Wow what a week!

I'm almost glad my summer is winding down.  Not really.

Last weekend we ventured out to visit the small ranch of one of Jody's buddies from work.  They raise miniature Hereford cattle, or as Jody calls them, "wee cows".

It's hard to tell that some of them were any smaller than regular cows because there were no standard cows around to compare them to.  Until of course this fully grown year old bull comes up to us to be hand fed by the owner's wife (who was a petite woman of about 5ft tall.)

 This little week old calf was smaller than the dog in the background of the picture above.  I wish I could have picked it up, but it's mamma wouldn't let us near it.

Sunday I spent the day weaving, which meant that I got my money's worth from the Chiropractor on Monday.  Yeah, I'm addicted!

Monday afternoon I met up with Michael and Di at Central Market in Dallas.  They were in town for some medical appointments, they are both doing FANTASTIC, and continue to surprise their conventional Doctors with their success of combining conventional and alternative medicine.

After stocking up on groceries at a REAL grocery store (which they have to travel hours to get to from the ranch) we made our way to the ranch. 

Di led us through the back streets of Dallas, down roads that I wasn't even sure which direction I was heading.  Eventually we went across THE BRIDGE.  More than likely the one and only time I will go over THE BRIDGE. 

From there we hopped on I-30 and were west bound and down in a race to keep $300 worth of food from being cooked by the sun in the back of a pick-up on a 100+ degree day.

Right about the time we topped Ranger Hill this is what we ran into....

the first of two big Thunderstorms.  Not fun in a car like mine that only weighs 2000 lbs and is equally balanced front to back.  Add a lot of water to a hot oily road and we have an adult version of slip and slide.  It can get pretty nerve wracking.  As quickly as these storms pop up, you will drive out of them and back into the blistering West Texas heat.

 

Once we turned off I-20, I put the top down on my car and I flew down the Farm-to-Market Road doing 80 toward the ranch, love it!   We made it to the ranch right about sundown.

It was very cool out by the pool the next morning so I didn't stay out there long.  The 40 degree temperature fluctuation at night is something I miss about West Texas.

Michael and I headed to the garden early to pick some things that  Sebastian hadn't gotten the day before M and D hadn't been home in a week and to check to see what was left by the grasshoppers.

We have been having a grasshopper problem at the house, Gracie tries to get rid of them for us and does a pretty good job even if she brings them in the house to show off.  Out at the Wee Cow place they were everywhere,  but nothing like what Michael and Di have.

Michael is using a paint ball gun to kill a grasshopper.  Yes, a single grasshopper!

Can you see it?  In the center of this picture?  That is a full size broccoli leaf it has devoured!  The largest one I saw this week was about 4 inches long and 1.5 inches wide!  I don't think you could step on them to kill them like we do here, this is why they use a paint ball gun.   These huge grasshoppers are everywhere, not just in the garden.  They eat any and everything, even the cactus!  They will even eat each other!   So, several times a day we'd take a walk around the yard and shoot grasshoppers. 

Shooting sports aside, my trip to the ranch is mostly about the food!  We can get Mexican food here in the Dallas area, but it just can't compare with real West Texas Mexican Food from a hole-in-the-wall diner.  Tuesday they took me to Sweetwater for Chili Rellenos for lunch.  OMG!  These were the BEST, and they had a certificate on the wall to prove it along with certificates for the best in enchiladas, fajhitas, nachos, etc.  I don't know what the name of this place was, but if you were to drive into Sweetwater, Texas and ask someone where you could get chili rellenos they would send you to this place.

After taking care of some errands and a mail run, we stopped to price a chicken for the yard.  Since Jody doesn't want me to get two real chickens, I thought I could just get one of these large economy sized birds.  Look, it even throws shade!

We spent the next two days cooking (I played sou-chef) and enjoying Di's fabulous meals of halibut, salmon, shrimp, salads, veggies, breads with Irish butter, and of course smoothies and freshly made juices.  This is my idea of a spa trip.  Di even treated me to a facial while I was there! 

I wonder if this Skink had a run in with a grasshopper and lost his tail?

Our last 'hunt' down at the Red House.  Michael even wore his 'hemmet'. 

And I wore a sarong....  I prefer to shoot from the hip, but Michael kept telling me 'use the laser sight'!  I'm pretty deadly with one shot from the hip,  I learned from the best... my bubba.

My last night at the ranch, we finished our martinis out in the yard free of grasshoppers watching the sun set behind the mesquite trees.

I headed back to the big city Friday morning.  We've had a nice restful weekend.  I even looked forward to having red meat (tenderloin) Friday night.  Jody looked forward to it too, as he had been on a week long take out diet. 

Gracie missed me,  she was full of stick-tights from chasing rabbits through the alley.

Last night we had dinner with Mike and Dawn and had a pool throw down.  The Chics still rule!!!  Yes we may have to take a shot of courage my shot comes from a bottle shaped like a crown that's kept in a blue flannel bag,  but we still get the job done.  The guys  still drool. 

Have a great week!