Beautiful

I found this beautiful little rose bud peaking out from under the passion plant! 

A little bit of sunshine always makes my day bright!

Another project completed!

Whew!

There are several projects that I need to get done before winter weather hits here in South Texas. As I was watching the weather this past week and saw we are supposedly suppose to get a lot of rain (we haven't yet), I knew I had to get a shelter built for Julie. She has been out in the weather for the past 9+ years and I wanted her to have some place to go to get out of the bitter North wind and cold rain. And since we are now living on our own property I can build whatever I want, where I want, when I want! So I took stock of what we had in the way of supplies and got busy. I completed it in 1.5 days and boy is my body paying the price, ekk! Who knew digging holes and pounding nails could be such a work out? It isn't perfect but it will work!

 I plan on putting galvanized tin on the roof but for the moment the roofing felt will work. I did have to go buy plywood as Fred threw out my stock pile of plywood but working with new sheets of plywood was easier than piecing together scraps.

 Jenny helped, if you look closely you can see the paint on her nose!! She is always by my side and has a willing heart! She is always willing to eat cow poop when my back is turned too, eww!! No doggy kisses from Jenny, thank you!

 I had kept the calves penned up while I worked and they were so happy to get out when I finally finished. Here they are checking out my paint job, I think it met their approval? 

Fred laughed as he said it wasn't very tall but I had to work with what I had and I only had 8ft treated 4x4's...Julie can get in there if she wants, it will work! I won't be getting any draft horses anytime soon! Maybe I'll get some ponies though?

 Pepper was excited!! 

 Really excited!! She is so full of it at times!! She makes me laugh!

The calves seem to like it! 

I had friends ask if the calves will let Julie in there and yes they will. If Julie wants in there she will run the calves out, Julie rules the pasture and the calves know it! 

I am glad that is done and once I get the tin for the roof it shouldn't take me long to finish it completely. The next project is to build a temporary greenhouse and if I have time and materials maybe a wind break for the cattle pens. There is always something to do around here!!

She nailed it!!

I was taking care of the pool yesterday and walked up on the deck and spotted a Sulphur butterfly fluttering around when WHAM!! A praying mantis nailed her, Yikes!! 

 The praying mantis immediately ripped the butterflies head off and then proceeded to rip other body parts off it, Wow!

Nature can be Vicious and never ceases to amaze me!!

A little bit of fun...

I picked up this It's scary kit from Forever Joy designs and had fun making this layout!!

It's all true and he doesn't think I understand either but I was a tween once too!!

Throw Back Thursday ~ Michael 2009

I was saving photos and had my Big External Hard drive out and started looking back through 2009. I found this video and just started laughing. He was so cute singing about chores!

The spider and the caterpillar...and a few other photos from my morning.

 I spotted this spider and walked over to see what he was up too. He was stalking the caterpillar. A friend and fellow photographer had gotten a photo of a spider with a caterpillar a few weeks ago. Something I had never seen before. I've seen them take down butterflies and wasp but not a caterpillar. Then I spotted this...

 Finally after stalking the caterpillar for 5 minutes and figuring out the best approach he went in for the kill. 

 Nailed it right on the head...

 

 The caterpillar put up a fight but was no match for the spider...

 Not sure if the drop of liquid is the spiders venom or liquid from the caterpllar, pretty cool.

The spider has his lunch, now to get it home!! 

Nature never ceases to amaze me...

 A gorgeous South Texas Sunset!! I never get tired of these!

 She's got her leg stuck out and was doing a little morning jig!!

 One of our pretty boys who comes to eat breakfast!

 I love flowers!!

 ~

 Love the contrast of the bright green against the blue!!

 ~

 You never know what will pop up out of gopher hole when you stick a water hose down it, I sure did jump, lol!!

 ~

 Hairstreak butterfly trying to get away from an ant on the Silver Sage.

 Yes I still have a couple of hummingbirds buzzing around.

 Pipevine Swallowtail on the Silver Sage.

 My very own grumpy cat!! She is giving me that look!!

~

I know this but I forgot, I will have to look it back up!!

Such a neat morning walking around and seeing what I could see!!

Hope y'all have a great weekend!!

Finally...Freedom to run!!

 This is Pepper...She's been penned up in a Corral for about a month. It was a very long Month!

 We finally got the fence finished up and were able to turn the calves out. (Michael and Fred putting the finishing touches on the t-post.) I do NOT like chasing cattle and I told Fred if we are putting a fence up we are doing it right! I plan on putting an electric wire along the top of the fence in the weeks to come! Fred said just put barbed wire up there and I said NO...I want to give them a little shock if they even have an inkling of putting their heads or bodies over that fence! This is a small section, we plan on fencing off 2 to 4 more sections. I didn't want to fence off the driveway as I am lazy and hate opening gates. I suggested to Fred we fence off 2 to 4 sections of the property. That way we can turn them in one section and let another one grow while the cows eat the one they are in, and vice versa. Plus I can run a fence straight down along the driveway and leave it open, yeah!! 

 Fred is so patient with Michael...Michael was chattering away!

 Run Ribeye Run!!

The calves were bellowing and running from one end to the next...We were all laughing at them!

 Freedom is a beautiful thing...Stretching those legs!

 Thank goodness Julie is good with the calves and never seems to be bothered by them. I am sure they drive her nuts as they have a habit of ganging around in her area. I hope someday I can find a passive riding horse that is good with the calves too.

Pepper is going to be a good Momma. She hates Jenny and shows it all the time! The other day Jenny came out in the pasture with me (I normally don't let her out there with me but I wasn't paying attention). Pepper noticed right away and took off and head butted Jenny up in the air. Jenny was trying to get away but wasn't quick enough. Pepper got her again and then managed to step on Jenny's foot. Finally Jenny ran for me and I got her out of the pasture. Jenny survived and is okay and I hope she learns to stay away from the calves. So far Jenny hasn't taken the hint that Pepper doesn't like her. I might have to work with Jenny and teach her, as Pepper is going to get a lot bigger and she is going to cause a lot more hurt then!

I am relieved that we got the calves out of the corral and into a pasture...Now on to the rest of my to do list...