Mountain Pink

The mountain pinks are beginning to bloom. To my relatives north of the river, the mountain pink is a native wildflower which only blooms in the Texas Hill country and only on outcroppings of caliche. They will not grow anywhere else. For better or worse I am blessed with caliche so these bloom every year about the 4th of July. Very pretty especially when you see a big grouping of them.

Weekend Update

We didn't get any more rain this week although it was overcast for most of the week. It did start drying out. The weather has been pleasant for the end of spring and beginning of summer.

I did work around the cabin this week. I wanted to move a dry creek further away from the rear of the cabin as I was able. The creek has been wet most of the past few months. As it dried I was able to do more work so it was completed this week. I made a low water crossing of the trail over the creek as well. I moved the picnic table to the top of the mountain as it wasn't getting much use at the cabin. With the new crossing and table moved, visitors will be able to park on the pea gravel next to the cabin when they visit. There's a small table inside the cabin which could be put up under the trees if guests wish to dine alfresco.

I've noticed more fawns. The does are really after the corn we set out. I guess they need the nourishment for feeding. We are going through twice as much deer corn as we usually set out for them. The young bucks are active as well. The new ones just out on their own are fun to watch. Now they are grouping together and playing and prancing, but that will change soon. The rabbits have taken to the ferns planted around the fountain. Very little ferns left. I've also noted much fewer hummingbirds this year. Maybe because of the odd weather in early spring. I miss them as the mosquitoes are more numerous because of the wet weather.

The tomatoes and watermelon are coming along. I really haven't had to water them at all. Really more worried about them having enough sun. Should have tomatoes in about two more weeks.

Weekend Update

I thought we were beginning the "summer routine" of working in the morning hours and breaking before the heat about noon each day. However it has been fairly nice so far this June. We are still getting cloudy days and rain. We had another 2.5 inches of rain this week.

We did trim cedar and clean up around the 1342 gate this week. It is amazing how fast cedar will grow. I did reroute a dry creek around a big live oak and the 1342 gate as well. Too much water coming down this year and washing away around the gate. This tree was very late in coming out this year, I'll need to keep an eye on it.

Later this weekend (after initial post) we received another 3+ inches of rain. Unbelievable!

Home Sweet Home

We are all back at the ranch following the Texas Scottish Festival in Arlington this past weekend. Looks like the animals did fine without us. They have plenty of grass. The rain gauge tells me we had 2.5 inches of rain. Several gullies in the road so it must have come down fast. Time to repair rain damage on the road and get on some projects that we have been putting off for awhile.

After a few days in the big city you are reminded why you moved to the country.

Still Raining!

We've continued to get rain through the weekend. As of tonight about 6.3" accumulation. It's come down gradually for the most part so only minor water damage to ranch roads. The tank was flowing over the spillway today. First time I have actually seen it and only second time since it was built in the 1970's. Good thing that the culverts were installed on the road last week, they are moving a lot of water. All my water diverters did very well, but I see a few more area which could use some work before the next big rains. All the dry creeks are running wet and probably will for a while.

Weekend Update

Very busy with festival work so not a lot of ranch work getting done. I did get a few burn piles burned and moved several loads of material on our road going up the mountain. It had dried out from previous rains and although it has been cool and cloudy many days we didn't get any real rain until Thursday. Last night and today it poured. We've had 3.7 inches total. Very soft getting up my road from the new material I put out, BUT the real mess is the county road. They just finished scraping off all the road material in preparation for the new road material they have been digging out of the mountain. This heavy rain has just made the road a muddy bog. Hopefully they will get this cleaned up and start the new road base soon.

It is almost June and we have only had one day that the temperature has reached 90º and just barely then. Very cool and wet spring.

I have also seen a large number of rabbits this year, Maybe we culled too many fox and bobcat last year. I wouldn't be surprised to see a big cat back this fall. I've also seen a lot of snakes out and about. I think that is because of the wetter than normal weather though.

Culvert Day

They installed all three of my new culverts at my gates today. I switched a 15" x 30' for a 18" x 30' at one gate per the counties request yesterday. The other two are 15" x 30'. Thanks to the neighbors who switched sizes with me. The new culverts look great. They will look even better when they build up the road. At one neighbors place they have cut away a lot of the mountain and have been stocking up gravel to use as road base. They've done this for a few weeks. When they finish installing the culverts I guess they will start the road base. We will have a paved road sometime this year I'm sure. Seeing this photo reminds me I better go reset my mailbox before tomorrows mail.

I have to do some road work of my own from the Sunday rain so I better get on with that.....

Weekend Update

Countdown to TSF&HG so that's keeping me busy. Terry or Caitlin bring mail from town when they go so we can keep updated on Festival mail fairly well. It is amazing that with modern technology that one can 'run' an operation such as the Scottish Festival from the country. Isn't it wonderful? Doesn't allow a lot of time working on the Ranch though this time of year.

Weather has continued to be great. Cool evenings and occasional showers. We had 1" of rain earlier in the week and a very sudden downpour of 1.3 inches about 2:00 pm Sunday. New wildflowers blooming this week would be the Thistle and the Prickly Pear Cactus (photo). The cactus will only bloom a week or so, so I've already taken some photos. We enjoy the thistle as it always blooms just before the Scottish Festival. Very appropriate as the National flower of Scotland. Most of the Bluebonnets are gone, but the Indian Paint Brush, Black-Eyed Susan, and others are looking good.

We did go to Clifton and the Tin Building Theater production of Nunsense. Caitlin was stage manager and also played a nun. Then to Waco and dinner. A big trip to the big city for Mothers Day.

More Rain

We had more rain last night and this evening. A 3.5 accumulation before this evenings big rain. I did a little tractor work during the day to move or change the water runoff. They worked well in this evenings rain.

I also had to do a little fence repair today. We had goats in the county road previous two evenings when we went down to feed. I think they were curious about that new 30' culvert pipe setting just outside their fence on the county road and found a weak spot in the fence. I set some new posts and it should be good now.

I saw that turkey hen again that I previously mentioned. She was at the top of the mountain this time, not frantic, but still looking.

1st Painted Bunting

Just saw my first Painted Bunting of the year. This is my favorite bird and many think one of the most unique in Texas. It was on the back feeder. Very colorful. I believe this is the earliest I have seen one. I thought I may have seen a Golden Cheeked Warbler the other day, but won't say so for sure. It could have been. I have some special seed for the Painted Buntings so I guess I'll put some out.

It was cloudy all of yesterday and today we did get a very good rain. Looks like 2" of rain over the past 24 hours or so. Great for the grass seed and new garden. Has to help the yard and trees as well. The drought over the past two years has been hard on a lot of the plants and trees.

I had three 30' sections of culvert delivered yesterday. Looks like they may ready to add gravel to the county road soon. I'll be ready for them when they do.