Weekly Wrap Up

I'm tired, so I'm going to keep this shorter than normal. The heat has sucked all my energy out. 

The barndo is coming along! We had a switch on tile guys which I hated doing, but it's only business. We have to get this barndo finished and it would've taken too long with the original plan. 

All the animals are doing great. The donkeys don't like seeing me swim which is hilarious because they don't like getting wet! Maybe they don't like I'm getting wet, too? 

Have a great weekend!

Some Farm Fun

One of the things we've enjoyed doing, is showing off our animals to visitors. One day, we'll turn it into a formal affair for everyone, but right now it's just for our friends. Tonight, we got to take a new friend couple on a little tour and they loved it!

Here's one thing I've got to do in the future though, make sure Ciarán is fed if it's her feeding time. This is not a girl who wants to be polite when she's hungry. She didn't do anything to our guests, but I'll sure Flora and Maesie didn't enjoy her head butting them!

I think I'm also going to install one of those hand sanitizer dispensers at the barn. I think that's just an overall good idea. Our animals aren't the cleanest after all!

We'll be looking forward to some extra special visitors on Saturday to the farm. In the meantime, we'll make sure to have Ciarán well fed. 

A Little Pink

The good news, the painters finished the outside and the electrical finished the inside today. Tomorrow, the plumbers should finish what they can do until things get tiled and floor is laid. Also, the rest of my closet shelves should be in tomorrow so the painters can finish that real quick and then the rods can be hung. All good there. But there's just two things. 

First, the purlins color didn't turn out quite right. Instead of maroon, it's more of a hot pink. I've already talked with the painters and they'll correct it. No problem there. 

However, I also talked to the tile guy I've waited two weeks for. It took some sleuthing, but I tracked his number down and tonight he told me our builder had put him on another job to do first and he won't be done for at least a week and a half. That job is for two showers. We're having two showers, a tub, flooring and backsplash done. I'm concerned with how long this will take. I'm also a little upset our builder put whatever job it was ahead of us. We are beyond ready to move into the barndo and I'm really losing my patience!

Thoughts? Any way I can light a fire similar to what it feels like in our RV?

It's Shocking

Rob learned a valuable lesson today. He learned it for both of us, and now we know what to look for if there's an electric wire! Rob's ok, but let's just say he jolted some. 

We also had some progress on the barndo today! Our builder and I had originally come up with an agreement to switch over the loan from construction to mortgage on July 5th, knowing he had to be done before then. Well, there's no way he's going to finish by then, so we've extended it until July 19th and he's still doubtful! No, I'm not accepting further delays, by July 19th, we're switching the loans and that's that. 

A productive day and hopefully the beginning to a productive week! Bring on the barndo!

Suspenseful Weekend

So, it was my birthday weekend, and we had lots of fun! One of our explorations included checking out the oldest still in use vehicular suspension bridge in Texas. Yes, that's a mouthful. However, you lose all words when you're first driving over the swaying bridge and then standing on the bridge while someone else drives over it!

I think, if I read correctly, it's over three hundred feet above the Colorado River. Anything over five feet and I'm already sweating it. It was exhilarating and probably not something I'll do again. Really, I enjoy my stomach where it belongs!

We also had fabulous meals, fabulous wine, and a fabulous time on our farm. Here's hoping soon, we'll have fabulous fun in our barndo!!!

Party Weekend

This weekend, I'm planning for Rob and I to be partying for most of it. I would love to be doing so in my barndo, but we're still not there yet. 

Although, progress has been done! After a week of no one showing up, the painters came to start the outside window trim and exposed beams. We also got the guy to stay taking care of Lake Lometa. It's smoothed out now and some road base will be added tomorrow!

What's left? Well, still waiting on tile, plumbing, flooring and the tiniest bit of cabinetry and electrical. The end is near!

All the animals are doing well despite the heat. If they can just hold on a little longer, we'll get that stock pond dug for them. I'm just deciding who we're going to go with. 

Maesie is learning about the camera

Teddy & A Decision

We were asked at the vet during Teddy's appointment if we're going to get him fixed or not. While I haven't done it yet, Teddy is registerable as a pedigreed English Shepherd. So, we could breed him. 

I was raised in the Bob Barker era of "spay and neuter your pets". But then, once I learned some pet rescue organizations actually buy them from breeders when their cages are getting empty, I reconsidered. Plus, he's just such a great dog already and so cute, why not consider that for the future for him?

Fortunately, we don't have to make a decision immediately. I'm going to research our options and think about it. For now, we're just going to enjoy him. 

Evaporation H, Two, Oh!

This will not be a pleasant topic to discuss, but I feel it needs to be addressed. Living in the brutal heat of a Texas summer in an RV is just not good. Period. Full stop. 

There's the heat that infiltrates the aluminum sided walls and the dual air conditioners run constantly just to make a dent to the heat. The air conditioning is loud, too, so good luck hearing anything. 

Then there's the bugs and dirt, but really, it's not much different than other times of the year. Just the bugs are more insistent and the dirt just feels dirtier. 

But no, the worst is what we're experiencing now. Did you know liquids can evaporate at any temperature above freezing to become a gas? However, if the humidity is high, the evaporation rate is faster and the gas is more fluid. What liquid do you think the RV has that wouldn't be pleasant turning into a gas rising up from the bowels of the rig? Yeah, septic juices are evaporating and the smell is so ungodly awful. This is the number one reason why I'm about to lose what little patience I have left to get into the barndo!!!

Teddy doesn't mind the smells as he creates quite a few himself

Field Trip

I'm really hoping this was the last time, but we had to go into town to do our laundry this evening. I miss doing laundry privately in a home and not in a laundromat!

Anyhow, as was customary for us, we took a field trip to explore the roads we don't normally go down while we waited for the machines to finish. On my Maw-Maw's old road, we got to see a tarantula crossing the street. Spiders don't bother me as long as they're not on me. Snakes can't be in eyesight, I have a big problem with those!

On a different road, we came across two tiny fawn. I am so impressed with how well they camouflage into their area. I tried to get a good pic of them, but even my Google Pixel couldn't get a read on them. 

Lastly, our weather today was insane. We hit 103 with a real feel of 115. Keeping the animals cool was our top priority and fortunately our swamp cooler is helping them. They don't like to see me swimming though, so I think I'll have to get them their pond dug sooner rather than later!

Weekend Wrap Up

Excuse me for any typos or grammatical errors in tonight's blog. I've been drinking wine all day and I'm saucier than Fiona. We went to Stoneledge Winery,a local hangout, and drank far more than expected while meeting new friends. It was fun, I don't look forward to the headache in the morning. 

Saturday night, the alert went off on my phone and I'm so proud of my animals. I've turned off all alerts except for weather warnings and we got a tornado warning last night. Our five domestic animals and Rob and I hunkered down in the barndo and... Yeah, nothing happened. Not even rain!

Between swimming, making friends and being animal ambassadors to our own animals, we've had a full and fun weekend. Let's finish up the barndo now, shall we?

All pics at Stoneledge Winery

Barndo Updates

Not much has been done to the barndo this week unfortunately. Monday, we had curbing put in for the showers. No one came Tuesday or Wednesday. Today, we had the drywall people out here to fix some spots and then the painters to work on some cabinetry I added. That's it, you're all caught up now. 

In a way, it's actually a good thing, I guess. Technically, we can't move in until we close on the loan. In order for us to do that, we have to get it surveyed and then twice appraised. We put in the request for the survey three weeks ago and it was supposed to be done today, but we've been pushed to next week. That's country living, you have to be flexible. Truly, you have to be, there is literally no alternative. 

Maesie has settled in great. The fans are already feeling the coos. Lastly, we've got a new family of ducks from our neighbors who visit. They just come for the food and water, apparently they only pay eggs at our neighbors. 

Chill Out

We had been having such great temperature, but now, Texas and Louisiana are having what one weather woman said "a ring of fire". She wasn't wrong. While we're only in the low nineties (that's actually low for our summer temps), the humidity has driven the real feel up to the triple digits. We're suffocating, that's the easiest way to put it. 

We're not the ones hurting though, it's our Highlands. Since the misters were a dud in the barn last year, tonight we tripled down on fans. Come tomorrow, we're going to have one big fan at one opening, an oscillating fan in the middle, and then a swamp cooler at the other end. Until we can get a stock pond built for them, we're going this will keep them cool. 

Another weird thing. Our wind has disappeared. The last few days, we've barely had a whisper of a breeze. I miss it! We've had wind for all the 16+ months we've lived here until this week. What gives? 

Oh shoot, just realized I was supposed to update about the barndo today. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Meet Maesie!

Let me start off by saying, none of this was planned. However, when you find a golden opportunity, you seize it. 

Sunday night, the ranch I had gotten Ciarán, Coorie, and in time, Caledonia, reached out to me about a white 10 month old heifer. This ranch is focusing on a registered herd and they knew I'm not about that. Their girl Posey needed to find a new home and quickly to avoid future obstacles. They asked us, I asked to give me 24 hours. 

Monday morning rolled around and Rob and I agreed this wasn't the best time to get her as we're trying to get into the barndo. The ranch had another interested party, so I said to let that party have her. 

Well, that party flaked and this Oklahoma ranch was making a transport run to Texas Tuesday and was I absolutely sure I didn't want her? Rob and I talked again and decided she actually should be with us. She was delivered this afternoon and she's perfect!

Welcome to the farm Maesie! Your name means pearl in Gaelic and you're definitely a gem. You're halter broke, already eating out of my hand, and best of all, you and Flora have made fast friends! Brogan now has his harem and our farm is now even better. 

Meh

Rob and I have decided, the cutest thing about Caledonia is her moo. It sounds like "meh". Yes, somehow our first born calf on our farm is emo. I'd say she gets it from her mama, but more likely she picked it up from me while she was in the womb!

She runs and plays and loves everyone and everything. They can look at her, but no one but the cows can touch her. She's part of their herd and they are extremely territorial about her. That's also why I think Fiona is ready to get bred. 

Stuff is still moving on the barndo. I'll update hopefully about that tomorrow!

It's See You Later

Surprisingly for me, I'm actually pretty good about selling my goats. This afternoon, I sold the last two from the first freshening. Freshening is what they call the childbirth for goats. Boots and Onyx went to my great friend Sweet Tea who I know will take excellent care of them. So overall, we only kept two kids, bucklings, from the first round total. Not too shabby!

Luckily, I don't have to make that decision yet about my cows. In the years to come, we'll have more calves and I will then start selling them, but Brogan is still way too young. Once we move into the barndo, I might look into artificially inseminating Fiona, but she'd be the only one. Let's just say she's ready to be a mama. 

So besides the intense heat, this weekend was great. We did most of what we planned to do and got some fun in as well. This week, I'll be doing whatever it takes to get the barndo closer to done. We're almost there guys!

Grow Up To Be Cowgirl

I don't know because I haven't asked, if my parents ever thought I'd grow up to be a cowgirl. Over four decades has definitely shown them I love animals, but to live and work a farm with livestock? I'm not sure. 

All I know is at this point of my life, it suits me. I've never been a luxury brand girl for clothing, shoes or accessories, but it appears my brand is centered around actual branding! We haven't designed our brand marking yet, and it will only be used on tags, but we do have our sign now. We're getting more official by the day and we're loving every minute of it!

Have a great weekend, we're going to sip wine and cookie dough whiskey, hopefully swim under the brilliant sun, and spend some quality time with quality friends. 

Mooving Along

Today's been a busy day, so I'll type fast. Caledonia is doing great and it only took her two days to figure out she needs to listen to her mama. When Ciarán says it's time to leave the barn, she goes. When Ciarán wants to go to a different part of the pasture, Caledonia follows right behind. Tonight though was the cutest. When I opened that squeaky gate to the barn, in walks Fiona, then Brogan, Flora, them Coorie, Ciarán and finally, Caledonia! Yes, she walked right in line and went right into the stall. Cows are just awesome. 

On the barndo side of things, we've got air conditioning! Miller's Electric has been here this week knocking out switches, plugs, fixtures and today, air conditioning! We're supposed to hit triple digits this weekend, between the pool and the air conditioned barndo, we're set!

No, I haven't gotten to swim in the pool yet. James, our pool boy, has been out here daily getting it all cleaned up and balanced. He said hopefully tomorrow!

Yes, mama is drooling. She's keeping herself hydrated and forgets that last swallow matters, ha!

Caledonia

It's official, we're the proud human parents of the smallest little heifer! We're naming her Caledonia, which literally means Scottish Highlands. She's the first calf born on her farm and my parents suggested her name as it was the name given to Scotland by the Romans. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither is Fur Real Farms, but we're doing pretty good!

Caledonia (probably going to just call her Callie), is tiny, but she is stout. I picked her up to carry her into the barn because of storms, and she's heavier than Kenzie. So at least forty pounds. I'm actually going to go with sixty-ish pounds because it was a struggle for me to carry her. Of course, she was asleep and didn't help at all, but I was just so happy to hold her!

Ciarán and Caledonia are recovering, but I'm thinking tomorrow they might both be more active. It was incredibly humid hot today and I can just imagine what that feels like to them. The most wonderful thing though is how all the cows greeted the newborn last night. Fiona, the lead, met her first. Ciarán was ever watchful, but Fiona approved of the calf. Next, Coorie, Ciarán's first calf, greeted her half sister. It was a sweet moment and the three have been close ever since. More tomorrow, I don't want to over type!

Another Surprise!

Ok, today's surprise was even a surprise to Rob and I. Ciarán had her baby!!! We're almost positive it's a girl, but mama is being protective right now. She did let me get within five feet of the calf though, so I feel honored. 

The babe is precious. Looks and sounds to be completely healthy and Ciarán is also doing well. Ciarán is hungry though no matter how much we give her right now. We didn't think it would be this soon and we also didn't hear a thing happen! Judging from appearances, we got there about ten minutes after birth and we had been outside prior to that. Ciarán, you could have yelled, I sure would have!

I'll be pouring over Scottish names tonight, but if you have any suggestions, send them my way. We're so happy!

Surprise!

Only for those who follow my blog right now, I'm sharing one part of our farm we just had completed. Surprise, a swimming pool! It was originally going to be a surprise for Senior, but then we decided just to make it a surprise for everyone. Ok fair enough, I spilled the beans quite a few times because I was excited. 

We haven't swam in it yet, but we will this week. The cleaning should be finished tomorrow and then be all ready for us. It's thirty feet with a tanning pad. I think that's what it's called. All I know is Kenzie will be hanging out there. Reggie loves to swim with me, Rob will be half in the pool and half in the shade (he burns), and I'm hoping once he gets old enough, Teddy will swim as well. 

Of course, this week we've got lots of chances for rain, but as long as there isn't lightning, I'm getting in that pool. I think it will be great motivation for the workers to finish up the barndo, don't you?

Pool by Blue Springs for all of Central Texas

Getting Closer!

Tomorrow should be the absolute last day for the painters! All they have left is the walls now. All the cabinets have been reassembled and protectively covered and ready to go!

I'll have a surprise for everyone on Sunday's blog and it's a good one. It's been a fun couple of weeks, but worth it. I'm excited!

For now, I'm going to wish y'all a wonderful weekend. We're going to be homebodies and get some chores done. Or, we're going to nap and play games. We'll see!