Cows and Chickens and Sheep and So Much More....

I have a fairly large house, but Wednesday afternoon it seemed the size of a cabin in the woods.  I had to get out, and was trying to work up enough energy to text Brenda to see when her day off was when she called.  Sorta creepy that our minds connected but creepy or not, she was off the next day and was very willing to let the housework slide and grab her camera and head out.  So off we went to one of my favorite places to hang around with my camera.  It is peaceful, beautiful, fun, interesting, and staffed by friendly and knowledgeable volunteers.  So come back to the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm with me.  I have blogged about it a while back so won't bore you with the history, just show you what we saw last Thursday.  Enjoy.

Before you step foot into the farm you see the German ingenuity.  The weight on the chain makes sure the gate is always closed so the free roaming animals can't get out.  

Once we did step foot into the yard we thought about backing out.  This was our first view.

However, we did stay and figured we could work our way around the crowds.  The

last couple in the line (black pants and jeans) were the tour leaders.  Very lovely couple and chatted with them a few minutes.  They were from Louisiana and had a busload of Master Gardeners on board.  Brenda had a bit of trouble with them photobombing.  Seemed every time she got a shot lined up one of them would appear in the scene.

The barns and outbuildings are a treasure trove of history themselves.  I didn't go into the different rooms, just glanced in and kept going.  I needed something unexplored for the next time even though every time I come here there is something new to see or experience.

Next to the barn is the pig pen.  I happen to love pigs so I made a beeline to see if Big Mama was still in the same spot.  I don't think she has moved since the last time I was here, not sure she can move actually.

The youngster was happily rooting in the dirt up close to the fence, and although he was happier playing around than modeling I did get him to look up once.  I may be glad I couldn't read his mind because I'm sure it wasn't a friendly thought.

Suddenly I am craving bacon and eggs....

Well if she would get off the nest maybe we could have some eggs.

Heat up the frying pan...breakfast is about to be served!

I'm not sure what was with this one.  She ran up to me, actually startling me she was so quick and furious.  Then after checking out my feet walked calmly away never to be seen again.  Guess Sketchers weren't good enough for her, will have to get some Gucci's before I go back.  She spread the word to the turkeys because they wandered off too.  I did catch this bobble head turkey before he left.

No place to really put these to make any sense, so I'll put them here.  I just liked how they lent themselves to black and white.  

The sheep you see in the picture to the right will be with us a lot on this journey.

Brenda headed for the house to begin her journey into photo bomb hell, I knew better and knew there was more to see outside since I had visited before, so I headed around back.  

This was some sort of tarp looking material hanging on the line.  I'm sure it had some use since the thrifty farmers of the day used everything.  Not shown is the flower beds lined with bottles.  I am not making any judgements or assumptions, but they did look remarkably like wine bottles to me.



The outhouse below was the only restroom facilities I saw at the farm, other than those 1/4 mile down the road at a picnic area.  I do believe this is it....too many memories of my grandparents farm and "Mrs. Duggins" to even think about using it.  shiver

The water barrel.  Not sure if it was drinking or watering the plants.

Another one of those interesting places for next time.

Headed around the house and through a little garden area.  Looks like the late freeze didn't hurt their peach tree.  The in-ground bouquet I played with while showing Brenda some fun things to do in PSP.

Spring has truly sprung in the Texas Hill Country.  The Bluebonnets are fading, the yellow flowers are blooming, the cactus should be in full bloom in the next week or so, and all is good in my world.

Thinking iti is a persimmon above and know it is good ole Stonewall peaches to the right.

The sheep were just waking up when I rounded the corner.  Mr. and Mrs. all cuddled up together so cute and precious... :)

then came the ahhh factor....

They had been sleeping with the baby between them to protect it from predators....ok all together now.... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

There were a couple of wagons around, making me love "Dora the Explorer" all the more.  Ford has better shock absorbers than these did, not to mention the upholstery, or lack thereof.

Nice rural scene from the past, with the wagon and the cedar fence, and the dumpster that I forgot to Photoshop out.  DUH.  



Not sure but I think that Dora might hold as much if not a little more than the bed of the wagon.

 

Hurts my backside to even think about riding into town on this seat.  Surely they could have used one of the feed sacks to make a cushion out of.

Got to admit it is a pretty thing even if it is a kidney bruiser.

One of the volunteers chose to take a more modern means of transportation....this guy was walking over to his Ford 150.  LOL.

 

The photo bombers were still inside so I went over to visit with Freckles.  The volunteer said that he was a sweet little guy, not like one they had at one time with a bit of an attitude.  

 

Pretty obvious where he got his name isn't it?

Mommy or Auntie was keeping a close eye on me making sure I wasn't going to hurt the little guy.

I guess she figured out I wasn't going to hurt him because she soon went back to grazing.

The sheep were busily munching on the lawn when I saw a gate leading to a nice trail to explore.

 You may gaze upon my family while they dine, you may even take a picture if you must, but make one threatening move and I shall put you in the hospital with a total body crunch.  Now that we understand each other you may proceed.

Be assured I am always on the watch.....

I believed him and continued to the trail after rounding up Brenda (one nice thing about shooting with her, we go our separate ways and then meet up again).   Through another chain weighted gate we started down the trail.

From this to this - what a difference a gate makes.

As soon as you walked through the gate, with a birdhouse on the post, you saw deer trails to the left and a thick forest with a good bed of detritus and were transported into another space.  

Random shots along the trail.

 Tarzan's toy box.....

There was a guide post in case you got lost and started going in circles - I'm good at that so always try to find a guide post to reference.




A pretty bridge, although unnecessary when we were there.  At least we didn't have to walk down into the gulley.  Right past here was a bird blind overlooking the Pedernales River.

Past the bridge the trail continued for another little bit taking you over to the LBJ Visitor's Center.  We turned around and headed back to the farm since we were going there next.

Anyone bring marshmallows?  We have the makings of a great bonfire here....

 Those deer trails led here....look almost in the center and you can see two of the 5 or 6 deer I startled.

 Didn't see any fairies living under the mushrooms, but did find some other inhabitants.

Nobody but a gnome could live in that highrise certainly not the bug eyed  stump monster I found down the path a bit from it.

The photo bombers were gone by the time we got back, but Brenda found some more that weren't on the tour bus.  I avoided them and did get a couple of shots inside.  I pretty well shot up the interiors when I was last here, so didn't spend a lot of time doing it this time.   But here are a few shots I took.

Back to the farm yard to poke around a bit before heading to the LBJ Ranch.  Of course the sheep were roaming about and as a reminder, Daddy let me know he was still keeping a close eye on me.

 And in case he might miss something, Mama had her eye on me too.

Baby was either being camera shy or trying to get to the clover on the other side of the fence.

 I ran around to the other side of the fence to grab a shot of her head sticking through, assuming she was after clover and not trying to avoid the camera.  She spooked when she saw this crazy woman walking up to her and went back to grazing on her side of the fence.

 The family finally gave me their goodbye salute as I walked out of the gate to the car.

Waiting for Brenda....waiting for Brenda....waiting for Brenda....noticed a few wildflower growing by the car lot.

There were a variety, these were the easy ones to shoot without having to go back into the tall grasses (in Texas you do not go back in tall grasses without your boots on).  





Brenda finally came to the car :) and we took off for the restrooms and points beyond.

Next to the restrooms - well across the field is this beauty.

We still had some time to kill so took off for the LBJ Ranch and the driving tour.  Politics aside, everyone needs to drive through this beautiful ranch.

 As you enter the ranch you cross a bridge over this beautiful creek.  We parked and walked back to take pictures.  Looks can be deceiving because if you look down you see a nasty skin condition/Mars crater/or something from a Stephen King book.  It is really just moss on a rock.

However.....the item below is exactly what it looks like, and I actually took this picture instead of running and screaming like a girl (hey, wait, I am a girl).  Normally, even the sight or a picture of a "legless lizard" will send me into hyperventilation and heart palpitations (not being funny here, this is true).  So I as really proud of myself for getting this shot.  OK OK so I stood on the bridge with the zoom fully extended then cropped the crap out of it...but dangit I took the picture. 

Nasty ugly spawn of the Devil.

Back to the schoolhouse where there were lizards WITH legs!

Already had photos of the gravesites of the Johnson family so instead I took a picture of the Lutheran church across the river.

Putt putted down the road being cautious because the cattle were roaming about and found a place to pull over.  I never ever thought I would find Miley Cyrus at the LBJ Ranch, but darn if I didn't.

There was a mama next to her baby and I got to capture a tender moment...grooming baby for the day.

Baby was well behaved so Mama gave it a little kiss.

On up to the barn for a quick stop (had just gotten the call that Mom's dog was ready to be picked up from the groomer an hour away....so we had to make it quick).

First we had to get through the herd, and they were watching me very closely too....

Well, all but this guy...

Closer to the barn we saw some Texas wise cattle...wise because they all crowded under the tree in the shade.  I had to wonder if they had been in the sun and not scrunched up like that where no air could get to them if they wouldn't have been cooler...however shade in Texas is a good thing.  At least the calf had the sense to not get in the huddle.

We were greeted by a demonstration of roping.

 the kid laying outside the pen was not impressed.  As long as his brother continued to be the pillow all was right in his world.

LBJ didn't brand his cattle, instead he etched their numbers into the horn.  

Not sure why this little guy got to stay in the barn instead of out with his buddies.  

 Big Daddy.  I accused him of not having moved since I was last there and the worker overheard me.  He told the story of Big Daddy having stretched out in his pen, head laying on the ground, legs straight out in front of him.  Several tourists became quite concerned and ran to tell him that something was wrong with the bull.  The next batch of tourists that came heard from the worker that the bull had just died and how sad it was.  One guy got over the top excited because he saw the bull take a breath....it was a miracle!!!

Even though I got mooned or watched and peered at from behind trees by the animals, it was a fabulous day and just what I needed.  So thanks, Brenda for letting the laundry and the dishes wait.

Until next time, head down those back roads, listen for the whispers, and you never know what celebrity you might run into, or who might be mooning you.