Our Thanksgiving break...

 

 

Michael and I headed to San Angelo, Eldorado and Sonora Texas for our Thanksgiving break. We had a great Thanksgiving with Dawn and her Family.

 

On the way through San Antonio I handed the camera to Michael and said take photos. Of course he got the tower of Americas...

 

And he was so proud of capturing the American flag on this shot!

 

 

Then as always my favorite part of the drive is the Texas Hill Country, love it!

 

 

Up we go...

 

 

This is Hwy 83 out of Junction Texas, some beautiful autumn colors...We got checked into our hotel in San Angelo early in the afternoon and did a little shopping too.

 

Dacey is one gorgeous young lady...Weds evening we headed to Dawn's in Eldorado, goodness it was good to see her and everyone!

 

 

Thanksgiving morning at Dawns I took some photos of nature...Ring-necked dove.

 

Golden fronted woodpecker

 

 

Cacti anyone??

 

 

 

 

I found a wildflower, cool...

 

 

Skeeter goofing around...

 

 

I love these kiddos!

 

They love each other...Dacey was 2 when Michael was born and Michael was 3 when Trey was born...They are so close and always get along great!

 

 

Me and Dawn...

 

As many times as I've been to Eldorado I never knew they were on the top of the great divide until this past weekend, cool. Dawn has to adjust her pressure cooking for the elevation, so glad I don't have too!!

 

Saturday Dawn took us on the back roads to her parents ranch in Sonora...I also learned that Oak trees do not grow on the great divide but if you travel a few miles away from it the Oak trees grow. Dawn thought it was due to the elevation?

 

 

Vermillion fly catcher, wish I had the 300mm lens on the camera, beautiful bird.

 

Dawn's Dad has a herd of goats...

 

 

Dawn's parents...they almost have their house finished.

 

 

Back to Sonora and the grocery store...

 

 

Sonora Texas

 

 

Michael and I headed back home Sunday...They still hadn't harvested the cotton around San Angelo.

 

 

Leaving San Angelo Sunday morning...

 

 

This is the 2nd group of 3 groups of electric linemen we had passed. They had been busy getting the electricity back in areas of West Texas over Thanksgiving. I feel for the guys as they didn't get to spend Thanksgiving with their families. God Bless the Military, Electric Linemen and Oilfield people that weren't able to spend the Holiday with their families!

 

 

Going down...

 

 

Some more Autumn colors...

 

 

We took a much needed break in Kerrville...

 

 

Love the Hill Country...

 

 

Hwy 119 and headed home...

 

 

Lots of Oil rigs around New Davy Texas...

 

 

Slow poke, ugh! 55 in a 70 and unable to pass!

 

 

Winter wheat field, love the green!

 

 

Another rig...

 

 

Yeah Yorktown, not much further...

 

 

Downtown Yorktown Texas.

 

 

Vietnam memorial in Yorktown!

 

 

Home Sweet Home!!

 

 

We had a rough trip actually...It was fun and loved seeing Dawn and Family but it could have been a bit better for me health wise. Friday I ended up having a kidney stone. Michael and I hibernated to the hotel room and Friday night was rough as the kidney stone moved and moved and moved. I managed to get to Dawn's Saturday and in the afternoon I passed the kidney stone, yeah. Was so worried about driving home with a kidney stone, so when I passed it I was so relieved...Then it seems Monday morning I woke up with a stomach virus...Dacey and Skeeter also got it...Ugh!! Luckily it was just a 24 hour bug and I'm on the mend. I think I'd like a do over weekend, if that was possible!!

 

Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving...

I am so thankful and so very blessed...

 

 

We are on the road and visiting this Thanksgiving Holiday!

I'll be back to share photos of where we went and of all the fun we are having!

 

Hope y'all had a Great Thanksgiving!!

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia

 

~

 

 

She's been coming inside and cuddling up next to me, it's Cold outside!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon feed...

 

Being as cold and windy as it was I went down to feed the deer early this afternoon..

 

this buck came in...

 

And this doe wanted nothing to do with him...

Here she is behind him sticking her tongue out at him. He is in rut and being unruly and wouldn't let any of the does or fawns come up and eat.

 

Meany!! 

Look at how swollen his neck is, that is what happens when a buck is in Rut. We also had a discussion with friends tonight. After sending this photo to a reliable and knowledgeable source this buck is not legal to shoot. He must have a 13 inch spread or more and or a spike or slick tine on one side. He doesn't have a 13 inch spread and the tine is not slick. He'll live this year and hopefully next year will be even bigger.

 

 

~

 

The doe with the wound on the side of her has healed but looks to have some tendon damage in regards to the ear on that side.

 

She's a good Momma and loves her fawns!

 

With the deer hair coats being all fluffed out from the cold weather you can see the spots on the fawns.

He finally let them come up and eat. It might be time to put out another feed pan too.

 

 

Then he tried to get close to the one doe and she jumped out of the way! Bucks are such a pain at this time of year...

 

Hope y'all are staying warm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a change...

 

 

Quite a change from yesterday...Cold, Wet and Windy out there.

 

The front came in at 6:35am and the temperature went from 72 to 48 degrees!! Julie is none too happy about it either but she hasn't knickered for her blanket. She has a good thick winter coat and she's standing out of the wind so she's good for now!

 

Hope y'all stay warm and have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

What we've been up to...

It's been a busy week, still getting things ready for winter and doing a little of this and that...

 

 

I had to get new tires on the jeep and I went ahead and got new rims too. These are all terrain tires so I'm hoping they'll be better out on the property when it's wet and muddy. I am stunned that the tires the manufacturer put on the jeep didn't last long at all. Of course they are trying to make everything as cheap as possible. Sure isn't like the old days when things were made with pride and quality!

I've been watching deer, we've got about 17 that come twice a day to get fed. And yes I've been hunting too some days. Of course the day I don't take the gun is the day the legal bucks show up, go figure!

These are two youngsters having a scuffle...

 

The morning glories are weighing down the garden fence. As soon as they get frosted I'll clean them off the fence, right now they are too pretty!

 

I've got a spider hanging out in the jeep. He climbs around on the windshield while I am driving and during the night he spins webs all over inside of the jeep...Michael isn't happy about it but so far he's left it alone.

 

The morning glories on the deck are so pretty, loving it!

 

 

This evening Michael came with me to the property. Here's one of the butterflies he rescued from the greenhouse.

 

He's watching butterflies, they fly in there during the day and we get them out in the evenings.

 

Rescuing butterflies

 

 

The rose bush Michael planted is blooming...

 

 

I'm sure these are the last blooms this plant will make. I might dig it up and put it in a pot and tuck it in the greenhouse for the winter. Not sure if it will make it but it's worth a try.

 

I have Aloe blooming

 

 

I was trimming the zinnia's when I found this Mantis...(Michael took the photo)

 

 

She was not happy that I disturbed her...

 

 

Climbing up Michael's arm...

 

 

Eye ball to Eye ball....

 

We put the mantis in the green house. I'm slowly getting things ready for winter and it sure is a good feeling seeing things picked up and taken care off...