Ocho Mas

Here is another buck an eight point. I've been calling him Ocho Mas since he was a yearling. He is three and a half years old now. When I give them a name I'm not very creative. I guess I need a theme.

This deer needs a good name

This deer is three and a half years old. He really is starting to look nice. I need a good name for him. Anyone have any suggestions?

"Sid"

Here is Sid. He is a warrior for sure as you can tell by his right ear slit. He got this in some battle in years past. I bet he got the doe though, what do you think?

Oil and Gas leases

There are land men still running titles and chasing leases and land owners in this part of Texas. Here is the reason why. In this case, people who signed leases early left money on the table. It is always a gamble but now you can see by this map what all of the excitement is about. This map is an overview of the play showing the wells already drilled and where the different companies are concentrating their leases.

Ace is six years old now. He was two when the fence went up.

Ace has twelve scorable points with two "kickers" on his right G-3.

Ranch Dog

Ginobli, Lex and Kristi's dog really likes to run along while we motor around the ranch.

His pictures are being captured by the game cameras at the various feed stations.

He particularly liked the water troughs where he would jump in and cool off. I wasn't carrying my camera and didn't get a picture of that.

By Saturday he had enough running and I'm sure the pads on his feet were sore. Here he is after deciding to ride instead of run.

It was a real treat to have Lex and Ginobli in for a visit.

You have to let them grow up...

That is what Grandpa Swierc once told me. The deer on the left is three years old and the one on the right is six.

Nueve

Sandra named this buck "Nueve". I hope he will be spreading his wide genetics during this year's breeding season.

Our Thirty-seventh Anniversary

Here is my "bride" she is still smiling and just think..... thirty-seven years of marriage. Two wonderful children and their spouses and a brand new grandbaby. Yep, I'm smiling too.

Happy Birthday Kristi!

Happy Birthday Kristi, to the best daughter-in-law in the world.

They learn from their Mothers

These does with their fawns are an example of the fawns getting a quick start eating protein. I'm guessing the fawns are about two months old.

It doesn't take long...

At 10:51 PM on the seventeenth you can see strips of velvet hanging from this buck's antlers.

By this time the next morning he has most of it scraped off.

Here is another shot a few minutes later.

Bucks just beginning to rub off their "velvet"

Here is a picture of "Ocho" freshly rubbed out. He is a three year old with some pretty sharp looking antlers.

Grammy and Pappy See Katelyn in South Carolina

Freddy and I spent a wonderful 8 days with Lex, Kristi and Katelyn in South Carolina---here they are, at home in the backyard on a gorgeous evening at the beginning of our trip! Katelyn loves being outside with her Mommy and Daddy AND Ginobili, her protector.

Katelyn LOVES to stretch! She is happy to be in her swaddle and also happy to come out of it and stretch those arms and legs---bet she is going to be tall! Wanna bet?

Check out this cutie picture of Katelyn all 'dolled up' for her Daddy when he came home from work! She was 'styling' for him in this darling outfit!

We could say this is a 'mutual admiration society' picture of Daddy and Katelyn.

And here is Mommy and Daddy and Katelyn! Aren't they a lovely little family?

And it is official---Sandra is 'Grammy' and Freddy is 'Pappy'! Now Katelyn knows what to call both of us!

Katelyn is growing stronger each and every day---here she is on Kristi's shoulder (one of her absolute favorite places in the whole world). Look how she has her head picked up and checking out her house!

If there was ever a super dog to have a new baby, it is Ginobili! He is so attentive and good with Katelyn. He knows she is something really, really special to his Mommy and Daddy and will be one wonderful friend for her in the future. Such a sweet-natured dog!

After 'tummy time', Katelyn also likes time on her back---remember, she LOVES to stretch, so this is the time for that! She is so happy and secure and it shows!

This is the cutest family pose...they are all piled into the one recliner and Katelyn is happily nested on a throw pillow. Relaxing with the family---it can't get any better than this!

Grammy and Katelyn having a serious discussion---Grammy is singing "I love you, a bushel and peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!" Katelyn is not exactly sure what this is all about but she is definitely paying attention!

And talk about a pro---Pappy was the BEST at rocking Katelyn to sleep---she understood right away how much he loves her and how good he is with her---so she slept securely at the thought! Way to go, Pappy!

Our last day was 'Strawberry Girl' styling day---she is, of course, stretching---after we all had breakfast at Cracker Barrel (well, not Katelyn, of course) but the rest of us! Isn't this the cutest little outfit? Too bad she is growing too fast to wear it for long!

The last day of our trip...we are moving to the car to leave...and wanted to stay longer...:(

This is the little family saying goodbye as Pappy and I drove away. What a wonderful pose!

Our trip was just wonderful for us---worth every one of the vacation days Grammy took off from work! Watching Katelyn change before our very eyes was an unforgettable experience and we are SO thankful that Kristi and Lex let us come and spend this special time with them all! We love them all SO much and can't wait to see them all again soon!

One, two, and three year olds...

This deer on the left, a three year old, is growing a nice set of antlers.

Buddies for now...

The deer on the right side of this picture still needs a name. He has nine points and is a four year old. His antlers are set really wide on his head. I call him #49 but there has got to be a better name for him. Come on kids, help.

A splash of color

I stopped long enough to take a picture of this dragonfly this morning. It seems that I see something interesting every time I'm out puttering around the ranch in my Kawasaki Mule. Anyway this was one of the things I stopped for today. I thought you might enjoy seeing it.

Stock Tanks drying up...

It is really sad to see these stock tanks drying up. Most of the bass have already been done in by lack of oxygen and large herons, storks, and spoonbills.

If you look closely at the edges of this pond you can still make out the cedar posts that are remnants of the fence we put up around this tank during the drought in the 1950s. We did that to prevent cattle from venturing out into the mud and bogging up to their bellies. They were too weak to then make their way back to dry land.

Where do the alligators go when the stock tanks dry up?

Alligators do the same thing they do when it gets cold in the winter. They dig a hole in the bank and retreat into the damp coolness until rain again fills up the pond.

There were actually two holes at this pond dug by two separate gators.

Katelyn Rae Poth, 1 week old

Isn't she the most darling baby in the whole world? We think so! Katelyn's maternal Grandmother, Mary Kilgore took this sweet picture on Katelyn's 1 week birthday this past Wednesday! A good friend made this wonderful pink blanket--perfectly suited to our little sweetie!

Sweet Basket Baby Katelyn--taken by Kristi's Mom, Mary--looks so much like an Anne Geddes picture! Can't believe that she is already a week old in this picture!