It's OFFICIAL!!!

GARDEN  2013  HAS  BEGUN!!!

It's that time of year!  Still winter, but spring is around the distant corner and it's time here in E Texas to put the onions in the ground!  Ever heard of "Noonday Onions" and the "Noonday Onion Festival"?   Google it if you're interested. You can even order an official Noonday Onion Cookbook from Amazon and AbeBooks.  I learned that the Noonday farmers around our parts plant their baby onions between Thanksgiving and Christmas for softball-sized big-uns - here's ya a link...

http://easttexasgardening.tamu.edu/industry/noonday.html

http://tastingspoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/noondayonions_thumb.jpg

http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TP&Date=20090504&Category=BUSINESS01&ArtNo=905040306&Ref=AR&MaxH=300&MaxW=330

Where we lived prior to the farm was about 10 miles from  Noonday, which is within the 10 mile radius of official Noonday Onion growing.  I suppose we're too far away now to be official Noonday onion farmers, but I'm still raising Noondays.

Anyway...  here's one of my buckets of starts.

They are about 6" - 8" tall right now.  Sometimes I've gotten them around 3" - 4" tall, but these babies have already got a good start on 'em.  I will set out about 250-300. Dad's raising them, too. We love lots of green ones so they won't all make it to maturity.  They were scheduled to go in the ground this past weekend, but it rained and was nasty outside, so I've put it off til  HOPEFULLY this weekend.  I feel like I'm late to the party on getting MY onions planted!  I'd like to get some cool weather greens out, too.  We did break ground on the garden, but still have some tilling to do - that's the plan anyhow.  Yesterday and today the temps are around 75-76. (can you believe it?)  I turned on the A/C to clear the stuffiness.  It's about 98% humidity, too.  Good ole sinus headache weather... And it swells up the old wood doors in this little farmhouse and they don't wanna shut OR open.

Shout out to Kathy B. at Cedar Pond----  it's gopher season!!!  Well, it is on Sand Flat Farm all year long, but it seems that the gophers (bless their lil ole hearts) are being very prolific here lately and it's time for me to get out there and get to trapping!  Tony has kind of designated that as MY job.  He can do it, but I guess I do it better. (Why did I do that???  hmmmm...)

The chickens are pickin' up on their laying, too!  The hideous molt is over and the days are slowly but surely getting a teeny bit longer - which makes them lay more.  I did not light their coop through the winter - just gave them a rest.  We got 6 eggs yesterday from 10 hens!  They're all laying a bit EXCEPT the Ameracaunas.  Altho they are pretty and I love the green eggs, when I go to replace hens, next time I'm hanging with the Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks.  My RIR has laid all winter long, thru the molt, AND her eggs are HUGE jumbo sized.  She's scraggly looking still, but she's the best layer I've got. I don't know if all RIR's are like that or if she's just a great layer. (I don't know - maybe I'll keep an Ameracauna - just GOT to have some green in the mix...)

Tony asked me the other day if I still liked my chickens.  I gave him a resounding YES.  They are not pets (only one of them has an official name) but I have really enjoyed them, enjoyed taking care of them and learning all about raising chickens, handling eggs and all that stuff.  I haven't asked him, not one time, to do anything for the chickens. It's been totally MY responsibility and I've been glad to do it.  Don't even mind cleaning out the coop!  I keep it as clean as possible, doing a light clean-up every other day or so and once a week a good cleaning.  When the weather warms up a bit, I'll empty everything out and wash it all down and start all over again.

Well, it's supposed to rain later today, possible storms coming this way, so...   Luckily I'm home today, I'm cutting back on work again from time to time. I'm trying to get some painting done, and am working on a couple of paintings for my husband's office.  Fossils. (He's a geologist)  Yep, that's right - fossils.  Pictures to follow in another post.

Hang on to them skirts today girls- it's a windy one!

If interested, hop over to my art blog - a few new paintings for you!

I'm A WINNER!

Lucky, lucky ME!  I entered a give-a-way over at Dawn's Comfy Corner (she's a fairly new blogger and buddy) and she sent me the news that I won!  And what a nice gift - it came in the mail yesterday and I'm so anxious to give them a try...  Seeeee?????

They are thick and absorbent and she made them very generous to scrub and wash all my dishes and pans!  Can't wait to use them.  I imagine I'll be gettin' to that shortly cuz I've got NO dishwasher other than myself and a sinkful of dirty dishes from breakfast!  Thanks so much, Dawn!  (Just noticed my "Butt Rub" seasoning for BBQ back there behind...  oops! - Promise that wasn't staged.)

In other news, my oldest son, Adam, is home for a few days to enjoy the farm, the tractor, AND most importantly - Fishing with his Pop (my daddy).  He said the rest of the spring is going to be very busy in the music industry and he probably won't be able to come home anytime soon after this.  EVEN THO it's supposed to rain torrents later this week/weekend.  He and Pop may have to find other things to do besides fish!  My middle son, the Kiwi son Josh, is a photographer, and he did some publicity shots of Adam last time they were home together...

 Josh is doing a great job, I think!  They took these photos down at the old train depot here in our town...

New topic...  about 3 years ago, a friend of mine gave me several starts of her white iris.  I spread them out in one of my flower beds behind the deck, and planted them and they've done really well at spreading and filling in and making new leaves.  They lived through our drought last summer, too.  I was about ready to pull them up and move them because in 3 years, they hadn't bloomed.  I thought maybe they weren't getting enough sun in their locale.  I even threatened them out loud that they were about to get yanked out of the ground if they didn't bloom this year.  Well, lo and behold...

THEY BLOOMED!!!

Think it was just time?  or think it was the threat???  Who knows, but I'm glad they decided to show their pretty faces!  Yes, they're all white, but I think I'll add some more colors to them.  I had intermixed them with some blue hydrangeas, but they died during the drought even tho I really babied them to no end.  So, iris it shall be!

Fruit trees are blooming their little hearts out...

My lovely onions.... Do you see some bare spots?  Well, my sweet little Gypsy decided to do some digging in the boxes.  I repaired as best as I could, but will have to get another bunch or so and fill in.  I can see some fencing in the near future around the garden, but that's okay.  The last 3 years, the coyotes ate most of my watermelons. Drat.  I've been asking for fencing since the first year, but THIS is the year for a garden fence!!!  Gypsy is one of those puppy dogs that buries her treats, her bones, her chewies, and goes back later when no one's looking to dig 'em up and eat 'em.  Another lesson from being a stray I suppose.

Kathy, you know what this means, doncha?  WAR ON GOPHERS!!!

Gypsy tries to dig them up, and if she finds one on a trap, she pulls the trap out of the ground and carries it off to eat the gopher.  Yuck.  (note to self - get worm medicine from vet...)  So... I've lost several gopher traps and at $6-$7 apiece can't afford that.  We've taken to driving a piece of rebar into the ground and wrapping a wire connected to the trap around the rebar to save our traps!  Works pretty good...

I've already caught two, and possibly 3 more that were eaten off the traps.

Ok, my peeps - love you all and I wish you the very best of weeks!  We have beauty outside right now, but rain is promised.  Only thing to deal with today is 30 mph winds!

Keep yer dress down!

Goin's On

Life's been fun around here on Sand Flat Farm.  My Nashville son left to go back this morning. Always sad to see them go, but I can't keep him here.  We had a great 10 days while he was home.  Of course, the house is a disaster - not because of him, but I tend to let everything just go by the wayside so I can spend time with the family. Plus I was injured - more to follow.  Josh and his lovely wife came over and spent lots of time, too.  And my folks.  We just partied all week long!  It was great!

My guys, all of them including the girl kid when she's here, have to go shooting while they're here. Even me!  It's fun, and we compete to see who's the best.  Stupid me didn't move her thumb out of the way when I pulled the trigger and the hammer got me - took a hunk 'o hide off my thumb.  I took a picture of my bloody stump and told everyone I shot my thumb by accident.  They half-way believed me. I was so brave - I didn't even cry.  It was pretty gross, but no worries. I only had to get 2 pints of blood. (JK) The thumb was saved to pull that hammer back another day...

I'm so glad I'm not a chimpanzee - it's been really hard not having an opposable thumb to work with, do dishes, fold laundry, cook, pull up my jeans, wash my hair this week, etc. ...  ;)

Protective ear-gear is a must. I think it's a new fashion statement.  Here they are "plinkin'" with .22's.

Adam is a bachelor still  >:-/   and so he doesn't get to eat home-cooked food much.  He eats out alot on the road traveling, so when he comes to Texas, his big request is momma's chicken fried steak, real mashed taters, green beans, and lots of thick cream gravy.  He looks extrememly happy doesn't he?  He filled his plate 2-3 times at least.  Makes a momma feel good to make her kid happy!

We've got hawg problems here in Texas, heck, they're overtaking just about everywhere I guess.  Dad's got a few hawg traps set up with feeders here.  They tear up everything and breed like rabbits.  They can ruin a good pasture of crops or hay in a few short hours.

These are baited with corn here... Dad checks 'em every day or two and he's got game cameras set up around them, too, so we can see what kind of activity is going on.  There're always 'coons and possums and other varmints, and of course deer.  But with a game camera one can see what you're up against when trapping hawgs and what times they come and how many, etc.  Helps when planning their demise.

And, with the scattered rains we've been so blessed with the last couple of weeks, the gopher situation has been on high alert.  We've gotten 9 NINE, people, during the month of October, and probably could've gotten a few more with a little more diligence.  We were busy with family stuff.  Gopher huntin' took a backseat while we were kickin' up our heels.  However, for your enjoyment, I have saved a picture of my last hunt.  Three in one morning. I think that's my new best record.  Don't worry - there's no blood.  Laid 'em out here so you can get a reallllll good look.

They thought this photo below showed their best sides...  Look at those claws.  They can really do some excavating, let me tell you!  I guess this is not very dignified to make fun of them in their present state, but oh well... I promise you they had no idea they were being set up for ridicule.  At this point, they didn't care if syrup went to a dollar a sop.

Early in the wee hours of last Wednesday morning, the motion detector light went on out in the front of the house.  It doesn't come on very often, but I saw it and got up and looked out the front window. I didn't see anything, and I'm not sure, but I think I heard a car.  Guess what I found when I opened the front door later that morning?????

THIS!

He's probably 3-4 months old.  Not very big yet.  He's not yellow - he's tan colored with big orange eyes.  Tony says his eyes look evil cuz they have a red cast to them.  I wonder if they'll eventually turn yellow?  He was a drop-off by some kind sweet soul, I'm sure. I think that's how we got our other cats, too. I guess that's what the motion detector light came on for.  Either that person dropping him off or the kitty himself.  Usually something that small doesn't trigger it, but ... whatever...

This is the 4th FOURTH cat that has been dropped here.  He's very sweet, but I'm not spending another arm and leg on a cat.  He is welcome to stay around, but with the coyotes, I don't know how long he'll last.  It's sad, really, and I don't wanna get attached to him.  I haven't even named him yet.  Josh told me to name him "Gepetto" but I think that's too long. We'll see how long he lasts and if he's coyote-savvy, then I'll contemplate neutering/shots, etc.  I love cats, but I'm allergic so he can't come in the house.

Well, I'm outa here, people.  Y'all try to have a wonderful day and keep yo dress down, ya heah?

What Should I Name This Post?

WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST TO BRING YOU THE FOLLOWING: 

(caution - not for the faint of heart or those prone to losing the contents of one's stomach... cover your children's eyes...)

If the guys on the movie "The Great Escape" had had a few of these guys, they would've made it out of the stalag with bells on.  This'un here is one of the biggest I've caught yet.  You could almost made a nice size coin purse out of him.... hmmmm....

SHOUT OUT to Kathy at Spot on Cedar Pond - Kathy, I've killed 4 gophers in the last two weeks.  When it rains (as it did a couple of weeks ago) the gophers have to do major renovations and excavations to their burrows.  It's been a long time since our last rain last spring.  It's been a long dry spell for gopher huntin'.

SOOOO,  check on my sidebar for my gopher count.  End of the year we'll tally up and see who wins our contest for this year!  No matter who wins I've got something up  my sleeve to send to Kathy!!!  Thanks Kathy, for joining in this fun game!

My daughter sent me a picture of her and her mutt.  Remi was a rescue from the Animal Shelter and he's been THE BEST DOG she could ask for.  He is so protective of her, he's sweet, and he stands guard over his owner without fail.  Half/Lab and half/birddog.  She lets him sleep on her bed, and I think I don't have to worry about somebody trying to slip in.  He uses his big dog bad bark when he hears something strange outside, but he's not a yapper.

Below is what's left of our pond.  Sad.  It was full up to the rim early this year.  If there were any fishies in it, they've been toast for awhile.  I don't know where all the turtles went.  There were tons of turtles in there.... All the brown you see are dead trees... It's a good thing we didn't have any livestock this year.  We'd be out looking for old bathtubs or stock tanks to pump water to them.

For comparison, here's a photo of what it normally looks like...

That's old Jake out there swimming... may he rest in peace.  My husband bought him a granite headstone to put over Jake's gravesite.  Wasn't that sweet?   He was a great dog...

What's going on in  YOUR neck ' o ' the woods?

Ready...Aim... TRAP!!!

It's gopher season!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (rubs hands together with an evil grin...)

I'll be back with the results................

EDITED TO ADD:   Gopher count September 1 to date - 3

The VERMIN-ATOR - ME

Don't know if you remember, but Kathy at Spot on Cedar Pond and I have been having this contest in 2010. She and her husband, Jim, have huge moles that run amok under the surface of their lawn and garden areas.  Tony and I are overrun with gophers digging holes and leaving big mounds in our lawn and pastures, too.  With either one, a person could trip and break and ankle or something if you step on or in one of these huge mounds.  So we decided to have a contest!  The COUNTS are down on my sidebar, and Kathy also has one on her sidebar.

Well, guess who won?  ME, that's who!  And Kathy decided that I should have a prize -

Look what she sent...

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS !!!

who even know that there was a game like this???

AND LOOK HOW IT WAS ADDRESSED!   That Kathy - is she somethin' or IS SHE SOMETHIN' ???

I think I can handle this game ok.  Ages 4 and up...

See, it has these cute (?) little varmints - moles or gophers - take your pick.  They pop up with little hard hats on - different colors - and when your color pops up it lights their hard hats, and you have to BOP them on the head!  I just wish it was this easy to take care of our real gopher program!!!  Kathy, this game is so cute! Isn't blogging fun!  I've met some of the nicest, sweetest and FUNNEST people EVER!

Stay tuned to 2011's varmint contest!!!

In other news....

We got a light dusting of snow last week.  It was nice, and didn't last long, so I hope that's all for the year...

It snowed more at the farm than at our own house!  Weird...  I'm ready for spring!  My daffodils are trying to come up...

Nothing like the nice snow we got last year on February 12.

Have to get a pic of Princess shivering in the snow. 

This one was kinda cool.  I sent it over to PIKNIK to edit and made it kinda grainy. 

Well, my friends. Tomorrow is Sunday, and I'm looking forward to meeting with all the saints for worship.  I hope you all are doing the same.  Have a wonderful Sunday and time with your family and loved ones.  I'll ketch ya on the flip-side.

Yours truly,

THE VERMIN-ATOR

Gophers and my Not-So-Farm-Cat Alice

WE GOT SOME RAIN  MONDAY!  After about two whole months or longer with nary a drop!

Goin' gopher huntin' today... several new mounds have popped up around our place since it rained.  They have to remodel their runs after the rains.  And since it practically hasn't rained most of the summer, they've got some major overhaulin'  and cleanin' out to do.

Above - here's the one from last spring that I sported as a hood ornament on my car...

Anyway, that's what I'm doin' later on today.   Dear Daughter, if you're readin' this, just look away and shake your head in disgust and you can be embarrassed all you want.  I'm sorry, but your mama is a true country gal at heart - I know you'd like me to be a little more refined, but sorry, it ain't gonna happen in this lifetime... Ok, it's evening now, and I set out two traps - will check them in the morning.  Alice was following me around while I was digging in the mounds and setting the traps.  She like to have got her little paw squished in the trap.  I jerked it out of her reach just in time!

AND since Alice the cat hasn't been much of a mouser or gopher-er yet, I guess I gotta do it.

Speaking of Alice, I was really put out with her yesterday.  In addition to gophers, we've also got moles.  Since the rain on Monday, there are little runs all over sections of the back yard.  Well, I was poking around in one of them and she came over trying to see.  Then she proceeded to dig a little herself and started sticking her clean white front legs down into the runs up to nearly her shoulder and reaching as far as she could into their tunnels.

"Oh Great!" I thought, "maybe she's decided she's going to hunt and kill gophers now! That would be wonderful!"  Well, she dug around and felt all down in the runs and smelled and sniffed and acted all excited!

Then she turned around, squatted and did her job in the mole run!!!  That little toot!  Didn't even bother to cover it up either - just took off runnin' like a baboon!  And here I thought she was gonna make a good outdoor gopher/mole cat!

Which brings me to my next question...  I've had cats all my life, mostly indoor cats.  I had one big ole Siamese Tomcat named "Bandit" that was in and out.  I'm sure Alice can find a place to stay warm, but I'm a little worried about her I guess.  I don't want to have a house or box for her because I'm afraid she'll get trapped in it if a coyote or something came sniffing around. I'm not sure what to do about it. I think she still gets up under the house, but I want to have a safe and warm place for her during the winter.  Got any ideas?

What do you other outdoor cat owners do during the cold weather?  I see other cats outside in bad weather and I'm sure I'm just worrying too much.  But see, I get attached and always start babying my pets.  I wanted a "farm cat" and now I've got one.  I just want to feel good about her having a safe place outside...

So  ya'll tell me what you do with your outside kitties!

Remember to pop over to Margo's Industrial Chic linky party to view all the cool decor AND to see what prizes she's offering!

Special Announcement!!!

We interrupt the preceding broadcast to bring you a special announcement ~

I'm also going to put in my disclaimer right now before this post.  In case of negative feedback or FBI agents at my door or special liasons from P*TA, let me guarantee you that the photos that you are about to view were taken 48 hours after the demise of the subject herein represented. May contain disturbing (and funny) images so if you are squeamish, please feel free to avoid this post. Subject has been accused and convicted  of confiscation of grubs and/or other sub-terrain flora and fauna and is also liable for destruction & sinking of structures of pier & beam sort into the ground, and the occasional broken and twisted ankles of person(s) treading upon above-ground terrain. The convicted felon was found dead Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. in an underground maze shared by his co-horts.  Cause of death was a steel trap. The names have been omitted pending capture of family members who are also involved in this case...

Do I dare?

Can you handle it?

Just having a little fun here.

Mr. Gopher and his kith & kin are chewing and digging and ruining my yard, so I am exposing him posthumuosly (?) to some public ridicule.  He never knew a thing...

Well, here goes the first one...

Ok here is the culprit.  Would you take a look at those claws and teeth??? Man, they can really do some major damage here.  I laid him up on the hood of my car so it would make a good contrast. Looks good, don't you think?  See - no blood.  He's very cute actually - just looks asleep.  If that makes you feel better, well that's okay by me.

Do you see those little pockets on the sides of his face?  They're outside pockets.  He stuffs grubs or whatever tasty delight he's found in his digging into those pockets and pulls it out to munch on it later on. Can you see what he's got?

It's part of some kind of bug - maybe a piece of grasshopper - nope, can't be - it's not grasshopper season yet.  That won't come til about July or so... Guess it's some kinda grub or something - but it doesn't have a head. I guess Mr. Gopher ate its head off already.

Let's see what else he's been upto.  I think I missed him a couple of times because he's been travelling incognito -  (see next photo)

He's been posing as a hood ornament on some smaller foreign cars.  Hangs on tight with them claws...

Then he tried psyching everybody out pretending to be a squirrel or perhaps even a plum blossom. He better re-think that last alias - not workin', buddy.

Next, Mr. Gopher was apprehended trying to hide out in Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird's new condo under the mattress, but that didn't work either. He discovered that he was bigger around than the doorway. 

After being on the run and on the dig for several weeks, he finally succombed to exhaustion and was discovered asleep on a glider and was apprehended by police where he was later executed for his crimes.  Our condolences to his family, but let this be a warning to them that their unlawful behaviour and destructiveness will not be tolerated, and the same demise will come to those who break the law of lawn and garden. They have permission to dig all they want to out in the 70 acres of pastureland - NOT in the yard.  Mr. Gopher will NOT be missed.  May he rest in peace (well, I guess he was resting in peace until some crazy photographer decided to have some fun with him before burial).

Ok, whadaya'll think?  Have I completely gone off the deep end?

I really do love animals. I have never done anything cruel or inhumane in my life.  It's all ya'll's fault for making me come up with something silly to post.  And to Kathy B at Cedar Pond for issuing this challenge!  And it's certainly the gophers' fault for tearing up my yard!

If I get ONE negative comment, this post is TOAST!!!  It was all done in fun!  So for Pete's sake, don't take this seriously!!!

NOTE TO ADD:  CHECK OUT A NEW BUDDY'S BLOG - MARY AT JMPPASTTIMES! She's a vintage girl with a beautiful blog and you guys will be sorry if you don't give her a visit! She's a fairly new blogger so hurry on over there and tell her I sent you!!! Thanks!!!

GOOD MORNING USA!!!

Here's what we dealt with this afternoon about 5:30 or so. Hail - marble size hail. Didn't last too very long, but I'm glad I had my car parked in the garage and was already home from work. Last time I got caught in a hailstorm, I had dings all in my car!  We had a series of strong storms pass through east Texas and up through Arkansas & Oklahoma. It's tornado season 'round these parts, ma'am.  Well, they did have a couple of twisters touch down somewhere, but we lucked out this time around.

In other news, Princess H is leaving for Canada on Saturday from her college youth group on a mission trip. They will be working with inner city youths in the Toronto area, I think. She's looking forward to going, but I'm praying for her problem with motion sickness. She has it real bad, and I hope it doesn't flare up.

Now, it's 7 a.m. here.  I just got a comment from Kathy B. over at Spot on Cedar Pond directed at ME. Silly girl - she posted a video about moles and gophers. What a hoot she is - you must go over and say hi! We have this ongoing battle with yard varmints and I'm afraid she's ahead at the moment. Actually, I'm in a race against her husband, and now I think she's helping him out!  Hmmmmm.... was this in the rules of the game???  Hahahaha!  Looks to me like Texas does NOT have the biggest moles! At least the ones in my yard are much smaller & harder to catch - wait!  Does that mean I can have a mole handicap???  Anyway go visit her and see her funny videos!  Kathy - thanks for the belly-laugh this morning!!! (I AM glad you got another mole!)

I took a couple of photos of my MIL's camellia bush yesterday afternoon when I went by the house. It's always been beautiful and it's been blooming for awhile now. It's starting to drop its petals but it looks sorta pretty on the ground, too.

My MIL used to take a single bloom and float it in a pretty little teacup. She loved camellias. I'll never see a camellia that I don't think of that....

Ya'll have a great and wonderful and spectacular day! I gotta get ready for work, and I'm hoping to stop at one of the handful of garage sales that I've picked out of today's newspaper before I get to work!  Yes, GARAGE SALE SEASON HAS BEGUN AND IS NOW COMING INTO FULL SWING!!!  Three cheers!