Wanna Be Hobby Farm Girl

I want so badly to be a Hobby Farm Girl.

It is actually one of my goals.

I have a good start!

Well...

I think I do!

Or...

DID!

I've got the chickens and ducks.

I incubate eggs each year.

I raise baby chicks.

I sell the Farm Fresh Eggs.

We all know I've got the canning and jelly making down.

I've got the berry bushes, the plum thickets, and the fruit trees.

I'm not known as the Jelly Fairy for nothing!

I've acquired a horse.

His name is Stormy.

We get along really well.

We've always got calves in the lot.

As for pigs, goats, and sheep...

I'm not sure I am ready for those,

BUT

I want a lama and a mini donkey!

I have hopes, plans, and a huge desire to put together a few raised beds.

I want to plant enough veggies for my family, and have enough to share with a few other folks.

I have goals in the garden area, but I'm not so sure I'm ready to share those yet.

I have found a passion for refurbishing items, refinishing furniture, and an expression of what I call crafts and decor.

This morning was living proof that God made me a Rancher Girl!

We have had a really wet and ice type winter.

It has gone from 60 degree days to below 30 degree days over night!

I can't tell you the amount of rainfall we have had.

Side note...

When you pray for rain,

You've gotta deal with the mud!

No one, on the ranch, is complaining about the moisture.

We have had more ice, than normal, this winter.

Just this week, we got our first real snow.

We got a couple of inches.

But with the Oklahoma temperatures,

The snow didn't last long.

The snow was enough to make me "over" winter and want to Spring Forward NOW!

Yes...

We do Spring Forward this weekend.

Anyway...

Back to my reality check of the morning.

When the sun came up,

I opened the blinds.

I look out to the chicken pens.

Chickens are meandering around, scratching, and pecking.

They are enjoying their morning...

OUTSIDE THE CHICKEN PEN!

Yep!

I failed to lock them up in their coop last night!

On to my second reality check of the morning.

We have two bunnies.

Peter and Paul

We acquired them a little over a year ago.

They have been great pets.

They actually set with Flower Boy and watch TV in the evenings.

We have had them inside, during the extreme temperatures.

I have turned the enclosed dog kennels into their temporary housing.

It works really well and the bunnies have been safe and warm.

The bunnies outside house is a castle, with tons of space below as a yard.

When we are home, they have an extended yard beyond the castle.

They thoroughly enjoy their space.

It gives enough room for them to exercise, as well as space for visitors to get in and play with the bunnies.

SO...

Today is suppose to be near 60 degrees, with sunshine.

It is a good day to put the bunnies outside.

Flower Boy takes them out, just after I realized I hadn't put the chickens up for the night.

He heads off to work.

I continue getting ready for work.

I enter the kitchen to prepare my lunch.

As I look out the window,

I see Paul, the black bunny, in what appears to be, in the outside pen.

The one they get to go in when we are home.

On second look,

I see Paul scampering across the yard, towards the chicken pens!

I run to my phone,

Call Flower Boy

"You have to come home! Paul is, in the yard, hopping towards the chicken pens!"

Drewman jumped away from whatever he was doing.

He had class or a meeting at 9am this morning...

We ran outside,

Chased Paul around the yard,

And finally got him back into the Bunny Castle!

Well...

Here's the "How did he get out?" answer.

Bunnies burrow.

They make deep holes in the ground.

These holes help to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

With all the moisture this winter,

Peter and Paul's burrow collapsed and left a gaping hole under their fence.

Paul, being the investigative bunny,

Quickly found the hole!

The hole is now covered and/or filled with a grill propane tank.

I hope Paul doesn't dig enough today or get past it!

Needless to say,

I did not get my lunch made.

I was only 4 minutes late for work.

I'm pretty sure Drewman made it to his 9am.

AND

Flower Boy didn't have, to turn around, to come back home and help.

All in the goals of a Wanna Be Hobby Farm Girl!

Thank You, God, for making me a Rancher Girl!

We are in the mist of calving season!

Babies are being born every day!

I LOVE MY LIFE!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

   

A Wee Little Bit of Bloat

Bloat:

Verb - Make or become swollen with fluid or gas.

Noun - A disease of livestock characterized by an accumulation of gas in the stomach.

Well....

That is today's Rancher Girl Social Media Topic.

I'm on vacation, and thank goodness I am!

We've got a little gal suffering with bloat.

She is a wee little bit, maybe all of 300 pounds.

She should probably still be nursing on her mother.

BUT....

She came in a package deal with a group of young ladies purchased for Miss B.

(I will blog about that purchase at a later date.)

Wee Little Bit has been doing fine.

She has been eating hay and grain, for almost a month.

She has held her own with the larger calves.

She has shown no signs of distress.

 Bloat can easily occur, in cattle, when there is a change in food supply, water source, different type of hay, and even temperature change.

On Sunday, there was a significant temperature change.

That's when Wee Little Bit had a set back.

She bloated!

Cattle have 4 stomach chambers.

The rumen is the largest  stomach.

Most bloat occurs in the rumen.

Gas builds up and the bovine can't pass it.

It is easy to see, as the left side of the cow will be extended.

They will often have very rounded, balloon like, mid sections.

It will be high along their backs.

The pressure can cause distressed breathing.

If not addressed, the animal can die.

When we went out to feed the calves, 

Wee Little Bit didn't get up to come to the feed bunk.

Upon first observance of her,

"She's bloated!"

I quickly mixed baking soda and warm water into the drench bottle.

Flower Boy gathered necessary preventive medications.

We headed back to the pens.

Got Wee Little Bit into the chute, and placed the soda water down her throat.

 We let her out and walked her up and down the alley.

After several trips up and down the alley,

Her mid section looked like a hot air balloon!

She started bawling and struggling.

Flower Boy:

"Babe, I think we are losing her!"

Me:

"Get a needle in her!"

Taylor, Drewman's girlfriend, ran to his truck, grabbed a 3/4" 16ga needle, and it was inserted in Wee Little Bit's mid section, directly behind her rib cage.

I ran to the house for a longer needle.

As a rancher, you always have necessary items on hand for any type of emergency.

I arrived back at the pens, with the 1 1/2" needle, just as Wee Little Bit was being relieved of the pressure.

We placed a bottle of bloat medicine down her throat, with the drench bottle, and headed into the house for a few hours.

Upon recheck, Wee Little Bit was much better.

Monday and Tuesday, we administered her doses of probiotics.

She was taken off grain, and has had dry hay and fresh water.

This morning, Wee Little Bit started bloating again!

I inserted the 1 1/2" needle, and called Flower Boy to bring more bloat medicine.

More meds have been administered.

Wee Little Bit has walked, moved and rested all afternoon.

As for me, I have spent more time in the pen, with her, than I normally would.

I'm a wee little bit worried about her!

She is still bloated, but in less distress.

Flower Boy will be home in a wee little bit.

We will insert a tube, down her throat, into her stomachs.

This will release the gas that the needle can't get.

We will also place mineral oil into the tube.

This will help in keeping the gas down and somewhat coat Wee Little Bit's stomachs.

All on a vacation day!

And people wonder why we don't leave the ranch much.

Things happen!

It's the life we live!

It's the life I love!

There is no other place I would rather be!!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

Texture Tuesday - Glass Blowing

Last Tuesday was That Special Aunt's Birthday!

Amazing Cake!!

For her birthday, six of us took a glass blowing class.

 Gather the glass on the rod.

 Flatten the first gather on the table.

 After the second gather, dip the molten glass into the first color glass.

The first color will be your base color.

 Move along to the second color.

Tilt the rod up and push the molten glass into the color as you turn.

This color will be your highlight.

 So many colors to choose from!

 Fire the colors into the molten glass.

Take a deep breath and blow.

It is much harder than you think.

 Just a little bit more.

Our completed products

Aren't they beautiful!?!

 

It was a perfect day!

If you are in Oklahoma,

You should check out

Blue Sage Studios

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

 

Moo Cow Monday ~ The Places We Go

It started as a typical Thanksgiving weekend.

Trucks break down.

Spend 4 hours on the phone to get the lifetime warranty, of the part, provided.

Tractor won't start.

It might need new batteries.

Covered up in work, chores, and repair.

It's just our life!

For the past several years,

We have always tried to do some Black Friday Shopping. 

We normally sell cattle in November,

So it just makes since to replace a few or add to the herd.

Daddy always said "Grow slow! Don't get in over your head!"

Most of the weekend, when we weren't working on things,

We were, on our phones or the computer, searching for the perfect deal!

It was late Saturday evening.

Well, it was dark anyway.

It could have been 5:30PM.

We found it!

Flower Boy made the call.

Sunday morning, we were off!

Flower Boy

And Princess Sheba 

We never leave home without her!

Snacks were packed.

Some were purchased!

 We all had our favorite!

Sweet Tea and Chicharrones for Flower Boy.

Beef Sticks for Princess Sheba.

Frosted Mini Wheat's and Dots Pretzels for myself!

We had decided to take back roads.

You know, the highways from yesteryear.

Those that are less traveled.

We had nothing but time, 

As we normally consider these type of trips

A DATE!

We even have a road trip CD!

If you follow us on social media,

You know what we sing!

We hadn't driven 30 miles, and saw this!

Just a herd of horses and donkeys out for a Sunday Stroll.

They were prancing, down the highway, like they were on a road trip too!

We entered towns named

Wapanucka

Kinefic

Bokchito

We passed places like

Stubby's Way

A fueling station that didn't have a store or a clerk.

Ma and Pa's Store where they sold antiques and plumbing.

We even found an old military fort!

Fort Washita

It's the fort that protected the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations from the Plains Indians.

The post was abandoned by Federal Forces during the Civil War.

Confederate Troops burned the structures at the end of the war.

Fort Washita will be a place we re-visit!

As we were making the final leg, of our journey, towards the Red River,

We came upon this!

I got a bit nervous!

Can you see the curve in the road?

Yes!

That one, just past the bridge?

You see, we were pulling a 32 foot trailer!

The truck and trailer are almost 45 feet long, in total.

Flower Boy made the curve with ease!

The places we go!

Within two hours, of arriving at our destination, 

We made out picks, loaded, and headed back home.

It was a quick trip.

The back roads of Oklahoma never disappoint!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

PS.  It was too dark for cattle photos. :-)

8 Years...

8 years... 

In April, our journey began.  

It started with nosebleeds and not feeling well.

You knew.

I did not.

8 years...

In August, you arrived at my door.

You handed me a package.

"This is not the way I want it, but you will do what needs to be done."

It was a secret you asked me to keep.

You knew.

I did not.

8 years...

The day after the package delivery.

I received a phone call.

"Your dad has collapsed!"

I rushed to your house.

I got you in my car.

I made the quick decision to drive you to the local hospital.

I knew had I driven you to the larger one, they wouldn't send us to the big city.

My decision was the correct one.

Within the hour, you were loaded into the ambulance and we were off.

Your driver was one of your life long friend's son.

He told me "Put your flashers on and stay right behind me!"

I had a 1/4 tank of fuel in my car...

(I never told you that)

We arrived at Mercy.

I parked the car.

I followed you into the Emergency Room.

The nurses and doctors flooded me with questions and paperwork.

I provided all the answers.

I was your primary caregiver.

I still didn't know.

8 years...

That very night, I slept in your Trauma ICU room.

The nurses never questioned your request.

They brought me a bed.

They placed it next to yours.

I even got heated blankets.

I didn't sleep.

You knew.

8 years...

That week, Aunt Lois called.

"Your Uncle Jim is headed down with the motor home."

I spent time in there, but most of my time was in the Trauma ICU next to you.

Aunt Lois knew.

I did not.

8 years...

Almost a week in the Trauma ICU.

You asked for my help.

You told me to go buy a notebook.

(I still have it.)

I was scared and said "I'm not ready! I need more time!"

You assured me "By the Grace of God, you will be ready."

You knew.

I did not.

8 years...

I cried.

Although, I didn't like horses,

"I climbed on the horse and prepared for the ride."

We both knew.

(By the way, I have a horse now.)

8 years...

Over the course of 3 months, you were in and out of Oklahoma Heart Hospital.

I knew your nurses by name.

They even reserved me meals.

I spoke regularly with your team of doctors.

They even called me on the phone.

It would be early morning, middle of the day, and even into the night.

I would walk into the hospital and open your room door.

We would talk.

You would sleep.

I would write your requests, my wishes and prayers, and our plans for the future.

I made promises.

You asked me to keep things to myself.

I knew.

8 years...

I was running 5K's.

I ran from a pain I didn't understand.

I ran for a cause.

I hated Congestive Heart Failure like most people hate Cancer.

I ran for peace.

I ran for comfort.

I ran to breathe.

I ran to clear my mind.

I ran to know.

8 years...

It was a Friday.

After procedures, too many to count, we made the decision for a final surgery.

Your doctors discussed the risk.

You were told "If we move you over to the by-pass, there is a 90% chance we can't bring you back."

You agreed to move forward with the surgery.

I spent the entire night with you.

We finalized the notebook.

I made you one last promise.

"No more than 24 hours"

You asked me not to cry.

I was ready.

I knew.

8 years...

Over the weekend, I had words with the boys.

I attempted to let everyone know.

Your team of surgeons flew in from across the nation.

You and I knew.

They did not.

8 years...

Monday came.

It was surgery day.

You gave me my last physical kiss.

I told you "I LOVE YOU!"

You responded "You're ready! I LOVE YOU!"

We knew.

8 years...

A nurse stepped into the waiting room.

She stood there and said "Things are going well.  The doctors had to put him on the by-pass machine. It will be a few more hours."

I got up.

I walked around the hospital.

I knew.

8 years...

That night, I spent another night by your side.

The nurses provided me with comfort and warm blankets.

They never said a word.

They just did their job, injected meds, hung bags, and watched monitors and pumps.

I stood next to you all night.

I prayed and asked for more time.

I heard God say "You are ready, just hand me the reins."

I stomped my foot!

"Dammit, Daddy! Fight!"

You tried.

The nurse asked me to continue to encourage you. 

You couldn't speak, but your eyes told me.

I knew.

8 years...

It was a Tuesday morning.

I had my package and the notebook in hand.

The time had come, for me, to fulfill my final promise, to you.

I gathered our family.

I explained your wish and my promise.

I had to do this last thing.

I promised.

I knew.

8 years...

The kids and Yo stood beside me.

I knew they couldn't watch.

Yo was tucked behind my left arm.

One by one, the nurse turned off each iv pump.

The doctor talked us through each and every action taken.

I didn't cry.

The Big Kids moved Drewman towards the window.

I grabbed the suction.

My promise was kept.

I cared for you until the very end.

I knew.

Today...

8 years later...

I will return to the spot I go to often.

(I will have to take my poncho.  It's raining here.)

I will cry.

It will be brutal.

It will be ugly.

It will be raw.

I will be vulnerable.

I will be at peace.

Jeffrey will be waiting for my return.

He will hug me.

I will breathe.

I know.

Tomorrow...

8 years later...

The sun will rise.

I will move forward.

I know.

"Grief never ends...

But it changes.

It's a passage,

Not a place to stay.

Grief is not a sign of weakness,

Nor a lack of Faith...

It is the price of love."

Daddy,

I MISS YOU MORE!

I LOVE YOU MUCH!

XOXO

Rancher Girl

A Special Project

It all started with a late night text, from Miss B's Mommy.

"I'm on the hunt for someone to build me two wooden sawhorses."

My reply

"Sawhorses?  Paw says send photos."

Soon followed this photo.

This put Paw into action!

The next day he was searching the shed for 2x4's, plywood, and trim.

Several texts back and forth as to size, height, and other specifics.

All materials were left over from the house build.

Paw was happy to provide the service, make some space in the shed, and use up some of the materials.

Mommy asked for rustic, but clean lines with a farmhouse feel.

And so the project began...

One sawhorse complete....

 And another...

Ready for paint...

Bright white, no doubt!

Now for the top!

Add some trim.

Don't forget the mark!

Paw branded the underside.

Mommy will be using the table for events not Rockin' B Ranch related.

BUT

The table had to have the brand!

It is who WE are!

Now on to the completed project.

Paw was a bit concerned about the use of the reclaimed lumber.

He had worries about the nail holes and nicks in the 2x4's, but Mommy was thrilled with the results.

The entire project was for Miss B's 2nd Birthday.

Her party was a farm party.

Very fitting for the 6th generation of The Rockin' B!

Mommy and Daddy made all the food, the cakeballs, and arranged the beautiful flowers.

The Birthday Cake!

PERFECTION!!!

We even hatched chicks for the party.

Happy Birthday Miss B!

Paw would rope the moon for you!

You hold our hearts, Baby Girl!

XOXO,

MooMaw

aka

Rancher Girl

Temperature Blanket

Many have requested I provide details on my 2018 Temperature Blanket project.

It all started with my frustration of social media, namely Facebook.

I can no longer scroll mindlessly through a list of lies, political views, hate, judgement, and drama.

I will, however, continue to post on the Rockin' B Ranch page and do my best to update Drew's EGGcelent Eggs and A Building We Shall Go's Facebook pages.

As for my personal page, no offense to my friends and family, but...

I JUST CAN'T DO IT!

I needed to find a project.

The type of project that wouldn't consume me, but could be lasting and productive.

I spent many hours searching, pinning, and debating.

Finally, I settled on crocheting a temperature blanket.

I, first, had to pick colors and set a temperature scale.

I chose to use colors close to the forecast temperature scale that Flower Boy looks at each day.

Then off I went to the local Walmart!

I didn't want to invest a large sum of dollars into this project, because I have only crocheted a small square in my entire life!

I am totally a beginner!

Once I picked my colors, I made a temperature key.

Note that we live in Oklahoma, and it rarely gets below 10 degrees.

Also note that I haven't chosen a color for 110+ degrees.

I think I've got a bit of time to decide that one.

I also added a white yarn for days that there might be snow, and the black yarn that separates the months of the year.

My plan was to crochet one row per day, with the color that corresponds with the high temperature in our area.

The temperature was an easy find.

We live within miles of a very busy airport that has two commercial flights per day, therefore they have the official weather for our area.

I just log onto the website and log down the high temperature.

I keep a log, of the temperature, because one never knows if I will get to crochet every evening.

Life happens!

Having one row per day, allows me to catch up on a weekend if I happen to not be able to crochet during the week.

You get the gist.

Right?

Now...

Here is where things get balled up!

(see what I did there... balled up... yarn ball...)

Ok...  Maybe I'm not as funny as I think. ;-)

Off I go...

Making my single chain stitch, taught by Grandma B, 4 years ago, February 1, 2014.

I'm rolling along, adding row 2 of black for the start of the year.

Then I add row 3 for January 1.

Row 4

Row 5

Row 6

Row 7

Row 8

Row 9

Row 10

Row 11

Row 12

Houston....  We have a problem!

I have produced a ruffle!

Anyone that knows me, knows I do not do ruffles and lace.

I am not a girly girl!

I am a Rancher Girl!

I reach out to My Sissy!

My exact text, followed by the above photo...

"Grandma would be so disappointed!"

You see...

My Sissy and I had a crochet lesson, with Grandma B, in her final days here on earth.

You can read about it here.

http://abuildingweshallgo.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-blessed-sisters-crochet-lesson.html

Well...

My Sissy is much more attentive, to these type of things, than I am.

Again...

I am not a girly girl.

I am a Rancher Girl!

So...

Not that I didn't love the lesson, I just may not have paid attention to detail like I should have.

Had this been a lesson on animals or outdoor life, I would have rocked it!

My Sissy paid so much attention, that she has gone on to produce beautiful crochet pieces and even teaches classes to her high school students.

She is a professional!

Of course, the encouraging sister I have, she quickly called me.

"What's going on?"

"What are you trying to do?"

"Don't get discouraged."

"Don't rip it out!"

"Did you count your stitches?"

What?! Wait?! I was suppose to count stitches???

After a very long conversation, she coached me through my options and I moved forward.

She will read this for the first time, because when she checked on me the next week, I didn't tell her what I did...

NO!  I did not tear it out and start a new.

I couldn't get the ruffle out of the bottom, of the first attempt, SO I am now making two blankets!

Yes!

TWO!

The person who has never, in her life, crocheted, has no clue what she is doing, and barley has the time to insert projects into her schedule, is NOW MAKING TWO BLANKETS!

"How bad can it be to just make another?  It's just one row per day!"

I said to myself.

"His and Hers?"

"Well you are in too deep now, so suck it up and get it done!"

I am happy to say, I have completed the month of January!

I even did it on January 31!

Plus, I got the two rows of black in, to start the month of February, for the next day!

Keep in mind, these blankets are not going to fit our king size bed, like I had in my original plan.

They will be the size, for a Maw and a Paw, to curl up with, in their chairs, while watching an evening of television.

They might even be large enough, for grand children, to build living room forts or even play peek-a-boo!

They will be perfect, regardless of my stitching ability!

The project hasn't been overwhelming.

I have enjoyed stitching each evening.

It has produced a new "Me Time", reflection, and growth.

I will post updates on my Instagram page, if you want to follow along.

https://www.instagram.com/ranchergrl/

(There is no drama there, and I rather enjoy catching up with fellow ranch folks, our family, and the like.)

I am excited to see my progression throughout the months.

I think I will get better each month too.

YAY ME!

Side note...

Drewman thinks I have become a hippy!

Booch making...

Now crochet!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl