Tiny Visitors

This evening I called for Yogi, but she did not come.

It was dark and the stars where shining so brilliant.

I stood there still in the night and listened.

I could hear the cat and some rustling in a area not far from the house.

Then Yogi came into view.

She was standing in a way that I knew she had something in her mouth.

"DROP IT"

She obeyed and a high pitched sqeal was heard.

I pointed the flash light in the brush and there was a tiny little rabbit.

I picked it up and it was not hurt, just scared.

Another was heard, then another.

One by one, we ended up with 3 little visitors.

They appear to be Jack Rabbits.

Thier hind feet are twice as big as thier front.

Kelly, our Vet Tech student, gave me instructions on what and when to feed them. So as I write, they are snuggled up in a towel and hay in a box,

after having eatten a mixture with small syringe.

I don't know if they will make it,

but my honey and I will try and get them big enough to be let back into the wild. This is our first time to try this and I am afraid of what may happen,

but I will give it my best effort.

Time will tell.

The month of LOVE

February is the month of love and in the country that also means "skunk love".

You see it is their mating season and they aren't thinking straight.

Imagine that!

Many don't pay attention

and end up on the side of the road, if you know what I mean.

Then there are the skunks that are running around crazy in the woods and fields. That includes Murphy Ranch.

Yesterday, Yogi met up with one such skunk.

About 9pm last night I went out to say good night to my Yogi Bear and

OH MY GOODNESS!

The smell is unmistakable. It hurts your nose.

I simple shut the door and waited till today after work to bathe her.

I want to share with everyone the miracle cure.

Mix 32 ounces of hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup baking soda

1 TBL dish liquid

It defuses the skunk oil and POOF....no more stink....really!!

Weekend Getaway

I finished the first week at my new job.

It was very busy and full of new things but all went well.

This is the beginning of a wonderful opportunity.

When I got home Friday evening, my honey had everything ready

and we went to the lake for the weekend.

We slept late, read, watched movies, crocheted, took walks and

got caught up on much needed rest and relaxation.

Dinner with friends on Saturday night was the only outing.

Back home on Sunday to take care of a few farm chores and prepare for the week.

My honey is a wonderful man and spending time with him is always a treat.

New Beginnings....again

When I got the black top, instead of turning left....I turned right.

I headed north to Tarleton State University.

That is where I will begin a new adventure and chapter of my life.

A new job, full of new beginnings.

Full of new friends and activities.

My honey sent me off on my first day of college with a kiss and a smile.

Above Freezing

After 2 inches of snow fell last night,

the sun rose making a glisten across the pasture quite beautiful.

The sun later allowed patches of grass to peek out

as the temperature rose slightly above freezing.

Blue skies with a brisk breeze made a beautiful day in Dublin Texas.

My honey and I ventured through the mixture of ice and mud

on our dirt road to town.

It was the first time in 4 days that we left the ranch.

The weather man says we have a break till the middle of next week!

Hard Freeze

That is a term, that as a native central Texan, we possibly experience once a year.

By that I mean, one night a year.

As of today, we are into our 3rd day of a hard freeze.

Schools and businesses have been closed.

Here on Murphy Ranch it is COLD. I have to bust the ice in the animals water every few hours.

Thank goodness for the heater in the cattle tank.

This is what the yard animals water looks like.

I rigged a heat light up for the cats and Yogi, but she will not stay in there.

I guess if she gets cold enough, she will!

For the first time EVER, the pond is frozen all the way across.

The fireplace is working overtime, but doing a great job. So far we are doing good.

Everything is so quiet. We have not left the ranch since Monday afternoon.

Sometimes it feels like we are the only people on earth.

Maybe that is normal when you live in the middle of 80 acres, off a dirt road.

The entire country seems to be in a hard freeze.

Put on another blanket and Yall keep warm!