Always something

Yesterday Buddy and I went into town to get in on some after Christmas sales at Tractor Supply and something to eat other than ham. We've eaten so much ham in the past couple days, I think we could puke. But, alas, guess what's for supper tonight? Anyway, we got into town and noticed cop cars at every light with their lights flashing. Keep in mind we have only 4 traffic lights in town. Of all things, the power was out in all of town. We could see that stores were clearing out all customers. Phooey, so much for hitting Tractor Supply. We did manage to get some barbecue on a cold bun and speaking of cold buns, my butt was freezing on their metal booths..no electricity, no heat. So, back home we went.

When we got home 13 miles away, the power was off at the house. Lovely! So, we'll sit it out for a while. A couple hours pass and Buddy calls the neighbor. What's up? She's got electricity. Buddy grabs a flashlight and heads outside to check the breaker box. Everything looks good but absolutely no juice. I call the power company and they have somebody out here in a matter of minutes. But, in the meantime, Buddy found the culprit...

Can you see him up there? A squirrel is up there to the right of the pole. Unfortunately, he was fried. I will save my readers from seeing what he looked like. Anyway, we quickly got our power back on. We still don't know what caused the power outage in town.

Today, we traveled up towards Dallas to visit some of the kids and grandkids and have our Christmas with them. Was fun but way too quick. We hit the traffic coming home...not's so good.

This past week, we're dog sitting for my niece while she and her family traveled out of town. We love to have Simon come over and stay with his cousin wienies. It's a zoo! But he fell into the routine quickly. He usually stays outside during the day unless I leave.. he follows me out the gate so then he has to stay in the utility room. Too long today so...he went with us... even to church...Okay, he did have to stay in the parking lot during the service. And then we had to hit Sonic on the way home...

We'll never tell....

Happy Trails..

Merry Christmas from RiverBend Farm

Thanks so much to all my blogger friends for this past year of sharing your stories...the highs and lows..the joys and heartaches..the births and deaths. Whether your posts were merely meant as a personal journal or inspirational or informative, I thank you for sharing and opening your hearts to strangers. Several of you have no idea what your stories have meant to me. I know in my heart that God has purposely placed you on this earth at a very particular time in your life to post your thoughts that were meant to reach me at a precise time in my life. God is the source of love in all of us. On this Christmas day, I wish to share with all you the love that God has shown. He loves all of us so much that he sent His Son to be born on this earth for a redeeming sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10). Jesus is truly the reason for this season of love and giving.
I pray that all you have a safe and very Merry Christmas,

An Eagle Sighting

I know, I know..this is my second post today but I just had to share this. I saw an eagle this morning! Buddy told me he's seen him before and then a friend from church said she's spotted it the last four years but I got to see it for myself! It was awesome! I had to turn around and go back to the house (about 2 minutes away) and get my camera. I do not have one of those up-close-and-personal lens so I magnified the best I could. No, this is not one of those ugly buzzards...this was a true eagle..absolutely magnificent!!!

Maybe if you click on the picture once I have it posted, it might come up bigger and better. This was a highlight in my year!

Happy Trails...

Holiday Baking

Ahhh, the smell of something delicious cooking in the oven permeates the house with the aroma of holiday baking. I thought I would share with everyone a recipe that is so easy and most everyone enjoys.

Monkey Bread

18 frozen white dinner rolls (I use Rhodes)

1 pkg instant butterscotch pudding

1/2 c brown sugar

3/4 c butter

cinnamon, pecans

Slightly thaw the dinner rolls just enough to cut in half with kitchen scissors. Roll dinner roll in softened butter and then pudding mix. Place in greased bundt pan and layer with streusel mixture of remaining butter, pudding mix, brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Cover and let rise overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Happy Trails...

Red Tail Hawk in Texas

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their concerned comments about my post on finding the red tail hawk in my chicken house. I truly appreciate them. I will be honest. I had every intention on killing this menace to my farm. No, I would not go out and just start shooting hawks up in the trees but this hawk was caught in my chicken house and was not leaving. I am not some big hunter that shoots for sport but I do live out in the country and carry a gun to protect myself and my farm animals.
About my post on catching the hawk...this hawk was not hunted. He went through a small trap door to my chicken house and was found in the chicken house. By no means was this bird caught and taken home as a pet. These birds are not anything to mess with. A red tail hawk needs to be respected as a raptor. This hawk was caught and taken to show some kids the "up close and personal" look at a hawk, it's sharp claws and beak and it's majesty of God's work in all it's detail. He was then relocated away from the farm.
According the Texas Parks and Wildlife, a red tail hawk is a nongame specie and is not on the endangered or threatened specie list. In specific, a landowner or landowner's agent may kill any nongame wildlife other than protected birds and threatened or endangered species at any time in any number, provided the wildlife is not used in a commercial activity. Another interesting note, these birds may not be kept in captivity nor their feathers kept.
Thank you,

A Most Unwelcome Visitor

A few weeks ago as I was sitting looking out the window, I saw a red tail hawk fly down out of
the trees and catch what was probably a mouse. But, why should he bother with a little ol' mouse when he can dine on a big fat hen? And that's exactly what he did. When we found the dead chicken, that was the only thing we could attribute it to...a hawk. So today I'm out feeding and I hear a chicken squawking like it had laid an egg...but then I see two chickens come out of their little trap door of the chicken house just carrying on about something. So, in I go to feed and gather eggs. But I notice that the count is not what it's supposed to be and there sure are a lot of feathers around. I open the door and see a dead chicken on the floor of the house and then look up to see this huge hawk with wings spread and mouth open like I dare to disturb his meal.









































Well, now I'm mad. This is two chickens he's killed and one chicken that is still unaccounted for. I call my brother-in-law...he's not home but says to use rat-shot. Great...Buddy's got the gun with him that holds the rat-shot and my little gun would blow a hole through the side of the chicken coop. Buddy's an hour and a half away so I call my good preacher man.. wonderful...he's on his way and he'll have something to get rid of him and keep my hen house intact.

So, preacher man gets here and comes out of the truck with a small piece of rope...okay...what are ya gonna do...rope him? No..he just grabs his legs and then he's ties them with the rope. He wanted to take this hawk home to show his kids. Apparently, he has taken quite a menagerie home to show the family. Whatever...I just want him gone.

So I'm going to share some of the pictures I got. As mad as I was at this bird, he was very majestic.


















I've come back and added this last picture of the hawk trying to grab at my camera before preacher man tied up his legs.





Happy Trails...

Cold and Frisky

The morning ritual...the dogs and horses kicking up and playing the cold.

Ahhh...all settled in. Jasper has them right where he wants them. Out in the far corner off his porch.

Happy Trails...

Yummmm...What's for lunch?

Campfire cooking on a cold, rainy day.

Cowboy stew and cornbread...

Hot, bubbly cherry, apple, blueberry and peach cobblers...

Happy Trails...

Yes, we had snow

I did see some real pretty flurries today...more in Bryan/College Station than out here at the farm. And, no, I did not take pictures..I seriously doubt they would show up on the camera. But we did get all the critters tucked in and blanketed. I'll try and get out tomorrow and take some pictures.

Okay..so here's a picture of our lovely Christmas tree..it actually looks a lot better in the picture than in person. One of our friends came over today and was standing there looking at it and finally decided to ask... "Did you just run out of ornaments or are you not finished?" Ha! Ha! Truth is I had it all decorated and here comes Dottie, the cat, and shinnies up the middle of the tree. Great... and, at night, as soon as we turn off the lights, we can hear the ornaments falling and hitting the floor. Forget a tree skirt..all I'm doing is sweeping up broken glass. Yep, I've learned my lesson this year..no more breakable ornaments...I just gave up! Since we just moved into the house, I can't find our traditional ornaments I usually put up...the unbreakable ones. So.. this year we live with lights and redoing garland every morning.

Happy Trails...