Kicked By A Cow

There's that saying that if you mess with a bull, prepare for the horns. All of our cattle has horns that they fortunately don't use against us. But when someone is displeased with another, our cows will kick you. 

I was the first to be kicked by Fiona, just a week or two after we got her. I had gotten in-between her and her food and I got a little swift kick. It really was swift! I didn't even bruise from it and I bruise from everything, so I know it was just a little warning. 

About a month or two ago, Rob also got kicked by Fiona. He accidentally spooked her from coming up behind her. It was in no way Fiona's fault, I would have kicked if I was spooked, too. 

Tonight though, it was Teddy's turn. Either Ciarán or Callie kicked him and startled him. They were both standing together, they're both black and they're both quick, so I couldn't say which cow it was. I do know Teddy had it coming. He's been chasing Callie tirelessly for weeks and she's finally had enough. He's not hurt, but hopefully this taught him to stop running her when she's had enough!

Ciarán will take bull, but not bullheaded dogs

Christmas Decorating

We're finally decorating for Christmas! This is the first time in four years we've done so. We love Christmas decorations, we love being merry and bright, and we finally are getting it done!

I'm not going to share pics about the decorating yet until we're done. But I'll explain why we've not decorated for four years. The last two years we spent Christmas packing houses and living in an RV. The year before that, we spent Christmas traveling, also in an RV. 2019 was the last Christmas we decorated and that's way too long ago. 

We won't be decorating the barn for the animals though. Well, not this year at least!

Commitments

One thing about Rob and me, is if we make a commitment, we stick to it. If we say we're going to pay someone, we pay. If we say we're going to host something, we host. If we say we're going to attend a meeting, we attend. If something happens where we can't fully fulfill our commitment, we go above and beyond to make it right. 

Case in point, I had several commitments today and while I couldn't be everywhere at once, I made sure all commitments were satisfied to the best of my ability. We did an inventory this morning in Goldthwaite. Came back home so Rob could go to the dentist in Lampasas. Then I dropped off the food and prizes for the bunco game I was hosting before driving back to Goldthwaite for a theatre board meeting. Throughout the day, I fulfilled my promise to buy poinsettias from the school fundraiser, handled my own affairs, and made sure anyone who needed me was taken care of. It's exhausting, but it's a commitment and unless I'm committed (to a penitentiary or a looney bin), then I'm getting it done. 

Oh yeah, the animals were fed and played with, too! I'll never forget my babies!

Coorie giving the alarm that food is served

Goals

One thing that keeps me motivated is giving myself personal goals. For Thanksgiving week, a friend of mine left to Disney and I had the honor of taking care of her domesticated animals. Well, sort of. I was their midday social visit, but still. Anyway, my goal for that week was to get Sugar brushed. 

Sugar is an older Australian shepherd whose fur likes to knot itself up like it was a competition event. Each day, I laboriously went through her problem areas and succeeded in making her feel like she just went to the salon. I didn't get all of them out, behind her ears and her back haunches were just a little too much for her during our limited time. But overall, we achieved success and hopefully her mama enjoyed the results. 

I've also included other pics from the farm animals to show I'm an equal livestock enjoyer. 

It's in the Genes

Before this farm can be decorated for Christmas, I'm making sure the house (minus the two guest bedrooms) are completely unpacked and cleaned. I've washed the dogs, my bedroom is completely done, and now I'm working on the main room. The main room in my house is an "open concept" where living, dining, kitchen and piano room are all together. This is also where four dogs and two cats primarily bring dirt and shed everywhere. 

Now most people would do the appearance of clean. Sure they may dust, clean windows and take care of the floors, but then they call it clean. I'm moving furniture, cleaning baseboards, even getting the tops of light switches and the switches themselves clean. 

Why? Things should be clean, obviously. Two, when I decorate, I want the Christmas lights to sparkle and not highlight dirt. Three, once we decorate, I have no doubt I'm going to constantly be chasing animals to get garland, lights, ornaments and whatever else back from them. Four, cedar season is coming and with my allergies, I need to clear out all the other allergens or I'll suffocate. True story, I'm deathly allergic to cedar pollen. 

The deep clean aspect comes from my mom. She's given me that critical eye to see all stray dust bunnies which is a blessing and a curse. Her home is always immaculate, mine usually doesn't come close, but I try!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a really great day today. First we had Thanksgiving lunch at a nearby cafe for free! It was delicious and so much food. We got to visit with some friends before heading off. 

Then, we got you spend the afternoon with the dynamite duo and their sons for an un-Thanksgiving meal and yet a traditional football game. The Cowboys won! 

We are stuffed, we are loved, and we are tired. Now, bring on Christmas!

Sweet Tea's cat Cricket crawling up my leg. He's such a cutie!

Thanksgiving Eve

As we're on the Eve of Thanksgiving, I want to take the opportunity to share all I'm thankful for this year. Ready? It's a long list. 

I'm thankful for my hubby who always supports me. For my parents for the same reason. For my friends who talk me off ledges and push me to new heights. For my animals, both domesticated and farm. For a community who looks out for one another. And for the wild animals that keep me humble on the land and while driving. 

I'm blessed beyond measure for a wonderful home, beautiful land, AMAZING opportunities, and vehicles that get me where I need to be or carries what I need to haul. 

I'm also thankful for y'all who read my blog. You never know what Fur Real Farms will bring and the adventure is what we like!

Power of Positivity

Sometimes people ask me why I'm so happy all the time. Simply put, you get what you put out. I've been around people who can find anything and everything wrong, they think they have the worst luck. Really, it's that they're focusing on the negative, not the positive. 

Rob and my life is far from perfect, but, at least with me, I'm extremely happy and positive now. In 2020, I thought my world ended. However, my train just jumped to a different track. I left lots of baggage on the old track and let go. Now, I go for what I want, make my time matter, and above all else, I keep in mind that I'm the only me I can be. 

So for this thankful week, find the happiness within. What was that song? You're never fully dressed without a smile. 

Out Of The Bag

There's that overused expression to "think outside the box". Well, not everything is a box. Sometimes, the issue might be a bag. In fact, this particular situation involves just that: thinking outside the bag. 

One thing farmers and ranchers can't stress enough about to people, is weather affects us a lot more than the everyday person. We've gone through two years of drought and while we've been crafty with the hay issues, the grain was a different entity. To keep healthy and growing livestock, you've got to give them grain and, like everything else lately, grain has gotten more expensive. That and some of our cows are more like pigs. I found a source today and I couldn't be more thrilled. 

Starting next week, Rob and I will be able to pick up spent malt from an Austin brewery! They'll have used all their needs and the leftover mash, instead of being needlessly thrown out, will be picked up by us. It's high in protein and fiber which is exactly what our animals need! We'll have to be careful the donkeys don't get too much, looking at you Patches, but other than that, this is going to save us a lot of money. Especially now that Brogan is starting to saddle up with the ladies!

Fancy and Teddy, I caught them plotting something

Seek & Find

Considering Rob and I haven't put much effort in unpacking nor packing up RVs and containers, it's no surprise I'm constantly looking for things. Last weekend, I was searching everywhere for a denim and Aztec mix jacket I wanted to wear. I searched everywhere in the barndo, everywhere in the RVs, and even tried to look in our containers. I gave up after awhile, but I tried again today and found it in the container!

There's still hope in the mountains of stuff we still have to go through, that are utensils are there. It is the longest running joke Rob and I have. But, it gives me the opportunity to tell everyone that no, we do not need utensils, we bought a very cheap set into we find our own. We've also got our fine silverware, but then I'd have to hand wash and really, who wants to do that?

I'm putting a goal out there though to try and finish unpacking/packing all the RVs and containers and the barndo by the end of the year. It's a goal, probably similar to my losing weight goal, but it's a goal nonetheless!

No matter which angle I tried to get, I only got their cute bottoms

Game Night

Who knew that Rob and I would host game night with another couple? Well ok, yes, but with one of those in the couple not even at drinking age yet?! But yes, I absolutely adore her company. 

I met her with our play and she was the heroine of the story. She's a gem. I'm not sure what I like about her the most, the quirkiness of her, or her sweetness. She's incredibly both and her boyfriend is a hoot as well. It's an interesting dynamic where Rob and I can be kids again, well until they say something we just don't understand!

Have a great weekend everyone. Enjoy my take of the charcuterie board complete with dipping sauces. It was gobbled up!

Foaming At The Walls

If you ever have a chance to do so, choose spray foam insulation to your house. We're in that part of Texas fall where it's cold in the mornings then hot in the afternoons. In all the other places we've lived, which incidentally didn't have spray foam insulation, we were never comfortable. Now, it stays a pretty constant temperature all the time. It would probably stay the exact same temperature if we weren't constantly opening and closing the doors for the pups!

You know how I said we were going to try to be local this week? Yeah, so far we've failed that. Not including Rob going to Austin for work, we've also been to Lampasas, Copperas Cove, and Goldthwaite. Tomorrow is Adamsville, but maybe Friday? We're enjoying it and thankfully driving the Mistress is a blast. 

All the animals are doing good. We're going to try to de-burr Teddy tonight, so wish us luck!

Floor Plans

You know, one of the first things I had picked out for our house was the flooring. I knew I wanted a wood laminate flooring to be easy to clean and to look good even if there was a little dirt. Honestly, I think I would have been better off with real dirt floors. 

To get the floors clean, I have to first sweep, then vacuum, then mop. Yes, all three. The sweeping picks up the big parts of dirt. The vacuuming picks up the smaller particles of dirt. Then the mopping gets whatever dirt is leftover. I try to get the high traffic area daily, at least with sweeping and vacuuming, but I'm beginning to think it's a lost cause. Don't even get me started on all the dust that gets everywhere!

Maesie understands how dirt shows

Another Diva

What's the male version of diva? Is it still diva? I'm going with the same, but if I'm wrong, correct me. Anyhow, we have a male version of diva on our farm. We haven't named him yet, but he's Sugar's buckling. I was trying to grab pics of the animals, when he just sent stopped and faced me, gave me enough time to zoom in, and voila! Isn't he gorgeous?

He's as skitty as his mama, but at least he loves the camera. He loves playing with everyone and I'm hoping to start snuggling him here soon. I haven't decided which kids I'm putting up for sale yet as Spice Girl is the sweetest kid I've ever had and Oreo has such beautiful coloring. But this guy and the other female might be potentials to sell. I'll have to see. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy them!

A New Week

After a very busy weekend, we're ready for this week ahead. The plan for this week is to stay in our hometown. You'd think I'd say home, but this socialite can't do that. 

What I can do is reconnect with my local friends and play games with them. That's right, is Keno week with an added couples game night to boot! Will I ever just stay home and finish unpacking? Um, get back to me on that one. 

For now, have a brilliant start to the week and please support your local community wherever that may be. Whether it's a volunteer fire department BBQ or an opening of a new mom and pop shop, give in some way, even if it's just your time. 

Two of my kids behind one of my black chickens. They're growing!

A Different Family

One thing about being part of a play, is you become part of a new family. You've bonded in ways you don't get elsewhere. You ironically see their true selves as they work at being a character. It's amazing!

I had the honor tonight of hosting a cast party for most members of the cast. I wasn't the true director and not everyone on the cast listened to me, but those who did were treated to a fabulous dinner tonight at a local restaurant. I didn't take pics, sorry, but it was so good seeing everyone. We all love each other and there's a bond there that won't break. 

They also treated me to an awesome stained glass picture Tess made for me! It is spectacular and I'll share a pic of that when daylight comes back. For now, have a wonderful weekend and if a community theatre is looking for people in your area, please give it a go. You have no idea how much it will benefit your life!

Daylight Struggle Time

I know I talked about this before, but really, this switching the clocks thing has hit the hardest this time. The dogs are waking up at five in the morning, the livestock think we've instituted a lunch program for them as they're mooing for more grain in the late evening. The chickens don't know whether to lay more eggs or none at all. It's chaos!

Don't even get me started on evenings around here. Without play rehearsals and now less daylight to play with, I've had to resort to working on my house cleaning and continuing the unboxing I'd stopped doing months ago. I've swept our highway traffic area from the backdoor to the living room daily and yet the dirt magically reappears. 

Oh and shedding! Everyone is shedding and molting like they're getting awards for most fur shed. Mango always wins, so everyone should just stop trying. Ok, I'm done whining for tonight, off to sweep again. 

Spice's girl, she's an absolute sweetheart

Competition

This afternoon, I got to spend some great quality time with my cows. After I had brushed everyone as much as I could, I decided to take pics and videos of them. I learned Coorie is now rivaling Flora in the diva department!

With brushing, picture taking, following me and wanting love from me, it's difficult to tell them apart personality wise. This is wonderful news! I'll keep working with all of them and hopefully everyone feels like Flora. 

I also learned Fur Real Farms has local competition in the boutique farm department. Someone in Lampasas is doing miniature highlands and miniature donkeys as well. It's quite ok for several reasons. One, we've got medium to full size Highlands, so no risk of the dwarf gene which causes health problems down the line. Two, we've got a bigger herd. Three, our animals are socialized almost as much as Rob and I are which means they love it here and love any company that comes by. Ok, they don't love the vet, but even humans have problems with doctors!

Coorie left is plotting to take away the limelight from Flora. They can share!

Less Nutty

While we're thankful for his services with all our does, today we shipped Nutty off with Gator to do with as he pleases. This last season of Nutty being in rut was becoming dangerous for everyone. We had literally tried everything with him, but we just couldn't keep him. 

This is a thing farmers and ranchers do all the time in large quantities, but I'm still learning. Not every livestock animal is a good fit and it's ok to have him try somewhere else. Maybe he'd do better with a hundred does, who knows? I have mixed emotions about the whole thing, but the decision was made when he tackled Rob this weekend. 

I will say, it is much quieter on the farm tonight. Tomorrow, we'll be able to release all the kids and mamas from the nursery and everyone will have full run yet again. For Fur Real Farms, it's now safe again to walk in the pasture. 

What Time Is It?

The clocks fell back an hour, but do you know who doesn't care about that? Animals! Teddy Bear woke me up at 5:50 this morning and all the livestock were carrying on at 5 this evening that they were starving. Ok, in truth, they had eaten the last of their hay earlier today, so maybe they were starving. 

All I know is switching the clocks is something I want to see end in my lifetime. I don't know what time it is, or which clock is correct, or what's going on. At least last week, I knew two of the three!

This week, we've got a couple of things planned like always. I'll share what I remember and go from there!

Tale of Two Sides (of the mouth)

Double feature to finish off this week. First, we traveled this morning to my oral surgeon for part 2 of 3 of my dental implant. Part 1 was three months ago with an extraction and bone graft. Today, well they implanted a metal screw into my jaw with a drill. Seriously!

On this model, it shows four different metal implants. The one by my pinky finger is exactly the one and location I got today

I don't do the sedation, so I got numbed to oblivion. It took right hours for the numbing to fade away. But here's the x-ray of my new gear

Yes, that's my mouth and you can see how much work I've already had done

But that was this morning. This evening though, I got to treat my mouth to delicious, mouth watering Akaushi steak. My favorite meat ever is my mom's prime rib, but this is second I believe. The charcuterie starter and hatch green Chile mac and cheese were good, too. In a tiny little town of Blanket, Texas, who knew?

Since this was the restaurant's very first day being open, and that we drove so far, the owner treated us to cheesecake for dessert. A perfect ending!

Every Two Weeks

For the past couple of months, our cell service has gone down in town every two weeks. As we use a cell based Internet, that means each time, we're pretty much off the grid. Usually, it only lasts a couple of hours. Today, well we're still waiting. 

I'm writing the blog in hopes to post eventually. I've noticed we get little blips where calls and messages come through. If I load up this in my queue, maybe it'll send out during one of those blips. This town has been crazy. You can't drink the water, if you happen to get water from the city. Cell service is spastic when there's a perfectly good tower in town. Electricity bills are always high. But yet, I still love it here. 

We've got water from our well. We can afford the electricity. And not being able to be reached is sometimes a good thing. Of course, this means I had plenty of time to clean today. Oh joy!

I got smart this time. I cleaned off the Mango fur from the chairs and put plastic covers on them!