3 Heifers & A Bull Ranch

Well sitting here before daily chores in what I suppose is mid winter but as all things in Texas doesn't really tell you much. After a brutal summer, the fall was beautiful, still not much rain but just enough to keep hopeful and grasses on life support.

As fall gave way to winter per the calendar things looked to be recovering, winter looked to be mild with grasses growing and everything perking up, almost felt like spring for much of November and December. Alas, a freeze, not like 2021, just 3 days and just enough to drive all grass dormant and us to full hay feeding. The life of ranching just when you start thinking or hoping maybe some extra blessings, God let's out a laugh so you have to also laugh, or at least chuckle at yourself.

Now sitting here first of February and been raining all week and last 4 days thought the thermometer was broke as has been 38 degrees consistently. Not so nice for outdoors chores, but great time to plan, research and order spring garden supplies and yes we will be planting this month. In Texas you better start early chancing a late freeze or else the summer will get you....can you say green house in my future?

Well, looking forward to spring as everything is renewing from the grasses, spring garden, fresh batch of chicks will begin laying, and of course awaiting another nice group of calves. Will end my meandering here with a God bless everyone for all our blessing seen and unseen and may we always be grateful although at times we may be blind. May your life be blessed as our's has and 2023 be all you hope for and maybe a few surprises to keep it interesting.

Speaking of surprises I will leave one pic we were blessed with a Christmas surprise calf. We do plan better than this, but had one bull calf that let's just say wasn't fully fixed! Thank God Kelley planned ahead and we documented and as I said before, ranching will let you know God does have a sense of humor!

Well it's definitely been an interesting year. The year started as they always seem to, recovering from the holidays, looking forward to spring, and enjoying some bits of winter. Unfortunately the last bits of winter got the best of me with a complete ACL tear and months of recovery during this most critical time of year for the ranch. Fortunate for me and not so much for my wife, she is excellent at handling the ranch and did a wonderful job as we had another successful calving season.

As we entered the spring, the old saying if you don't like the weather just wait 5 minutes it will change, was NOT true this year. Once the spring rains quit, which didn't last long, God turned off the faucet in Texas and left it off while turning on the heat as he dealt with all the other world issues. Despite 60 days over 100, with index above that and rare sprinkles about every 30-45 days,. To date we are still about 18 inches short for the year!

Despite all this we are blessed with the work of previous years in our fields enabling us to hold onto our grass fairly well and blessed with another exceptional crop of calves, while hoping the grass and hay we have put away will last the winter.

While we had challenges they have been minor compared to many others. We are definitely in some challenging times here here at home and abroad. As we enter winter now, while still 90 degrees as I sit here and type this, we are wishing all our friends, family, clients and rest of the world the very best.

Five years to be more precise since my lovely wife and number one ranch hand did her initial and our only post. Where has time gone and how is it we haven't had time to post! While I could probably write a book on the activities, trials, learnings and good times this adventure has been I won't. Let's just say we have come a long way since our first chickens which followed Kelley like children and our initial 4 cows.

We have strung, I don't want to measure, untold amounts of fencing and gates, water lines, built corral, barn and also managed to remodel the old homestead while growing the herd to over 40 head...who needs some Beef!, and now have 4 grandchildren added to our wonderful mix! Hoping the next 5 years are as much fun as the last 5 have been, but maybe less fencing!

This year we have finally gotten to the point of having some stock ready for market. If you or anyone you know is looking for some quality beef, raised on good grass pastures with some being grain finished, no hormones and humanely treated....hand fed babies, let us know. From our farm to your table or your pasture. We have several available for processing this summer. Also have some cows we will be making available as we manage our herd size and genetic pool.

If in the neighborhood come and visit, pick up a few eggs, pick out a cow or just enjoy a bit of the country.

Plan on posting more in the future, really hope Kelley starts her stories as there have been many to laugh about, but as we have learned we have plenty of other things to keep us busy. Email or msg us with questions.

Here's to good eats, good health, good life and God Bless each of you and this great country!
Mike and Kelley

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Mommy Issue a new - Originally posted 9/2/2015

1/8/2016

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Some days I just have to laugh at what are now my "mommy issues" of the day. I really need to start a blog because never in a million years did I ever think that I would be living the life of Green Acres......and I wouldn't change a single thing. Those of you who know me, I'm sure it's hard to picture. It just proves that you really can teach an old dog new tricks!

Here are few examples.........

our new cows have a runny nose and diarrhea......yes, this really is a concern! As in when your children had the same issue.
I have a crazy chicken who thinks she is a dog and follows me everywhere, likes to ride in the mule, thinks its okay to lay eggs in my garage, attempts to sneak in the house with my real dogs, if I am in the house....she finds the room I'm in and pecks on the window constantly.
last week I had hives EVERYWHERE due to cutting our rear pasture and apparently I am allergic to hay!
This is the icing on the cake......A few months ago we were burning limbs and the wind changed as I was throwing some on the pile and I fried my hair on one side of my head!!! I kid you not! My hair dresser really got a kick out of that story. Apparently, my girls love to share this story with their kiddos at school.
I have become Annie Oakley with a shot gun.......you have to protect your critters!
Mike Kincade is a smart guy, he knows when he has something good going on with his "hired hand" and doesn't even complain too much when I almost blow up his new tractor. As I told him, there were no flashing lights or warnings that it was overheating!!! After all he is responsible for keeping all the equipment in working order!

I hope this allowed you to have a good laugh, because I certainly laugh at myself daily!

That is all for tonight. Life is good! And please remember to laugh at yourself. If you can't find anything funny, I'm sure my next post will have something that will bring a smile to your face!

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and so it begins

Mid Winter Texas

What a year

Been a while...

Mommy Issue a new - Originally posted 9/2/2015

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