Here is the picture of the barn and corrals at Terlingua Ranch. I just returned home after camping there for a few days. It was cold some of the time but also had some beautiful days. I'm having a raincatchment pole barn built and hopefully when I return it will be up. As I get pictures of my new building and the site I will post them. I plan on having solar there too. I want to be as self sufficient as possible. I traveled with my slide-on camper and found it reasonably comfortable. I am planning on removing the bench dinete and replacing it with one nice easy chair plus fold down table. I found the dinete bench uncomfortortable for sitting. It was good to get back home and see the animals. The chickens and peacocks are happily out of their pen, scratching about. Cheriki and Sage seemed happy to see me too, although at first Cheriki turned her back on me as if to say, "You left me behind" Looks like rain today, hopefully.

The compost bin. It's thawing out some and I actually got to water the horses with the hose instead of carrying water out by hand from jugs I brought in the house to keep it from freezing. Chickens are laying good so I took eggs to a neighbor and to the food bank. A little lady said," Are these for us?" I said "Yes farm fresh eggs" "What can we put them in?" she asked and looked scoldingly at me. I had not brought brown lunch bags from the kitchen. Chastized I will remember next time.

A white peacocl in full feather. This is what Snow Prince will look like soon.

This is a picture of the ranch office at Terlingua Ranch. This is three miles from my 40 acres. I will post more pictures of the ranch and property when I go later this month. Behind the office there are corrals and a barn. To the left is a campground and to the left and in front is a lodge with lots of stone work. There is a large patio and then a pool framed by the most beautiful red mountains with a patio and barbeque area. Land here is inexpensive. It is remote but the nearby little towns are charming and the people are very friendly.

Corner marker and moutain views of 40 acres. This 40 acres is a lot back from a main road so is easy to access. It is also only 3 miles from the ranch lodge that has a swimming pool and other amenities. Close enough to people but remote enough to feel private.

Wash by the back of property

An old water trough on the 40 acres.

More trees closer to the mountain ridge.

Trees on the 40 acres

This is a picture of my Texas property. I will add more. I took a trip to Texas and purchased 40 acres as backup in case the city comes too close to me here in Arizona. I believe this piece of land will make a beautiful little ranch with work.

This is Harley and Kudjo at my sons house. My sons dogs. Harley has a major crush on my dog and pesters her mercilessly when we visit. Even whining for her attention. Kudjo is a gentle giant, a type of herding dog who takes a great deal of maintanance. He goes for grooming at least once a month and many times more often. I wish I could remember the breed but he is very protective of his home space and a wonderful animal.

The Scrub acacia with the little room. I like this as a little play house for the child in me.

When I take my evening walks I often find a small cactus coming up through some little shrub or bush. These plants act as a nurse plant, sheltering the young plant until it is strong enough to withstand weather on it's own. These little cactus's are always like a wonderful little surprise when I find them. This cactus is quit large and is now competing with the shrub that nursed it but I often find tiny little plants that fill me with delight.

My evening walks take me out the white gate to the back 12 acres by the wash. In the wash grows many scrub trees, a kind of acacia that we call Cats Claw. It's a low growing spreading tree that is in abundance in the washes. Big clumps of mistletoe berries grow on these trees. They are pretty and look good to eat. I tried one, one day and it tasted ok but then I spit it out. Later I was roundly scolded by my Yahoo group, 'Forage Ahead' about wild edible plants. Many people die every year from mistletoe poisoning. I watched for symptoms and gratefully had none. Ask before you eat. These berries are a parasite that eventually kill the trees but they provide food for many birds. It creates a cycle of life that is part of the eco system. The acacia is a low growing spreading tree that often has hollow spaces under them that look like little tents. I actually have one tree like that where I have trimmed out some of the lower branches and actually have a little room where I have a chair. It's the child in me. I am going to set up a bonfire in the sandy area in front of the tree and have a campground. In the Spring the acacia has a furry yellow blossom that the bees and moths love. I was awe struck the first time I saw the moths. Their wings never stop and they dart at the flowers like minature hummingbirds. I actually thought they were a small hummingbird when I first saw them . They are a beautiful sight.

Mistletoe growing on Cats Claw.

My walks in the evening take me back to the wash. There many scrub trees grow. These are mostly a kind of acacia we call 'Cats Claw'. On the Cats Claw there are these huge bunches of mistletoe , large clusters of reddish berries. They look very inviting and I once tasted one and then spit it out. The taste wasn't bad. Later I was roundly scolded by my yahoo group "Forage Ahead' . Many people die every year from mistletoe poisoning. Ask before you eat. I developed no symtoms, thankfully. The berries are a main source of food for birds. The mistletoe is a parasite that eventually kills the tree but it seems to be part of the eco system that has a benefit. The acacia has a feathery yellow bloom in the Spring. Bees and moths love these blossoms. There is a moth that looks like minature hummingbirds that gathers around the blossums. I was in such awe the first time I observed these moths. I couldn't figure out if they were a hummingbird or moth but later learned they were a large moth. Their way of darting is very much the way hummingbirds fly. What a beautiful sight.

The acacia is a spreading low growing tree. Some of them develop almost tent like structures. I have one tree that I have trimmed out some of the outer branches and it is like a little house where I actually have a chair I can sit in. The child in me loves this. It is located in a nice sandy area where I hope to set up a camp with a bonfire, sometime soon.

Mistletoe Berry clusters

Sage calling for a carrot. cheriki waiting patiently .

Yesterday was a beautiful day but I couldn't stay home because Manna had to go get her stitches out. Going to town means doing as many errands as possible so after the vet I picked up some chicken scratch, ran by my favorite Thrift store yard. There all the unsorted items are sold at a huge discount. I picked up a shovel, almost new, a campers chair in it's cloth bag, and a curtain for the camper, plus one of those spray units that work so well for a shower, $4.00. for all. I love going there. Usually they charge $2.00 - $4.00 for a grocery cart full of stuff. I stopped off at Wally World, (Yes, I know, not the best choice) and picked up some new curtain rods for the camper. By then I was pretty hungry so I stopped at Subway for a Tuna sub. Then went to Staples and picked up printer ink. Was good to get back home after my day. It was such a beautiful evening if felt like Spring. I went out and raked the gravel I had hauled for the driveway intrance. That tired me out pretty good, so I fed the critters and gathered eggs. Took a sack of eggs and set it in the basket my neighbor has at her gate. She loves the eggs. Finally curled up and settled in for the evening with some crackers and cheese and watched Oprah. I was reminded again of the statistics. 1% of the population own 40%of the assets in America. It was discussing the tremendous gap between the rich and the poor here in the good old USA. I worry about the younger generation. My daughter called and reminded me I had to take my grandson into town in the morning for his interview with Manpower. Off to work.
So next morning I was up again and headed for town after picking up my grandson. I dropped off some eggs at the food bank and they had some really nice bunches of Italian parsley, so I took a couple. By the time I got home I did a little bit of cleaning on the camper and came in out of the wind. Curses, it's windy again. The wind makes me tired. So that's it for today .

Through the window by my computer, Snow Prince watches on. He likes to visit as does his brother and see what I'm doing. He will be an exotic bird when his lacy white feathers are full and fanned. I feel so lucky that Luchia had an all white male. Snow is the most curious of the two and often is the one I have to walk home as he likes to go exploring at the neighbors homes. When I come out they head for home like naughty children.

New Years day, my son-in-law came over and helped me load the slide on camper on the truck. I'm ready to go, except for some cleaning and new curtains. Plus I need to pack a few things. Plan on leaving for Texas around the 10th. Will be a big trip. I will be taking a smaller trip before the long haul. Haven't used my slide-on for several years. The Tundra seems to be sturdy enough to carry it. It's handy to have a place to sleep if it's not too cold . I love getting up and having coffee in house and breakfast.
Was a very cold and windy day today until almost evening then it quieted down. Hope tomorrow is not windy so I can get some outside work done.