Friday in Snapshots!

This is what we call our 'front yard.'

The clouds kept the sun from shining in our eyes so we sat on the deck with our coffee and books this morning. I love seeing Mr. Jackson's cows in the morning and then again at night.

The rhythm of the ranch is one of the things I like about being down here.

Life seems more simple here.

After our first cup of coffee, we drove down to do the critter chores.

Normally we ride our bikes but today we were in search of some firewood.

The first critter chore is to feed the ducks. I leave them in the pen to eat while I do the other chores  and then go back up there and let them out.

They head for the water.

A white egret took flight as soon as the noisy ducks arrived.

Dean told me he's been seeing a blue heron up there lately but today there was just the white one but it was pretty cool to watch it fly away.

This is Dean's barn - or the roof of it, anyway.

I love the look of old weathered tin.

We meant to drive way back there along the tree line this afternoon to explore some more of the ranch, but we never got around to it. There's a creek back there and that's where the coyotes are.

I want to go in the big white truck instead of walk.

I walked back there once last year and got spooked!

Louis Dean was looking for firewood.....

and he found some!

The meadow is one of my favorite places.

I feel so peaceful when I sit here.

We don't get much fall color in Texas.

 Mostly yellow or just plain brown.

I'll take what we can get.

BBQ is King of the Mountain today. 

Not much green vegetation there .....

so I took him half of a watermelon.

We came back to the camper loaded with firewood.

I fixed us up a big breakfast of truly fresh eggs, sausage links and biscuits.

This is what we watched while we ate and rested from our chores.

The new room was a big mess last night from Louis Dean drilling holes for the electrical wires along the window wall. Progress is messy. He didn't sleep well at all and thinks it was because he felt so overwhelmed. We fixed that today.

While he napped, I went out there and cleaned things up.

I'm going to call this my 'Seasonal Shelf.'

The rugs were a mess from all the sawdust.

I used the blower first, then the vacuum cleaner, and lastly, the water hose with the power nozzle.

And Fabuloso! All clean now!

I'd moved all the tools and such to the back end of the room and put the clean tablecloths and slipcovers on. Louis Dean was so impressed when he got up.

Once order was restored, he went right to work sorting his work tools and organizing his work area back there in the bathroom. He still hasn't done the plumbing yet. I think he may be waiting for Dean to come back.

We took a tea break and sat out on the deck again late this afternoon.

The light was golden!

I was talking to a friend on Facebook and she asked me about the ducks and I realized it was just about that magic witching hour for them. Right around 6:00 or so, if I go down to the big metal chest where the feed is kept, the ducks will hear me coming and go right over.

Sherry said that if I sprinkle a little cracked corn behind me, they will follow me all the way to their pen.

Works like a charm!

They marched in like little soldiers...all 21 of them!

There are 3 hen houses that get opened each morning and at night you just have to go down and shut the doors. Tonight 2 of the 3 were still empty when we finished the watering and chores, so we went back up to the camper for a little while.

The sun was just setting.

We rested a few minutes and then I rode my bike back down and there they all were - right where they belonged! Sherry said they all know which hen house is theirs!

Now that I have some outlets along the window wall, I put some of my little lights up!

When I come next month, I'm bringing a Christmas tree and lots of colored Christmas lights!

Summer is having a ball at Disney!

She just called and said she and Rayne closed the park down!

They are staying on property and loving every minute!

You can tell they are having a good time!

While we may not have much fall color, my friend, Jutta, in Finland has beautiful fall foliage!

I'm enjoying fall through her this year!

She sends me the most beautiful photos!

So that's our Friday!

All critters accounted for and I hope we do not get any coyotes prowling around tonight!