Do You Ever Wonder?

Is it just me or do any of you ever wonder what your day or week would be like if something that took place didn't happen? I'll come back to that. As I sit here thinking about all that has gone on in the last two weeks, nothing just real exciting comes to mind. I wonder how so many of you find such interesting things to blog about. This blog initially started out for a way for my friends and family to keep up with what's happening with life on the orchard. So, here's my past two weeks...

It's been hotter than blue blazes here..everything is pretty much fried...except for anything that I've been eating. Excuse me, my mind is wandering.. my thoughts are on a big chicken fried steak right now and mashed potatoes covered with thick cream gravy....okay, I'm back.

Did I say it's been hot here? We have not had any significant rain in the past several months. Last week we got an inch one day...Thank the Lord for that! The pecan trees are producing pecans but a lot of them have fallen to the ground prematurely because it's so dry. Wednesday we had a wonderful little stormy shower come through that settled the dust on the ground and, yes, more winds that blew more pecans off the trees.

We're also getting a lot of fallen branches. They are so dry and brittle, they are snapping off and hanging there. That is an ongoing chore here of cleaning up limbs and branches. Check out the ground in this picture..there is NO grass!

There is no grass in the chicken pen either so to keep the girls happy, they are still getting their treats of carrots and a few potatoes.

Can you see that they love it?

Okay, now back to back my question... I'm sure everyone has had some of those days that nothing seems to go right or you sit and ask yourself "why me?" or "what else can happen?". I've had several of those days this week. As this 'ol grandma still has two of the grandsons for the summer and dealing with their antics, it's given me times to reflect on the raising of my own kids. Do I have regrets? Would I have done things differently? As I look back I would say that I definitely would but you know what? At that time with all that was put on my plate and not knowing what the future held, I would probably do exactly what I did. And as it is, I'm pretty darn proud of the way my kids turned out. I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ and read in Eccleciastes that there is a season and place for everything. Why things happen when they do, we will never understand but I know that there is a reason for it. I know that I am blessed with this parched orchard and fallen branches. I truly know that I am blessed to have my children and my grandchildren.

Alright, readers, ya'll are just gonna have to deal with me on this blog.. it's all bumbled jumbled and I rambling but, like I said earlier..this blog was initially started as a journal and it's a huge blurb of my thoughts. It's just been one of those weeks for me..well, truthfully, a couple weeks and I know in my heart some things have happened for a reason.

Okay, now I'm still trying to figure out why this had to happen..other than the fact it lets me show you how pretty and orange those carrots make the yolks...

Or why stepping in dog poop as I'm getting to get in the truck to leave for work had to happen...I'll save ya'll from being subjected to that lovely sight.

Well, I'll sign off for now. Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one.

Happy Trails...

Trying to Keep Up

Wanted to share the morning view out my bedroom window...am I blessed or what?

I have been trying to keep up with everyone's blogs but it's been a busy week. I've still got this cough hanging on that I can't seem to shake. Everyone keeps telling me I need to go to the doctor but, being a nurse, I seem to put that on the back burner. The sour economy is hitting us so I've resorted to going back to work a couple days a week. I have plenty to keep me busy here at the farm but it's not paying the bills. Last Saturday Buddy and I spent a long 4 hours out in the hot sun selling eggs and pecan wood. We had a little luck.

If you're keeping up with the egg count, you'll see that there's no consistency. It's been so blasted hot here, even the chickens have been standing in their water buckets trying to cool off. I've opened the door to the chicken house where their nest boxes are, thinking that it might cool it off in there a little bit.

I was working about an hour north of here this past week and it was 106 degrees. That's hot! And there is no rain in our forecast. Looks like we're going to have another year of no pecan harvest. We're having to give the chickens and the horses alfalfa because all the grass has dried up.

One thing that we do have around here on the farm is this sticky sap on everything. It's looks like dew but it's sticky. One picture is this yuk on the gate and the other is a picture of the window on my truck. It washes off with water but it's a nuisance! And it's not a good thing..it's actually aphids feeding on the pecan trees.

I hate to even post this picture but I will..you can see how I've even neglected the garden. I'm ready to mow it down. We're still waiting on watermelons and corn but I'm plowing under all the rest...the beans never produced...lots of blooms but no beans. Too late and too hot. Same with tomatoes.. I'll go out there later and try to get some pics.

I'll still try and keep up with all your blogs.. there are some great posts out there.

Happy Trails...

The End to a Thanksgiving Holiday

Yum, yummmm....


I hope that everyone had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. I did manage to get my pecan pie baked and indulged in a slice and it was wonderful. There's nothing better than homemade fresh pecan pie. Well, okay, there's homemade vanilla ice cream or a 1 lb box of Whitman Samplers. Now who doesn't like chocolate?

It's been a busy four days going back and forth between Caldwell and San Antonio so will leave y'all with some pictures.

Harley, the one on the right, seems to have a daily vigil watching the sun come up. This morning I had to catch a picture of her out the window. Jasper is trying to get her to come play but she is steadfast on her vigil.

I am thrilled that so many of you from around the world have stopped by to visit my blog. I thought I'd take a few pictures out my truck window as I was driving today and share with you some pictures of this great state of Texas.

Happy Trails...

A New Gadget

I came across this kinetic pecan cracker last year but have been waiting to get it til this season. I broke down, ordered it and we tried it out this afternoon. It's great! Much better than trying to crack them one at a time. This thing can crack more than 1500 pecans an hour. It took a few minutes to get the hang of it but I love it.

Aren't they pretty? I can almost taste that
pecan pie...





Happy Trails...

Full Wheel Deal

Finally..pecans! Last Friday I finally had a chance to go out with my wheel and gather up some pecans. A norther with strong winds blew in last Saturday night and sent the pecans and the leaves falling. Most of the trees have absolutely no pecans but then there are some that have quite a few. Don't get me wrong.. I wouldn't exactly call this a harvest this year but we are getting more than a few pecans. Between the coyotes and the squirrels, it's slim pickin's. I think this is the first year we've really had a problem with the squirrels. I go to pick up pecans and find that a squirrel has eaten the end off! They're cute but they can sure be a nuisance in a pecan orchard. I'm not real crazy about going on a squirrel hunt. I think I'd rather put out a live trap and relocate them. Now, come on.... what's my choice? Squirrels or pecan pie? Or... pecans or squirrel pie? I'll go with the pecan pie.





We're in the process of fencing in what will be the yard around the house. It will not only keep the coyotes out of the yard but also the horses. Keep in mind that we are living in the 5th wheel RV while the house is being built and sometimes when I go to open the door, the horses are standing right there! The fence man should be back tomorrow to finish. I'll post pictures when he's done.


Several people have asked what kind of pecans we have here. To give a little background about the orchard, a prominent businessman and a professor and extension horticulturist from Texas A&M University started this orchard about 25-30 years ago. It has been told to us that one of them wanted to leave something that would keep on going long after he's gone. From what we understand, they planted a variety of pecans out here. We get all kinds including Choctaw, Wichita and natives to name a few. They are sized like a small sweet potato to a small pumpkin shape to the size of a peanut and also long and skinny like a bullet. We are continuing to learn everything we can about the orchard and hope that we will make Ol' Army Lou proud.

These days I don't go out without my little pecan wheel so I don't miss picking up a pecan. I love picking up pecans! It's so relaxing; it's my quiet time to walk through the leaves and do some serious thinking. I tend to get in a bad habit of walking around with my head down constantly looking for pecans. This time of year we end up with pecans everywhere. There's usually a few in my pockets or in my truck or on the kitchen table. I even see pecans in my sleep.





I'll leave you with a tip about storing pecans -
Place shelled pecans in an airtight container or plastic zip-top freezer bag. Label with date of purchase. Store in refrigerator for 6-9 months or preferably in the freezer for up to 2 years. Pecans can be thawed and refrozen and not lose their quality.


Happy Trails...