Ranch Life

2010-05-01T16:47:00.000-07:00

2010-05-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

She was sitting in the den judging a short story contest when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.
On her front porch was this 12 - 15 inch long Pileated Woodpecker. He was checking out the new cedar posts he had recently added. Woody was not too keen on the hard cedar and left but not before she got several photos, taken from inside the house.

2010-02-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

SNOW IN TEXAS

It doesn't happen very often in SE Texas but always welcome by her, a transplanted miswesterner.

First came the sleet, then rain followed by snow and rain falling together.

Finally, the snow began in earnest - big, fat, fluffy flakes fell for over 6 hours.

She ran around the house taking pictures and dancing with joy at the beauty of it all.

2009-08-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Update regarding Alvin, the house chicken (see July post):
Alvin was moved to the nursery in the hen house following a few gagging sessions upon cleaning out her Victorian home kept in their kitchen. The birdcage was cleaned at least 20 times per day but chickens simply were not meant to be house pets. Honest!
After several weeks in the nursery, she is allowed to roam around with the other chickens following much pecking and chasing by the bullies (guineas) of Autumn's House of Hens.
However, she remains very much a pet chicken. She rushes for the door every time it is opened.
She likes to be carried around and loves to ride in the golf cart like any other child.
Will she ever figure out that she is a chicken?

2009-07-02T05:25:00.000-07:00

Alvin, the house chicken

2009-07-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

The snake is back.
This was sadly learned after purchasing three Americana chicks. The Americana chickens are also called Easter eggers because they lay blue and green eggs. The three chicks disappeared from the nursery the first night in their new home. The snake was able to get through the tiny holes in the wiring, eat and digest the chicks before slipping out of the nursery and the hen house.
After a week, two more Americana chicks were placed into the nursery. These chicks were a week older and bigger. But not big enough. The snake found them and only one survived.
That was enough! She brought the surviving chick back to the house and placed her into a dog crate in the den, much to his chagrin.
Five days later, the chick has found residence in a brand new blue Victorian model bird cage and lives in the air conditioned comfort of the ranch house. Because of her chubby chipmunk cheeks, she has been named "Alvin".
How can you spoil a chicken? It can be done. Whenever, she leaves the room, Alvin is very vocal. Whenever she comes near her cage, Alvin jumps up and down at the door begging to be picked up. Once the door is opened, he hops into her loving hands. She takes him out onto the porch, puts him in her lap where he grooms himself and then falls asleep.
Another new pet for Burnt Biscuit Ranch.

2009-05-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Readers of this blog first met the 'displaced guinea' back in May, 2007. It was a bittersweet story but the story has changed dramatically, now, 2 years later.
A few weeks ago, a mangy coyote caught and killed one of their 3 guineas. Shortly thereafter the displaced guinea renewed her love affair with the family Suburban. However, this time she has developed a jealous streak.
Initially, whenever anyone walked near 'her' SUV, she flapped her wings and ran up to them.
Her jealousy escalated and she now attacks whenever anyone tries to gets near the car. Ever had a hole in your leg that was put there by a guinea fowl? It hurts. Or scratch marks on your back from the bird's talons? Ouch.
A solution is being sought but help is needed soon. They have 30 people coming over on Memorial Day. Who knows which car she may 'take up with'?

2008-12-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming to Burnt Biscuit Ranch

2008-11-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

Oro Noble'

This is one fine horse.

On a busy day with delivery people and repairmen coming and going, the perimeter fence was left open.

While giving instructions to the carpet cleaners, she noticed Bullet was wondering around the back of the property, not in his pasture. UhOh. Where is the colt? She ran out back. Not in his pasture and that gate is wide open too.

Her worst fears were realized when she saw him out on the main road which is a good 1/8th. mile from the gate.

She ran across the front of the property, calling his name. He looked up and ran straight down their narrow lane, right to her.

Horses get nervous and excited when loose and out of their element. They certainly do not run to whoever is calling them. Typically, they are approached slowly and 'herded' back to where they have escaped from. Oro Noble' truly is one fine horse.

2008-11-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

One gopher and 4 predators.

Johnny Cat came to show off his latest catch, a nice-sized gopher. The little guy was still alive but each time he tried to run away, Johnny Cat simply placed his paw on his back, holding the gopher down.

Whoney and Biscuit, the chihuahuas, were watching and waiting for their opportunity to dive in for the kill. Whoney can kill a rat, mouse or gopher in a flash just by breaking it's neck. Biscuit is her back-up, just in case the varmint gets away. Never happens.

Then Cherokee, the great dane, comes along and sees a potential breakfast snack. Johnny Cat swoops up the gopher just as Cherokee gives chase. Up the tree he goes with a squirming gopher in tow. He goes out onto a branch as if to taunt the 3 dogs with his prize.

Oops. The gopher wriggles free from Johnny Cat, only to fall 10 feet to the ground, right into the mouth of Cherokee.

2008-11-03T12:06:00.001-08:00

A tiny bit of fall foliage

2008-11-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

Fading November blooms

2008-11-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

The first signs of fall at Burnt Biscuit ranch.
Her grandson in Maine sent her a package of fall leaves to remind her of the fall foliage typically missing down here in SE Texas.
However, she found a spot of color along the old wooden fence this morning.
The colorful lantana bush up by the barn is fading, not to bloom again until March.
She looks skyward as the sounds of geese and ducks pass over on their journey south.
The hummingbirds have followed, leaving behind the mourning dove and blue birds. The resident red-tailed hawk will remain as well.
The cooler temperatures give the horses reason to buck and kick and jump for joy as they are turned out each morning.
The Farmer's Almanac says it will be a long, cold winter.
In the meantime, Autumn is her favorite time of the year.

2008-09-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Where have all the birds gone?

They either perished or got caught up in the storm. Those that survived are now residing in Arkansas.

Their bird feeders are untouched except for the hummingbird feeders which have daily visitors. How did those little guys survive?

2008-09-19T10:06:00.004-07:00

During Hurricane Ike

2008-09-19T10:06:00.003-07:00

Video during Hurricane Ike

2008-09-19T10:06:00.002-07:00

Video during Hurricane Ike

2008-09-19T10:06:00.001-07:00

Video during Hurricane Ike

2008-09-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 13, 2008: HURRICANE IKE
At 4:29AM, they awoke to a loud BOOM. Transformer blew. No power.
Winds have picked up but not much rain. They went back to bed to awaken at 5:30 to find their world has changed dramatically. How to describe a hurricane 90 miles inland? No waves, of course, and no palm trees – unlike the movies. Unfortunately, their trees do not bend like those along the coast.
Their oaks, hickorys, pines, cherry laurels, olives, sweet gums, elms and her beloved Rain Tree are whipping and bending and blowing in every direction. The orchard is full of young trees and doing OK, so far. Lots of debris flying through the air. There is a huge branch on their front porch. Where did that come from?
Daylight is coming, bringing with it more visuals of this storm. The cameras are out and she is video-taping from the front porch and the back porch. Hearing loud snaps & cracks, trees are falling and splitting. Then, she remembers! What about the dead tree standing next to the hen house? Would her chickens and guenias survive? It is not safe to check on them. The storm is blowing too hard. The rains have begun……blowing sideways.
And the storm goes on and on and on.
She screams! There goes the barn roof. The metal looks like a piece of cotton as it is lifted and torn in the wind. What about the horses? She made the decision to make a run for the barn. Poor Sierra is standing in a stall filled with water and her roof gone. She is terrified. Nothing can be done about it. It is too risky to move her. After a quick pat of reassurance, she runs back to the house keeping an eye on the 110 foot Sweet Gum tree that was shifting with each 90 mph wind gust. Then he decides that the horses would all be less stressed if they had some hay to munch upon. So, off he goes, while she keeps one eye on him and one eye on that dancing Sweet Gum.
And the storm goes on and on.
Angie and Autumn are sending text messages from Maine and Virginia. That is their only communication of Ike’s progress.
The house is groaning from the stress of the wind but it is a good, strong house and they have no fears for their safety. The pond is almost full, more trees fall and the storm goes on.
After hours of wind and rain and stress, the storm seems to lesson. They go upstairs with their wind-up weather alert radio. Angie texted to tell them the last strong band was about to hit. It did. She video taped it at the same time some incredibly stupid woman, who indentifies herself as a school teacher, is calling into the radio station demanding that she be given power because she needs a shower.
The storms finally passes and they go out to survey the damage.
The barn roof has left 1/3rd of their newly delivered hay wet and possibly ruined. Sierra is led from her flooded, roofless barn stall to a nice, dry stall upon the hill. All the stall windows are opened and the horses get to look out upon their changed and wet world.
Trees are down, power lines are on the ground, fences are broken and bowed, debris everywhere and just such a mess.
However, they are lucky out here at Burnt Biscuit Ranch. All the critters are fine and their people are fine too. And the chickens? That dead tree did fall. It fell away from Autumn’s House of Hens.
And, now, the clean-up begins.

2008-09-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ike has left the Ranch without power, downed a few trees, stripped part of the roof of the big barn and littered the property with debris. There is a lot of cleanup going on, but a generator is providing small comforts. The cold front has come just in time! More to come - but power may be out for another week, so keep checking back for an update. ~posted by daughter in VA~

2008-09-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

Storm clouds approaching Burnt Biscuit Ranch

Boarded up and ready for Ike.

Their boys are checking out the visiting mares and geldings.

Hurricane Ike is just now arriving at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.

This day was spent boarding up the windows. Son Bryan came and helped with this onerous chore.

He is proud of their handy work. She is dismayed because she cannot see out the windows. How can one of the worst hurricanes to hit Texas be appreciated if it cannot be seen?

They did leave a few little peep holes for her. Thanks, guys!

She spent the day cooking for when they will have no power. Their friends in Magnolia lost theirs at 7:30pm. They spent a great deal of time this morning making the neighbor's horses comfortable in their home away from home. At day's end, all stall doors and windows are shut down, cats are locked away in the tack room and the chickens & guenias are in their coop. Cuddles and his ladies will have to fend for themselves in their pasture.

Tractors, cars and the golf cart are placed far from any trees that may fall.....no easy task as Burnt Biscuit Ranch has hundreds of trees. She backed her Suburban up to the internet satellite dish with the idea it would protect it from being blown away and far from any trees that might fall. She was so proud as she pointed this out to him. He pointed out to her that her Suburban may only be damaged when hit by the satellite dish.

The wind has picked up considerably but no rain as of 9:30pm on Friday night.

They will sleep with flashlights nearby. Candles are set up throughout the house in hopes they will not be needed.

2008-09-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

The calm (?) before the storm.
They began tracking Ike a week earlier while in Virginia to meet their beautiful new grandson.
Little did they know then that Ike would be such a driving force in their lives today.
Up at dawn, they began their preparations to secure the livestock and their home for the impending storm. Ike would come ashore in Galveston but Burnt Biscuit Ranch is in line for a direct hit, meaning the eye of storm would pass right over their little world of livestock, domestic and otherwise.
The furniture & plants from the porches were removed to the barn. All the barn equipment and horse halters, lead ropes, etc. were stored in empty stalls, tack room, hay barn and other storage areas. Sheet rock is piled nearby to cover the windows and the chainsaw is readied to cut up downed trees.
A call from a neighbor at midday was a call for help. She has 5 horses that needed to be stalled so five stalls were readied for more horses.
25 gallons of gas is ready to power the generator for when power is lost. Potable water and drinking water is stored for when water is lost - the pump needs electricity to power the well.
Food is prepared in advance and a bottle of wine is put on ice to get them through the hours or days when they will be cut off from the world of TV, phone & Internet service.
Her biggest worry - her rain tree.

2008-08-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Raintree / Photo by Sevenapples Photography

2008-08-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to her!
Her wishes were few but powerful.
First she wanted a healthy grandson delivered this month.
Second she wanted rain.
She has been very good this year.
Grandson was born pink and healthy and, oh, so adorable.
She will begin the spoiling when she takes a trip to Virginia to see him soon.
But first, that rain she asked for needs to stop. Over 7" has fallen on Burnt Biscuit Ranch and the clouds are building as she writes.

2008-06-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Bullet Wants Breakfast

2008-06-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Their daughter-in-law once asked, “What do you do out there all day?”

A typical day at Burnt Biscuit Ranch:
He is up at o’dark thirty. Soon thereafter, he is in the barn measuring out grain for the horses that are keenly aware of his every footstep. The gelding and stallion are brought in from the pasture for their b’fast and day’s rest in their stalls under cooling fans.
The barn cats make walking difficult as they twist and turn around his ankles as their reminder that they are also hungry.
Little Big Red takes him out to the end of the lane for the morning papers.

Back at the ranch house, she is feeding Maggie Sniffles and the dogs their breakfast.
Sheets are stripped and loaded in the machine before being hung out on the line.

By now, the mares are nickering for their turn to graze. Horse flies are bad this time of the year so each horse, in turn, gets a healthy dose of fly spray before being led out to the day pasture. His last chore is mucking the girl’s stalls. She does this on the days he works; however, trying to push a 50# bale of hay onto a wagon, she wrenched her knee. It has been an exasperating and slow recovery.

Back inside, he hurriedly takes a shower, jumps into his business clothes, and grabs a b’fast sandwich and juice while flying out the door for his 58 mile drive to the city. He spends the rest of his day searching for oil on his computer.

Chickens are fed and the coop cleaned in eager anticipation she can beat Sneaky Snake to fresh laid eggs. (Yes, another snake has arrived and, yet, to take the ceramic egg that will end his daily thievery). From the chicken coop to the cow pasture, she finds them awaiting her arrival. She goes in to find the little bull calf willing to let her pat his neck and head. The first of many smiles the animals give her on this day. On her way back to the house, she picks some day lilies for their home.

She runs her errands and returns to the ranch to take a critical look around. When did the grass get this high? On with shorts and a tank top and off to find the gas can to fill up the little John Deere. The thermostat says 83 so she has some time to get some mowing done before it gets too hot. Three hours later, she is pleased with the yards but she is feeling a little yukky. Inside, she takes a cold shower and checks the thermostat. The temperature had risen 12 degrees while she was mowing. There are days when she doesn’t do well in the Texas summer heat. This is one of those days.
She settles in with a cold glass of tea and finishes reading “Change of Heart” before planning the evening meal and returning phone calls.

He begins the 58 mile trek from the city to the ranch while she measures out grain for the horses and calls the guineas into the hen house for the night.
Horses are led back to their stalls. Some get bathed, some get worked but all get a healthy dose of attention.
As the sun sets over the hill, the gelding and stallion are put out for night pasture, their stalls are mucked and the barn cats are fed and put up for the night.

It is dusk. While dinner is simmering, they take a glass of wine to the porch and share the day’s events while watching the night birds diving for unsuspecting insects.

Tomorrow is a new day: windows to wash, weeds to kill, equipment to maintain, horses to work and a life to love.

2008-05-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you follow this blog, you know that all creatures are treated with respect at Burnt Biscuit Ranch. From the tiniest insect to the largest horse, all are nurtured.
When the screens are removed from the windows in the springtime, the nest of spiders is not smushed. It is relocated. When wily coyote drops by, he is not shot, only encourage to move on.
When the raccoons or opossums make a mess, they are trapped and taken down to the river.
When her favorite banty hen was murdered by the chicken snake, he was captured and removed.
However, enough is enough. Another chicken snake was having his daily breakfast in the hen house, leaving them with no eggs on a daily basis. She thought he would eventually show himself and he, too, would be captured and moved to a new location. But all she found was yet another dead chicken that he had killed. No more!
He brought home two porcelain eggs from the feed store, putting them in the brooding boxes in the hen house. Two days passed before a trip to the hen house found the porcelain eggs missing.
Since that day, there have been plentiful eggs to gather and happy chickens.

2008-04-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

She says "goodbye" to Canela and one last kiss from him.

2008-04-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

It is time to say "goodbye".
Canela Fina, their beautiful Peruvian mare, is leaving them to live in Virginia.
She will be missed by everyone at Burnt Biscuit Ranch, equine and human.
Even Purrball, one of their barn cats, will miss her as they have become good buddies.
Canela came to Burnt Biscuit Ranch three years ago and has given smooth rides, comforting nickers and gentle nuzzles as her way of communicating her trust and love for her handlers and riders.
Happy trails, Julie!

2008-03-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

She is typing this as it is happening.
Red lights out front on the road.
A cop car and the cop are at the southeast corner of their property.
Pulled over are 4 guys in a souped-up car.
Oh no, now one of the guys is running away from the cop.
Headed their way..
Another one of the guys is chasing him.....with a big, long stick with something on the end of it.
Caught him before he got to their lane.
Running guy went back with the stick chaser.
All 4 guys standing around the cars and the cop now.
Not for long! Running guy is now in their pasture. Balding young guy is in the woods across the road.
No gunshots but:
Running guy & balding guy are back with the group by the cop car now.
Aha! Running guy is back in their pasture, hiding behind their fence. Thinking he got away?
Young balding guy getting handcuffed. But he gets away too - back into the woods. He won't get far with his hands cuffed behind his back.
He's back. This time in the backseat of the cop car.
Lots of confusion now.
Uh Oh. Here comes the souped-up car coming down their lane with the police car in hot pursuit.
What should she do?
Grab the camera, of course. Out the door she goes............

2008-03-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Running Man

2008-03-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

Running man 'clothes-lined'!

2008-03-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

Tazed Man

2008-03-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

The above story with photos are a result of a video, "Submitting to Earthly Authority", being made for a local church youth ministry. Three of the 'hoodlums' are youth pastors, including their son. Next week's sermon will be based upon Romans 13, "Submitting to Heavenly Authority".

If her son had told her prior to this afternoon's drama, that Burnt Biscuit Ranch was to be the prop for this video, it would not have been as exciting!

To read more about the scripture, go to:

http://www.photoblog.com/Sevenapples/

2008-02-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

Highway 58, a road well traveled in the 50's.

2008-02-27T20:53:00.000-08:00

A road not-so-well traveled on an icy day in the hills of Southern Indiana

2008-02-27T20:39:00.001-08:00

Wintertime in Southern Indiana

2008-02-27T20:24:00.001-08:00

Wintertime at Starve Hallow Lake in Vallonia, Indiana

2008-02-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

"Mom" Simon's home.

2008-02-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

This house looks much the same as it did when her Grandmother, "Mom" Simons, lived there 60+ years ago.

2008-02-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Her first home in Bedford, Indiana.

2008-02-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

"Back Home Again in Indiana" in February, 2008.
A sad return to bid farewell to a grand lady who lived 91 remarkable and memorable years.
He wanted to accompany her back to her home to honor her beloved aunt.

While there, she took him on a tour of her own life reliving memories and, all the while, picking up new pieces of history about herself through stories from her family and retracing the steps of time.

This house is the first home she knew. Her very first memory was on the porch of this house where she lay in her mother's arms after falling into a neighbor's small burn can that had been left smoldering. At the age of 3, she had friends visiting and she was walking backwards while unrolling a ream of weaving material from her father's furniture factory. Her friends gathered the paper at the end of the parade. She backed into the burn can, falling down into it, burning the backs of her legs and arms. Sixty years later, she remembers first the fire truck then the ambulance coming to the house and the children staring at her as she lay with her mother on the porch swing. Her next memory is of the brightly colored balloons tied to her hospital crib. She was hospitalized for two weeks with 3rd degree burns.
She still remembers her mother rubbing her legs with baby oil after each bath. This was to lessen the scars that remain with her to this day.

A few miles from this house was the Columbus Hickory Furniture Company. She spent much of her childhood playing in her family's furniture factory that smelled of fresh cut hickory and the lacquer that was used on the newly woven chairs.
Behind the furniture factory was the Round House where the train engines came for repair. She spent much of her time climbing up into the train engines. On a lucky day, she was allowed to ride the newly repaired train engine out of the round house and back onto the train track.
A rainy day would find her in the office of the factory playing 'office'. She loved to lay out stacks of paper and pens, pretending to be the "boss". She was allowed to play with the 100 key adding machine, pulling it's handle to give the final total of the many numbers punched into it.

2008-02-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a long winter at Burnt Biscuit Ranch but not without additions to the livestock.

On December 11th., "M.C." presented them with a beautiful and healthy calf. Then, just 22 days later, "Valentine" (after 6 hours of labor) dropped a huge bull calf. He named these two babies, "Beefis" and "Butthead".

In the meantime, there was a significant number of rodents in the barn; therefore, the need for barn cats became a priority. "Purrball" and "Johnny Cat", cousins to "Maggie Sniffles" came to Burnt Biscuit Ranch. A couple of months later, a wildguy who was named "Chatterbox" (another bobtail cousin) found his way to BBR. All three have snuggled into the tack room in the barn, well-fed, neutered and loved. Rodent hunting? That remains to be seen.

2007-10-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

While Sugar's mama is away, Sugar goes to school.

She gets an A+ in trailer loading.

2007-09-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Farewell.

It is weaning time for Sugar. The first attempt at weaning placed Siemon in the front pasture, leaving Sugar in the foaling stall. Although they couldn't see each other, they could hear the other's whinnys. Mama was about to jump the fence and Baby was crying the entire time. They put them back together and it was heartbreaking. Sugar walked around and around Siemon, rubbing against her with Siemon looking at her baby girl tenderly.

Plan B: The next day they took Siemon and Sierra to a neighbor's ranch, about a mile away, again leaving Sugar in the foaling stall with her best buddy, Canela, in the neighboring stall. Siemon spent the next several days walking the fence line, hoping to find a way out and back to Sugar.

Back home, Sugar settles into her new life without Mom. In fact, by day 5, she was allowed to run in the pasture with Canela and Danzarina and has not looked for Mom even once.

Meanwhile, at the neighbor's ranch, Siemon is still walking the fence line although not as much. Sierra is there to keep her company but not at all happy about her duties. Both mares want to come home. It will be a month before that happens.

2007-08-24T15:14:00.000-07:00

Another snake story at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.

Eggs disappearing out of the hen house as well as a second death by strangulation was getting old. But where was Stupid Snake hiding? She gave him that name because he killed two of her little chickens, tried eating them only to find they were too big thus regurgitating them.

Wouldn't a smart snake learn the first time?

A mid morning visit to the hen house this week, she noticed she had forgotten to clean out the center brooding box. On with the gloves, she reached in to do so only to wrap her gloved hand around fat, healthy Stupid Snake hiding under the straw. He must have been lying there each day with his mouth wide open just waiting for the eggs to drop in. Damn Stupid Snake.

She did what any new ranch woman would do when she found she had ahold of a 5' long snake. She screamed.

He came running. Although he grew up in South Texas and had seen many snakes, he didn't take too kindly to handling them. While she watched over this brute of a snake, he went off to gather snake catching supplies. He returned with a burlap bag and a metal detector. She held the burlap bag while he manuevered Stupid Snake into it with the long handle of the metal detector. Thinking this wasn't a good idea, Stupid Snake simply wrapped his body around the handle of the metal detector and bared his fangs at them. To her, at that moment, he looked like a 20' long Anaconda.

Finally getting him inside the burlap bag, he tied a knot and removed him from the hen house.
He was later to be relocated two miles down the road to the river.

Happy Day! No more snake in the hen house and the egg production would pick up immediately.
She went back to Autumn's House of Hens that evening with a basket to gather many eggs.
No eggs.
What does that mean?
Stupid Snake has friends.

2007-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

Son of champions.

HDP Oro Noble'

Purebred Peruvian

foaled: April 1, 2005

2007-07-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

The mother walking stick carries her young around on her back?

Pretty cool until Cherokee ate the baby.

2007-05-18T16:26:00.001-07:00

This little guinea was recently run off by the head of the flock due to a death in the 'family'. (The resident fox had a fine meal one night).

She stays by their Suburban all day,everyday. They had no clue as to why.

The lens saw what the human eye failed to notice.

This little displaced guinea has a new best friend.

2007-05-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

She begins each day with a visit to Autumn's House of Hens. While there, she feeds her chickens, lovingly clucking to them while she cleans the hen house and, finally, gathers the eggs they leave for her.

Her favorite is Phyllis, a tiny black silkie banty who loves to brood. She has successfully hatched chickens, ducklings and guenia fowl. Her latest attempt was three huge peacock eggs.

One morning, she went into the henhouse to find Phyllis sitting on one peacock egg. With no visable sign of entry, she concluded that a snake had made his way into the hen house and eaten two peacock eggs. In an attempt to save the remaining peacock egg, she put Phyllis and the egg into the nursery.

Big mistake.

The next morning, not only was the peacock egg gone, Phyllis was dead.

Her head and neck were wet due to his attempt to swallow her after constricting her little body. She surmised that he gave up, regurgitating her and squeezed out of the nursery after digesting the egg.

The next day, she spotted the snake. It is a Rat Snake and well over 7 feet long, surely a record even for Texas. Texas Rat Snakes are the only snakes that can vertically climb a tree.

She had thoughts of killing him for taking away her beloved Phyllis.

However, one cannot help but admire the beauty and grace of this huge creature who does his job as God planned.

Super Snake lives on at Burnt Biscuit Ranch and continues to sneak into the hen house for a fresh egg from time to time when not hunting down mice and rats.

2007-05-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

Sugar plays Peek-a-Boo with Brooke.

2007-04-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

It's a Girl!
Of course they slept through most of it.
He made yet another trip to the barn while still dark outside on the morning of April 20th.
The last time he checked, there were only four feet on the ground.
This time there were eight.
She dressed in record time and they both watched in awe as the mother tenderly cleaned her newborn foal until she was sparkling white.
Once the foal suckled for first time, the birthing process was complete with the delivery of the placenta.
Both mare and foal enjoyed a long nap after many photos were taken.
Within hours the first visitors arrived. Granddaughers with their daddy stood on stools to peek over the bars of the stall to get their first look at the first foal born at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.
Many have come since to see her. Who wouldn't? She is a beauty!

2007-04-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

"Siemon's Dream Catcher" 3/20/2007 @ 4:00am Barn Name: "Sugar"

2007-04-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

On the day after her birth, Sugar leaves the comfort of her foaling stall for the first time,

2007-04-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

Sugar surveys her new world.

2007-04-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sugar is a proud little lady at age four (days).

2007-04-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

10,000 steps per day.
That is what it takes to keep them healthy and fit.
No problem.
They are getting that and more with many trips back and forth from the h0use to the barn. Hand grazing the pregnant mare adds even more.
They watch for signs hourly.
But the mare just stands there looking at them, stubbornly keeping her foal in her belly.
Could she be enjoying the the treats, the handful of grain for lunch, the walks, the extra grooming, the new 'suite', complete with her own private paddock?
They have cancelled appointments. They don't leave the ranch together - one must always be here 'just in case'. They get up in the middle of the night, trekking out to the barn to check her teats for waxing. Once the waxing begins, the foal should arrive approximately 8 - 10 hours later, or so they have have told.
In the meantime:
The new moon came and went - no foal.
Bad weather came and went - no foal.
The due date came and went - no foal.

2007-04-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

The midwives are ready

2007-04-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

The nursery is ready

2007-04-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

2007-04-13T17:18:00.000-07:00

J.C.'s Dream Machine is the sire of our soon-to-be foal.
He is magnificent and the very pregnant Siemon is one lucky mare.
Today is Friday the 13th.
Bad weather is approaching.
Could this be the night?
He is in the barn putting the finishing touches on the foaling stall
while she packs and repacks the basket of necessary foaling supplies.

2007-04-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

2007-04-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

Busy days and sleepless nights.
It's foaling season!
Approximately 11 months ago, we bred our favorite mare to a 2 x World Champion, "J.C.'s Dream Machine".
The birth of this 'perfect foal' is imminent. The foaling stall and paddock is ready. The vet and the photographer are on call. Every book on foaling has been read and re-read.
The baby's brand new halter is hanging in the barn. A box of necessary supplies are in a huge box by the back door: gauze, gloves, iodine, syringe, Banamine, fleet enemas, mineral oil and the tail wrap. We are ready!
Siemon has separated herself from the herd somewhat but that is the only indication she is aware that the big day is fast approaching. She continues to do what she does best - eat.
We do what we do best - watch and wait.

2006-08-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Maggie Sniffles guarding her flock

2006-08-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Bliss and Mayhem.
Days at Burnt Biscuit Ranch are filled with gratifying hard work, rewarding discoveries and blissful feelings of enrichment for a job well done.
Nights; however, can have the opposite effect on one's psyche.
The sounds of screams awakened one chihuahua, the cat and her.
They weren't human screams but just as heart wrenching.
Two of the guineas were released from the hen house the morning before.
They stayed close to home barely venturing more than a few feet away to peck for insects and weed tops. Somehow one little guenia got over the fence only to forget how to return to his friends and the familiarity of home.
As dusk turned to night and the birds in the chicken house took to thier roosts, the one guenia hovered as close to the fence and his friends as he could. The other free guenia took refuge on the roof of the hen house.
Nearby the Predator came out from under the barn, leaving her babies in the nest she had carefully built to protect them from the snakes, coyotes and humans who all lived nearby.
It took little time for her hungry senses to lead her to the hen house. All was quiet as usual, except for the rustling of something nearby. The Predator scurried over to the fence and saw the evening meal, trembling with fear just on the other side.
The Predator's wily ways soon found an opening and approached the frightened guenia.
The guenia ran away from his safe haven by the fence. He ran and ran and when he felt the Predator was close, he flew. But guenias cannot fly very far and, too late, he realized he was out in the open with no tree, nor bush nor fence to land. He came tumbling down just short of the pasture fence. With one final leap, the Predator jumped onto the guenia's tired little body. Feathers flew while the guenia's paniced screams pierced the silence of the night. The struggle was short as the Predator broke the guenia's little neck, swiftly extinguishing his life.
The Predator's belly satisfied, she went back to her nest to nurse her young.
The next morning he found the pile of feathers, scooped up the guenia's bones and took them to the dumpster.
A new day had begun at Burnt Biscuit Ranch

2006-08-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

2006-08-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

A winter wedding at the ranch.
Their son said he'd like to marry the girl of his dreams out at the ranch in the gazebo.
Son said, "We'll just drive out after church and have a small; very personal ceremony".
She called her very best friend who is as talented as she isn't and, together, they made bows, tufted tulle, found a caterer, ordered food and cake and champagne and decorated the gazebo.
He hauled out the tractor and began sprucing up the old place. Fences needed mending, barns needed cleaning, hedges needed trimming and the horses needed their wedding grooming.
Bride's family flew in the night before for an old fashioned Texas barbeque. He cooked. She worried about the bows and the tulle and the weather.
The wedding day dawned brilliant and sunny and warm.
The bride, a California girl, was exquisite. The groom, a native Texan, was so very handsome.
Guests arrived and began to drift towards the gazebo at 3:00. The groom took his place next to the minister.
The bride came to him on the arm of her reluctant father.
There was not a dry eye around the gazebo as they exchanged their reverent and heartfelt vows.
Following a sumptious buffet, the cake was cut and toasts were made to the happy couple before the sun set on a special and memorable day at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.

2006-08-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, it felt soooo good......
Having broken her foot while riding their pet bull, Cuddles
or
falling over her own two feet,
the doctor restricted her from all the things she loved doing the most.
After 4+ weeks of hobbling around, she broke all the rules and out to the barn she went.
Pulling her pregnant mare out of the paddock, she took her to the wash rack.
Over an hour later, she had a sparkling black and white paint without a smudge of dirt anywhere.
However, she had it all on her and, ouch, that foot was beginning to throb again.
It took two days to recover but it was worth every minute of doing what she loves most, working with her horses.

2006-06-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

2006-06-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Three little ducks
was his surprise for her on Easter morning.
The kids and grandchildren were visiting from Maine and the youngest, Max, was captivated by those ducks.
They were so young, they had to be put into a cage in the hay barn, under a light to keep them warm. Max would sit on his knees and watch their every waddle.

Four days later, when she went into the barn to feed and water the baby ducks, he heard her ask, "Where did you put my ducks?"
"Oh, here they are!", she said as she reached under a mound of hay. The next thing he heard was her scream. No ducks were under that hay.
Her hand found only a very contented and happy snake.
And she was mad!
She went staight to the house to get a gun, a snake book and her cell phone. On the way back as she was loading her gun, she called her eldest son who studied herpetology.
He convinced her to spare the snake. When not eating her three little ducks, he was ridding their barns of rats and mice.
The snake had just come out of hybernation. Being thin and hungry, he found a bountiful buffet in those three little ducks. However, having eaten them, he could no longer fit through the wire mesh to escape.
To this day the snake is a permanent resident of Burnt Biscuit Ranch most recently seen with a belly full of rodents (they hope).

2006-06-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

When there were only two.

2006-06-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Now there are six.
Up at 1:00AM, taking the filly's temperature.

2006-05-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

"I want one", she said.
Two years later they have six with one on the way.
They moved to their ranch with their two riding horses, a paint mare for him and a quarter horse gelding for her.
On a trail ride with several female riders, she learned about the Peruvian Paso.
During competition the Peruvian is judged by a rider holding a full glass of red wine, spilling not a drop. She rode a Peruvian at a speed of 18 miles per hour while sitting perfectly still in the saddle. No more aching knees. No more uncomfortable sport's bras.
Just ride the glide, as Peruvian owners say.
"There are less than 10,000 Peruvians in the U.S. so this would be a great investment", she told him.
They found a little Buckskin mare by the name of 'Sierra'. It was love at first sight. She crawled upon that little mare's back and rode off, singing happily. He purchased the horse on her birthday.
A few weeks later, Sierra settled in and began telling them about her history. She spun, pivoted, kicked, bucked and did just about every bad thing a horse can think of to get negative attention. She researched her history, learning she had been badly abused and had once been sent to an auction to be sold to the killer bidder (dog food).
She put her into a paddock by herself, working with her daily. Months later, she had convinced this little mare that nothing bad would ever happen to her at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.
The bad behaviors were replaced with nuzzles and nickers.
Unfortunately, she also learned that Sierra had almost killed one of her prior owners, bucking her off. He would not allow her to ride Sierra but she has kept her promise to that little mare. This little mare will always be safe at Burnt Biscuit Ranch.
On her next birthday, they found a beautiful sorrel Peruvian mare with an impressive registry.
They also purchased a Palamino colt that came from a magnificent blood line. When they went to Dallas to pick him up, they also brought home a Palamino filly.
Thus the decision was affirmed - they were in the horse breeding business.
Afterall, they had 21 stalls to fill!
Remember those two riding horses they started with? No time to ride now!

2005-10-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

"Sir Charles", the rooster.

2005-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

"Are you my Mama?"

2005-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

"Two", she said. "I want two chickens. That will give us two eggs per day."
Autumn with her energy and enthusiasm took on the project of transforming an old dog house, the size of a small cabin, into a chicken coop. A screened-in porch was added on, coops built and a mirror hung on the wall to welcome two lucky chickens.
He found a feedstore that sold adult chickens. Off the three of them went to buy two chickens for "Autumn's House of Hens".
Home they came, with five chickens and one rooster.
The rooster promptly did what roosters do best. He crowed and cuckled the ladies one by one.
She fell in love with each of her new feathered friends, naming each of them, to fit their own unique personalities.
Phyllis, the banty silkie, soon began brooding on some eggs. She sat on these eggs long after the 21 days it takes for them to hatch. All the feathers had worn off her belly but still she sat on those eggs, desperately wanting to become a mother hen. The local feed store had day old hatchlings. She picked out four guineas and two mallard ducks.
Once back at The House of Hens, she carefully removed the old eggs out from under Phyllis and introduced her to one of the baby guineas. The hatchling looked up at Phyllis and asked, "Are you my Mama?"
It was love at first sight. Phyllis gathered that baby under her wing as well as the other three guineas and the two baby ducklings.
Life in the hen house became routine until one morning, several weeks later, when she found the rooster and one of the mallards killed by an intruder. It was a sad day at Burnt Biscuit Ranch. He attached a door to protect them at night and she eventually found a new rooster to tend to the ladies needs.
"Only two" is now a busy group of ten with enough eggs to make a lemon meringue pie every day, if only she knew how to make pie crust.

2005-09-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

"Cuddles" today!

2005-09-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

2005-08-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

"It is time to get some cattle", he declared, so off to the cattle auction they went.
While he studied the auction sheet, she tried to pick the prettiest one. However, it was a cold and dreary day and the cows were covered in mud. Thus, the cute factor didn't apply for her and he was getting hungry for beef.
Auction barns almost all have a little cafeteria and each is renown for heaping plates of chicken fried steak and homemade pies. This one in Navasota was no exception. They are ranchers now, so they practiced having their main meal in the middle of the day at this cattle auction cafe. Over pie and coffee, they looked at the local "Greensheet" and saw an ad for some orphaned calves not too far from Navasota.
They called for directions and found just what they were looking for.
He loaded up a brown and white full bodied calf while she coaxed a tiny red Brahma bull into the trailer. Both calves were thin but the Brahma was all bones, hanging skin and droopy ears.
He named his bull calf "T-Bone". She named her bull calf "Cuddles".
Several months later, "Cuddles" is still a favorite for everyone who visits Burnt Biscuit Ranch.
He runs to the gate to be petted and is liberal with kisses while following her around like a puppy dog. Have you ever been licked by a cow? If not, you'll have to come to BBR for that experience. "T-Bone" is long gone. He went to the feed lot as soon as he was full grown. We have added more cows to the pasture but he refuses to let her name any of them. Why? Because "Cuddles" is here to stay - never to be eaten, never to be sold.
He is her pet bull.

2005-08-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

2005-08-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

Eighteen months later, there have been many changes including that addition to the house.
Initially the sounds of nature were interrupted by banging hammers, buzzing saws and loud music coming from the worker's portable radios. Ninety days and a few jangled nerves later, they had another 650 square feet to call home on the range.
Their daughter, Autumn, came to help with the move of things and animals. On advice of the stable hands where they kept their horses, they were told to keep them in their new stalls in their new barn for at least three days. What they didn't tell them: they had already been stalled at the stables for four days due to inclement weather.
Their horses are young but set in their ways. Day two of being surrounded by four new walls with sights and sounds they had yet to experience and bursting with pent-up energy, her gelding, Bullet, made the great escape as their daughter went into his stall that morning. He made the leap for freedom, flattening her against the stall wall. She recovered to run for the main gate to prevent his exploring the entire county.
Around and around he went, exploring his new world at a full gallop. On one of his trips through the barn, he was met by Autumn who had attached the cross ties to prevent him from going on through. They stared at each other, his nostrils flaring as were hers - both with determination. Autumn won. Bullet turned into his stall. She made the decision both horses could spend the rest of their adjustment period in the pasture. They did without further incident and there they remain.
However, there have been many changes to the world of horses and people since that day. She add them on, as time permits, over the next few weeks. Her goal is to continue writing their experiences as they occur which, out here at Burnt Biscuit Ranch, is almost daily.

2005-08-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

2005-08-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

With 2 horses stabled, 2 chihuahuas in our tiny patio home, we began the search for a place where we could all be together.
He said, "We can raise cattle, grow our own vegetables, ride our horses whenever we want".
She said, "I am not an outdoor girl. I like museums, eating out and Dillards."
He said he would take care of the animals and the chores.
She said she would track their bloodlines on the computer, in the comfort of air conditioning.
And so it began.
The search for our own piece of real estate in the country took months.
The first contract was cancelled when the inspector told us the termites were in occupancy, leaving very little solid wood holding up the walls and roof.
Just after Christmas, we found it!
There were pastures, arenas, a barn, a round pen and a pond. And trees!
The house was a great cedar structure with deep porches, front and back.
A stone fireplace, high ceilings and tile floors.
It was 2000 square feet with only four rooms: family kitchen and large den downstairs with two bedrooms upstairs.
He thought she would get bored with only four rooms so we left.
She went back.
He said those stairs were going to get mighty steep in a few short years.
She went back again.
He said we could add on a master suite downstairs.
And, so, we bought it.
The first night: Sleeping with the stars shining in the window instead of a street lamp!
We awoke to the sounds of a neighboring farmer's rooster crowing and cows mooing for their breakfast.
So it begins, our new life in the country.