Everyday Ordinary Life

Not much happening.  Days are longer, warmer... Just enjoying the wildlife I encounter when I feed the horses and watching the sunsets.

June 9

Cloudless sunset yet it made for a beautiful view with the Grand Ole' Lady.























June 10

Western King

June 11

Robin

June 12

Look closely. The black cat is following a roadrunner that is on the top rail of the pipe fence. Of course the cat never got close.

The same Roadrunner made it to a tree.

They are very interesting birds and make a very unique sound.

Remember when rabbits were everywhere? Well, I don't seem them very often now so I get really excited when I do. There is a pair of rabbits that are at the barn almost every evening. They just make me smile.

June 13

Ebony on the hunt again. The Mocking bird escaped 😊.

Dragonfly I spotted on the side of the barn.

Barn Swallows. I don't have any at my barn but I think that's because it's metal. Not sure where these guys are nesting but they did land on the utility lines at the pasture.

June 15

A scissor-tail.

Have a good one!

60th Birthday June 8

I reached another milestone birthday. The big 6-0! Because of Covid I didn't have a big celebration.
Vanessa was very creative and contacted a sign company to decorate our front yard. That was an awesome surprise!

This picture was taken later in the day when there was more light on the sign. I think the details show up better.
Vanessa has friends who have this sign business. Whatever the occasion they set the signs up in the yard for the day then retrieve them at the end of the day. Pretty cool! These signs were really popular in May with all the graduations.

I took off work that morning so I could ride while it was cool. I planned for a week to go ride on my birthday. I was going to ride at the State Park. I have a pass but with the Covid restrictions you have to reserve a day pass online. It took me a week to try to get that done and still didn't get it accomplished! Thankfully I still have a few connections. Pastor Kirk told me I could ride on his place.

It was cool that morning but the humidity was almost the same as the temperature!

Everything was pretty and green. Pastor Kirk's property has lots of up and downs and some places that are really rocky. Fancy got quite a workout.

We rode mostly next to a large creek that provided some good shade.

When I got off to let her get a drink out of the creek I snapped a quick selfie.

Fancy had worked up quite a sweat as you can see.












After the ride, Vanessa got a few of my friends together for lunch. We couldn't all sit together so I tabled hopped to visit with everyone. I somehow managed to not get any pictures! I was so touched that people came even though at the time of my birthday restrictions had been lifted some.

I think the part that moved me the most was this little video Vanessa put together of different ones who sent me video birthday greetings! It made me laugh and cry (happy tears)!




Overall it was a pretty good birthday despite Covid!

Have a good one!

Demolition Nearly Complete

Demolition on the kids house began two weeks ago. They had gotten a lot done but there were still some things to do. Doyle and I went over and helped them on Memorial Day. It was beautiful weather that day especially working inside a structure with no A/C. It rained nearly the whole time we were there and stayed in the lower 70's.

Doyle brought over his generator so we could have electricity for lighting and electric tools. This is the kids backyard. The concrete slab is what was their "back room" which was a closed in patio.

Upon our arrival, Keannon was talking with Remi on Facetime. I got to say hi to her. This view is looking from the door to the garage. The window at the end is the master bedroom. The kitchen is gone. It would blocked the view if still intact.

This area was their "family room" were they had their TV and video game system.

This gives you a visual of what it did look like. Remi and Grammer the day after Christmas.

Remnants of sheet rock left around the windows and corners. Keannon and Vanessa just had new windows put in sometime last year. The window company is coming out this week to remove them during the restoration process.

 Kennedy helped some too!

Doyle is in what was the master bedroom and Kennedy is in what was Korin's bedroom.

Vanessa pulling nails.

Keannon and Vanessa.

The fireplace is going away. When they did use it there were always issues of the house being smokey. It wasn't used enough to take up so much space. The plan is to go back with built-ins for storage. The front door to the house is in the right of this picture.

We did manage to get all the nails pulled. It was quite a day!

Concrete guys came Tuesday to set forms. Plumbers coming to do what they need to before pouring concrete. At least the ball is rolling!

Kids are going to move back into the Peanut Palace until restoration is complete. The insurance company would pay for them a place to live but the way I understand it that amount would come out of their settlement and they wanted all that could to go into the house. They are moving in this weekend so once again they will be our neighbors and probably at our house most of the time. As hard as I know living in a small place will be I also see the potential for making more wonderful memories having them that close!

As devastating as all this is Vanessa is going to get the things she wanted in a house.

I'll keep you posted on the progress!

God Makes the Best Bouquets

I went on another wildflower excursion the next evening April 21st.

These are also Indian Paint Brushes but not the usual reddish orange color.

I love this mix of flowers naturally put together.

The China Berry tree at the horse pasture bloomed drawing butterflies. I absolutely love the fragrance it dispenses.

I just love Spring!

Have a good one!

Beautiful Flowers 4-20-20

I heard about a great stand of Bluebonnets and Indian Paint Brushes just West of town so I went to check them out. This is one place that I had never been to. I don't know how I missed it.
It is a cemetery and there were Bluebonnets and Paint Brushes in abundance.

All the land surrounding the cemetery had Indian Paint Brushes covering the ground making a beautiful blanket of an reddish orange.

I had a great time. It is just so beautiful!



Have a good one!