Journal Update-Spring is here!

Spring is here. The trees are still in transition, most live oaks have dropped their leaves and new ones are coming out, the oaks have all budded and leaves well on their way on them as well. The grass has turned green and have been cut for the first time. The wild verbena is coming out everywhere and I hope it's as pretty as last year. Not as many bluebonnets or other wild flowers as yet though. We did get 1.2 inches of rain this week, that will help with everything.

I'm a little late hanging the hummingbird feeders, but did so today. I had just hung the last one and stepped back when a hummer flew past my ear to check out the feeder. Wasn't 10 seconds before it was found. They found the others within minutes.

I was repairing some fence up on the mountain pasture and saw the three-legged deer up near the fence row (on the house side) this morning. First time I've seen it that it wasn't at a feeder. It may stay up in that corner all the time. It's really a big deer too. It moved away, but wasn't in a real hurry.

We have friends last weekend and used the new camp fire area on Bobbys Bluff to cook steaks. It was very nice. We've been cleaning cedar from that area, moved the fire pit, and I've ordered some grates so that we can cook out there more often. It's close to the house and you have a good view of upper Gary Creek valley.

We're putting out the begonias and hibiscus this weekend. I'm also going to plant one tomato plant in an elevated tub. The mint planted two years ago is doing great and has taken over the area were I had previously planted tomatoes.

Some of the goats have broken through the fence onto the county road several times in the past two weeks. The goats love the prickly vines that start coming out along the fence row roadway. I really need to replace that fence.

Nice Rain

Nice rain. We had 3" over the course of day.

Journal Update

We've been away for a week, Thanks to the neighbors for feeding. All seems well. All goats present. Took a while to fill the bird feeders and deer feeders. Looks like the wild animals missed us: feeders on the ground, overturned rocks, etc.

The grass is greening up well. Spanish oak trees are budding. The Live oaks are beginning to lose their leaves. It will be a transition for a few weeks as far as trees go. Looks like we got some rain, there was over .5 still in the rain gauge.

Brrrrrrrrr........

Another cold snap. We had about 1/2 inch of snow early Thursday morning. They had a lot more snow north of us this week. Still really typical though. Very cold in mornings and warming up during the day. Certainly too soon to put out any plantings. It's been below freezing almost every morning. The fountain has frozen many times this winter.

Deer active around the house. The grass is coming up and they seem to like the bermuda so they are there every morning.

Another .5 of rain, but still very dry overall and still a burn ban.

Notice the new growth on the live oak trees from last year.

Journal Update

We have had some very cold mornings and beautiful afternoons this week. Also .5 of rain when a weather front came through. Overall it is still very dry.

We did see the three-legged deer this week. She was in the back browsing on new grass coming up in the yard. Yesterday morning there were five bucks together in the back. Interesting to see them together as a group. Birds are very active, seeing 6+ on the feeders at a time.

Nothing too exciting happening on the mountain. Did help get some neighbors horses from the road back to their pasture. I also had one of the small goats in road as well. I think I found the hole she got out of and repaired it.

Journal Update

Same winter type weather. Some days nicer than others. We did get .50" of rain. We are really dry and the tank is completely dry. I should scrape the bottom while I can. Still a burn ban and it has also been windy most days. No grass yet, but you see some green beneath the thatch.

The goats are doing well, the little ones are getting big. The male is starting to get larger than the girls. There are lots of birds on the feeders and a lot more squirrels as well. Looks like the wildlife are coming back. I did hear strange noises toward the mountain pasture so walked up there very late. I didn't see anything odd although I did spot several blue eyes reflected in my spotlight. It turned out to be deer. The stars were absolutely beautiful in the cool crisp air.

Journal Update

The weather is getting a little better. It's cold overnight, but warms up during the day. We received .6 inches of rain early yesterday morning which was needed. Its supposed to get cold again in next few days so I filled the stock tanks and filled all the bird feeders. I have seen deer, but I've never seen the 3-legged one again. I also saw the first fox of the year since last post.

Goats are doing well. Momo got into the county road somehow. When it warms I need to work on that fence again.

The county has been working on the county road again. Someday it will get paved, but it is a mess and has been for well over a year since they began working on it.

Roadrunner

Recall this time last year when we had too many foxes. I haven't seen any fox this year. Yesterday I did see a Roadrunner in front of the house where the previous Roadrunner used to hang out for several years before the fox problem. This one isn't as big so I assume it's a young hen looking for home territory. It's welcome. It took a while to get used to the old Roadrunner pecking on the front window of the house. It would really give us a start as it's a very loud noise. It's like someone beating on the glass with a coin. We did get used to it and it would run away as soon as it got our attention. Always the same window too. It may have just been saying hello. Very interesting and I did miss him last year, glad to see one is back, but she doesn't have to knock to say hello.

Journal Update

I didn't mention the goats in last update. I wanted to get a photo first as the kids are getting so big. They seem to stay in individual family groups now where as before all eight kids would stay and play together during the day. They still do somewhat, but when they move or browse they now stay in three family groups. At least all the kids have a mother or big goat with them. Momo is the one in the foreground of the photo. Note her horns. Good form and tail. She looks like she will be a good goat. That's goat feed that you see on the ground.

Very windy today. Some weather fronts have come through, but all the rain has stayed north of us. We could use some rain.

Journal Update

It's been the same cool winter weather until yesterday when we had a beautiful day with a high of 73°. A great day to get caught up on some chores. I did some trimming of cedars which have grown into the roads and trails. Then cut a big cedar and used it as a rake to sweep the gravel roads. The tractor is starting and running very well for not being used much over the winter.

I've noticed some very early signs of spring. Clover is coming up in several places along with something that looks like chickweed. No buds on trees yet. The goats stay up on the mountain longer so something may be coming up.

I saw the first Cardinal of the year on the water fountain today. May be time to set out an early Hummingbird feeder.

I saw something very unusual early this week. A three legged deer. I'll spare the details, but it had no use of a rear leg. Walked fairly well although oddly and didn't seem stressed. It never saw me, but disappeared when I went to look a second time so I guess it can move fast when needed. I have no idea how it is surviving, but as I mentioned I haven't seen signs of any predators lately. I'm not keen on culling deer as I let hunters do that, but this needs to be done. Because of the obvious handicap I thought I would start seeing it around the deer feeders, but I really haven't seen it since. I can't imagine it being able to jump a fence, but maybe it does.