A little of this and that from the past few days!

 Storms last Saturday morning...We got some much needed rain too!

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar and Butterfly (Below)

Their host plant is the Passion Plant and the caterpillars are all over it munching away!

 I love my butterfly bush. This summer something ate it, not sure if it was grasshoppers or deer but it came back and the blooms are gorgeous!

 We have a lot of these caterpillars too (not sure what they are) but they love the Cow pen daisy blooms!!

 With new calves also comes new fences...this is a work in progress as the rain storms that came through this past weekend put a damper on our work!

 The Lantana is blooming!!

 

This might have been our last swim in the pool. With this last Cold front the nights have been cold and the water temperature in the pool has dropped! 

 Our Jake! He was really sick last week and we had to make a run to the vet. After several tests they never did find out what was wrong with him. I wasn't sure he was going to make it but obviously he pulled through. He's been on antibiotics and pain meds and has his bounce back!

 We've been letting the chickens out of their pen late in the evenings for a little bit. Michael keeps an eye on them and herds them back in just before dark. We have some hens that would prefer to roost on the coral fence instead of in the coop and chicken pen. Lots of hawks and coyotes here so we need to watch them closely. Since we've moved here (July 15) we haven't lost any yet, we are very thankful, but we don't let them out of their pen (fort knox) very often either.

 I don't have to worry about planting flowers...Wild Morning Glories.

 Michael and I found a praying mantis this evening while walking around...

 We also found a Scorpion...they are all over the place, along with Black widow spiders and dozens of other critters too!!

 Lydia came over to see what we were up too! So glad she has stayed around. Our barn cat Ralph, who was 9 years old, didn't stick around. We moved him 3 times and each time he went back to the old rental house. Not sure if he is still alive or not. I feel bad for him and wish he would have stayed here.

 Lots of Cow pen daisies...The caterpillars are eating the blooms and come this winter when they go to seed the birds will eat the seeds! They are wild so I didn't even have to plant them but I get to enjoy them and seeing the critters that use them too!

A beautiful South Texas Sunset! 

The nights are chilly but the during the day it is gorgeous out!!

Hope y'all are enjoying your Autumn weather, so glad it finally cooled off here!

Happy Birthday

To the U.S. Navy!

Yet another one...

It's that time of year...the snakes are looking for a place to spend winter!

 My friend Clint came over with his family and we did a little searching and found a Copperhead.

 I love the markings and the color.

 Their eyes fascinate me!

What you might see in the grass around here. We found this one under some wooden crates that I have set up specifically for snakes and other interesting critters. We capture it, moved it out into a cleared area for photos. We then put it back in the bucket and took a walk and turned it loose away from the buildings and the areas we frequent. This was a young female and hopefully she will eat lots of mice, grasshoppers and maybe even baby gophers as she grows older! 

The New Kids (Calves) on the block....

 Ribeye. He was a nice little bull calf but he lost something today and now he's a steer! There is a reason we named him Ribeye. Come spring he'll be in the Freezer.

 Group photo. Nice to see them relaxing...Pepper, Ribeye and Pringle!

 Pringle is narrower in body and face and Pepper is bulkier in body and face. Hopefully these two heifers will be with us for quite a few years. 

 Pringle has some tiger stripes on her and is a little bit wilder. She's already tested the gates.

Pepper is calmer and seems to be easy going.

They are missing their Moms and their Milk but they are getting good feed and hay and in a few days they'll settle down. So happy with them and excited to see them grow. 

Sometimes...

Your in the right spot at the right time...

I had plans this weekend. Plans to finish the cattle pens. But as I sit here and watch the rain pour down my plans have been changed! I did manage to get outside with the camera this morning for a few photos before I started working and before it starting raining. 

 My studio this morning, the Texas silver sage was just gorgeous!

 A young male Ruby-throat hummingbird was posing for me...

~

What a beauty...

Just beautiful, love the markings and the colors of this young copperhead.

I was in town when Fred called and said he found a snake in with the chickens. I told him leave it alone I'll be home a.s.a.p.. I hurried home and got my snake boots on, grabbed the tongs and snake hook. Thankfully it hadn't moved and I was able to put it safely in a garbage can. It was really passive. I moved it to the back of the property and it slithered on its way. Michael noticed it had eaten recently. It didn't get any eggs so maybe it ate a gopher or a mouse!

So glad my husband has learned respect for snakes and realizes that they are a good thing!

Hello!!

 

 My faithful friend and protector says Hello!! 

She's my girl and an awesome dog!

 This female praying mantis has admirers...

 The Purple Passion Plant is blooming and blooming and blooming!

The Lantana is starting to bloom again...

The sunsets never cease to amaze me...

Once again I didn't get much done today. I had errands to run but Michael was sick and stayed home from school, so I didn't run any errands. We also had a few brief rain showers today and that put a damper on me getting stuff done outside. There is always tomorrow and I plan to start really early in the morning before it gets hot!