by Texas Homesteader ~
“For Better or For Worse, In Sickness Or In Health…”. I remember speaking those words to RancherMan as my husband-to-be on our wedding day. And I remember him saying those same words back to me. But what do they actually mean?
by Texas Homesteader~
As I’ve mentioned many times before, our area of NE Texas is currently suffering through a third consecutive year of drought.
Like many of our neighbors we’ve been forced to feed hay to our cattle for months due to the pasture grasses burning & dying in the below-normal moisture coupled cruelly with the above-normal heat.
While nervously eyeballing the amount of hay remaining that we’ve been able to put back for those lean winter months, we’re trying to look forward in making sure we have plenty to feed our cows until spring.
Even after being hit with these hard knocks we’re still optimistic about the small amount of moisture promised in the next few days.
Continue reading by Texas Homesteader
This year has been a year of firsts for us here at the homestead. I enjoy raising bottle baby calves each spring. But due to an illness I wasn’t physically able to raise them this year.
RancherMan sensing my sadness bought me baby chicks. We had always known we would raise chickens one day, he thought this year would be a good year to start. He was right! Raising those cute little baby chicks pacified the ‘raising farm babies’ urge in me.
But when the chickens grew I once again began to miss those bottle babies, so RancherMan bought me WEANED bottle babies. Awwww… all of the cute lovable neck-scratching cuteness with none of the work!
I’m very much enjoying both the chickens and calves, and I love RancherMan so much for realizing this need in me. But he wasn’t through yet – RancherMan decided he would spoil me with yet another small yet lovable animal – GOATS!
by Texas Homesteader
When we’re weaning calves we like to fenceline them when at all possible. This allows mama and baby to see each other and eases their anxiety during the weaning transition.
We typically bring the calves into the barn pen where we have pretty heavily-fortified fences to allow the mama and baby to see each other. But the fences are strong enough to keep baby separated.
by Texas Homesteader
When we obtained our remote-pasture property last year I knew there was once an old homestead on the property years ago – the house long gone now.
I love that this property also has an old 1880’s barn. That’s my favorite barn era and I’m so blessed to have two of these beautiful old barns now! I’m ready to roll up my sleeves & restore this beautiful structure to its previous glory much like we did years ago with the 1880’s barn here on our homestead.
by Texas Homesteader ~
During a particularly stressful time in my life I deal with restless nights. When a worried mind keeps me from sleeping, I’m comforted with assurance that I’m not alone.
by Texas Homesteader
It does a heart good to look out and see all of that red and white!
~TxH~
by Texas Homesteader ~
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By now you know the amazing benefits of compost – both environmentally as well as botanically. Living on a Texas Homestead I’m blessed to have constant access to one of the most important components of my compost: Manure.
