As we all know it's rather warm and crispy on many ranches in Texas. We still have some grass due to our pasture management and pasture rotation but we are getting down to the dredges. We have had a few short showers but we are ready for a gully washer of rain at this point and thankful for fewer 100+ degree days this coming week.
The past couple of weekends were spent getting up very early to get a few projects done. It remained in the 80's until late morning which was very doable. We road horses to take videos for a few we need to sell, butchered meat chickens, cleaned up fallen limbs from stressed trees and of course collected and processed eggs. The chickens object to this heat. We have lots of fans and they are under the fans but the poor ladies are all fluffed up and panting in the shade. They have petitioned for AC and are withholding their eggs until further notice. There are a few crossing the picket line but not many. Hoping for a poultry heat resolution or a cold front next week.
By about 1p the heat becomes unbearable to work in but it does not drive us indoors, instead we take a cold plunge which the whole family enjoys (except for Mom- she doesn't do soaking in ice-water). For the ranch this requires a clean water trough, an ice machine and a little work which produced a lovely cool place to sit. It amazes us how decreasing our core body temperature makes the heat much more tolerable. Mom simply shakes her head and walks into the AC. There are certainly some squeals and rapid exits from the ice-bath but it is very much worth the plunge.
We had a lovely visit from a client who donated a few hand raised chickens. She and her kiddos came to visit her now adult chickens and we gave them a farm tour. Fun was had by all and no one left as clean as they arrived.
This coming weekend the kids will be competing in their first horse show and I have been wrangled into a class as well which will be my first horse show in 30 years. Pics to follow.
It has been to hot for us to attempt farmers markets recently. I want to thank everyone who has continued to patronize the ranch. We have enough room for the next steer in our freezers which should move out at the end of this month. Next up is "She Who Will Not Be Named's" Steer calf. He looks very well finished and through trial and error we have learned the steers are more tender if loaded the day of and driven directly to the processors. Loading him might be a bit challenging but fingers crossed all goes well. The rest of the steers are very gentle and quiet.
Comments