Ameraucana Chicks to Pullets

Remember these cute little sweeties?

Precious Little Ameraucanas at 1 Week Old

New Calf!!

Here she is!

 Just hours old!

Born Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 11:55pm.

65.2 Pound Bundle of Joy.

Sweet Midnight Moonglow

Proud Rancher Roy

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Typically Tubby - Enough Birds Already!

Just when you think things could not get worse...
This happens...

Beautiful French Black Copper Marans
7 Maran Hens, 3 Maran Roosters, and 2 Unknown Hens added to flock.

And then this!

Black Call Ducks
3 Hens and 1 Drake added to flock.

Just how many birds are needed around here?!

With all these birds on the ranch, one kitty could be slightly scared to go outside.



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Pecos National Park

Pecos National Historical Park

What do you do when it snows?
If you are Colt in the City, you go camping!!


Park Sign Reads:  Limited Use Road.  Not suited for wet weather travel or low clearance vehicles.

Wet Weather?  Check
Low Clearance?  Check

I wonder if this is what they mean by "Not Suited For"?

Travel was sometimes difficult.  One stretch of five miles took over three hours to drive through.  It would have been quicker to hike the five miles than to drive it.

Mule Deer Everywhere!!!

Pecos National Historical Park is such a beautiful place with rivers, wildlife, and incredible views.  I understand completely why he wanted to be in this magnificent setting!  Especially when it snows!

Typically Tubby - SnowCats!!

Just because I am white does not mean I am a "snowcat!"
Get me out of this stuff!!!

First Snow on the Ranchlet!

It was a cold 20 degree morning.  Brrrrr!!!!

A half inch of snow covered the ground.  Beautiful!

Rancher Tracks

First thing outside what did we see?

These Cute Little Tracks.  

These little fellows must be very hungry to be searching all over the ranchlet for food.  Feeding the wild birds, quail, and doves is part of our morning chores.  They were very happy when food was put out for them.

Wild Bird Tracks Everywhere!!!

We found Bruce and Lucy just talking and having fun just like every other morning.  They seemed to love the snow.

Lucy and Bruce and Their Tracks

Goose Tracks

The chickens were not too thrilled with this little overnight delight of white and headed straight to the barn to scratch and play away from all this snow.

First Chicken to Come Out and Brave the Snow

Chicken Tracks

Mia, she did not care one way or the other.  All she was concerned about this morning was getting to her morning grain and hay.

Cow Track

Tubby did not want to go outside, but I lovingly scooped him up and tossed his little furball right out the door.  One quick trip around in the snow and he had had enough.  He cried at the door to come back inside.  Our sweet little Braveheart.
*Remember this big fellow is the Head of Ranchlet Security!    

Cat Tracks by Tubby

While everyone was busy taking care of things this morning, here lies Molly.  We could all learn a lesson from Molly!

No-Track Molly

Molly, the cute little thing, would not even go outside.  After this morning's chores we came in freezing cold and found Molly all curled up asleep in her favorite overstuffed chair.  As we stood in front of the fireplace warming our fingers and toes, we soon realized the wisdom in Molly's decision.  Molly, you are an inspiration to us all.

We hope you are enjoying the snow as much as we are here at Saltbush Flats!!!!

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Rancher Roy Romance

Rancher Roy:  "Darling."
Me:  "Yes, Dear?"
Rancher Roy:  "I was talking to the cat."

This was part of our actual conversation this morning.  Sometimes the only good way to respond is a hearty smile, and then give him a great big hug!

Baby Ameraucanas - Getting Bigger Every Day!

We are thoroughly enjoying our Ameraucana chicks.

8 Days Old

They are so cute and so active.

These dainty little girls just play all day.  They are 9 days old in the video.
They are growing so fast you can almost watch them get bigger.

Molly's Favorite Place in the House! (11 Days Old)

Tubby does not seem to care about the little chickies.  But Molly, she is fascinated with them... or maybe she just wants to eat them.

WatchGeese! Lucy and Bruce

Lucy and Bruce

This delightful pair of Chinese Geese needed a new home.  You know what that means.  Yes, you are right.  Saltbush Flats is here ready to take them in.

Brown Chinese Geese

Bruce is a sweetheart.  He comes up to me and stands so close to me and talks and talks and talks to me.  And, of course, I talk back.  He loves the attention.  He allows me to pet him and does not bite me.  Now Lucy she is a different story all together.  She does not come to me, and if I get close to her she bites me.

Now Rancher Roy seems to have the opposite effect on them.  Lucy just loves him.  And Bruce attacks him.

The men of Saltbush Flats, Rancher Roy and Tubby, thought it was high time there was another male on this ranch.  They were feeling pretty out-numbered. 
Awwwww poor fellows.

There are now 24 females and only 3 males.

Migrating Bird Invasion!!

There are thousands of them!!!

As part of our morning ranch routine we set out fresh water and scatter lots of bird food for the quail and dove that call Saltbush Flats home.  

Baby Ameraucanas

Ameraucana Chick

We were fortunate to acquire six adorable Ameraucana chicks.  These are the most precious little ones.  We can sit and watch them for hours.

They hatched Tuesday, November 5.  These pictures were taken the day we got them, Monday, November 11, when they were only six days old.

I simply asked them all to smile pretty for the camera, and so they all turned and posed for me.

Even at Six Days Old the Pecking Order is already Established!

More Chickens!

Barred Plymouth Rock Hen

All Five Black Beauties

The day after getting the nine Rhode Island Reds we got five Barred Plymouth Rocks.  They are fat and fluffy and most definitely dominate over the Rhode Island Reds.  Unlike the Reds that scatter everywhere, these girls all stick together.

Chickens!!!!

Finally we have chickens here on the ranchlet!  We are so excited.  They are the most interesting little creatures to watch.

Rhode Island Red Hen

It may sound crazy, but I really do enjoy getting up and going out in the cold at 6:00am to let my nine pretty Henny Pennies out.  

The previous owner of these beauties used to keep them in a small chicken coop and not let them roam free.  They would fight and peck each other.  I knew we could give them a more natural home.

Out here at Saltbush Flats they get the run of the ranchlet.  They love running and scratching and exploring.  They do not fight or peck each other.  They are content happy birds.  They come right up to us and talk to us.  The best part is we are getting four or five eggs each day from these gals, even with the shortened days.

Typically Tubby - That Cow Again!

Ever try to unload mulch with a cow climbing in the trailer?

Smile pretty, Mia.

All you can do is stand back and let her have her way.

Roses and Diamonds!!!

Well that is what most wives want for their anniversary...

But I am not "most wives"!  What do I need with roses and diamonds?

Instead, We gave each other a Chipper, a Gate, a Tiller, 10 Chickens!!, and many wonderful dinners.  We are thrilled.  

We have been celebrating our anniversary for three weeks now, from the day we met, October 12, to today, November 2, when we were sealed for time and all eternity.  We have enjoyed remembering all the little details of how and when we met. 

Rancher Roy is the most amazing man.  He watches over me and everything here on the ranch.  He goes out of his way to do little things to help me out during the day.  He never ever complains or gets upset.  I am so blessed to be his wife.  I completely adore him.  

Life truly is wonderful!

Typically Tubby - Just How Many Cats Make a Clowder?

By all the names we use to address our cats, one would be convinced there is a clowder of cats here at Saltbush Flats.  Does two make a clowder?

Tubby

Tubby is most often called "Tubby."  But we have many names for our little sweetheart.
"Tubbytoes", "Braveheart", "Tubby No Pants", "Handsome Jack", and "Furball" are just a few.
No matter what we want to call him, the little fellow only answers to "Tubby."

Molly

Gata is now named "Molly."
In researching what a group of cats is called, we learned that a group is a clowder, a male cat is a tom, a neutered cat is a gib, and a female cat is a molly.  We knew right then that our Gata should now be named "Molly."
She still gets called many names including "Gata", Gatita", and "Marie" but most often it is just simply "Molly."  And this little thing will not come, no matter what we call her.

Molly is doing very well now.  When she arrived at Saltbush Flats, she was fur and bones, way too skinny and way too small.  Well the little thing would not stop eating for the first two weeks she was here.  Now she has filled out nicely and looks healthy with bright eyes and soft shiny fur.  Molly is a happy girl and loves her new home, and we love her.

A clowder of cats and a cow.  Perfect!

Roasted Garlic

The flavor, the smell, the texture of Roasted Garlic is the most amazing thing to come out of a kitchen.

Raw garlic has a strong, sharp flavor.  Roasting the garlic mellows the flavor and slightly sweetens it.

Place whole garlic bulbs in baking dish.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes.

Once cool, individual cloves will slip easily from their papery skins.

Place yummy roasted garlic cloves in freezer bag. 

It is so convenient to have roasted garlic cloves right at my fingertips just a few steps away in my freezer.

You really must try this.