What Is the Most Common Phrase on Your Homestead?

We are busy all day long every day on our ranch.  Rancher Roy and I talk to each other and work with each other a lot.  He is so wonderful and I do so enjoy being with him as we tend to the stock and garden chores each day.  

The most common phrase I say each day is

Pink Eggs

I have an Ameraucana that lays pink eggs.  Yes, you read that correctly, pink eggs.  They are such a rich pink color, just beautiful.  I have tried and tried to get a good picture of the color with no luck.  That pretty pink just does not come through the camera.

The pink eggs are in the middle.

Pickled Pineapple

What?  Pickled pineapple?  Cucumbers are pickled, not pineapple.

That is what I thought, "pickled pineapple... ewww."

But since I have all this pineapple, I thought, "why not?

New Baby Chicks

Saltbush Flats had a successful hatch of 16 little sweetheart Easter Egger chicks March 26.  They are the cutest little things.  I could cuddle with them and

Pineapple - No Part Goes to Waste

Every part of the pineapple has a purpose on this ranch.  Rancher Roy and I are not the only ones here that absolutely love pineapple.  The cattle, chickens, and ducks gobble down whatever pineapple they can get.

There are many uses for the delicious tender fruit as we have shown, but what do we do with the rinds, tops, and cores?

Pineapple Salsa

YUMM!!!

Oh my!  This is the most wonderful salsa.  It is the perfect combination of sweet and heat.  You really must try this..... now!

Home Canned Pineapple

Home canned pineapple is delicious .  Its tastes is far superior to the commercial canned stuff.  I prefer putting up my own canned fruits

How to Clean and Cut Fresh Pineapple

Cleaning and cutting a fresh pineapple is quick and easy.  Just follow these simple instructions.


1.  Using a carving knife, cut off top and bottom.

Pineapple - The World's Most Delicious Food

Yum!  I love pineapple.
fresh cut pineapple, pineapple pie, pineapple sherbet, pineapple milkshake, smoked pineapple, candied pineapple, dried pineapple, pineapple syrup, glazed pineapple, pineapple upside down cake,

Ranch Horse

Well, we finally did it.  We got our first ranch horse.  Rancher Roy has been wanting a horse since we established Saltbush Flats.  We brought home our handsome fellow and fell in love with him immediately.  He is so sweet

Incubating Eggs

It is that time of year again to hatch little chicks and ducklings.  

Today I filled one incubator with chicken eggs and the other with duck eggs.  

It takes 21 days for these little baby Easter Egger chicks to develop in the shell.  Today is Wednesday, March 4.  These little chicks should hatch about Wednesday, March 25.

Update:  16 beautiful baby chicks!

Garden Season

Garden Season

It is garden season.  Which should have all of us asking:  Do we garden?  Do we can, dehydrate, freeze, or preserve?  Do we put part of the bounty away to get us through until the next harvest season?

Happy Thankgiving!

We have so much for which to be thankful.  Everyone here at Saltbush Flats (all 99 of us) are so grateful for the many blessing we receive.  Our greatest blessing is family and all the love and strength and support that is given.

Favorite Quote

Wisdom and Responsibility

"I am for doing good to the poor,

Vanilla Ice Milk

Vanilla Ice Milk is absolutely my favorite "ice cream".  I can not stand the gummy store bought ice cream.  Ice cream should be very cold and very refreshing.  And this Vanilla Ice Milk certainly is cold and refreshing.

Orange Sherbet

Orange Sherbet
makes 4 quarts

8 cups orange juice
3 cups milk
3 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
pinch salt
few drops vanilla (optional)

Pour everything in ice cream maker.  Follow ice cream maker instructions.

To enjoy a variety of fruit sherbets, simply puree any fruit

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.



This post and others like it can be seen at
The Homesteaders Hop     

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.