Updates on The Olds girls

Me and my Mother's Day flowers from my girls.

Kendyl completed her first Half-Ironman in Galveston. She did a great job - 70.3 miles in 6 hours and 46 minutes. Just so proud of her racing achievements!!

Of course, for those of you who do not know yet... Tasha and Curt are expecting a girl in July. This is a picture of Tasha at her first baby shower. Kendyl hosted the shower at her house. Tasha's friend (bridesmaid) from Illinois (Katie) flew in and surprised her. Also her Aunts (my sisters ) flew in from West Virginia and North Carolina.

Yes, The Olds family is truly blessed!!

A new addition to The Ranch

Dan purchased a new tractor. He has been looking for this particular type for about 2 years.

It is a 1959 (or so) John Deere 630 LP (runs on propane.)

This is his project tractor. It runs just fine... his job will to make it pretty....

We lost another tree - The Old Cedar Tree

This was a traumatic loss. Our annual Christmas card in 2008 was taken in front of this tree. It was an old cedar tree. Probably close to 150 years or so old. We had bad wind storms in February of this year and this old tree succumbed. I was deeply saddened by this loss. Dan took it down carefully and saved the trunk. (It split in two). and saved the bigger branches.

This is the stump. About 4 feet across or so....

Our cabinet maker recommended a lumber guy ... so he came and picked up the wood and hopefully, my porch swing will be constructed from this wood. Maybe a bench for The Ranch...

Momma Squirrel in The Woodlands

These pictures were taken in the backyard in The Woodlands. Dan and the girls bought me a "squirrel proof" bird feeder. Well, this momma squirrel figured out how to retrieve the birdseed.

She jumps from the tree branch onto the feeder. It is a crazy scramble while she positions her body weight evenly hanging onto the breakaway perches. She sometimes falls and has to start over.

So then she hangs on with both back feet and one paw and uses the other paw to rake the birdseed out of the holes.

Then she hangs upside down to eat her reward.

My job is to keep the neighbors dang cats out of the backyard. I have brooms and squirt guns handy for the big crazy chase when I catch them in the backyard. I have caught cats sitting under the bird feeder just waiting....

When we had the greyhounds, I just turned them loose to take care of the cats....

If I were allowed to shoot a gun on my property in The Woodlands... I would not have a cat problem... I would use them for target practice!

Dan checking the roof and taking pictures

View looking towards the country road .. can see our tank on the left. looking towards our 40 acre hay field.

behind the barn - this is what the porch faces....

Dan on the roof!

Whitni visited in January

Whitni flew to Texas for a quick vacation and we visited The Ranch and stopped in Anderson and toured the Fanthorp Inn. This was an old stagecoach stop in days before Texas was Texas. It is impeccably maintained. Since we were the only visitors, we got a personal tour of the house and stagecoach. The park ranger even simulated how the stagecoach gives a bumpy ride....

The Fanthorp Inn is in Anderson about 6 miles south of The Ranch.

Catching up on news at The Ranch

Picture of a rainbow at the ranch. This was actually a double rainbow, but the picture does not do it justice. No rain fell at the ranch.... storm went around us. My washer and dryer at the ranch and laundry sink.

Picture of the big brush pile burning.

Well, it has been a long time since I have had time to sit down and compose an update. My apologies to friends and families.

January - Dan and I spent a lot of time just working on some small projects at the ranch.

Dan installed my washer and dryer and hooked up my laundry sink. This is not all the way done yet, but everything is functional.

We burned the big brush pile. It was a monster burn.

We also contracted to get the kitchen cabinets, poker corner, and bookcases built in the living area. So that is under way as well.

Dan completed building the shelves in the pantry and I got them painted.