Saturday, March 16, 2024

Animal Crackers - Bubba's Glamour Shot

Howdy - 

The other day I was sitting and talking with Bubba... started snapping some photos while playing with settings on my phone's camera that I have never used. This one cracked me up!! Flash back to all those wonderful 1980's Glamour Shot photos. So here is Bubba's Napoleon Dynamite photo! 

 
 As you can see he was not amused with me snapping all the photographs. But this is his serious Glamour Shot... I just don't know why but it just makes me laugh to hard! 
 
Now I went out yesterday afternoon trying to get some photos before the storms moved through. Most everyone was in hiding or way out in their pens and walking through the wet grass in my flip flops just wasn't in my plan. So I stuck closer up to the house... had a chat with old Alvin. He was having a late lunch but still took time with me. 
 
 
That made me think I could make it over to his boys pen and snap a photo of them ... Alvin Jr. "AJ" was also chowing down.... way too big of bites Dude!


He is a copy of his daddy... Just younger and thinner at this point. 

I was snapping a photo of his brother Chipmunk... but he made mad so he didn't get a photo today. The wind was really blowing and my hair must have tempted him too much... well in half of a second his nose poked through the fence and he had a giant wad of my hair and then yanked as hard as he could. Thank goodness he dropped when I yelled!!! Otherwise I might have had to have some shaved hair cut in my future! OUCH! 
 
Then I heard a loud whining scream. Miss Darlene was making sure I knew she was out and there was no "old people gruel" in her bucket. Sorry old girl... Dad feeds you that in the morning and despite you taking a nap... it is still the same day! HA!


She is such a funny girl. I did go over and do some lovings on her. She is just too sweet to ignore. 

Hubby sent me this photo this week. He was out in one of the pastures and found Grey Beard and Orange enjoying one of the old trees. Just hanging out I guess -


But honestly that is what their whole day it right? Sleep, eat breakfast, nap, explore, hang out, eat then hunker down for Sleep again. Tough life.

I snapped a photo of Hubby's Amaryllis flowers. They are SO gorgeous! These are the first two of many buds that came up this year.

These bulbs came from a sweet old lady we knew in one of the little towns we lived in. Her old German Yard was FULL of them!! We were very lucky to have gotten some to remember her and enjoy in our yard! 

One last photo... wanted to capture Hubby's Tomato plants! They are in and doing great! I can see sliced tomatoes in our future!!! MMMMM


Hope you have a smile this week... if not scroll back up to that photo of Bubba!! Cracks me up!!

Have a blessed weekend!
HUGS and



Saturday, March 9, 2024

Animal Crackers - Beautiful Spring Day

Howdy - 

Yesterday morning was a cloudy yucky start. We were suppose to get some good rain, but it broke up and went around us... again. But when the clouds broke, the sun came out and it was a beautiful spring day. 

Here in Texas you know it is Spring when the Bluebonnets arrive! 

 

Along the highways, or large fields they are a gorgeous site. We have some large patches on our property. And even a few in our back yard. So pretty! 

Now the first thing I do when going out to visit the fur children is check on those that we keep the close watch on due to their age and health. 

Darlene was up first. Little heart stop when I didn't find her in her pen. But all was good when I got the gate open and made my way to her private hut. She was just taking a little morning rest. 

 

It was all good - she grunted and popped up and followed me around her pen. Then went to her left over breakfast and started eating. My old girl.. Darlene. 

Next was Old Black Jack.... Her neighbor.

 

He is getting hard to get good close up photos of, he just keeps coming at me full force for loving. I so totally adore this old man. When we purchased him so many years ago he wouldn't let us touch him. He was a crabby jack that wasn't friendly at all.  Years here with us and he knows he is safe and seems to be very happy. Oh and LOVES head, ear and rear end scratches with lots of attention. 

So two oldest fur children are all good! I then go to the ladies goat pen to check on Crissy. She gave me a horrible scare this week. So much so that I called Hubby at work to let him know she was not well at all and I thought it was coming close to her end. He got home that night and she was up, breathing well and seemed ok. I find her today and she looks great! And was out chomping down like crazy enjoying the new Spring grass!

So happy! I then head off to visit everyone else and snap more photos. I always make sure to have a chat with Alvin. But he too was enjoying a shady spot and napping.


Didn't want bother him... he seemed so comfortable and enjoying his morning snooze. Sounds like a plan I would like have a nap too... LOL I'll go back out for our daily chat later.

Then I heard Little Rooster scream out... He talks 24/7... I think he was just showing off his women. 



I snapped a photo of him screaming out ... again... he is adorable. 

Came back in after finishing the rounds. Went back inside and there was a little Meow in the window next to the back door. 

McLaren was watching me the entire time I was outside from her window bed.

 

McLaren is the one we call Psycho Kitty. Oh my this little girl has two speeds. Zero resting/sleeping and then speed of light insane. She is Hubby's kitty. As she seems to have claimed him and chooses his lap in the evenings. That is once she calms down... for about 30 minutes she must head butt, jump, kneed, and just beat Hubby up before she settles down. I'm good with her liking him best. LOL But I do love her. And I am good with Ferrari or Bubba who are calm and sweet in my lap.

Well I do hope you enjoyed this week and have your Animal Crackers smile. Until next week... 

HUGS and

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Animal Crackers - You can't see her...

Howdy - 

Went out to take photos yesterday afternoon ... had to wait till mid afternoon it was just dreary and wet all morning, but then suddenly the clouds cleared and sun came out. I went out front to see the "3 Stooges" our full size donkeys. They were all in front grazing in the nice weather. As I walked up front I noticed that Cocoa was "hiding' from me... she was turning her head away and looking like I couldn't see her. What do you think? She doing a good job hiding from me under the oak tree?

 

Finally she came out and said hello... but she didn't want to until I really talked her out. Now Teddy... he was enjoying the grass and chowing down!


 

So so happy the grass is thick and feeding them. Oh the 3 stooges are at the back gate every morning screaming out for breakfast to be brought out to them. In winter they get louder and louder until it is delivered. But now that they have spring grass coming in they yell out for a little while then give up and feed themselves. Cracks me up.... I do the same I guess.... Lets get Mexican Food... Lets go.... now lets go.... oh ok we will just find something at home to eat. LOL 

I then went out to the goat pen and saw the guy goats. Stinky... dirty... wet,  but AJ is still a cutie. Oh sorry men like Handsome! 

AJ's brother Chipmunk was lounging behind his hut. Just as Handsome. Now what I didn't show was their hut.... sad sad hut.

Hubby fixes it and gets it all nice for Chipmunk and his brother AJ. Within a few weeks, they have head butted, banged and destroyed it again. Last time they tore the back completely off. This time it is on its side. Not that it is new to turn it over, but this may be a last time as this poor hut has been repaired too many times. Ha! 

As destructive as the brothers are... they are nothing compared to Domino. He is a bit bigger, and much more aggressive. His pen is usually always a mess, turning over everything. His fence is no longer straight. He charges and bangs on the panels and they ALL are bowed out. As I got out to him he was scratching the top of his head... then banging his horns. Yep... destructive!


One more photo from earlier in the week.... we had a cold front come through and it got pretty chilly. Hubby and I were watching a movie and I was under a quilt. And very warm with the top layer of kitties!

Bubba, Mommy Cat and Ferarri all were all curled ON TOP OF me. So we were all staying warm! LOL Sweet kitties! And yes very warm kitties. 

Hope you have a smile again this week. Enjoyed our fur children again this week. 

Have a blessed weekend 

HUGS and

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Animal Crackers - Warm Afternoon

Howdy - 

This week we have had some really nice warm weather here. The animals are loving the sun and nice weather. Visiting the ladies Mrs. Patti was in a hurry to come and see me. First one to me gets the most ear scratches! 

Such a pretty old girl! 

Chickens were very chatty and enjoying things. We were very excited earlier in the week. Hubby went out to get the eggs. Girls are starting to really produce... nice off white and brown eggs as usual. 

Then found one special little blue egg! So one of the Easter Egg chickens is laying blue eggs! Been a while since we have seen any pretty blue eggs! No clue which girl... but happy to see they are happy and laying! 

Now the goats just didn't want to come out for me at all... but there is lots of green growing in the back yard... so throw a little into them and they come running! LOL

Malory seems to be the new girl in charge. No one would come anywhere near her and she controlled the area. So I had to get creative and really spread out handfuls to some of the more timid girls. 

We did have a very sad morning this last week. Seems that Abigail went to sleep and didn't wake up. Was a complete shock. 

 

Average age of Nigerian Goats are 8-12 years old. I looked up Abigail's age. Just knowing she wasn't that old. Was floored when I saw that she just turned 10 years old! How? When?  We've been keeping really close watches on the girls lately - they are all getting up there a few are over 12 years old now. So loosing Abigail was just so sad. We have decided to not breed any more goats at this time. Just too much right now - and since alfalfa is so so expensive it is best to have a smaller group. But still loosing our kids is really hard. I was very worried about Abigail's daughter Penelope -

 

But she has been all grown up and lately been hanging with some of the other girls. So no worries she is doing ok. All grown up. 

Found one of the outdoor kitties all stretched out in the shade of the bench. Grey Beard.  He is such a calm sweet boy.

Hubby has been very worried - seems we have a big Tom Cat that has been coming around and showing that he is a tough dude. Grey Beard just isn't a fighter and well poor guy has gone a couple of bad rounds with the meanie! But he is doing ok and now is learning to stay safe at night. Hubby is working on putting food away at night and good night time sleeping spaces for our outdoor kitties. 

So warmer temps and the sun... Hubby just couldn't stand it. He made a stop at the local nursery and got Gerbers, Geraniums and fox tail ferns.


Hey makes him happy and makes the yard look pretty and colorful so I'm good! 

Hope you have some happy colors - and furry friends yourself! 

Have a blessed weekend! 

HUGS and 





 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Animal Crackers - Drizzle Day

Howdy - 

Dreary Drizzle morning yesterday and I really did not want to go out in it. So I put it off... waited so late yesterday afternoon and then I just had to go. Drizzle had stopped so that was good, but it was wet and muddy. Good thing I slipped on Hubby's shoes to walk out to the back pen! LOL Didn't want to get mine wet and muddy now did I?

Found the ladies out grazing and around what was left of their hay bale.


The winter grass is just out of control. Thick and green, but not all the donkeys favorite to eat. From what Hubby tells me winter grass is more bitter than normal coastal grass. Everyone is having to adjust and eat more of it than they like. They would rather fresh green coastal bales of hay morning and night, but that just ain't happening. Some of the girls don't seem to mind at all and are out grazing and not complaining. 

Macie isn't one of them. I have told y'all many times she is my calm sweet old girl. Well yesterday - she was a total opposite! Holy Cow Macie! Loud, Pushy and just down right rude about wanting me to get her something else to eat! The hay bale isn't a green fresh as she likes and the winter too bitter - so find me something else! Now I know it is hard to believe but this photo makes her look slim and trim compared to her normal view. She hasn't missed any meals, honestly!
 

I adore this girl.... but you gotta eat what is out there girl! Stop your crying! LOL

Now Juliet and Bella were just munching away at the bale. I went out real quiet and leaned into the hay ring... you NEVER sneak up on Juliet! But she was actually a bit surprised I was there. LOL

 

I snapped my photo and turned and started heading back up to the front of the pen. I had maybe a second or two before she would be on my side pushing me and rubbing her head on my shoulders and side. Which isn't a bad thing unless you are a like me and a klutz and have to stay on the path. LOL 

As I got back to level ground I turned and found that not only Juliet followed me. Pepita and Irene were both right there. Poor Irene must have had her head stuck pretty far into the bale of hay, cuz she had a huge piece stuck to her ear and in her eye. She kept blinking and shaking her head trying to remove it. 

No worries we took care of it for her. She let me love all over her, then turned and went back to the hay bale... and stuck in deep into the hole she had created. Pepita gave me a glance and then turned and followed. She is always a follower and stick close to whoever she is paired up to at the time.

Before I left the pen, I decided to walk over to Raffie's pen and say hello. Since he wasn't totally focused on a girl at that time. That is his focus most of the day you know...

 

He is such a handsome stud! And it is so wonderful that as a "Jack" he is such a sweetheart. Well to us... 

Came inside to upload my photos and found little Ferrari - Bed was all made nice and neat - and she was a classic little kitty all curled up in a ball right in the center of the bed. 


 Silly pretty little girl. 

Hope you have your Saturday Animal Crackers smile - Spending time out with my fur babies is such a joy and sharing them with you makes us all happy! 

HUGS and

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Animal Crackers - EGGS!

Howdy - 

Out early yesterday morning - The chickens were being very loud. I won't complain too much because they FINALLY are laying eggs! This group has been the slowest we have ever had from chicks. But the eggs are coming now! So they are now working to earn their own weight around here! LOL

They are pretty ladies aren't they? We are very happy we are finally getting eggs.... do you know how frustrating it is to be feeding all these girls and having to BUY EGGS!


Darn it I spent too much time talking to the chickens! Hubby went to get a round bale early and I was heading out to see the girls before they were released on their new buffet. I forgot in order to get the bale in, he has to occupy them in the front of their pen... only way to occupy this group of gals.... FOOD! 

This means all I see for the camera is back ends around the decoy breakfast bale, and swishing tails!

Fanci Pants and Hannah were working fast on the same little section. Being sweet... nice girls. Yeah 2 seconds later Fanci pushed Hannah off and she had to make her way to another area. 


No worries she found a place in the circle.

Now I did have to go in and get that little cactus piece off her forehead. Not watching where she was grazing I suspect! 

I did get Juliet to look up at me. Oh wait... that was just up to chew and being that she stands over all the miniatures it just appears she is raised up to look at me. She was all about the fresh breakfast she was enjoying! 

OH I thinks she was giving me a slight look... it was probably killing her to not come over to the fence for attention. But I know where I stand. Breakfast first Juliet ... then me. 

Forget that... "Dad" just dropped the round bale and moved out the truck and trailer. It was a quick trot over to that big 5ft x 5ft hay bale! I guess next time Juliet! 

Hope you have a smile again this week - Kids were all happy and enjoying the day. Nice weather, green grass and fresh hay! The world is good! 

HUGS and -

Monday, February 5, 2024

High Hope Stamps - Full Throttle

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I went for a bit of manly theme. I needed a birthday card for a guy and this car worked out perfectly.  

My image is Vintage Classic from High Hopes Stamps - Needed to have a spicy red car for this one!

Digging through some older papers I found a pad of Teresa Collins World Traveler papers. Love the old maps with the car! I sewed down with a very fast wobbling stitch onto the papers in layers. It isn't easy sewing like a fast driver and not straight! LOL

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps - "Live Life at full Throttle" PERFECT sentiment for this image and the guy! I punched the sentiment out with a tag punch, then added a brad.

Copic colors used -


Was a fun card to color up and make and hope it will bring a smile to the friend! 

To see all the great fun images at High Hopes Stamps click HERE and have a blast!

Hugs and -