Red

So, I decided it is time for a new color.

Just as there was a lot of purple there is a lot of red around here.

Some is strangely unique and dangerous
while some border on exotic

The color to be found here is simply remarkable whether hidden in a crevice or boldly displayed.

Life

So tiny, so fragile are these little eggs

hidden so well in the grass.
Great care and love went into their nest
hoping that danger shall pass.

A symbol of life, of new beginnings
this solitary egg may be.
Yet to the mother bird, it is seen
as her precious baby.So she builds her nest wherever she finds
seclusion on this great earth.
She takes her time to ensure it's safe
for she knows her cargo's worth.

She lays her eggs with their thin shell
into her woven nest.
She keeps them warm till the time is near
and lets her body rest.She protects her eggs while she waits
Keeping an eye on prey.
Swooping on those who come too close
in an attempt to keep them at bay.

Finally, the eggs bring forth life
and a song the mother hears.
A sound so sweet she hopes to hear
for many, many years.

Sky

It is amazing what you can see out here at the ranch if you just look up. The sunsets seem to last for hours out here without the tall buildings to obstruct our view.

Tonights walk began about 8PM and the sun was still setting a half hour later looking something like this:















and a bit later like this.












And finally, we said good-night to our beloved flag and the sky.






The sky isn't just beautiful at night either. There is something new to see every day:

From large looming solo clouds...







to unusually compounded "egg-crate" shaped ones.





But, sadly, I have yet to get a photo of the sunrise. I have seen it though and it spectacular! One day I will not be on a baby's schedule again and can get up for my morning coffee with the sun rising as my tapestry to examine. But until then I will leave you with a different piece of art that is truly amazing not only for it's symbolism; but also it's rarity. Enjoy! One day I will also invest in a nice camera so that these photos are better.

Creatures

All God's Creatures Big and Small! Here are a few of the critters we find around the ranch these days. This is our "little horse" as we refer so lovingly to our red Dobe. He is quite majestic in appearance and his gait greatly resembles that of a horse. He is well loved!


The little dog is our "Lady" although she thinks she rules the roost, she appears to be "David" from the Biblical story, David and Goliath, when she runs next to our "little horse".




We also have the "big girls" which consist of a black and rust Dobe and a black lab mix. So, we definitely have the Canines covered out here.


As for other domestic animals, we have a four felines that are learning what life is like to be wildcats after living in the comfort of our previous home in San Antonio. They have adjusted well but it is rather difficult to get photos of them.
We have a dozen or so cattle with several babies and one old horse. It is a small herd, but they are thriving well. We have lost only one calf that was born prematurely this year and we only have one cow that hasn't dropped her calf yet. After changing bulls and having a dry spell, it is nice to see some babies again!

Now for the fun stuff!
Ok so maybe these aren't THAT fun! The ants are in full force. The rain has helped them travel and spread all over. We have so many fire ants that I hate being outside too much.








The red ants as seen to the right aren't so bad but they are definitely multiplying!

As we venture outdoors, there are many sites to be seen if you take the time to look close enough. Here are a few.



From the "shady leaf, or stalk" ...








to the great sky above, we find His creatures here below.









Some creatures are mildly dangerous...






while others are quite delicate.








Some are protected by a hard shell...




while others find protection in the trees. Or at least they hope to find it there, much to the chagrin of our dogs.

Water

Around here water is a treasured commodity, one which allows ranchers to do many things. The water we get comes in many forms.


Downpours as you can see here are fast and furious. This shows the water as it is coming off the corner of our house during a recent downpour. Now, these are good things since they cause running water that is filtered into the tanks to help the livestock.




We also get water in the form of hail. Hail also comes in many sizes.




As you can see in these pictures we have some very small, dime sized hail. But even our hail is sporadic and hard to forecast.






And then we get the nice steady rains that help the grass to grow and flowers to bloom. The kids get excited about it all!



Water is always welcome and vital to the way of life around here. From the morning dew to a downpour, water is on every one's minds and in many prayers around here.

Art

Oh, to be a tree. We are so similar to a tree in that we are small and simple in comparison to our world. Yet, when we are backed by something as majestic and unique as a sunset we can become so much more! My vision is to become a piece of art such as this tree for my Master. To stand tall and unwavering with the light of my Lord shining through each branch turning what alone is an insignificant thing into something awe-inspiring. Just a thought!

Purple

So, I decided that I love taking pictures! As we go on family walks around the area, I have been snapping photos here and there and I think I have found a theme: Purple.








Everything seems to be a shade of purple this month. So, I decided to share some purple from the ranch.





Now, as you can see not all the purple is a native inhabitant of west Texas. The Iris's are planted in Granny's gardens, but they are just so beautiful they cannot be left out.












Here are some of the things we see out in the grazing pastures:














The colors are quite impressive from lavender to violet with many shades in between.



The shapes also very along with just how "safe" they are to examine!