waiting for the hay shredder

We have scheduled the pastures to be shredded but our "shredder" is delayed waiting for parts to his tractor. Our pasture is almost waist-high now and very pretty, full of natural wheat, lots of native grasses and flowers galore! I will take pictures this weekend to log all the different varieties. On the small pasture up by the gate, the clover is prolific and the scent in the air is heavenly - like perfume - We have to walk up there to get the mail every day and it's always a joy to make that walk!


Took a trip to Ft. Worth on Tuesday and met with the Ft. Worth Brick and Tile folks. We are selecting an authentic Mexican tile called Saltillo - imported through this company from Mexico - and what will be the prevalent floor covering throughout the house. It is the same kind of tile used at Pueblo Bonito - the resort in Mazatlan we try to visit every year. We came home with samples to show the builder and a great feeling about the quality of the product.

Meanwhile back at the ranch . . .
Our little garden tractor has finally given up the ghost. Looks like we travel into town tomorrow to see what we can purchase for our little jobs around the ranch. We use the little tractor to haul small items around, mow the areas around the trailer, the garden, along the road and in the vineyard. It will be interesting to weigh the future of what a large tractor will do and what a small one will - and decide if we need both. Most ranchers around here find plenty of jobs for both.

This week I traveled to Bonham to purchase compost - actually horse manure - to add to the compost heap for the garden. Met some great folks at Hannah's Horseshoes for Hope - a non-profit therapeutic horse ranch for the disabled. They load the manure in old feed bags and you contribute what you want. Great folks, good cause - a definite feel-good moment.

And yesterday was a real red-letter day! We received our first draft of the house plan - now it's Skip and I hovered over the plan with pencils and tracing paper trying to fine tune our dream. We could not be more excited. I say that thinking that when they pour the pad - I will say the same thing - and when the house gets framed - another high note.

More later - vaya con Dios!