Sunday, May 25, 2014

Time to tell....

 
It's time to tell y'all what we've been up too.
Last year our landlord died. It came as a shock as it was sudden and I was a bit upset. We've been renting our house at that time for 8 years. I was nervous but his kids promised we could stay as long as we needed, they weren't going to kick us out. Well then they started fighting amongst themselves. We stayed out of it and kept quiet. We weren't ready to move out, we had no place to go. We attempted to get a house built once again but the cost is exorbitant. We just didn't want to go that far in to debt. This spring due to some urging from a friend we decided to have a steel framed barn/shop built and good thing too. Right before it was finished the Landlords son called and after 9 years told us we had 90 days to get out of rental house, ugh! So sad. We love the rental house. But it is falling apart and they are doing nothing to it. Roof leaks, electrical problems, septic problems, slab cracking, eaves rotting, etc...It is time to move on and start living on our land. We decided to fit the barn out to live in it...I am so glad the landlords son has given us 90 days as I will need every day!
 
 
The building itself is done but now it's time to get it fitted out to live in...It is small but it will help us save up money to have the house we want built. We have learned a few things and I've been going stir crazy trying to get everything done. It is amazing how many businesses don't answer their phones, or that don't return calls. Oh the headaches I've had and then coming up with a way to pay for everything has been tough! Now you know why I've been absent and will be absent a lot. I have a to do list a mile long...I can't wait until we get into it and I can chill for a bit! Not only have I been working on the barn/home project, I've also been packing, cleaning, sorting and working on moving 9 years of a accumulation, ekk!! I will post when I can but it's getting busier and busier around here....
 

Michael's school had their end of the year awards assembly this past week. This is Michael's class.
 
 

Oh so proud of my boy!! He got an award in Social Studies. Which amazed both of us as he struggled in Social Studies at the beginning of the year but turned that grade around and started getting really good grades! He is awesome!! He also made the A/B honor roll!! Yeah Michael!
 

We got a brief rain shower Saturday morning. It was really brief about 10 minutes but boy was it load on the metal roof of the barn, wow!! Lop ear came up and wanted fed. I tried to explain to her I was not walking out into the rain to feed her...I don't think she understood me! She is really pregnant too, can't wait for her to have her fawn.
 

I love the over hang on the barn and being able to sit/stand out there when it rains and stay dry!! It was really coming down!
 

Not only do we have to move ourselves we have to move the animals too!!
 

Today we worked on the pen for the chickens. We didn't finish but got the majority of the posts in. I think when we get done with it, it will be pretty nice. I've had a game camera set up down there, well several of them. We have coyotes, fox, hogs and everything else and the chickens can't roam. We need a critter proof pen and I hope when we get done it will be pretty darn critter proof. I say that but I know they'll prove me wrong.
 
 

Our chairs were in the shade under a near by tree and too close to the bluebird nest box obviously...Mother bluebird is NOT Happy with us!
 

Daddy Bluebird was watching us too...
 

Still checking to make sure we are staying away...We did take a peek inside and there are 5 eggs. Their first nest this year only had 4 eggs and 3 babies hatched. So nice to watch them.
 
I hope y'all have a great week and a good Memorial Day!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Colorful visitor this evening...

I was thinking about mowing, good thing I didn't....
 

The male Painted Buntings are so vivid!
 

Enjoying the grass seed...
 




Love seeing the bright colors and so enjoyed watching him for a few minutes before the sunset!!

Hope y'all had a great Monday!!






Sunday, May 18, 2014

Just a few photos I took today...

 
It was a gorgeous day today!!
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

My tweenager was not in the mood for photos!
 
 
 

 
 
 

Momma bluebird is taking a break from her second nest...
 
 

As I was driving down the driveway tonight I spotted the Turkey hen...
 
 
 
Hope y'all had a great weekend and a good start to your week!
 
 
 

Snake #2 Captured...

 
When we caught the two snakes in the chicken coop one got away. We've been waiting for that one to come back. Tonight Fred found it when he went to get eggs...He told me I had 5 minutes to remove it, lol.
 
 
It spit the egg back up...
 

Beautiful Texas Rat Snake...
 

I see you!
 

Only about 4 feet, not as big as the other one!
 
Hopefully it will find something else to fill it's belly with instead of our chicken eggs!!
 
Fred and I were both relieved that we caught them and now maybe we will get more eggs!
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Morning walk

 
I had a meeting at the property this morning with a friend after he left I went for a walk to see what I could find...We had almost 3 inches of rain the other day and I wanted to see what the creek looked like...
 
But before I even got to the creek I got distracted, as always!!
 

A few of Michael's succulents are starting to bloom...
 
 

I can't wait to see what the blooms will look like...
 
 

We had Fritillary butterflies all over down there...so pretty!
 

A type of Robber fly possibly...looks like a bee but it is not.
 
 

Then I found two turtles...This one was playing shy.
 
 

This one wasn't and posed for me...
 

Red-eared sliders
 

 
 
 

Our not suppose to be dry creek had a puddle. I am thankful for the 3 inches but we honestly need more rain...
 

White-topped sedge
 
 

It amazes me at how fast turtles can move...This one seems to have gotten itself in a predicament, but not for long...and poof they were gone!
 

Pipe-vine swallowtail caterpillar.
 
 

Michael's little garden has really taken off. He has added new items. He wants to put a stream through it but I am trying to talk him out of that...most of the plants are succulents and don't need that much moisture.
 

Prickly Pear cacti bloom.
 
Other than the wind it was a beautiful day, lots of sunshine!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, May 12, 2014

Painted Bunting

What a nice colorful surprise at the property today!!
 



It was right in front of us but I didn't have the camera. His mate was there too and she is green. Michael snuck over to the jeep and grabbed my camera. I didn't have the lens I prefer on it but still neat to get a photo and share it!! 
The female was behind the pool box and I couldn't get a decent photo of her. Maybe tomorrow or later in the week. They are eating the seeds on the grass and I don't plan on mowing at the moment.



Sometimes I feel that God blesses me. I am able to see and take photos of all the wonderful and awesome creatures and plants that we see!!








Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mothers Day

 
I had a really wonderful Mothers day and I hope y'all did too!!
 
We took Fred's Mom out for breakfast.
 
Michael snapped a photo of us...
 

I found a Green Anole lizard over at Fred's Moms house...She has a lot of them as she doesn't have any cats.

One of my favorite lizards and this male is looking for a female...
 
I had to go help Fred. While I was helping Michael yelled something about a Lizard. I couldn't hear him or understand him so I told him to grab my camera and take a few photos!

Michael is getting pretty good with my camera!
 

This is what he was yelling at me about...The male found a female and a mate. I had to laugh. Leave it to my son to find something interesting and snap photos. He knows what life is all about and isn't shy about things either. He is a country boy, what can I say!

Michael with his Grandma and Fred with his Mom!
 

One of the flower baskets I put together a couple of months ago. They are really filling out and looking beautiful! I couldn't see paying $25 for a basket of flowers I didn't care for, I like bright colors. So I bought small single flowers and put my own baskets together, I love the bright colors!
 

Daisies...Last year I thought the heat killed them. Even though it looked like the plant died I kept it watered and this winter put it in the green house. I was shocked when this spring they started growing and now the blooms are awesome!!
 

Another one of my flower baskets!! Fred saw them when I first put them together and he said he never imagined they'd look like this eventually!! A little TLC and I knew they'd look nice!
 
~.~