My New Friend

Meet my new friend....Udder Delight.

Even though I wear good leather gloves outside to work in, my fingertips have been so dry and cracked, they are bleeding. So here lately, every time I go to the co-op, there has been a jar of this at the checkout so I, like a good customer, indulge. It makes my hands feel so good. Saturday, I finally bought my own jar. My gosh, this stuff is wonderful. In two days, my hands have improved. I've used the hoof treatment and Bag Balm but this stuff is great. I just need to take the time to put some in a small container instead of carrying this huge jar in my purse!

Happy Trails...

Is It That Time Already?

We've got another beautiful day..a bit windy, but I'm not complaining. The farms around us have been plowed and it's already time for the cropduster to start spraying the dirt getting ready for the new crops to be planted. Does that mean spring is around the corner?

With all his acrobatics, he really has the horses stirred up this morning.

And.......Action!

In the still of the dark, the new morning on this flat quiet farmland is interrupted with a continuous line of headlights making it's way towards RiverBend Farm with still sleepy-eyed workers waiting for the activity of pouring concrete. They sit in a line of trucks, waiting for their turn to dump their load for at least nine others to spread and even out. Once they start, it is all business and they act quickly all working in a synchronized action.

Got that picture? Now, picture this...

Here I am with three big dogs, including my neighbor's in the mix, attempting to get them all tied out to their appropriate spot, getting completely tangled in leashes and cables with Jasper flipping upside down every chance he gets and grabbing the leashes in his mouth going the complete opposite direction I'm trying to take. I was one tangled up mess and I'll bet all those guys got their laugh for the day! I'm sure that woke them up!

Moving Along, Making Progress

Hello...I'm still here. It seems like everything is needing my attention all at once. We've had some absolutely beautiful weather here so the house is coming along. It's 77 degrees, the sun is shining, a breeze is coming in off the land and it's an "open the windows" kind of day.

Concrete is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7am. Today the guys are working high on scaffolding putting in soffits. Poor Jasper is having to stay on the chain today because he loves running and playing on the plastic layed down under the rebar. Then when he plays on it, the neighbor dog comes running over to play and I'm scared they are going to trip one of these guys...that would be worse than bad. All of the dogs will have to stay tied up tomorrow or we'll have a bunch of little doggy footprints in the concrete. So, while Jasper is tied out in the back, the DirecTV goes out...well, duh, the cable is lying on the ground. I take one look at Jasper and want to lay the blame on him. Then he looks up at me with those "What? no beans?" squinty-eyed look like Jake on the Bush Beans commercial. Okay, it couldn't have been him. His chain doesn't quite reach. All I know is that it's loose as a goose and I can't a signal...so now I wait til Monday for that serviceman. I am not so mechanically inclined but I might give it a try later and see if I can fix it.

I've also been working on the online store...yes, it's still in the works and will be up and running, hopefully, very soon. I am not computer savvy so am working with someone who I think is going to give me a great website. I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to show it off to everyone. I'll have to have some big grand opening special for sure.
Tomorrow's a big day so I'll have the camera battery charged up and ready to go.

Happy Trails...

Are You Sick of Chicken Pictures Yet?

You've got to click on this picture and look at it closer up to see her expression with those beady eyes.






This is Big Hilda now turning a buff color...now I'm beginning to think she might be a hen.








This is Tillie, an Ameracauna ....she has Cleopatra eyes.
























This is Cora, an Ameracauna, with Egyptian eyes too.










I think this is the prettiest hen...she has gold and grey feathers. If I only had a name.....





Well, I could go on and on with chicken pictures but I won't bore you. I'm still trying to figure out my camera and have to get my mind on something other than the house.

Happy Trails...

Meeting of the Minds

Yesterday morning started pretty stressful trying to get everyone on the same page...it wasn't happening. After getting three of the contractors here and listening to them each voice views on how things should be done and watching them remove caps and cowboy hats, scratch heads and replace caps and hats (at least twice), I decided this was not working at all. At this point in time, there were too many hands in the pie...somebody had to go. So the man who is actually initiating this building and who built our barn is going to complete the framing. He's the one we wanted to do it in the first place. Enough said about that.

So yesterday was supposed to be cold with temps only in the 40's and lows last night in the 20's. Of course, it didn't happened as forecasted. It reached in the low 60's yesterday. But since I thought it was going to be cold, I made all the guys a batch of Taco Soup and cornbread. They were so cute sitting there at the picnic table eating their lunch and I wanted so much to take their picture but thought it would be too rude so just took a picture of the lunch. It was so cute, one of the kids told me that was the best soup he'd had in his life....does he not have a mama to cook for him? I'll include the recipe for this soup. It came from a church cookbook where my niece attends church. Naturally, it's packed away so I'll just wing it for you. You can add however much you want according to how many you're feeding.

Taco Soup
hamburger meat, browned

one pkg Taco mix

one pkg dry Ranch dressing mix

can of diced tomatoes, Mexican style

can of diced tomatoes, plain

one can black beans, do not drain

one can pinto beans, do not drain

one pkg frozen corn, or one can yellow corn, undrained

Top with shredded cheese and serve with tortilla chips or cornbread.
Yesterday, knowing that it was supposed to get pretty cold, I pulled out the blankets for the horses. Here again, I couldn't find Bridgets but did find one to kinda fit (she's on the right). It was a little big. She didn't care..she looked so cute anyway. But the real kicker was Jess (on the left). This is the ranch horse that hasn't known a stall much less a blanket. She came off a ranch out of Kansas and when I first got her in the wintertime, she looked like a wooly mammoth...ugly...but in our Texas winter, she doesn't put on near the heavy coat. I thought it was going to be rodeo time yesterday when I pulled out the blanket. I practiced with her some in the daylight before I left it on her at night. She did awesome!! She loves it! I'm having a blast with her. I can't wait for warmer weather and the time to go ride. But this morning before sunrise, they were still donning their blankets.

Well, I'm expecting another couple loads of dirt here and a call back from the electrician to come do his part. The plumbers did their rough out yesterday. The exterminator is due Monday, then the rebar goes down with plans to pour concrete next Friday.

Happy Trails...

The Beginning Woes of Building

The plumber showed up yesterday evening and said he'll be here first thing this morning. Today should be interesting. I might be butting heads with the trim man today... he's good at what he does but he thinks he's in charge. This is not the fun part of being your own contractor. Say a little prayer for me...I need to handle all this in a very Christian way dealing with all these men. I would much rather be in the barn doing my own thing but I need to be up here at the house to put out fires if need be. Oh, I will be so glad when all this over...and we just got started! Stay tuned..I might be posting tons of requests for help from blogland.

Happy Trails...