Farewell, Farm

We have just celebrated the Fourth of July…only a couple of weeks into summer and it’s already hotter than a firecracker here in Texas.  It’s dry, too.  The water in our stock tanks at the farm is dropping quickly.  

It’s so hot that even the dragonflies are resting.  I believe this one is called a widow skimmer.

Spring flowers have been replaced by summer’s bluebell gentians.

Beggar lice, also known as stick-tights and by other names that don’t bear repeating, are flourishing in shady areas.  When they are in bloom, they have lovely, delicate white flowers.  Before maturing they are a beautiful shade of green.  

But when dry and mature, they are a real pest.  Growing only foot or two high, they are at just the right height to attach their seeds to every passing critter…especially our dogs.  During beggar lice season, the dogs wear t-shirts when we go for walks.  The shirts pick up a lot of burrs, but there are many parts of a dog that aren’t covered…at least not by the shirts!  The afternoon brushing is a requirement before they come into the house.

Their shirts don’t keep the dogs from taking a dip to cool off.  They don’t even mind the algae and pond scum.

Our resident Mississippi kite babies have fledged.  While a parent keeps watch from a tree, the fledglings circle overhead trying out their wings.

We have new additions to our small cattle herd as well.  This week brought two news cows and calves to join The General and his ladies.  

They are very thin and likely were sold because of the dry conditions and lack of grass.  They will gain weight quickly, though.  We are fortunate to have plenty of grass and water for them.  "Skinny Minny," #7 and their two calves are welcome additions, and are getting along well with their new friends.

And today we said goodbye to our beloved farm for a few months.  In about 10 days we will load up and hit the road in our RV.  We’ll be bound for cooler climates (we hope).  When asked where we will be traveling, John usually replies 5500 feet.  Wish us safe travels and check in every week or so to share in our adventure.