Meet Roux, She Came to Us on Friday

She is part Dashund and Chihuahua.  She weighs less than a full soda can and has just tiny little milk teeth which she uses on our ear lobes or finger tips.   Right now she is sleeping wrapped in an old towel in my desk drawer as I type.  LOL That won't last long but, I forgot how much work babies are to have in the house.  I need to nap when she naps eh?

 Babies can sleep any where?

On Saenz 

 In an Easter basket.

She sleeps every where and at a moments notice.  We have no idea how big she is going to be when full grown.  I don't think that matters; she is a full fledged family member now.

Hope ya'll are having a wonderful weekend.  Will be back for more farm updates coming soon since we have been downsizing quiet a bit.

Take care,
Mal

Say A Little Prayer; We Owe Banjo So Much

 This morning, I was awakened to the yelps and cries of Banjo.  So I rushed to the window only to see him racing across the backyard.  I could see a pink stain on his shoulder from the upstairs window.  I went to check on him only to find him kinda dazed, the wound was fresh and barely bleeding. 

 I ran back up stairs because I knew I had to get both boys up and rush him to the vet's office.  Saenz popped up right away as did Zephyr.  Saenz got Banjo's kennel while I dressed and brought down a towel.  I managed to get Banjo inside the kennel without being bitten; mind you I would not have minded because I know he was in a lot of pain.  This looks like he ripped his back open on some wire.  We will search the yard later when hubby is home.

Right now Banjo is being taken care of at the South Texas Animal Hospital by Jerica.  I was just a almost 'weepy' mess as I watched her exam him after administering some pain meds. His yelps of pain just about ripped my heart out just like when I had to take one of my own babies to the ER to be seen. He looks just awful.  He is in surgery now and though it looks like a superficial wound; I am worried to pieces.  He is such a wonder pet with a warrior's heart.  We  owe this little 7 lbs of love so much for saving us from two rattlers and other danger lurking on our property.  If ya'll don't mind please say a little prayer because we need our pet back healthy and happy.   

BANJO we all love you so much!

 On to another major event (rite of passage), Zephyr lost his first tooth with another one to soon join last night. I am so proud of him; he did not get upset over the blood and came to tell us the news.  He is such a big boy with no panic in his heart over such a milestone.

 Do you see the second one between his top two?

Zephyr found a hand-written under his pillow a 'Thank You' note from Tooth Fairy Jennifer on the outside of an envelop with this surprised tucked inside.

So Gentle Readers, please have a nice day as we wait and say prayers for our little Banjo; he is in good hands.

You Might Want To Turn Away

Last night, around 11 p.m.; Banjo was on the back porch losing his mind.  So, I being the scaredy cat -- I am turned on all the outdoors lights to see what was upsetting him.  I saw nothing but, him having a conniption running back and forth to the back porch. 

(Hubby was in bed already and I am too scared to go outside at night remember the rattlesnake?) 

Then not seeing anything, I went downstairs to the back door and sure enough; this monster.  He was drinking right out of Banjo's bowl and would hiss at him.  I banged on the door and the raccoon just simply ran off.  However, Banjo nor I was fooled; the little monster just stayed out of sight and then came back a few seconds later.  Banjo commenced barking again and I took off upstairs to get hubby. 

Mind you this raccoon was over twice Banjo's size and could have killed him.  Hubby and Saenz went downstairs with the shotgun; Saenz opened the door for Dad and.....

BAM!!!

They tracked it down in the yard and put it out of it's misery because Hubby shot him on the hind haunch.  Then they put him in the water trough so Banjo could not get to the wound.  Sickening yes but, totally necessary because raccoons can carry transmissable dieases.  Though this is an adult raccoon; he/she is not the really large one that comes around to mess with our chickens or feed cans; I am guessing that one weighs nearly 30 lbs because it's tracks are over an inch wide. 

On to that good night, everyone went back to bed. 

The reason we are having such a time with wild critters is Texas is in the middle of a horrible drought.  When a person can only remember three rain falls since Febuary; then there is a natural disaster in the making.  This picture above is right inside our yard; mind you we water through the week at night to almost no avail.  The ground is so dry; we fear fire from some careless motorist parking on the side of the road or tossing a cigarette.  We have green grass somewhat and keep watering so our foundation under and near our home doesn't shift to cause us more problems. 

This is right outside our home's fence line but, still on our property.  Nothing but crackling grass tufts, dirt, and creased rivets of hope in the Earth. 

I am thinking the 2009 was bad yet, 2011 is shaping up to be even worse.  What do ya'll think? 

Global warming....... Hotter longer summers and more extreme winters; just makes a person go hum.

We Have A Visitor - Blue Indigo Juvenile

I am thoroughly convinced that snakes are territorial creatures who; have a space in which they hunt, breed, and live.  I have seen this one right outside my window for about two weeks now but, have not had a camera to catch a shot.  Well I got lucky this time because our special guest had helped himself to a meal so I got a couple of shots of him/her.  This is a blue indigo snake and is definitely only a juvenile at just over three feet.

 I was standing less than a foot away to take these shots. It is such a lovely snake and has been documented at up to 8.75 feet long.  We had one that our second year here that was pretty close to 9 feet and its body was as thick as my forearm; heavy bodied snake.  We respect these beautiful animals and feel blessed that one has taken up home in our inner yard.  Which means less rats, mice, and possible rattlers where our boys tend to play.

 Saenz loves these.

 Crooked yellow neck squash will be ready soon.  This plant has four fruits.

We picked some snacks right out of our garden: some onion to go with our zucchini and of course right out of the garden raddishes -- rinse and eat. (We got the raddish seed from a lady in England who sent them as a gift.) 

Life is good and we are counting our blessings and saying thanks!

You Know The Country Is Part of You When

You love to spend time with your crew as much

as they do with you.

You go from being afraid of your birds; to net catching --- to walking up and placing your hand on their back then carrying them out of the garden for the 50th time.

Much has changed with our boys since we moved here to 'our little slice of heaven' in on January 7th, 2006.  Yet one thing has remained the same; you can take the boy out of the country but, you can't take the country out of the boy.

Awaiting the arrival of our older children and grand kids. Wooo Hoo! I am hope your slice of heaven is as blessed as ours.

Take care,

Mal

PS  Continued prayers for those Affected and Effected by the quake and tsunami in Japan.

Cranked Up the Husky, Tree Trimming, a Visitor

Cubby bear wanted a ride so he climbed aboard.  The grass is not high enough to mow yet.  However, the chickens started following us.  They have learned there is mighty good picking after we mow the grass.

 Delaware rooster and his ladies.

Amerucana rooster and his harem.

'OH CRAP! I've been spotted.' 

RUN before Banjo chases you Mr. Roadrunner.

Next weekend when Junio and the grand daughters come down; we will be moving our goats to the front for fresh grazing. Hubby trimmed this front tree back so the goats will not be able to gnaw our cover tree.  Can't believe he can drive the farm truck that is stuck in fourth; it needs a new transmission.   So many projects, so little money and time to get them all done.

The swing oak tree are covered with these.  Interesting to look at I must say. Do you know what these are because I don't? 

 DO YOU MIND? Privacy here....

We bid you adieu because there is still much work to do!

Waiting for the Rains

This was what the sky looked like yesterday evening.  Promising but no rain.  Hubby and I did the farm chores together.  This week has been a little nuts here and in the world it appears.  

Farm news:  Roux and Bercer died; we tried to get them to bottle feed to no avail.  Then one day it was so hot, Lady Walver was also found dead.  Talk about a kick in the gut.  The boys and I caught a injured Northen Cardinal; she also died of her injuries.  Leaving me to wonder; if I did the right thing.

Family news this week: my sister is in the hospital she had a stroke.  The blockage in one of her cranial veins is too close to her brain for surgery.  So, awaiting news to find out what the neurologist is going to recommend.  I know she does not take care of herself nor, the Crohns that ravages her body.    It is just heartbreaking to know how close she came to dying and how shitty she was treated because she is: poor, female, and without health insurance.

Another sad bit of news, a distant male cousin lost his three month old daughter to SIDS.  I can not imagine the pain nor anguish he and his family are feeling.  Another great uncle passed this week though he was quite advanced in age his passing makes one think of their own mortality. 

On to something more invigorating.  Friday, I took the boys out for lunch.  Lets just say I am super happy to be living in the country.  When we got home; we found the door ajar so I went in to investigate.  Only to find a hen took up residence in our home.  She left us a poopy present on the stairs, over turned a few sprout cups, and promptly took to laying us an egg.  The boys and I got a good chuckle out of this and I said quite a few prayers of thanks because the outcome could have been worse.

This morning, I allowed the boys to sleep in late since it is the weekend.  Hubby is busy working over time down in Corpus.  The pole beans were looking lovelingly outside for the promise of rain.  The temp has dropped by 30 degrees, I am thinking next weekend these beauties will grace our garden. 

We have made a major discovery.  Seems little Banjo is quite content to chase and harass our hens.  I can't say that I blame him since, a few are so brazen they will steal his food from his bowl.  So, we have blocked him into the main yard after finding him with a chicken and pulling her feathers out late yesterday afteroon.  Luckily I caught him in the act.  The boys and I concluded that Banjo was probably the reason Chewy was injured in the first place.    Animals will be animals.

Grumpy and I spent some time looking out the window at the passing clouds.  He is quite the love bird here lately and so curious.   He and I sometime just chill out and listen to the sounds of the house.  We both wish you a beautiful weekend and hope your weather is stellar in your slices of heaven.

Say Hello to Chewy

The boys went outside to check mail and Zephyr came back in worried about a 'baby bird.'  He said Banjo kept messing with a red bird.  So, to get him to chill out; I went outside with him to see the 'baby bird.'  Well it is not a baby and Banjo had not killed it.  Meet 'CHEWY,' a cardinal.

Chewy is steady giving me 'stink eye' for having caught him. 

 But if you notice in this picture; 'Chewy' is missing some tail feathers and thus he can not fly.  He tried hopping away from us and we gave chase with a net and an apron.  After I bagged 'Chewy;'  I gave him the once over and he promptly tried to kill my thumb. (The apron saved me becase he attack it instead.)

Do you see him sticking his beak out at me planning my demise?  

Chewy almost got chewed on and then promptly tried to chew on me.  Here he sits until he can fly safely away.  There are too many critters that Chewy would make a delightful snack.  Sorry Chewy.

Bottle Baby Bercer

Aries still refuses to suckle him.  He almost has the hang of the bottle.  Yes, he is currently living in our home wrapped in a towel inside a laundry basket.

One tip I will pass on to goat fanciers.  A lamb nipple will fit over a empty beer bottle 12 ounce just as easy as a plastic soda bottle.  Actually it fits better plus, I don't crush the beer bottle while feeding Bercer. We will have to figure out what to do with him in a few days once, this wet weather is played out.

I think I miss my calling as a veterinarian.

Sighs with relief........

It's All In Their Smiles

Cubby's first tooth paint job.  

 Standing Tall and being brave.

We need to get Saenz to an Orthodonist, maybe braces.

Here is our male turkey -- Grumpy.  This fellow begs to be loved on and doesn't startle. Now I just love these little birds.  They are curious and want to be held.  The boys and I are taking turns playing with them and ensuring they are eating/drinking.  We have not named the hens yet.  Grumpy has won our hearts though; he just begs 'PICK ME UP, PICK ME UP! when one of use looks into the brooder.

On a sad note: Roux did die late yesterday afternoon.  We have continued our care of Bercer but, I am thinking he will soon join his brother. 

So Bummed, Today

Roux and Bercer's mom has rejected them.  This morning we found both bucklings weak and just laying about.  So the boys and I brought them inside.  Roux the smaller of the two is only taking small sips from a eye dropper.  Bercer is hanging tough and has almost gotten the hang of taking a bottle.

Just say a little prayer for the bucklings will ya?  I hate to see such small creatures suffering in any way. 

On another note:  we are now the proud owners of six (2 day old) bourban red turkeys.  Who knew how noisey six smallish birds could be so dang noisey. I mean they are LOUD.

Also welcome new follower, Max. Nice to meet ya!

Welcome to the World: Boudan

March had her buckling late yesterday afternoon. So we are calling him Boudan to go along with the Cajun Creole theme.  He has blue eyes like his mum but, his eyes will change to high yellow gold in about a month. He is large and sassy already.  As a matter of fact all our kids this year are larger.  Guess they will all be huge bucks and large doe. 

24 hr Kid Count: 1 Doeling Lady Walver, 3 Bucklings Roux, Bercer, and Boudan.

We have to stop at Tractor Supply today and pick up banding pliers for castration. Only Boudan will remain intact. That way if the decision is made to sell them as meat goats; they will be a viable source of income.

 So while waiting around yesterday while March was trying to kid.  The boys and I put some seeds in cups for the garden.  As you can tell, Banjo wanted to help.

We planted over 25 varieties of seeds to include at least two types of: beans, melons, and of course tomatoes.

Cubby even took some seeds and planted them in a secret boy place.  Last year when he did that; we wound up with some suprise maze.

Don't forget to play in your slices of heaven, today!