Most of ya'll are probably chuckling, but 1.5" makes a huge difference out here. We're thankful for every drop and praying for more because you should see how excited we get when the dirt tanks are full! :)
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Answered Prayers
If you've been reading here for any length of time, you know that I talk about rain...or the lack thereof...A LOT. Ranching in the desert is a challenge although farming and ranching is always a challenge no matter where you are since we're all so dependent on the weather. Yesterday morning DH and I both woke up at 2 a.m. when it began to rain. There was a 20% chance of precipitation, but we didn't really expect any. Often we've had 90% chances and not a drop fell. Needless to say, neither one of us went back to sleep. DH got up to watch the radar and I opened windows and lay there praising God. At 4, he couldn't wait for daylight and pulled on his mud boots, rain slicker, and tromped out the the pens with his flashlight. When he came in, I looked at him questioningly and he grinned, asking me if I wanted to know how much was in the rain gauge. When I said 'yes', he handed me his rain slicker. Funny man. I didn't get a picture until the sun rose, but we're pretty tickled:
Most of ya'll are probably chuckling, but 1.5" makes a huge difference out here. We're thankful for every drop and praying for more because you should see how excited we get when the dirt tanks are full! :)
Most of ya'll are probably chuckling, but 1.5" makes a huge difference out here. We're thankful for every drop and praying for more because you should see how excited we get when the dirt tanks are full! :)
Quite Contrary Lone Star Baby Quilt
We made a trip to town last Thursday to get a load of horse feed and calf manna and I made a detour to see Jackie. :) She had 2 quilts ready for me to take off her hands.That leaves 7 there, but I have 2 more ready to take to her so I don't know if that counts as progress or not. :)
This baby quilt was first up in the binding que:
Yes, another star using Amy Smart's tutorial for a Lone Star Baby Quilt. :) Jackie turns my little pieced tops into such pretty quilts with her quilting magic:
I seem to be on a roll with baby quilts, but my supply has been depleted and the babies keep arriving! I chose a pink from my stash for binding:
And a sweet baby girl will be cuddling with this one in a few weeks:
I think I'm making a dent in this Quite Contrary fabric:
I don't remember how much I bought about 6 years ago at a San Antonio quilt shop, and I still think it's darling, but I'll be glad when I've used it all and you probably will too because there are more quilts to come. :)
This baby quilt was first up in the binding que:
Yes, another star using Amy Smart's tutorial for a Lone Star Baby Quilt. :) Jackie turns my little pieced tops into such pretty quilts with her quilting magic:
I seem to be on a roll with baby quilts, but my supply has been depleted and the babies keep arriving! I chose a pink from my stash for binding:
And a sweet baby girl will be cuddling with this one in a few weeks:
I think I'm making a dent in this Quite Contrary fabric:
I don't remember how much I bought about 6 years ago at a San Antonio quilt shop, and I still think it's darling, but I'll be glad when I've used it all and you probably will too because there are more quilts to come. :)
Sunday, July 24, 2016
In the Garden
I missed having a garden last year and I was eager to get one planted this year. Alas, I was away at the optimum time to plant and got everything into the ground late. I didn't plant much on account of the fact that I knew I'd be away some this summer and I don't want DH to have to take care of the garden - he's got enough on his plate. He would gladly do it, but I told him it's my call. :)
I always have company in the garden who faithfully inspect the daily offerings:
refreshments included
and sit at the ready in case the plants get out of line:
as they keep me apprised of any garden shenanigans
The zucchini is producing abundantly, as zucchini is wont to do:
My squash plants were eaten by a sneaky nighttime marauder. :)
The cantaloupe
and watermelon
are growing in wild abandon. I've got lots of green peppers and this purple pepper adds an unusual and fun color to our salads and recipes:
And the tomatoes are finally producing fruit
The jalapenos are HOT this year, but we love them and I incorporate them into a lot of recipes:
I've got to bring in more dirt and get onions and potatoes in the ground and once the sweltering heat of the summer dissipates, there will be a whole slew of lettuce for our munching pleasure. I love spending time out here. It seems to be a favorite gathering place:
The one critical ingredient that is missing this year is rain. We had an inch in early June and not a drop since then. That makes for a challenging year to garden, but gardening is a challenge in one way or another every year!
I always have company in the garden who faithfully inspect the daily offerings:
refreshments included
and sit at the ready in case the plants get out of line:
as they keep me apprised of any garden shenanigans
The zucchini is producing abundantly, as zucchini is wont to do:
My squash plants were eaten by a sneaky nighttime marauder. :)
The cantaloupe
and watermelon
are growing in wild abandon. I've got lots of green peppers and this purple pepper adds an unusual and fun color to our salads and recipes:
And the tomatoes are finally producing fruit
The jalapenos are HOT this year, but we love them and I incorporate them into a lot of recipes:
I've got to bring in more dirt and get onions and potatoes in the ground and once the sweltering heat of the summer dissipates, there will be a whole slew of lettuce for our munching pleasure. I love spending time out here. It seems to be a favorite gathering place:
The one critical ingredient that is missing this year is rain. We had an inch in early June and not a drop since then. That makes for a challenging year to garden, but gardening is a challenge in one way or another every year!
Thursday, July 21, 2016
On Many an Afternooon
Yesterday we hit 21 consecutive days above 100 degrees. The record was 12. This is the forecast for the next 5 days:
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Insert sad face while praying for rain.
I usually spend time outside in the early morning hours tending to chickens, guineas, the garden, the yard, sneaking in a walk,and getting dinner together while DH works with his horses, shoes them, or rides. Our afternoons are often spent in the pickup checking waters, fence, cattle, and putting out mineral:
We stopped to fix some fence:
More fence to fix...always more fence
I'm not strong enough to to get the wire tight enough. Note to self: eat more Wheaties.
I sure hate that he's having to do this when it's 103:
This is a never-ending job, but this is where we can often be found on many an afternoon:
I'm sure glad the days are getting shorter because by the time we pull back into headquarters, the sky looks like this and we're plumb tuckered out...and ready for fall. This summer heat wears this old body out:
Chance of precipitation: 0%. Insert sad face while praying for rain.
I usually spend time outside in the early morning hours tending to chickens, guineas, the garden, the yard, sneaking in a walk,and getting dinner together while DH works with his horses, shoes them, or rides. Our afternoons are often spent in the pickup checking waters, fence, cattle, and putting out mineral:
I think this girl has the right idea:
We stopped to fix some fence:
Although in all honesty, DH fixed fence and I took pictures and handed him tools:
More fence to fix...always more fence
I'm not strong enough to to get the wire tight enough. Note to self: eat more Wheaties.
I sure hate that he's having to do this when it's 103:
This is a never-ending job, but this is where we can often be found on many an afternoon:
I'm sure glad the days are getting shorter because by the time we pull back into headquarters, the sky looks like this and we're plumb tuckered out...and ready for fall. This summer heat wears this old body out:
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