After yesterday's rain this morning was a bit foggy at dawn

Visiting Cows

The barbed wire gate


Connected to coner post



This is the side that opens by moving the 'T'post and wire loop.

We have had visiting cows here and they have gotten excited and started running about twice now. So I was discussing the problem with a neighbor and he said he had some barbed wire left over and that he would give it to me to fence them out so Sunday morning I went down to the end of the 'alley' on the east side of the pasture and made a barbed wire gate. I used an old 'T' post and the barbed wire to make a crude gate. I made two loops over one corner post so the 'T' post can be released by moving the upper loop. I guess the photos tell the tale best. I have seen these used all over as an inexpensive gate, they are effective.

Barn Part II

The crew was here before dawn and was working by the headlights from their truck. The reason they started so early was they wanted to finish early and go home to Houston for the weekend.
Fortunately the sawing of metal was kept to a minimum, I am sure some neighbor looked out their window saying "What the ......is going on?"
The job is done the building is up now to clean up and make sure there are no screws or pieces of metal to cause problems with the live stock or tires on the equipment or even our selves. Having stepped on a nail two years ago and enduring the pain and infection I want to avoid a repeat as much as possible.

Hey look there is an animal in the barn already, she's our lab Shelby, she is so sweet and easy going just a big yellow sack of love :)

The finished product.

When one comes upon the farm you see this big red barn in back of the house can't miss it. I think it has changed the character of the place. It looks more complete.

Now to fill it with feed, livestock and equipment and really use it for its intended purpose.

The Barn Story Part I

The crew arrives and begins to

unload.

Putting the parts together

Up goes the first interior frames

The roof is being put on don't worry

it will all straighten out in the end

The leanto frames are up and the

roof is more complete

This is about what was done the

first day

Today is the day for the barn to be erected, the crew was supposed to be here at noon. Noon came and went and no crew. I just waited and did my usual stuff. I have been working on the porch/deck and needed to finish painting it and start cutting the lattice for the bottom so I just got busy doing that.

I had just helped some of my neighbor's cows find their way home when I saw a truck and trailer pass our place on the road. Sure enough it was our barn crew. I showed them were to go and where I wanted the barn built. We had a rather involved discussion about where to put it and what it would be lined up with then I realized nothing else in this place is lined up with anything so just put it where it looks best and don't get so picky:)

The three men are from Mexico and they have some English and I have some Spanish and we got our messages across using both languages, I thought it was fun. Thank goodness I did have some Spanish as otherwise there may have been some awkward moments trying to get across an idea or two.

I had to make a quick run to the store to buy more bricks as the ground wasn't as level as I thought it was, silly me. When I was gone the guys locked their keys inside their truck, by the these guys worked at getting into their own truck I could tell they weren't experienced at getting into locked vehicles like some of the folks I have had the pleasure of coming across from Mexico. These guys seem like family guys one had bought a big toy farm tractor for his son ... nice Dad.

The barn is looking good it is going to be bigger in real life

than I thought. That is okay we'll fill it with animals and stuff for them quick enough.

Dallas and back

Well, the day finally came and I drove Samantha to Dallas to catch a plane to New Orleans La., so she can return to work aboard her ship. She will be gone for five weeks. We stopped in Dallas for lunch and had our lunch at a Greek restaurant. We both like lamb a lot and were looking forward to this lunch. This restaurant didn't measure up, the food was bland the surroundings were posh but no taste to the food, what a disappointment.

I drove home and made a few stops on the way back one was to a heavy equipment place that had some tractors but nothing in my price range. I stopped and shopped at a Western clothing store (Shepplers), not impressed more employees than customers and the the service was poor, the prices high, very high for stuff made in foreign countries. I felt about as welcome there as a hair in a biscuit.

When I got home I put the trash out for pick up in the morning and then mowed the grass for a couple of hours got most of the grass cut just the back of the house down to the pasture to do tomorrow.

Rainy Friday

Our local movie theater, all seats $5.00
One does have to put up with the trains
passing through town just across the street,
kind of adds to the charm.

Downtown Wills Point no traffic lights
needed, four way stop sign and good manners
takes care of traffic.



Not much wind today usually the flags
at our place are snapping in the wind.


Rainy Friday, we/I wanted to get the vehicle registration updated with our
new address so we went to the local office of TX MVD where we found that our truck's title was rejected. Seems that there was someone in MVD that entered the wrong VIN number and the computer had rejected the entry. However, no one was notified; I wasn't told nor the dealer that there was a problem so we were caught by surprise when this issue came up when we tried to change the address. Seems it will take weeks to get this corrected seems kind of long to me, but then again I was assured it would be corrected.

We also went to the county court house and registered to vote that was easy just fill out a form and give it to the clerk.

Finding the tax assessor's office in the rain was more difficult and we had some confusion about the title to our property. To our surprise it had been registered in our name already. We got some information about the possibility of getting an ag-exception for our property to save on taxes and how to get our property homesteaded so we can keep the taxes from increasing. Seems that because it is a manufactured home there may be a problem with getting it homesteaded we have to find the serial numbers and see if the previous owners had the land and house together as real estate if so we can do it if not we won't be able to do it. Ah the joys of dealing with local officals and laws. I'll keep you posted on the results of our efforts.

Big do'ens at the ranch

Neighbors steer giving us the eye,
wouldn't want to mess with him !

So after much coming and going, asking questions and gathering information we have decided to build a barn or actually have someone build it for us. I checked out several businesses on line and interviewed some builders in the area about a barn for our place. Most were very expensive or expected one to erect it DIY. I am a little old and stiff to be climbing ladders and lifting metal siding and bolting things together while balanced on a ladder or scaffolding.

We choose a local company that usually erects carports and garages. They have a small horse barn with a raised center isle. The one we chose will be 38' wide, 36' long and 12' high, the main color will be red with white trim. It should take about two and half days to erect it with a small crew of men. The crew will arrive Thursday around noon to start the project should be interesting to watch.

I will post photos as the project procedes, can't wait till Thursday when it all starts. Here is the link to their web site http://www.eaglecarports.com/

Canton Sale Days

Dining table and chairs bought at the
sales days.


Beds bought at sales days.

A small fraction of activity at sales days

in Canton TX.

We live about fifteen miles from Canton TX where every month around the first Monday of the month they have what is called Canton Sales Days. This a huge commercial enterprise of hundred maybe thousands of vendors of stripes selling all kinds of crafts, food, clothing, furnishing, brick-a-brack new,used what ever the variety and amounts are staggering. Thousands of people show up for this event that goes on for four days a month.
We made good use of this our first week here as we have furnished our ranch house with items we have purchased at this event.
The number of sales venues is huge one is exhausted just walking through the sheds and barns that blocks long and in four days of shopping we didn't see it all, couldn't see it all, if you are ever in this part of Texas on the first Monday you have got to see this sale it is amazing.

The Mail Box Story

That's me headed to the Blue Bird Cafe
where some of the best burritos are waiting
for my lunch.


Little feathered visitor stopped by for
a rest on our fence.


I had noticed that the previous owners didn't have a mail box so after looking over various kinds and types of Mail Boxes one was selected and we went about putting it up so we could get our mail. To start with this mailbox we decided on has a plastic post that slides over a 'T' post the same kind that is used to support barbed wire and other fencing. We were trying to use a regular hammer to get the post into the ground and not having much success. On one of our trips through the Giant Flea Market in Canton TX we bought a sledge hammer a big one. We used this hammer to sink the post. AFTER we get the post into the ground a neighbor came by and informed us we had located the post to far off the pavement and we would have to move the damn thing closer to the road. Needless to say getting the darn post out of the ground was a lot harder than getting it in the ground. We must have spent two hours working on one damn post, but we finally got the bugger located in the afore mentioned location so the Mail delivery lady would be able to place the mail in the box without much trouble and so the local teenagers would have a good target should they desire to molest the new box.
Ahhh, the joys of rural life......

The closing fiasco

Finally got the damn key to the place !


Kay calling the realtors about the fact there is no key waiting for us.

I have been off line for a few days making the transition from RV'r to an owner of a sticks and bricks home.

The Closing was almost a disaster, the previous owner didn't have her husband's Will probated before she offered the property for sale and the lawyer she chose was not Mr. lightening. The Closing had to be postponed because the owner's lawyer didn't take the Will to the courthouse and have it probated as he was supposed to do. We got told this just as we were departing Livingston TX. We had already given up our parking space there so we continued on to Lake Tyler State Park to await further developments.
After making several trips to Jacksonville to see our real estate reps. We were about to give up on buying the property when we learned that the Will had passed probate. We showed up at the closing and were in the midst of signing papers when Samantha asked when we would get the keys. We were told, after a quick call to the selling real estate rep, that we could have them after the signing. So we continued with all the damn paperwork and then came the end, our agents called the other agent and we were told that no what she meant was when the closing was funded! No keys until the following day sometime as it was to late for the bank to fund the loan. After all we went through still no house. The following day we were told that evening we were told that there was a spare key in the shed in a can with little white ducks on it. The next morning we pulled in with our fifth wheel and went looking for the key. Yup, you guessed it no damn can and no damn key. Several phone calls later we were told to pick the key up at the selling realtor's office in Canton TX as they still had the key!
In trying to park the 32' RV trailer I managed to get the truck stuck in the mud. Thankfully some neighbors came by and helped us get unstuck with their four wheel drive truck. We then un-hitched the trailer as it sat cross ways in the yard and drove over to Canton to the real estate office. I called the selling real estate office to get directions and ask for the key when the broker told me that the sale wasn't complete, I hit the roof !!! I called our reps and they called the selling office and then the S.O.B. well okay then come and get the key. I asked if he could deliver the key and he said why doesn't my agent get the key for me he got a commission didn't he? I knew if I wanted the key right away I would have to go do it myself. When I got to the office I asked for the key the lady wanted to see my identification! I was incensed that I was having to prove who I was, who the hell else would show up for the damn key?
We got the key and to celebrate went for lunch at a local restaurant and had a lovely lunch and I got to sample buttermilk pie, for those of you who haven't had this pie when you get a chance give it a try it is delicious.
After lunch we zoomed over to this huge, I mean HUGE, flea market in Canton TX. We managed to find two beds we liked and then we went shopping for two mattresses. We got the whole she-bang back to the ranch and assembled the beds had our dinner and fell into the new beds in our new (to us) house for our first night's sleep.
What a day, what big pain in the Ass Day. Glad it is over.