Josie

One of our latest cows, Josie, the mini-longhorn zebu mix has good lungs, looks the part of a wild one, but it's getting to be a sweetheart. 

I spent time brushing all the Highlands that I could get to, but Josie was looking at me like she wanted some attention as well. The brush I use for the Highlands isn't good for the short haired, so instead I grabbed some grain and headed her way. She ate out of my hand! That's two out of the three new ones, but Valentina is still young and timid. 

Flora is still my favorite to brush. She's got the most hair and absolute loves the attention. However, Coorie surprised me by finally allowing me to brush her tail tonight! They are just awesome and I love them all. 

Somewhat Back

I'm somewhat back to work, but I took an easy day today. I handled what had to be done and then started my VR world. The most difficult is going to be doing the VR without freaking out the animals! 

It's a pretty cool little system. Not only does it encompass your sight, but it has sound as well. I learned how to function the controls today and tomorrow, I'll hopefully be playing a game. I guarantee you, this is exercise. I'm standing the entire time, sometimes dancing, sometimes climbing, etc. If I do an hour a day of this, I bet my arms alone will get in shape. Regardless, it's fun. 

What's really neat, is I can cast it to the TV so Rob can watch what I'm doing. 

All this before my new sheep come to the farm! Either Friday or Saturday, we'll be picking up Ewenique and Bewety. Look at their faces! 

Ewenique

Bewety

My Birthday!

It's my birthday and I had a great day! Slept in and then went for food at our usual Sunday spot. Then Rob and I played some video games before we took some friends of ours to an escape room. Y'all, we escaped! 

Afterwards, we went to eat at Razzoo's and I actually ate alligator. It was pretty good! The Creole style pork chops with queso on top was even better though. 

Next, more games at the nearby cinema where they have VR. I had never done virtual reality and I loved it. I came home for cake and presents and y'all I got a VR system! It was such a great day, thank everyone for helping me celebrate. 

Chamber Thursday

Well, as soon as I finish up all the website stuff, I can make the Chamber officially open! Got the board approval tonight, all the ducks are in a row, all that's left is getting the website finished with a usable format to enroll online. It can be done. It will be done. 

Tomorrow, it's the first of the Farmer's Market. I know there will be a lot to finesse to get it going, but I think the woman who's running it with me and I will make it work. It'll be hot, but it'll be fun. 

But after all that, I think I'm going to spend some time on the farm. Get in the pool, love on my animals, and just relax. I think I've earned it. 

Small Town Fun

I'm truly enjoying living in a small town. Once you get established, you become part of the routine. There are gossip and rumors you have to contend with, but overall, it's supremely laid back and fun. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me. 

I mean, where else can you stop by and know all about why traffic was diverted on the highway? Or literally stop your car in the middle of the road and just chat with someone walking and no one bats an eye? My favorite, when the cops are called because some form of livestock is loose. It's just great! 

I highly recommend moving out of the city and finding somewhere that makes you happy. Life's too short as they say. 

The Blob

Supposedly sometime this week, we're going to experience a "Tropical Blob". Never in my life have I actually experienced a "blob", so I'm not sure what to expect. When I hear it, I instantly think of slime, but others just tell me it's going to be rain. Maybe slimy rain? 

All I know is come rain or shine, there's always something to do. Here I am past midnight writing the blog when I would have still been on the phone if the cell tower hadn't gone out. Yes, other people besides me are up past midnight, don't be surprised. I actually think that's when my brain is the sharpest. 

For now though, I'm going to go curl up in bed with my animals and read a nice book. I've earned it! 

Mango looking all cute (and wary of Kenzie)

Farmer's Market

One of the new things I've helped institute for the city is having a weekly Farmer's Market on Friday nights. A woman in town is handling the actual running of the event, while I'm in charge of the social media, emails and getting in vendors and food trucks. It's funny for two reasons. 

The first is the obvious. I'm not a farmer. I can't make anything grow if it doesn't have a heartbeat. I think the term is that I've got a black thumb? All I know is it's definitely not a green thumb. 

The other funny thing is I'm handling so much social media these days, I keep having to double check that I'm on the correct account. I think I'm managing seven and then my personal account. It's fun, but it's confusing! People are probably going to start thinking I'm a bot. 

Honey Bunny

One great thing about where we live (because we look at things positively) is several of our neighbor's animals feel safe in our yard. We've had her dogs, her guineas, her ducks and now, her rabbits. She has a couple, but I keep seeing this one. 

I'm actually surprised my donkeys don't mind the rabbits. They have a tendency to grab small animals if given the opportunity. That's why the goats aren't given free rein until Chip and Fudge get a little bigger. Maybe the rabbit is just quicker. 

We've had a productive weekend like always. The theater board met for the first time and now Rob will be getting that organization through the state and federal channels. I also teamed up with a local lady to start having Friday night farmers market with food trucks starting this coming Friday. Keeping busy! 

Split Household

Rob and I not only split duties today, we split the dogs up as well. While he went to pick up the mash, he took Reggie and Kenzie. I stayed in the area and sometimes at home with Teddy and Tootsie. It was a lot calmer in the house, but I sure missed the two pups. Everyone enjoyed themselves though, and that's all that matters. 

There was some residual Goldthwaite Theatre drama I thought I was done with, however it appears I didn't even have to be there to make waves. For once I can say, it really doesn't bother me. I'm way too busy to worry about things I can't control. 

For all the things I can control, everything is going great. The new theater board is set up, I just got new scripts in today, and I've got sixteen out of twenty kids enrolled for the youth drama camp. Still working on the chamber stuff, got to pet Dolly today, and helped the city some. Not all too shabby for one day! 

Cíarin always cracks me up with her wide eyes

Settling In

Everyone is settling in nicely. The new cows have been somewhat accepted by the locals. The Highlands are cautiously sizing them up, but absolutely no aggression anywhere. On a beautiful note Valentina and Rose have become fast friends! 

The donkeys are even getting a kick out of the new cows, no pun intended. These cows are more agile and the donkeys and them were witnessed several times trotting along the pasture. 

Our goats are still in their goat pen until Fudge and Chip are bigger, but I doubt they'll have any issue with the new cows. My goats just feel like the cows are their shade trees. 😀

Newcomers

Or should I have titled this blog "Moo-comers"?  Either way, Fur Real Farms has three new heifers. No, they aren't Highlands. Josie is a zebu/mini longhorn while Dolly and her daughter Valentina (Born this past Valentine's Day) come from a registered Dexter daddy! 

A friend of mine decided she would rather they go to a good home and offered them to me. The word is getting out about how much I spoil my animals! All three of these girls are the same size as my Highlands, so they're definitely welcome here. 

Let's hope after awhile, they'll come to enjoy my company as the others do. I know it takes patience and I'm not going anywhere. 

I'll get better shots tomorrow

My Dandy Gentleman

For the past couple of months, when it hasn't been raining, I've been working with Dandy. I might have mentioned this before, but there's a development. Instead of using a halter or rope of any sort, I've been training him to walk by my side. He's been doing great with that, but today he went one better. 

He knows I like to see all my animals. First, he walked with me to see Fancy and Patches. Both of those girls were irritated by flies and other than some quick petting, wanted me to leave them alone. He joined back up with me to walk to the cows. He stayed a respectful distance to allow me to pet all the cows I wanted. Plus, to take all the pics I wanted. When the cows started to crowd me, as they sometimes do when there's several of them and only one of me, Dandy swept in and led me to the goat pen. No joke! 

I pet the goats to my content, they're all doing great, and Dandy then walked me all the way "home". To the front gate that I use. He dropped me off and turned around to watch my back. Seriously, I was so touched! Patches used to be my main donkey, but Dandy is giving her a run for her money! 

Doesn't Maesie look pregnant? I wish I knew!

Cow Rustling

I can now officially say Rob and I have rustled cows! A friend of ours has two Highlands she needed help moving from one pasture to another and we took on the challenge. We're not very good at it, but we got it done. Next time, as the saying goes, it won't be our first rodeo. 

We're keeping busy as we do. Rob unfortunately had to work all weekend, but we still made the most of the time we had. 

So, some not so good news. Either it's because it's summer or because of this breed, we've lost three of our ten Jersey Giants already. They're being trampled on it looks like and considering they're safely in the greenhouse, it appears they're doing it to their coop mates. I'm hoping that as they mature, they'll settle down and behave. 

That's the only dark spot on the farm right now. I'm really thinking Maesie is bred and about to give us a calf. Either that, or she's letting her midsection go way too early in life. 

Proof dogs and cats can get along

Radio Spot

This morning at the unearthly time of 7:30 am (ish), Gator and I were interviewed for our new Chamber of Commerce. It was such a fun time, well once I could hear. 

There were three headphones on the table and each one I grabbed, I couldn't hear anything, but I heard everything delayed as an echo. Gator bailed me out in more ways than one until we got the headphone situation handled. See? This is why I get great people on my team, because there are some things I'm clueless on! 

Once that issue was resolved, I had my head in the game and I think it went really well. I know this is just the start, expect me on the radio more often now! Maybe???

Gator, my hero!

Farming Woes

With all the rains we've had the last few weeks, I've heard from several of my friends that they've lost their goats and sheep. Meaning they kicked the bucket. All of ours have luckily been healthy, but I didn't realize why until a friend explained it to me today. 

In essence, we run a dry lot. We truck in the hay and y'all already know about the grains. All their animals were feeding off the grass and getting coccidia. This is a parasite that eventually can kill them if not treated. Even still, treatment or preventative measures might not be enough. 

Rob and I have talked about letting the animals out to graze on all the stuff we have growing, but now we're not going to this year. Once we get the land properly taken care of, it's only a dry lot for us. 

Fish Fry

The Lion's Club has a fish fry tonight and since I don't eat fish, I took the opportunity to talk with everyone. I'm learning now that everyone sits in cliques like they did in high school, but the groups are now divided up by where they know each other from. 

Examples, one table was completely teachers. Another table was city employees. Another table was the I think a church group. My seat was with my theater gals and some of the Lions Club. Y'all know me though, I didn't sit still for long! 

Tomorrow, Rob and I are splitting forces to take care of our commitments. He'll be handling Friends of the Night Sky while I'll be rehearsing with our newest actress to Superhero Sanitarium. Oh, but guess who's going on the radio Thursday morning?! 

Announcement

I can't believe I've (mostly) kept it a secret for this long, but now it's official. I've started a Chamber of Commerce in my town! 

The town we live in is small and it's on the cusp of going two ways. I saw the need to get everyone together in a viable way and strengthen all the small businesses we have out here, there strengthening our community. It's by far the biggest undertaking I've ever done, but who better than me? Not saying that in a lofty way, only in a spirited way. 

And yes, I'm still working on the theater. Yes, I'm going to be extremely busy, but I've got a great board of directors for the Chamber and a whole host of supporters with the theater. Together we'll get 'er done! 

Mango and I 

We're in June!

We're in my birthday month y'all! The weather is heating up, the animals get to play in the long summer days, it's a fantastic time. 

Of course, we have to get through our monsoon season before that will truly happen, but it'll be here before long. We took the overcast day today to clean out and move the RV for our new renter. Ok, I'll admit, I napped while Rob cleaned it out. I truly have an aversion to that RV now. 

This week will be busy busy. City Council meeting Monday, Lion's Club event on Tuesday and that's all I remember right now. Here's to a great start to the week everyone!