Tag Archives: small town living

All our favorite posts about living in a small Northeast Texas town.

Wordless Wednesday: COWopotamus

by Texas Homesteader 

 

While strolling through the pastures RancherMan & I discovered a new form of life - a hybrid hippo & bovine - COWopotamus! #TexasHomesteader

While strolling through the pastures RancherMan & I discovered a new form of life – a hybrid hippo & bovine – COWopotamus!

~TxH~

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Failed Fences, GOOD NEIGHBORS!

by Texas Homesteader 

Panic sat in when RancherMan came rushing into the house saying he found the pasture gate open and the two weaning heifers were missing. 

We frantically searched the barn paddock and the south pasture, tree lines, creeks, etc. but they were nowhere to be found. Apparently they had nosed the chain enough to unlatch the gate. Then they simply walked down our driveway, out to the road and disappeared.

With our hearts pounding we jumped in the car and started down our county road, quickly looking in the open pastures as we drove along. As my head throbbed, visions of potential outcomes were going through my mind.

What if they went toward the highway? Or they got hit by a car? What if someone got hurt? Where do we even start to look? What if we can’t find them?

Good neighbors come to your aid in times of need. Read what happened when we experienced Failed Fences But GOOD NEIGHBORS! #TexasHomesteader

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Use What Ya got – MYO Tractor Canopy Cover

by Texas Homesteader

We have two tractors, a 55 hp Mahindra for the big jobs and an older and smaller 32 hp Ford 1910 tractor for mowing, disking, etc.  RancherMan usually hops on the newer big-boy tractor with the higher horsepower and front-end loader to do the rough stuff. And I happily allow him those tasks. 

My preference is Ole Blue. She’s a 1983-built tractor that purrs like a kitten & is as reliable as the day is long. 

Recently our Mahindra dealt us an unpleasant blow by having a deteriorating gas tank, rendering it USELESS.  So much for the reliability of a fancy-schmancy tractor that’s only 5 yrs –OLD! 

(Mahindra’s certainly seen the last of us as future customers) 

 So RancherMan went to work playing tractor mechanic for the Mahindra. But it was the ever-faithful Ole Blue Ford tractor that pulled the load on the Homestead.

My tractor canopy material was shot so I needed to come up with a solution. I say "Use What Ya Got"! See what my solution was. #TexasHomesteader

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MYO Reclaimed Lumber Barnwood Headboard

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

We needed a headboard for our guestroom. I wanted something old, but antique shops are just not filled with queen-sized headboards.

So we used repurposed wood from our 1880’s barn. I absolutely love the way it turned out!

We made our beautiful headboard using reclaimed lumber from our 1880's barn. Rustic, Shabby Chic, Meaningful & Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! #TexasHomesteader

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Murder In The Barnyard: Chicken Predators

by Texas Homesteader 

It’s loads of fun raising hens so we decided to give chicken-raising another go. We purchased four young hens early this spring. Soon they were into the free-range routine and providing plenty of eggs for us.

Because we live in the country there are all manor of predator dangers present for our free-range chickens. Predators such as coyotes, bobcats, feral cats, foxes, skunks & more. But with a secured coop and by locking them safely inside each night we were spared any deaths.

Then one night when we went to lock them up we noticed the black hen was nowhere to be found. Although we hated it, we understood that there are predators out here and that it was just one of those things. We never found her. 

Then a week later we noticed the white one was missing. But this time we knew exactly what happened to her.

Mysterious daytime predators have been taking our hens. Coyotes? Hawks? Bobcats? Something else? We don't know. Offer advice if you can. #TexasHomesteader

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Family Reunion – COUNTRY STYLE!

by Texas Homesteader

Our family enjoys a very close relationship. Our children and all of our grandbabies reside in northeast Texas. My parents are close enough for a visit and my siblings are all Texas residents as well.

Although we all get together often ‘just because’, often vacationing together and of course ganging up together during holidays. One of my favorite gatherings is an event that we’ve named RanchFest. Every spring RancherMan & I host our own country version of a Family Reunion.

It's So Much More Fun Having A Family Reunion COUNTRY STYLE! Games, food, hayride, etc. Check out our fun, country gathering. #TexasHomesteader

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A Day At the Homestead

by Texas Homesteader~
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I’m often asked what a typical day looks like when you’re both living and working on a Homestead. Well I can say in all honesty that it’s NEVER boring!  It’s funny how it’s near impossible to plan with certainty what a day in our lives will look like. There are so many variables like weather, cattle illness, fence issues, etc.

But c’mon and tag along today & I’ll show ya what a typical day looks like for us here in our Texas paradise.

Wonder what it's like to live & work on a Texas homestead? Well c'mon down & spend the day with us! #TexasHomesteader

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