In early July, Oklahoma temperatures were on the rise and, because of ample rains this spring, the humidity was almost unbearable at times. With this oppressive heat, it seemed I was continually cleaning and filling water sources. Many afternoons, I freshened the water in the chicken yard and deer pens, making sure good, cold well … More Creating a Fawn Splash Pond
In late March, FD and I began the big task of landscape cleanup at the rock house. After having many large trees removed in the year since my mother-in-law passed, we were left with a lot of overgrown shrubbery, wild vine, and small saplings growing in iris beds that FD’s grandmother had established more than … More A Tale of Spring Romance
I keep fairly busy outdoors throughout the day, but mornings are when you’ll find me hardest at work. I’m up for coffee at 6:00, and out of the door by 7:00, tending to chickens and working in the garden, flower beds, or yard while it’s fairly shady and the temperatures are cool. As I begin … More Tukker’s Lair
Last March, when FD’s mother passed away, our first big endeavor was to clean out the house, and go through items in the garage, barn and garden shed. Overwhelming as it was, we managed to get through the worst of the hoarding in about six months. FD still needs to go through the garage with … More A Treemendous Project
When FD’s mother passed away in March of last year, we inherited a flock of two old roosters and eighteen old hens. At that time, we were only getting three to five eggs a day, so I decided we should order some new stock. This time, I wanted a variety of chicks instead of what … More PerfEgged Timing
One day while visiting us this summer, my niece Sarah wanted to try her hand at running the Hustler zero-turn mower. I take advantage of help when I have it so, after a short lesson on how to operate the mower, I sectioned off an easy area for her to mow. Once she aced that, … More Operator Malfunction
In the early years we lived on this place, the “Lori measuring stick” ruled as I made my weekly rounds in the electric buggy, picking up neighborhood trash on our ten acres. I ranted and grumbled about the carelessness of our neighbor’s lack of trash disposal. I had expectations about how people should respectfully keep up … More The Language of Litter
When we purchased the pecan orchard last August, FD and I were both aware the property had a thistle problem along its south and west boundaries. For much of the autumn and winter months, when the thistle plants were in the rosette stage, FD would pry the dinner plate sized plants up with a shovel … More A Sticky Situation
Not feeling up to par last Monday morning, I decided to grab my camera and take the electric buggy for a leisurely drive around the pecan orchard property. I had been on the computer doing research all morning and needed to clear my mind. Unfortunately, I had to accept that I would not get much … More Treading Lightly
Early yesterday morning while I was enjoying a cup of coffee on the back porch, I noticed some odd movement down in the canyon near the dry creek bed. Fetching my binoculars I observed a fox squirrel rolling around, flipping, jumping straight up, and then back to rolling in the red dirt. I wondered if … More Squirreling Away
I have taken on quite a few dirty jobs on Ten-Acre Ranch since FD and I moved here back in 2008. Most folks who come from a farm background or have a few acres of land, understand that dirty work is just part of this life. Of this dirty work, cleaning up after livestock is … More Dirty Job and a Measuring Stick
