A visitor to the chicken coop

It didn't seem to bother the hen as she was laying.

After I used the water hose on it, the roadrunner finally found its way out. Then it took off...

and I witnessed how they got their name. They are VERY FAST!!!

Does this boy look sick?

Well he was and still is. Conner had to stay overnight in the hospital for the 1st time. He had a bad asthma attack. He is much better and at home. This is what his Aunt sent me from the hospital since I could not be there.
My heart was heavy to be so far away. But the little video made me feel better.

Like I was the one who needed that!

Meemaw loves you Conner!

Last Weekend

We had a wonderful sunset cruise Saturday evening. Very relaxing-not to hot! There was a skier that looked like a scene from Jaws!

Sunday I dehydrated some grape tomatoes. My garden is holding on in the Texas heat. All that is left is tomatoes and okra.

It has been a busy week with school getting started but I will catch up this weekend.

One other note, we had a little cold front and this morning it was 67 degrees at Murphy Ranch! But we know not to get excited, it will be back in the upper 90s today.

Fear

I have always been an animal lover and always had at least one dog. At some point in their lives, they send that fear through you.....the fear of loss. This past week, Sadie did that to us. Let me first say, she is back to her usual ways and getting better every day.

However, one week ago today we were not so sure. She stopped eating/drinking and we found a very large knot on her neck. We thought the worst and planned to take her to the vet on Monday. The vet quickly calmed our fears. He did not feel it was a tumor but a serious infection in her lymph nodes. Possible she had eaten something that cut her throat and caused infection. There was a possibility it could still be lodged in her throat. Sadie got 2 injections and came home. By Monday evening she was already feeling better. Since she began to eat a little, the vet had me pick up some oral antibiotics to be given twice a day. I am so happy to say that as of this morning, the knot is barely there. Therefore, what ever cause the problem in not lodged and the swelling was just the lymph node. John and I did some thinking and came to the conclusion that it must have been a chicken bone. We do not feed her that, but we do put table scrapes in the chicken coop. Sadie is known to sneak in the coop and help herself. So we made yet another change to one of our systems. Scrapes are only put in the coop in the morning when the door is closed-and never again-any type of bone. It is just too risky. Our total vet bill was $66. Thank goodness for country vets.

We are close to another change. No more free range chickens. They get on the porch, in the garage and their poop is getting to be too much. Even when they are in the yard, the poop gets tracked by us to places we don't want it. It also increases the amount of flies, and we don't any help with them. I am having a little trouble making the decision to stay in the coop all the time. I want them to get out and eat and roam. One positive would be they would be safer from predators. I keep you posted on the final decision.

UMMMMM........

I have to share this recipe

guaranteed to bring a smile to any coffee lover.

I tried it yesterday for the first time and it is AWESOME.

Living 25 miles from the nearest Starbucks

causes me to be a little creative.

So I am now making my own frappuccino! Not only are they

readily available but they are also quite a bit cheaper!

It will make 2 large servings so I put one in a water bottle and freeze for later.

• 3 cups of ice


• 1 1/2 TLBS instant decaf coffee


• 3 TLBS Splenda


• 2 cups 2% milk


• 1 tsp vanilla


• 1/2 cup heavy cream-Not really necessary but makes it creamier.

Blend till smooth and top with with whipped cream.....drink with a straw and ENJOY

Here are some options.

I have not tried them all but believe me...I will

1. Mocha-add 2 TLBS of unsweetened cocoa powder.


2. Java chip-blend in a few chocolate chips


3. Carmel Macchinato-replace the splenda with 1/3 cup carmel sauce.

Meteor Shower

EARLY Friday (8-13-2010) morning the skies were alive!
Between 12am and 345am, John and I witnessed another one of God's beautiful
mysteries-falling stars.
It was a perfectly clear summer night. We put comfortable chairs in the back of the truck. A cooler full of beverages. And drove close to the front gate in the pasture. We began counting. Sometimes 2 at a time. Before we knew it we were up to 36 falling stars. We relaxed and talked about this and that. Our dreams and wish list. We keep a wish list going for fun. Some are complete (like a home in the country) and some are just hopeful (like returned to Alaska for a visit). We held hands as we looked to the heavens, counting stars and sharing precious time. Now seems like a good time to say, it is very satisfying to know I have found my soul mate and partner in life. What a blessing. All aspects of life come with up and downs but knowing you have a partner there to share it with, is a feeling I can't explain. Some of you know what I mean.
Ok, Ok, back to the stars. After about 2 hours we moved to a spot closer to the house. Our backs were to the southern skies. About 3:30am, there was a BRIGHT light that was bright, I could see John's face. Actually I thought it was headlights on a car. But we stood up and turned around to find a bright star trail in the southern sky! It had been a HUGE falling star.
By 345am, we counted a total of 86 falling stars. The show had slowed down and we decided to head inside. I wish I could share some pictures but I don't have a camera that advanced. This will just have to be something you envision.
There is another shower coming in December.
Maybe you and your honey can enjoy the stars.

Sweet Dreams

Where does time go?

It just flys by. School starts August 23rd so I am back to full schedule, getting ready for the crowd. Actually I love my job, but I love being at home more. I look forward to the day I can set my own schedule and change it without notice.

I worked on a special project most of the summer but did enjoy a few weeks of "summer off".

My summer was spent with family

Building paper airplanes........

Keeping cool in the Texas heat....................

Fishing...........................

Sunset cruises on Proctor Lake..............

You know you have gone country when you enjoy watching the animals around the porch!

Some time spent canning bread and butter pickles, dill pickles, pickled okra, wild plum jelly and peach jelly. The garden is holding on. I water early every morning and keep saying I will pull weeds but have not. Have I mentioned how much I hate weeds!
I began a walking routine EARLY in the morning before the Texas heat takes hold. Once turning 50 happens, there are health issue that creep up. I am trying to take control with exercise and diet rather than pills. It is not easy! On my walk, it looks like a scene from Milo and Otis as I have at least 1 cat and a dog that tag along. We walk to the front gate and back which is 1 mile.

Last but not least, time spent just relaxing....

Things have been steady and calm on Murphy Ranch.

GOD is good and I am thankful.