Wildlife

 We have had a beautiful spring.  Our weather finally changed and our dry winter and early spring finally gave way to several weeks of rainy weather.  Several inches have fallen during May, and we are grateful for each one.  In the beginning, we saw days on end of drizzle and light showers which saturated our parched pastures.  Then in the last week or so, we have had downpours that finally put some water in our creek and stock ponds.  The lower tank is now running around the spillway and the upper pond is up appreciably.  Even though the wet weather has put a damper on Cody’s and my herding practice and some of our outside chores, we welcome it and hope for more.

We have been frustrated by the lack of progress on our barn.  There is still much to be done, but none of it can be accomplished until the electrician completes his work…and he hasn’t even started.  We have been given two explanations for the delays.  One is that construction is booming as we exit the pandemic and all the trades are busy.  Another is that many in the labor force choose to stay home and collect their government stimulus checks rather that go to work.  I don’t know the answer; I just wish our job would get to the top of someone’s list.

We are also still “in the process” of selling our home in Volente.  It has been on the market for two weeks, and we hope to have an offer in hand soon.  Maybe we’re supposed to learn to be more patient as a result of all this waiting…  If so, we’re getting plenty of practice.

One thing that keeps us entertained while we wait are visits from the numerous squirrels that share our spot here on the top of Goat Hill.  They are always lurking in the trees for a chance to visit one of the bird feeders.  This cute little girl-squirrel is especially persistent.

She has tried every approach imaginable to reach this feeder.

The Squirrel Patrol is vigilant, but whenever they chase her up the tree, she sits out of reach and scolds at the top of her lungs.  And, when they nap, she strikes.

I hate to lose the bird seed, but she does keep us amused.

As does the occasional turtle.

Another form of wildlife that is much more destructive are the bands of feral hogs that visit often.  They root in the coastal hay field and along the creek, causing a lot of damage.  We usually only catch glimpses of them at a distance, but last Sunday morning we got a much closer look.  We were taking a morning walk with the dogs along the east side of the creek that runs through our property.  As we approached our northeast property line, I looked to my left and saw a virtual pig parade.  About 50 yards in front of us, four or five large sows and a number of piglets (John says perhaps 20) made their way up from the creek and up the “mountain” on the east side of our property.  They trotted quietly along the fence line, never appearing concerned about us or our dogs.  The dogs showed little more interest in them, thank goodness.

When I downloaded photos from the game camera yesterday, I found these images.  

I don’t know how they got into the enclosure around the feeder, but thank goodness they aren’t tall enough to help themselves to the deer protein.  If so, pig eradication would be even higher on our list of projects!

Progress Report

Hello, Everyone.  It has been a glorious spring, with bluebonnets and other wildflowers blooming and the birds singing from every tree.

Cody and I have also had fun competing in a couple of herding events.  First at the Texas Herding Association's trials at Destiny Farm outside Bertram,

Then at Jimmy and Janet Walker's awesome place in Aquilla for a Texas Sheep Dog Association-sponsored Open Ranch Trial.

Thanks to fellow photographer John Braseaux who took the following images of Cody, waiting his turn and on the course.

But that's only a small part of what has been going on in our lives this year.  I’ve been getting lots of questions about progress…on our barn, on the sale of our home in Volente, on our “final” move to the farm, etc.  So, here you go.  

The barn is progressing nicely.  The exterior is complete, as are the interior walls except for finishes.  And, the “tornado shelter” safe room inside (which also doubles as a bathroom) is ready for use.  We have almost taken shelter there a couple of times, but fortunately the dangerous clouds have passed us by.  The septic tank and drainfield are complete except for soil and seeds to cover the bare spots.   Right now, we are waiting for the electrician to come and install lighting and other wiring so we can move forward with insulation, interior plumbing and finishes.  As you can se, the fact that it isn't finished hasn't stopped John from using his new man cave to work on projects.  

Our home in Volente went on the market Thursday at 6 p.m. and we hope to have offers to consider in a few days.  Here are a couple of images the photographer made for the listing.  We built this home in 1996, and hope it sells to someone who will love it as much as we have.

Our realtor wanted us to leave some furniture and art work in place until after  the sale, so we will be doing a final pack and move as soon as the barn is ready…for all the stuff we will need or just couldn’t part with. (There’s a lot of that!). Our tentative date to have the movers come is mid-June, but that could be extended if the barn is not completed on schedule or the house sale hasn’t closed.  

Another project that had to be completed was a stairway to access our upstairs loft room in our home here at the farm.  Until yesterday, access was a ladder which visiting kids just loved.  They went up and down like little monkeys, and used the upstairs for a private playroom.  Visiting adults, not so much.  Climbing the stairs to our "third bedroom" was a challenge that few enjoyed enough to do it twice.  That room is becoming my office, and yesterday my cousin, John Jones, a master welder, delivered and installed the stairway so I can reach it!  The downstairs furniture hill be rearranged once we move things from Volente, but my desk and computer are in place upstairs and life is good! 

We will keep you posted as we have new adventures, and hope you will all visit us here soon.