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...