Tom and I receive such wonderful Christmas letters from his family, while my family, now that the kids are grown, strains to put up a Christmas ornament! It is wonderful getting the up-dates of our far-away relatives and staying current on how fast all the children are growing!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy Holidays. . . in the rear view mirror
Tom and I receive such wonderful Christmas letters from his family, while my family, now that the kids are grown, strains to put up a Christmas ornament! It is wonderful getting the up-dates of our far-away relatives and staying current on how fast all the children are growing!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Bees, Goats & Green Grass
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Good Golly Girlie Goat Soap
Well, my first attempt at soap making. I'll know for sure in about a month whether or not I have real soap, but so far so good! This soap is made from fresh goat milk, thanks to the abundance of milk from my two Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Ginger and Spice. I look forward to using this as facial soap as there are no scents or ingredients other than milk, coconut oil and olive oil, and of course lye, which is no longer chemically lye due to the transformation between lye and oil (fat). No lye, no soap, as they say.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
LT Beef Delivery Changes?
Yesterday Tom and I sold a processed beef to five individuals. Three came to my house in San Antonio to pick up their beef and we delivered to two customers. Our house is being sold now and Tom & I will be moving to the ranch in January. One thing we have not resolved is how our LT Beef business would continue operating in San Antonio without a home as our home base.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
My Mom
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Local Beef?
About seven years ago I answered an ad in the local Cuero paper about free kittens. When I called, the cat owner told me he and his family would be out of town that day but come by and pick out a cat. He gave me directions and I drove to a beautiful ranch property, pipe fence galore, big in-ground swimming pool, and a bunch of friendly dogs. I picked out our cat now known as Mousemaster and have always appreciated this man's trust in strangers and the obvious good care he took of the livestock and pets in his charge.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Snake Wrangling 101
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Black Bull Exercise Program
Ariel is spending a week with me at the ranch while Joseph is doing a short summer semester at A & M Corpus Christi. After completing morning chores (milking the goats, releasing the chickens, feeding the dogs, etc.) we were enjoying a cup of coffee and looking at some photos from our trip to Europe last month.
Friday, June 12, 2009
So you wanna be organic?
This morning, right before the temperature hit 90 degrees, I spent an hour organically dealing with sand burrs. Also known as "goat heads" to cyclists, who are familiar with these burrs from changing the flat tires caused by them, and as "stickers" to children growing up in the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
A pasture full of sand burs, or even just a few plants at each and every gate, with the burrs ready to latch on to dog or cow or person, then hitchhike a ride to a new pasture, is more than a nuisance. Their presence is annoying enough to make a person want to go into mosquito hobby farming just to enjoy the relative pleasure of mosquitoes.
So how does one organically deal with sand burrs? With a hoe or similar instrument, thick gloves and a sincere, if impractical, belief that one can make a difference pulling them out plant by plant. And then burning them. No chance taken on composting these babies and hoping they won't reproduce a year later.
There are two chemicals I know of that are formulated to kill these plants -- one is a pre-emergent (usually these plants don't let me know where they'll be coming up so you have to spray a whole pasture) and a new one just being advertised this spring that will kill them after they have sprouted and grown horns. I haven't bothered looking into the "side effects" of these chemicals and reading the hazards associated with using them. I am easily resisting all temptation to look to this "cure."
Before WW II and the heavy use of chemicals in agriculture, I would guess that sand burrs were taken care of the "organic" way. But those farmers, and earlier, slaves, didn't have air conditioning and digital media calling them hither from the scorching and windy fields. And many of those folks actually tried to make a living or at least feed their family from the direct work of their back. Me, I'm an aging boomer who has chosen a laborious lifestyle to maintain health, and who believes that in the end Nature has the best ideas for the continuation of life on this planet. Maybe not solely for human life, but for life in general.
But I must say that I hope others join me in this organic move to rid this place of sand burrs. Sand burrs must be cruel to the mouths of cows, calves and goats. And I know they can put the toughest dog out of action when buried deep in a paw. To the younger kids and the aging hippies, and to intelligent life forms everywhere, to anyone who believes strongly and fervently in all things organic and sustainable, or if you just really dislike being pricked, please make sure you never pass a sand burr again without putting an end to its existence!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Cattle Work - more than you want to know?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Great to be back home!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Country Mile
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Update
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wow, its Friday already?!
Wednesday was fish day. We went to the DeWitt coop and picked up the fishies! There was a really long line, but fortunately it was in the shade and we got to meet some really interesting people! But 2 hours later, we were stocking the tank with bass, blue gill, and minnows! Josh went back to check on them later in the afternoon and saw a snake where we deposited them (they didn't all make it), so the snake was cleaning up the leftovers.
We had a great Friday! Josh made a brisket (yes, its LT Beef) and we LOVED it, one of the best briskets we've ever had. It was our first smoking (we usually rely on the parents to cook it!) and it turned out great. While out in the yard today we saw a snake. The goats and chickens in the vicinity all leaped about 3 feet in the air! Josh went to inspect, very carefully, and it stayed very still. Using the LT Beef encyclopedia collection, we were able to identify it as a Texas rat snake. Once content with its surroundings (and we were content it wasn't any real threat), the snake climbed the tree! Yes, climbed! It was amazing to watch. One potentially unfortunate thing is that the tree he climbed is one we think might house a family of whistling ducks. Hopefully they moved out, or weren't eggs unattended!
The weather has warmed up again (back to the 90's), so we weren't as active outdoors today. Although I did plant a lemon tree and the goats and I ran around a bit in the front pastures near the chickens. Speaking of, Joseph has at least one rooster and he's a cutie. This morning he attempted to crow--it was quite a cacophony, but a cute effort nonetheless. We are also staying busy spoiling the mutts--Shadow loves a good brushing and Greta loves to chase her rope toy!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Worming the Kids, etc.
Milking went OK--Spice was a little low on goods, or was more difficult to milk, so I went on to Ginger. She had a lot of milk, so I borrowed some for all the babes. I was able to find a glass bottle in the house which fit the nipple, and mixed the herbs with the milk. I tried out poor Princess again, but she just wouldn't have it. So I worked on Bubba and Rainbow, who were very reluctant, but it went down with great ease. Later on in the day I retried Princess--still very reluctant, but I think I managed to get a good part of it down. I was wearing some of it too...and did I mention Ginger loves the stuff! She found great interest in my clothes and all of the babies mouths. Despite the wrestling, the kids are wormed!
This morning I rinsed out the pasture chickens' water, so early afternoon Josh and I went to check to make sure it was filling properly, when we noticed that the new bull calf was on the wrong side of the fence--in the North windmill pasture, while mommy was in the South! Fortunately it was by the gate and after a good 30 minutes of scheming we got him through the gate back to his herd. The big bull didn't appreciate Josh's presence one bit!
Greta was in her predator state today and Ginger was in her gluttonous state, so it was basically a day of babysitting. "Greta don't get too excited, Ginger don't eat the chicken feed, Greta calm down, Ginger don't eat the catfood, good girl Greta, Ginger don't eat Greta's food!" All in a day's work.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Rain and Cool Weather!
Today, Sunday, the weather is absolutely beautiful! We (all of us: the goats, chickens, dogs, and humans) are really enjoying it!
It is so peaceful out here and we are really catching up on some much needed relaxing!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Calves, Goats and Buen Viaje
Monday, May 11, 2009
Fun with the Goat Kids!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Bubba Gruff & other goat news
Friday, May 1, 2009
Heifer's New Calf
this pasture. Figured she'd calved and was hiding it, as all new
mamas want to do. When I checked there was no calf, so she waited and
went & "hid"by the only big oak in this pasture.
She moved around some more and finally I see her water break. I am
out in my truck now to make sure the calf is presenting properly, but
since I've been followed by 2 goats & 2 dogs, I can't get too close as
she'll be more upset. Usually these mamas can tolerate a truck, but
not someone on foot or a circus like I've got.
So, I'm back to my binoculars. I'll give her another 15 minutes
before I go confine the dogs & goats. If she doesn't progress quickly
I'll have to tie her to the truck and try to help.
Eventually, at 5 p.m. No. 16 ended up at the vets to have her calf pulled. I figured the calf would be dead by then, but a live heifer was delivered. We brought the calf and mamma home and kept them in the pens overnight, where the mom and baby bonded. The calf is up and around and both mom and baby are doing well, headed out to the pasture.
Fortunately, my sister Lynn arrived in time to see the last of the rodeo. Mamma cow got pretty out of sorts near the end and didn't go willingly to the pens or the vet. But, in the end we had a good outcome.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Big Tree - Lots of work
Seeing a tree so profoundly damaged is quite painful to me. There is
no doubt in my mind that it was here when Native Americans were taking
care of this land.
This image also represents about 20+ hours of hard labor to come.
This tree fell on our fence and will have to be removed, largely by
hand and chain saw. It is lying across an interior fence, not a fence
we share with a neighbor, so at least we can take our time in clearing
it.
Needless to say, no monetary bonuses are paid for this extra work. I prefer to think of my bonus as paid in advance -- the years of inspiration, awe and pleasure I got from experiencing life with this tree. However, this may also be an example of the exceedingly hard work sometimes demanded by country living, and why some folks head for the city at first chance.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Moving Chickens to Fresh Pasture
They should have eggs for sale in a few months. These chickens are
allowed to roam on pasture within a protective electric net fence.
They get fresh pasture every few days.