Hey ya’ll!
Hope all is well with everyone as this year flies right on by us so quickly! Ya know, my Grandmomma used to tell me, ” The older you get, the faster it goes.”, and boy, she wasn’t tellin’ a fib!
We are already so deep into Summer that we’re about to ‘Fall’ right into Fall! Lol.
It’s been a busy and hot Summer on the Ranch, with a really weird weather pattern for our area. It seemed to be patchy, but at our place the yard and pastures were brown by the middle of July! We don’t usually get ‘droughty’ weather until August, but Mother Nature had different plans this year. We were almost completely dry for a solid two months and I had to set out some hay for the cows and horses for about two weeks there towards the end of July, and I was worried!
Spring hay crop didn’t do well either. I ended up baling about 14 5×5 round bales out of our field and we usually get at least 25 in a cuttin’! I already knew I was going to have to find some hay to buy for the winter because 14 round bales was not even close to what we use throughout the winter.
Well, we finally started getting rain by the end of July and pretty consistently too, I might add. Time is flying and I am about to cut the second cutting next week, as it’s the first solid week of dry weather since the end of July! Feast or famine I tell ya!
John and I had some unexpected guests come to stay with us in June! Our Son is in the Navy and has transferred from San Diego all the way across the country to the East Coast. Different things have happened with their situation, which brought our daughter-in-law and (4) Grandkids to come and live with us for a spell!
Military life is a rough one on families and sometimes requires frequent moves. I applaud anyone who takes on the challenge and makes great sacrifices!
We are so enjoying having them there with us for a little while and are so proud that the Grands are getting the opportunity to experience the Ranch life! They seem to be adjusting pretty well for the most part and their favorite part of it all I think is PopPop! He is the biggest hit with all of them, and he is soaking it all up! Mimi (that’s me!) is also enjoying company on the tractor on occasion and helping hands to feed the chickens and fill up the water tanks for the horses and cows!
They got some baby ducks when they came and have experienced raising them up and taking care of them. Also, the dreaded lesson in the loss of life, which on the Ranch is inevitable at some point. They’ve learned that some predators are relentless and how we have to outsmart them to keep our livestock safe. They’ve learned about how to care for the ducks and how much work they can be, and they’ve done well!
They are three girls and a boy, each with their own personalities and interests.
PopPop bought them a Gocart and they all love it. Eli, like most boys, has a ‘need for speed’ when he gets on it and is quite the little dare devil. The girls all like to ride it too, but the two littlest ones prefer to ride with Momma or Mimi on the ATV.
They all had to have a pair of mud boots and cowboy boots, of course and they love wearing PopPop’s cowboy hat (when they can get it away from him).
Brooklynn is the oldest, and she loves the animals as well, but I think she has a secret love for baking! She has helped Mimi a time or two do a little baking in the kitchen.
Everyone has chores to do as well, the two oldest more so than the youngest two. They do their daily chores and Mimi pays them a small allowance. The two youngest love to help take care of the ducks and take the scrap bucket out to the chickens.
Harper is next to the youngest, and she LOVES her PopPop! She wants to be in his lap or next to him at the dinner table or tagging right along behind him when he is working. If he’s wearing his boots, she has to wear hers, lol.
Maddy is the baby and when she gets excited it shows in her whole being! I think she’s a mini me of her Daddy and definitely the twinkle in his eye. She may be the youngest, but she keeps right up with the others most of the time.
It’s been great being able to form a stronger bond and relationship with our Daughter-in-law also. They lived so far away for so long, we never really got that chance in the beginning of their relationship and marriage. She does well keeping up with all four kids but I think and hope that she welcomed some help.
The kids are all in school now and doing well. I can’t imagine how they adapt so well from school to school as they change locations, but they seem to handle it pretty well.
We are in hopes that they may stick around for Thanksgiving and Christmas! I guess we will see!
If ya’ll like following along with me to see what happens next on the Ranch or the Fire Department, contact me here and you will be added to the email list so we can stay in touch!
Until next time! Be Safe and be Blessed!