Armadillos are NOT Cute

All these years of coming to the ranch, I've seen armadillos and thought they were cute. They're mostly nocturnal animals that don't see very well, though they have a very keen sense of smell. Which means, if you're downwind of them, you can sometimes catch one.

This is from quite a few years back, but why the boy felt compelled to catch one (yes, he let it go), I will never understand. Kind of like climbing a mountain. Why? Because it's there. (Which will never be a good enough excuse for me)

Now that we're living here at the ranch, and most recently, I have come to a very different opinion of these little armored creatures. 

See this mess in what was one of my flowerbeds? 

And this one.

All of this trenching is the work of an armadillo looking for grubs and other bugs. So what if the pansies and snapdragons were almost spent, the little booger didn't have to uproot them. 

Well, hubby found Mr. Dillo's hole in the bushes, so we dumped a box of mothballs down there and sprinkled more throughout the beds. Remember what I said about them having a keen sense of smell. 

Then it was time to replant. With temps already in the 90's, we needed some summer color. This year, it's in the form of Vincas.

The nursery called these shades the Lipstick Blend.

And I'm happy to say that the mothballs worked, because the flowers have gone untouched for three days now. 

Last week I mentioned that it had been a  year since we started the renovations on my in-laws home, so I thought I share a couple before and after pics with you today.

Removing that brick wall at the front that was used to create a courtyard was priority number one and, boy, are we glad we did. Not only do we have a space we utilize now, all those windows finally have views of the great outdoors which brightened up the inside of the house, too. It was a win-win all around. 

Unlike Mr. Dillo. But I am not sorry to see him go. He has plenty of space to tear things up in the woods without terrorizing my yard.

Now it's your turn. What type of flowers will you be planting this year? What is your favorite?

Three-time Carol Award finalist, Mindy Obenhaus, lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children, two dogs and countless cattle. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at mindyobenhaus.com.

News Flash - November Arrives Tomorrow!

Spooky things are happening here at the ranch.

How did that empty canoe get in the middle of the lake?

 

Things that will make your skin crawl.

Then again, it is Halloween.

For the first time ever, we didn’t have to buy any candy to pass out. Now that we’ve gone rural, we’re pretty much guaranteed no trick-or-treaters. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I always enjoyed passing out treats, seeing the little ones in their costumes, the way their eyes light up when you drop a something in their bag/bucket.

Okay, sounds like I need to find a truck or treat to take part in.

So the big house is still a work in progress and this Texan is getting very impatient.

The flooring throughout is finally complete, including carpet.

 And it’s been fun to see some of the finishing touches.

Things like shutters.

 And the porch/patio ceilings painted.

But there’s still much to do. The biggest being sinks, kitchen/bathroom cabinets, countertops, etc. You know, those little things that make a house a home.

At any rate, the urge to nest has hit full force.

First thing on my list?

Candles.

The flicker of flame and seasonal aromas make any place seem cozy.

Eager to decorate our new abode, I finally tackled some old chairs I had picked off of my neighbor’s curb over a year ago, taking this pathetic looking castoff…

Into something fresh and useable.

 

I’ll have to show what I do with it once we move into the big house.

And shopping…

In the words of our favorite Yank, oh Mylanta.

 

Stores are brimming with fall and Christmas décor.

Any guesses what I might have purchased from this display?

Finally, when that nesting urge hits, it’s time to bake. This is usually the time of year when I make my massive batch of pumpkin bread for friends and family. But with all of my mini loaf pans and mega-size mixing bowl in storage, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen for a while.

So, I broke things down into a batch perfect for the two regular loaf pans I had here at the camphouse.

Yum!

Now it’s your turn.

What do you do when you're struck by the urge to nest?

Candles, baking...? Or something completely different?

And the most intriguing question of all, why is that canoe empty  AND in the middle of the lake?

  

Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com  

Where Did October Go?

Mindy here, staring at the calendar, trying to figure out where October has gone. I mean, a week from today is Halloween, the last day of the month. Then it’s headlong into November and the holidays.

Holy crow!

Well, so much for the big house being completed by the end of October. We’re now shooting for Thanksgiving.

The house has undergone some significant changes of late, though. 

My office now has a light.

 

This antique chandelier once hung in hubby's grandmother's house before being relocated to the dining room at his parents' house.

And even though it was caked with forty-plus years of dust and grime,

I was able to clean it up and give it a new life.

 Then there were the old cobblestone floors.

My man said these had to go.

So, they have now disappeared, in preparation for the new tile.

And, as of yesterday, one room has been covered completely.

By the end of the week, it might all be done AND we’ll have carpet in the back of the house.

 Whoo-hoo!

 My man has been hard at work, staining the cedar that will “wrap” the existing ceiling beams in two rooms. 

I can’t wait to see that.

However, my work at the big house has, temporarily, come to a halt as I work on my next proposal. I never dreamed this reno would consume so much of my time/mind. So when it’s difficult to shift gears and focus on the story, I find myself escaping to one of my many happy places around the property.

This sure beats the burbs.

But when things get really tough, a little retail therapy never hurts. Even if it’s only at my local Tractor Supply.

I couldn’t resist this giant galvanized star.

I know just where it’s going to live.

Sorry, but you’ll have to wait to find out.

Now it’s your turn. As we close in on the end of October, what are you doing? Prepping for the holidays? I know our Canadian friends have already celebrated Thanksgiving.

Maybe you’re in a lull and using the time to catch a much-needed breath.

So tell us, what do the upcoming weeks hold for you?

Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com