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.

ANOTHER RANCH RESIDENT

Dan and Tracy spent New Year's 2011 at The Ranch.

Dan was out brush hogging around the tank and noticed a big hole ... well a little while later look who made an appearance... we have a "diller" ( armadillo)... The tractor must have disturbed his slumber since they are mostly nocturnal creatures.

Maybe it is a Mama and we will have little "dillers" - Dan hopes not!

Dan received a game camera for Christmas -so far all we have captured on film is a cat...

hopefully, we will capture something more interesting on film in the near future.

He also received some night vision binoculars and we think we saw a skunk pass through... we did not go check that out any farther than the back porch....

another update... Tracy is getting her kitchen completed. The cabinets are being built and the new stove is ordered. Won't be long now before some real cookin' can begin. hopefully some canning as well. Dan has completed the shelving in the pantry and that is in the process of being painted.

We have been busy pulling out rusty barbed wire fence that is has been discarded in odd places and clearing fence lines. we seem to get branches down with every wind storm.

pictures will be forthcoming later as the kitchen build out progresses....

Safe Travels!

PICTURES FROM THE RANCH PARTY

The morning of The Ranch Party, the Dans (Dan, Sr. and Dan, Jr.) and I were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying conversation and coffee and look what we saw running from the persimmon tree to the gully.... YEP... a big ole' coyote. I spotted it.. it peeked out from behind the persimmon tree - it knew we were in the house ... I squealed and ran for my camera... everyone did the same... This is the only picture I snapped all day long.
Bummer... our brand on a cookie cake..... it was yummy and did not last long.