Thanksgiving 2010--What a Difference One Year Makes!

Thanksgiving 2010 was very different from last year in 2009 when our little Katelyn was only a few months old. Lindsay and Greg came to South Carolina to be sponsors for Katelyn's baptism and we sure missed them this year. Look at the gorgeous flower arrangement Lindsay sent for the holiday---the lilies smelled so good as they opened! We were very happy to visit with Kristi's parents, Mary (Mimi) and Raymond (Pops) Kilgore along with Kristi's sister Cindy and her darling little baby boy, Drew. Lots of family was so much fun!

Katelyn is getting to be a 'big girl' now...look at her and Lex having the cutest 'Daddy-Daughter' conversation at the little playground in their subdivision. She is really growing up fast!

Grammy holding Katelyn in the back yard on Thanksgiving day!

Caught Pappy and Katelyn in the backyard too on Thanksgiving Day!

Grammy and Pappy are holding Katelyn while she is 'styling' her cute Thanksgiving bib.

Lex and Katelyn took Pappy and Grammy on a wonderful trip to the Greenville Children's Museum where Katelyn just loved the little area with a house and garden. She loved the sink in the kitchen. Lex said that she has already gotten a lot more 'into' the museum since the last time they went a short time ago.

She was also very 'into' cooking with the child-sized utensils...she will be a big help for her Mommy and Daddy in the years to come.

Katelyn is Daddy's helper too...so sweet!

Kristi had thyroid surgery on Tuesday and Katelyn was lovin' up on her Mommy the next day when Kristi got home. She was happy to have all the family (her Mimi and Pops Kilgore and Aunt Cindy and cousin Drew Fleharty) along with Grammy and Pappy, but there is nothing like her Mommy!

Thanks for the wonderful Thanksgiving holiday visit in South Carolina, Poth's! Can't wait to see you all in Texas in a few weeks for Christmas! Love you all!

"Ace" is in good shape for the breeding season...

Sparring

These young bucks are getting it all sorted out.

While we sleep...

While we sleep these guys are out getting a snack.

Cooler weather has brought the cats out...

Another Bobcat goes strolling by one of the feeders.

Big Cat

My trail camera caught a picture of this Bobcat passing by this corn feeder at dusk. He looks to be a big one.

Fawns eating protein

The fawns follow their Moms to the troughs and it isn't long before they are sticking their heads in and eating too.

Ground Blind

Cousin Tom Poth and I set up a ground blind at one of the food plots near a corn feeder to try to get pictures of some baby javelinas. While sitting waiting for them to show this guy came out looked us over and decided to return back into the brush. Photos by Tom Poth.

Baby Javelinas

Javelina females usually give birth to two babies. They stay very close to the Mom for some time as the two pictured above.

The oats plots are now planted. What we really need now is a good soaking rain.

The oats is planted in all of the food plots. Now we need a good soaking rain. I hear there is a chance this coming week. The deer in this last picture seem to approve too.

some funnies

Sometimes when bucks fight the brush making their rubs they end up wearing part of the bush.

Macho

I call this deer Macho because I'm betting that when the deer wars begin he is going to be a fighter. He is a four year old that really grew up since last year.

Deer in the daylight

MLD rifle or bow hunts started this past weekend and continue until the end of February. If you have a valid Texas hunter's license, you can hunt deer where the landowner has MLD permits and tag the deer using only the MLD permit. No tag from your license needs to be attached to the deer.

Happy Birthday Kristi!

Kristi, we hope you have a wonderful day. Happy Birthday! You know Katelyn wanted to be in your picture on your special day.

Mature Bucks

When you let them grow up this is what they look like. They have nice dark colored antlers too.

Random Pictures

Here is a picture of " Ocho Mas". He has just completed rubbing the velvet off of his antlers.

Little Ace on the left and Shiner.

A bat, a doe, and a racoon all in the same photo.

These two are keeping an eye on one another.

Ace and Diez look to be in fine shape going into the fall.

Ok, what's up?

Either these deer have been watching the javelinas step up in the trough or else they are pawing through the damp feed to get to some that is dry.

Just step right up to the dinner table

These javelinas have figured out how to get their front feet into the trough for easy access to the feed.

I have seen only three adults and two young ones this year. I think that is all that are inside the highfence. I may have to raise this trough and have them go back to picking up the feed the deer drop on the ground.

Best Buddies......... for now

Pictured above are Ace and Diez. They seem to be getting along well right now. It will not be long and that will change with the onset of the rut.

A nice discovery... two different deer!

This deer I've named "Shiner". I had been thinking that it was "Ace" but something about the arrangement of the antlers kept bothering me. Compare this deer and the one below.

If you look closely you can see the difference. Notice how the G4s on Ace slant inward. Also notice the slight difference in the left brow tines. Shiner at the top is four years old and Ace at the bottom is seven. I'm guessing Shiner is an offspring of one of the does I got from the Shiner ranch soon after I high fenced and was fathered by a buck on that ranch. Ace is a native that was two when the fence went up.