'm not fond of it because the barking blasts into the tranquillity of our morning quiet.  The birds even stop singing....

I lost the battle with the swallows and the porch is a mess.  The good news is we are days away from them migrating south.  How many days?  Who knows, but that's how I'm viewing it!!!

The baby hummers made their way to the feeder and it was great to see the little guys make their landings and find the portals of "juice."  

We got our second cutting of hay so we should be all set for winter feedings.  The cows left their shaded areas to watch the process.  They know it's all for them....

Peg is on cruise to Alaska and is briefly escaping the heat.  It'll be waiting for her when she returns!  I spend my days doing farm related chores (before 10:00) and trying to keep up with the political mess this country has created.  Both are fun and never ending...

Today I am waiting to see where hurricane Beryl is headed.  It may be a weather maker here.  

Summer's Beginnings

 It appears that summer has started.  We're experiencing heat indexes over 105.  It seems to be a combo of heated air and dew points.  The humidity is high because of all the rain we've gotten.  Bell Milam Falls water district has dropped all watering restrictions.  The lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. are all full.  Yeah... tho the down side is every bug is procreating as fast as it can.  With the ponds full, the frogs and toads are multiplying too, so maybe they'll start eating the bugs.

Vivian had her baby a week ago but the little guy didn't make it.  The Vet says it was probably a combo of the heat and humidity.  It is very sad as we were just getting to know the little guy, Paws.  Vivian is heartbroken and has been walking around crying.

The swallows have not given up on their nest making.  I continue to knock nests down.  One nest I missed, I can see 7 baby heads hanging over the lip of the nest.  Could be families are merging because of my nest activities. The purple martin families are well established and their cheerful calls make for happy early mornings. 

I hope to see the baby hummers come in to the feeder for the first time soon.  I love watching their debuts. They make Peanut's Woodstock look like a great flyer!

Friends have been giving us fresh produce.  It is wonderful but it's hard to deal with the surplus.  I wish we had gotten our garden going this year.  

It's been six months since my new years resolution to get pictures back on the blog.  So far I've done nothing!!

  

Birds, Snakes, Armadillos, Storms, Mud, Bugs, Etc.

 Ah spring with all its new life and daily challenges!  We've had over 7 inches of rain in the last two weeks.  It's come in 2-3 inches at a time which results in runoff and mud.  We have pools of water which are breeding the biggest hungry mosquitoes we've seen since before the drought.  Not pleasant to be outside!!!!  With the ground wet, the armadillos and snakes are on the prowl and digging everywhere.  We watched a rat snake try to catch a bird the other day.  The bird survived the hunt!

Speaking of birds, the purple martins returned a week or so ago.  It looks like 4-6 couples moved into the martin house.  I'm surprised as we were unable to make the yearly repairs.  It truly is a slum property!  The hummers are eating me out of house and home and the swallows can't build their nests fast enough.  I had been knocking down 6-8 nests every 2-3 days.  Now I'm knocking down only 2-3 every couple of days.  I'm hoping that they will give up and we can have the back porch for ourselves and not as a nursery for their babies.  Not to be outdone, there's a mockingbird couple that has built a nest in one of the baby live oaks.  To get under my skin, the daddy mockingbird sings all night long.  He also sings all day long!  I have enough trouble sleeping, so the continuous limited repertoire of songs really is aggravating!  

Raquel finally went to the vet to have her feet checked out as her limping was horrible.  She stayed a few days at the vet and now is back.  I can't see much improvement in her gait but hope she will mend in time.  Calfie and Red also went to the vet to have their elf hooves trimmed.  No one is sure what causes this condition.  It would be an interesting investigation to figure out this problem.

The hay fields look great and if the rain continues after the first cutting, we may get that second elusive cutting.  The local water district has lifted the water restrictions so I'll be able to water baby trees if I need to this summer.  I think I've said we've lost about 20% of the trees we planted due to the drought.  

More storms are due in this afternoon and evening.  Knock-on-wood, we are spared any sever weather!!!  We'll take the good stuff.....