Category Archives: Homesteading Lifestyle

Self Sufficiency on a Texas Homestead

Evidence of A Past Homestead

by Texas Homesteader 

When we purchased this property we were told there was a home that was once located near the front that had burned down in the late 50’s or early 60’s. The story was that it was struck by lightening and had burned to the ground. The only thing that remained standing was the brick fireplace. 

The burned-out house had laid in rubble for years, even decades. When the previous owner put the property up for sale he attempted to spruce it up a bit by having a bulldozer bury the old bricks and residual rubble, but it was still quite cluttered. 

Of course when I first laid eyes on this piece of paradise I couldn’t get much further than that 1880’s barn. Even though both the barn and the property were in pretty rough shape I was fully enamored with it and we could see this was where our future lies. 

RancherMan and I both stumbled over ourselves to get to the realtor’s office to purchase this beautiful property. And in 2000 we called it our own.

1880's Barn on our NE Texas Homestead. On our ranch we have a barn built in the 1880's and evidence of the lives from those that lived here before. #TexasHomesteader

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Make Hay While The Sun Shines

by Texas Homesteader

There’s an old saying: “Make hay while the sun shines”. Although you can’t control the weather, it’s important when you work outside for a living to work as closely in tune with nature as you can.

When I worked in a corporate environment in the city my days were much the same.  Get up, get dressed, drive to work – sit at a desk all day long, come home, LIVE LIFE.  (Shower/Sleep/Repeat).

Now that my days are filled with ranch duties workdays are not only much longer since we work weekends and holidays, they’re less comfortable since there’s no climate control in the pastures, and they’re infinitely more fulfilling since I LOVE what I do!

Make hay while the sun shines. Days and times on a Texas ranch. #TexasHomesteader

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What’s On The Agenda Today?

by Texas Homesteader

I am amused sometimes at our work schedule. For instance, recently we arose early and enjoyed our coffee together. As we stood silently side-by-side at the large windows watching yet another gorgeous sunrise – steaming cups of coffee in hand – the question comes up as it typically does every day:

“What’s on our agenda today?”

When RancherMan asks what's on the agenda today, I've learned it's always SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Come see our day on the ranch. #TexasHomesteader

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Welcoming a New Little One to the Ranch

Many of you know we run a small registered Hereford herd and that we breed our cows via A.I.  That means action had to be taken for this little cutie 10 days prior to her conception with a synchronization program for her dam, then the actual A.I. procedure, then 28 days later the pregnancy was confirmed via lab blood test. From that very moment I’ve been anticipating this event, and oh my was she worth the wait!

Newborn calves are so cute, and we love our newest baby Hereford calf. We utilize both A.I. as well as natural breeding here. #TexasHomesteader

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Tree Limb Cleanup

Like many of our ag friends here in NE Texas we’ve suffered through two consecutive years of drought. Due to the heat & lack of rain there has been wide-spread damage to our trees. Our cedars were hit particularly hard and we lost about 80% of them, but our other trees were weakened as well.

In their compromised state, last years unforgiving weather pushed many of them over the edge and we had a heavy die-off of our trees.

Drought has caused many of our trees to die. And lots of those trees are Honey Locust with long thorns. Time to clean up. #TexasHomesteader

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“So God Made A Farmer…”

Yes, everyone has seen the “So God Made a Farmer “ ad, so I won’t link to it here. It’s a touching ad that brings to the forefront the hard work done by farmers and ranchers. But the next time you go to your local grocer or farmers market consider this as well: The men and women who produced the meat and vegetables that you are buying may very well work right beside you in town, then go home to work on their farm or ranch the other 128 hours each week. They are your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors.

Keeping cattle healthy. Being a farmer or rancher is a labor of love. #TexasHomesteader
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Temporary Stocker Cows Improve Flexibility On The Ranch

Many of you know that although we run a permanent herd of Registered Hereford cows and calves, we often purchase temporary stocker animals to utilize the grass that our herd doesn’t consume.

It was a hard lesson learned in 2011 when the strongest drought in decades gripped us here in NE Texas. The grass was gone, hay could not be purchased and our ponds were drying up. We had to reduce our precious hand-picked herd to assure we had enough water and grazing for the remaining girls.

Drought drying up water supply in pasture pond. Temporary Stocker cows Offer flexibility on the ranch. More animals when the grass is plentiful, less during drought. #TexasHomesteader
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