Just wanted to give an update. I requested that folks bring non-perishable food to donate to the local food pantry in Grimes County.
Update - we collected just shy of 100 pounds of food. Dan dropped it off at St. Mary's on Sunday. They were very very grateful. They run a local food pantry.
As with all food pantries everywhere, they were running short on supplies.
Please remember to support your local food pantry. It is a time of great need.
I can't stand the thought of anyone going to bed hungry....
Thanks to everyone who contributed....
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
First Annual Olds Ranch Fall Festival is a success!
We had wonderful weather. 76 folks dropped by for lunch and/or dinner. We had homemade meatballs, meatsauce and spaghetti. We also grilled burgers and hot dogs - homemade chili optional. The desserts - fabulous - Tracy made Italian creme cake; Tasha made pumpkin crunch, and Kendyl made Granny's graham cracker pies. Also, had the standard cookie cake.
Saturday morning breakfast was exciting.. while enjoying coffee in the kitchen, I happened to notice some movement out by the persimmon tree. It was a COYOTE... we all jumped up and ran for our respective cameras. He loped off across the pasture and headed east to parts unknown. He was beautiful. I know they are considered a nuisance, but he was just so graceful.
Back to the party, we had a great time, but as suspected, never enough time to visit with our guests.
We hope everyone had a great time - we enjoyed your company and appreciate you making time to stop buy.
If you are in the neighborhood , stop by and see us.
Pictures will be posted later....
Saturday morning breakfast was exciting.. while enjoying coffee in the kitchen, I happened to notice some movement out by the persimmon tree. It was a COYOTE... we all jumped up and ran for our respective cameras. He loped off across the pasture and headed east to parts unknown. He was beautiful. I know they are considered a nuisance, but he was just so graceful.
Back to the party, we had a great time, but as suspected, never enough time to visit with our guests.
We hope everyone had a great time - we enjoyed your company and appreciate you making time to stop buy.
If you are in the neighborhood , stop by and see us.
Pictures will be posted later....
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Olds Ranch Fall Festival
October 16th is the Big Day!
The Olds Ranch Grand Opening and First Annual Fall Festival is approaching.
The weather promises to be absolutely fabulous.
Tracy is cooking up a storm and the girls are helping cook the desserts.
Lots of good food and fun awaits....
See you there! Watch for a later post for an update of the day!
The Olds Ranch Grand Opening and First Annual Fall Festival is approaching.
The weather promises to be absolutely fabulous.
Tracy is cooking up a storm and the girls are helping cook the desserts.
Lots of good food and fun awaits....
See you there! Watch for a later post for an update of the day!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
We have Hay at The Ranch
Dan with his tractors. We just received a truck load of crushed limestone. Dan dug down about 2 feet in front of the drive up pad at the shop. The limestone was dumped in and Dan had to spread it out and pack it down. He really enjoyed using his equipment and it got him out of hanging doors inside. Although the heat index as 114 degrees... temperatures hit 102.
Our pastures were severely overgrazed last year, but with all the rain we did produce some hay. We have bahia and some coastal intermixed. We have not had time to work the pastures yet, but we contracted a company to come in to mow and bale our hay.
Looking from the lower pasture towards the shop... you can just see the roof of the shop ...
Hay bales are huge... using the Suburban to compare.
I don't have a final count but we have close to 50 bales produced - we think each bale may weigh in at around 1500 pounds or so. So the pastures did ok for the condition they were in. Now that this is done, Dan will begin working on the pastures with his new renovator.
Our pastures were severely overgrazed last year, but with all the rain we did produce some hay. We have bahia and some coastal intermixed. We have not had time to work the pastures yet, but we contracted a company to come in to mow and bale our hay.
Looking from the lower pasture towards the shop... you can just see the roof of the shop ...
Hay bales are huge... using the Suburban to compare.
I don't have a final count but we have close to 50 bales produced - we think each bale may weigh in at around 1500 pounds or so. So the pastures did ok for the condition they were in. Now that this is done, Dan will begin working on the pastures with his new renovator.
ROADRUNNER....
ROADRUNNER....Coyote's after you.... ROADRUNNER...if he catches you ... you're through.
We hear coyote's howling every night at the Ranch.
I have witnessed this roadrunner running across in front of me several times - he must live in one of the neighbor's pastures because he is always on the county road.
He is very fast and I can never get my camera out quick enough to get him in full stride.
Dan and I were able to get this pictures of him at dusk on evening ... he was trying to hide from us.
On a side note, I love the ranch at night. We have the most beautiful sunsets. The stars are big and bright in our Texas sky. We will be moving the telescope up soon for some more star gazing after a hard day's work.
Better late than never... Ranch updates
This is the shop porch. Looking better and better all the time.
This past weekend we added some heavy duty pallet racks to the shop. We will be loading the excess lumber on the top this coming weekend. Getting things organized finally.
This past weekend we added some heavy duty pallet racks to the shop. We will be loading the excess lumber on the top this coming weekend. Getting things organized finally.
Our bedroom is painted a light beige and we have a king sized bed now. Sleeps great compared to the cots we had in July.
We hung doors on my birthday.
This is how we were sleeping in July at The Ranch. Our first weekend at the ranch was my birthday weekend - 07.17. Dan and I spent the weekend there - working on the many projects we have going on.
We hung doors on my birthday.
This is how we were sleeping in July at The Ranch. Our first weekend at the ranch was my birthday weekend - 07.17. Dan and I spent the weekend there - working on the many projects we have going on.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ranch floors have been stained
Now, I just have to paint... paint... paint. Dan will be home from China to hang doors and paneling. He will get it started and hopefully, I can do alot while he is at work.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Mother's Day present
I received a welder and an incredibly HUGE welding table.
Had the barn wired to use this.... first project is making something for Dan's tractor.
Had the barn wired to use this.... first project is making something for Dan's tractor.
Ranch Pictures - latest buildout progress
Pretty exciting times at The Ranch.
We now have working flush toilets! This is the guest bath which is shared with the living area. We don't have doors yet though.
Hot Water tank has been installed.
Propane tank was hooked up. YEAH - hot water now!
We also have electicity inside and most of the lights are up.
Fans installed on the porch - helps when the breeze dies away.
Air conditioner installed and working! Works great too!
Next, the floors are being worked on.
We now have working flush toilets! This is the guest bath which is shared with the living area. We don't have doors yet though.
Hot Water tank has been installed.
Propane tank was hooked up. YEAH - hot water now!
We also have electicity inside and most of the lights are up.
Fans installed on the porch - helps when the breeze dies away.
Air conditioner installed and working! Works great too!
Next, the floors are being worked on.
Heading out there Sunday to check on that progress.....
Father's Day 2010
We celebrated Father's Day early as Dan had to leave for China and would not be here.
The girls treated their Dad (and me) to dinner at Grotto here in The Woodlands - excellent Italian food.
Then they gave him a new big Craftsman Shop Vac (it is what he asked for.)
The best present was having both his girls home.
SPEE 2010 - Victoria, BC
Dan and I were lucky to be able to attend the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers convention this year in Victoria, British Columbia.
Dan attends the meetings and I get to play and then get dressed up for a really great dinner at the annual banquet.
This year we were convening in the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It is amazing and the food was fabulous!
I had a great time - walked around the city and went on a castle tour. Dan and I went to the Gardens and whale watching.
We also were able to visit with our many SPEE friends. It was a great time!
Dan & I at Butchart Gardens - Sunken Gardens section - made in an old rock quarry.
Rainbow heading back into Seattle. You could see the whole thing. My little camera had its limitations. We saw a double rainbow as well.
Washington state road sign. It is a silhouette of George Washington's head. These cracked me up!
Fort Wilson - where Richard Gere was Private Mayo in Officer and a Gentleman. 
Pulling away on the car ferry heading back to Seattle.... view of the Fairmont Empress.
Ruffles - big daddy killer whale in Pod J.
I was in Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown.... Mel Gibson & Goldie Hawn road a bike through this alley for Bird on a Wire.
Dan and Tracy with "Queen Victoria". SPEE pulled some strings to have her as a guest speaker at the banquet.
Dan attends the meetings and I get to play and then get dressed up for a really great dinner at the annual banquet.
This year we were convening in the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It is amazing and the food was fabulous!
I had a great time - walked around the city and went on a castle tour. Dan and I went to the Gardens and whale watching.
We also were able to visit with our many SPEE friends. It was a great time!
Dan & I at Butchart Gardens - Sunken Gardens section - made in an old rock quarry.
Rainbow heading back into Seattle. You could see the whole thing. My little camera had its limitations. We saw a double rainbow as well.
Washington state road sign. It is a silhouette of George Washington's head. These cracked me up!
Fort Wilson - where Richard Gere was Private Mayo in Officer and a Gentleman. 
Pulling away on the car ferry heading back to Seattle.... view of the Fairmont Empress.
Ruffles - big daddy killer whale in Pod J.
I was in Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown.... Mel Gibson & Goldie Hawn road a bike through this alley for Bird on a Wire.
Dan and Tracy with "Queen Victoria". SPEE pulled some strings to have her as a guest speaker at the banquet.Thursday, June 24, 2010
Chasing Snakes with Lawn Mowers!
Yep - it works!
Was mowing around the slab/foundation at The Ranch yesterday morning early.
Turned the corner to do the back side and a 4 foot black snake took off in front of the mower. Well, I squealed, jumped, but kept hold of the handle of the mower and took off after the snake.
All I could think about was don't go in the barn you dumb snake or we will have war.
So off I go, cutting off the snake from the open barn door and chased his ass across the pasture.
All this happened in about 2 seconds time.
So, I chase him into the tall grass below the propane tank and than start laughing.
If anyone was watching, I probably looked pretty crazy. Woman with jeans, steel-toed boots, long sleeve shirt(already 90 degrees outside) and a red floppy hat... running across the pasture pushing a yellow push mower. (My pony tail was under the hat and not flying straight out like when the moose chased me in Alaska. Another story - another time.)
For my girl scouts, picture the day at Miss Cindy's cabin at the lake and the dog pack and me with the broom.
I don't think the snake will be back...
The Barn and our Little Ole' Piss Ant Country Place is now habitable - flush toilets, electricity, and air conditioning. Posting pictures as soon as I have time to get them downloaded.
Was mowing around the slab/foundation at The Ranch yesterday morning early.
Turned the corner to do the back side and a 4 foot black snake took off in front of the mower. Well, I squealed, jumped, but kept hold of the handle of the mower and took off after the snake.
All I could think about was don't go in the barn you dumb snake or we will have war.
So off I go, cutting off the snake from the open barn door and chased his ass across the pasture.
All this happened in about 2 seconds time.
So, I chase him into the tall grass below the propane tank and than start laughing.
If anyone was watching, I probably looked pretty crazy. Woman with jeans, steel-toed boots, long sleeve shirt(already 90 degrees outside) and a red floppy hat... running across the pasture pushing a yellow push mower. (My pony tail was under the hat and not flying straight out like when the moose chased me in Alaska. Another story - another time.)
For my girl scouts, picture the day at Miss Cindy's cabin at the lake and the dog pack and me with the broom.
I don't think the snake will be back...
The Barn and our Little Ole' Piss Ant Country Place is now habitable - flush toilets, electricity, and air conditioning. Posting pictures as soon as I have time to get them downloaded.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mother's Day 2010
Three generations spending the day together.We had lunch at Saltgrass and then a movie.
Tasha was still in China. Dan was in Holland.
RANCH UPDATE - We have walls!
Took these shots on earlier this week.
Random order.
This is the view looking into the second bedroom from the living area.
Looking across the living room (standing in the master bedroom doorway) and into the second bedroom. The drywall guy was hard at work.
Master bedroom view.
standing in the middle of the Great Room looking towards the master bedroom.
The Aggie Bathroom - it will be maroon and white. WHOOP! This is off the second bedroom and is shared with the Great Room.
Standing in the kitchen looking into The Ranch Office.
The Great Room - standing in the kitchen.
The Ranch Office - looking towards the kitchen.
Random order.
This is the view looking into the second bedroom from the living area.
Looking across the living room (standing in the master bedroom doorway) and into the second bedroom. The drywall guy was hard at work.
Master bedroom view.
standing in the middle of the Great Room looking towards the master bedroom.
The Aggie Bathroom - it will be maroon and white. WHOOP! This is off the second bedroom and is shared with the Great Room.
Standing in the kitchen looking into The Ranch Office.
The Great Room - standing in the kitchen.
The Ranch Office - looking towards the kitchen.
SLC pics
Me at the Family History Library. This place is a Genealogy Library on steriods!
The concert hall at Temple Square.
The view from my hotel room. There was snow on the mountains.
We had a wide variety of weather this week. Sun, dust storm with vicious winds, snow, sleet, hail. It was quite an exciting weather week - I was glad I was just walking a half-block for meetings.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Ranch - update
I just got back from Salt Lake City where I attended the National Genealogical Society annual conference. (Watch for an additional post.)
While I was gone, Dan and Kendyl spent time at the ranch working and the sheetrockers were busy working in the house section.
I just wanted to post the latest documented occupant at The Ranch - he lives in the gully. Dan captured this picture yesterday.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
April 3rd - Saturday at the Ranch - Happy Birthday Kendyl!
Easter Bunny brought me a new PTO post hole digger. It works great!Built a new cross fence.
the awesome Fence-Builders.
Kendyl got to do alot of the tractor work since it was her birthday. She is getting really good on the big tractor. She moved alot of dirt for us and drove the T-posts with the bucket. Not to mention using the post hole digger too.
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