Snakeskin

I finally got the picture transferred over from Buddy's computer. Now you can really tell how big this snake must have been.

I forgot to add in my previous post that we found bits and pieces of snakeskins in several of the outside storage closets on the RV. The rain is really bringing them out.

Last week when I was out at the barn feeding, I was petting Bridget and walked around to her other side to find a live snake on the ground. We both saw him at the same time and Bridget snorted and quickly jumped back. I was looking for something to get him away from there. All I had was dirt clods. Ha! Fortunately at that time it hadn't rain and it wasn't mud clods! So I'm throwing dirt clods at him and he goes right underneath my step to the barn. Great... I keep throwing at him and he slithers IN the barn. To remind everyone, we don't have electricity in the barn so I'm walking in the dark.. I open the door and there he is right behind the door on the dirt, curled up with his head out looking at me. Needless to say, that day I opened the big door to let light in before I went in the feed room. By the way, the snake went under the lumber pile and that was the end of him. I never got a good look at his head to see if he was poisonous.

I can't really say that this is the country life because the dogs found one right off the deck here at the house.

Today is yet another day of rain so it should be interesting. We actually need the rain. The area corn crops have shot up and the watermelons are taking off.

Happy Trails...

Creepy Crawlers

Buddy and I spent the morning making yet another haul to the storage container and then went to work on getting the water running from the well to the RV. Remember when we connected it last week, we had water running out one of the hoses under the RV to the ground. So my brave husband crawls under the RV to check it out and all I hear is "Oh, My God"... Oh, My God"... then he backed out.. There was a very large snakeskin under there. It was fresh because it wasn't there a few days ago. So... I crawl under there and gently pull it out. I lost part of the tail but holding it up, it was longer than I am tall! Buddy took pictures of me holding it but I don't know how to transfer pics from his computer to mine so I took pictures of it on my camera once we got home. It measures in at 6 feet! I put my little wrought iron wienie dog next to it (it measures 14 inches). The diameter of the snake is 3 1/2 inches. What's worse than crawling under the RV and finding a huge snakeskin? A huge snake!











As we continued on around the outside doors in the RV, we opened the door containing the batteries and it was full of cracked pecan shells. No telling what little creature was in there eating.
And we're sitting there thinking that we want to move in out there?!?
Despite it all and Buddy's huge fear of snakes, he did crawl back under there and accomplish getting the water running through all the faucets....so yea!! another step closer to getting out there... even with all God's little creatures we will have..
Happy Trails...

It's a Slow Process

It's been almost a month since my last post but we're slowly making headway. It seems like every time we seem to get ahead a little bit, here comes more rain which creates more delays. Buddy had 13 loads of dirt hauled in to work on the road and put in low spots but he hasn't been able to get in there with the dozer because of the rain. We hooked up the water from the well to the RV but have water coming out a pipe under the kitchen to the ground so now Buddy has to figure out how it was winterized...either a valve is shut/open or a plug is missing...always something. Not only am I anxious to get the water running in there to use the toilet but I want to get it cleaned up so we can stay out there.

I have to share with everyone what we found under the kitchen sink.

I was looking at this snakeskin and realized it's two! These two lovely darlings were in my kitchen doing their thing! How rude!

While sitting outside enjoying the day, I noticed this little creature making it's way on the picnic table. I have no clue what it is but, not only am I not a photographer but I'm not an entomologist. I wish you could see how perfectly knit together this caterpiller? is. It's like the wrapping is braided around it. Amazing. And it had this one horn protruding on top like a unicorn.

Between working and traveling to grandchildren's birthdays, we're continuing to get the house in town ready to put on the market. All the rooms are empty except for very little in our bedroom and everything else piled in the den. With high gas costs, we're utilizing every trip to the orchard to haul a load out there. It's dwindling. God willing, tomorrow will be another day to get a lot accomplished.

In the meantime..

Happy trails...

God's Sprinkles of Pink

God has taken his paintbrush and frosted the orchard floor with sprinkles of pink buttercups. It's absolutely beautiful. We have diligently been moving more things out there in hopes of getting the house in town ready to put on the market the end of this month. One of the things we loaded up and planted out there was the patio swing - right in front of the RV. I can't put into words how relaxing it is just to sit out there and take it all in.

Our plan this week is to continue clearing out the house and getting it ready to sell. Everyday we are given blessings and today did not go by without my acknowledging a huge one. I have searched so many times throughout the years to find the phone number and address of an "army" friend I met in 1971. While going through old papers in a drawer, I came across an old post-it note with her address and phone number that I jotted down the last time we talked about 8 years ago. I thought to myself that since God let this paper come back into my hands, that surely the phone number will work. I called and it rang...and then Kaye answered. The sound of her voice made my heart sing! How blessed I am to have her back in my life!

Happy Trails....

Could it be a stampede of buffalo?

Hopefully you can see in this picture what looks to be like a herd of buffalo went through this field behind us but, no, it's what wild hogs have left with their ravaging through the night. It's amazing how these creatures creep in and out doing so much damage to the fields yet no one, to my knowledge, has caught a glimpse of them. It reminds me of the movie Dances With Wolves when the buffalo herd came through and left this huge path. I guess you could say these menacing varmits have left their..

Happy Trails....

Spring Has Sprung

This morning I was looking at the pecan trees and noticing that they were getting ready to bloom, some more than others. In a matter of hours, I looked up and noticed that leaves has burst out from the tips of the limbs. How exciting! It was almost happening right before my eyes. Each time I walked up and down a row, I noticed more limbs showing green.

Then I walked over to the fig trees we planted last year and they have leafed out. It is so much fun to watch this farm bloom. Little by little we are getting there. We are still anxiously awaiting the morning that we can wake up there. It is so awesome to sit out there and take in all of God's glory. Just to hear all the sounds - while some of the birds are singing, others are cackling. Often we can hear a big swoosh as a big flock of birds decides to take flight and go to another part of the orchard. There always seems to be a breeze and sometimes it roars through the trees. There's the hum of the tractors working the fields and sometimes you can hear the big trucks in the distance flying down the FM road. As I walk up and down the rows, I can hear the crunch of the old pecans under my feet. So many of the coons and coyotes (and squirrels) have feasted on the pecans only to leave the shells. Yes, the farm sings and it calls me out there to sit and take it all in. God has blessed us richly. I am truly thankful that I have the ears to hear, the legs to carry me and the feet to walk this great place.

Happy Trails....

Can you hear me?

I was squealing like a happy pig earlier today. I figured somebody in Burleson County could hear me. We have water!! It's been a long time coming - two weeks shy of a year; the electrician came out today and set the temporary lines to the well so this was a welcome sight.