My First Time

Hi everybody! I put up a deer feeder today and it got me thinking. I thought, 'this is a first. I seen 'em. I've heard about 'em. I've even hunted near one. But I've never actually installed a deer feeder.'
Well, that got me to thinking about all the other 'firsts' out here on the ranch. So bear w/ me. This is list is in no particular order.
1. Deer feeder
2. Assisted a welder
3. Operated a tractor with a box blade, shredder, front end loader (not all at the same time)
4. Cleaned doves
5. Shot doves (obviously #4 & #5 are backwards)
6. Ordered a swimming pool pump online
7. Installed a swimming pool pump
8. Used a radial saw
9. Hammered w/ a nail gun
10. Collected yards and yards and yards of free mulch and spread it with a single shovel
11. Guided a dove hunt
12. Collected mesquite for a BBQ.
13. Ripped plaster down from walls and ceilings
14. Attended small business meetings
15. Killed a skunk
16. Saved a roadrunner
17. Spotted baby raccoons
18. Started a garden
19. "broomed" tomatoes
20. Constructed a 'turnaround' from caliche
21. Constructed a 'turnaround centerpiece' out of caliche, cedar and mortar
22. Used an electric toilet
23. Checked a septic tank
24. Built a rock patio, 6,000lbs
25. Twisted my back.. down for two days
26. Worked side by side in a big demolition project with my children.
27. Worked side by side with my wife on a decorating project (I mostly handed her materials)
28. Sealed a concrete tank to make a water event
29. Created a water pond, using three galvanized livestock watering tanks
30. Cleaned out, not one but two, concrete water tanks
31. Fixed a busted water line.. twice!

That's all have time for. I have another first this morning.. but it's not makin' the list til it's finished.
Come visit. Check out all the first.
Bill Robertson
Ranch Manager

Flat tires & Porcupines

Here are two subjects that I thought I'd never talk about at the same time. I mean how often do you get a flat tire on your tractor and see a dog with porcupine quills in her nose? I'm guessin' not many--but once again, that's my new life in west Texas.
Here's the deal. I went to the vet's office to visit one of our badly injured dogs. While waiting, an older couple came in with a dog peppered w/ quills. The spindly stickers looked like fake teeth protruding from this dog's snout.
The look in this dog's eyes was a combination of severe pain and extreme embarrassment. In fact, I coulda sworn that I spotted an old basset hound smirk at the sight of this porcupine prickled pooch.
By the way, the last time I saw her--the good vet was readying a knock-out shot to perform quill removal.
Now believe it or not, this adventure happened before noon. I thought at the time, "okay--that's pretty unusual."
But now, it's pushing 4:30 and I should be mowing. I have lots of grass that needs cuttin. But not today... the ol' John Deere's got a flat on the front right. I think it's the same tire that went flat last month.
The rub is, I didn't notice til' I'd already mowed for about 1/4 mile. To add salt to the wound, it's too late to take off the tire, run to town and get the tire fixed.
So, the ever reliable Max is here with a big jack, a lil' sangria and his "lookers" so the sun doesn't sting his eye.
So, it looks like we're gonna take off the tire and go huntin'. Why not, the grass can wait, the porcupined dog is probably okay and it's Wednesday.. as good a day as any to kick back and enjoy wild, west Texas.
Bill Robertson, Ranch Mgr.

My Uncle Jimmie

Have you ever had a relative who is larger than life? I have. His name is Uncle Jimmie. He's older now, but still a tough, don't mess with him kinda fella.
My granddad had two children, my mom and my uncle.. Jimmie. I remember as a child going to Uncle Jimmie's ranch in New Mexico. He wasn't a hugger. He was a hand shaker and you better be ready.
My fondest memory of Uncle Jimmie was his handshake. It came from Mississippi.. swept thru Texas.. and nicked Oklahoma. By the time it got to you, you better be ready.
Let me back track. Uncle Jimmie's not a big man, by anybody's standards. But, he's tough. I mean real tough. He worked hard raising horses, cattle and just about anything else w/ four legs. He didn't mess around.
Anyway, everytime I saw him it was kinda awe inspiring. He was a real life cowboy. He had the weathered face. The clipped language.. the 'hat-hair.' He was tough. You didn't want to be a sissy around him.. Now to the hand shake.
This hand shake would come from another state. It'd sweep around. He'd announce himself as "Jimmie Randals." Then, he'd grip your hand like a vice-grip. If you didn't push your hand all the way to the fullest---you'd pay a dear price.
The point of all this is, I just saw the man who reminds me a lil' of John Wayne. He's now 80-years old and still a pistol. He gripped my hand last Saturday and darn near took it off @ the elbow. We went to a football game and he remembered it like it was 1943, the year he played for the Snyder Tigers. He laughed, giggled, whistled and had a ball.
He's a tough ole cowboy. I never met my granddad, but I bet he's a lot like my uncle.
Bill Robertson. Ranch mgr.

Local Heroes

Do you remember the movie "Local Heroes"? Peter Reigert & Burt Lancaster starred in it. He (Reigert) was a petroleum engineer sent by a Houston company to scout a job in Scotland. Great stuff.
Well, I have my own batch of local heroes.. they're not engineers. In fact, they're retired school teachers, single-mothers and retired wood-workers, but they desevere an 'atta-boy.'
First and foremost, I gotta give kudo's to Max. You've heard about him if you've kept up with my blogs. He knows nothing about plumbing (or says he knows nothing), but really he knows everything. Plus, he has every tool under the sun and he's the most generous person I've ever met.
Then, there's Tina. I've mentioned here before too. She started as our ranch 'housekeeper'. She quickly graduated to a 'dust control engineer. Now, she's a 'jackie of all trades.' Have you ever known or worked w/ someone who just has instinct. They know what you need. They know how to get it.. they know they'll get reimbursed???? That's Tina. You can't have her, unless you're a Fortune 500 company exec who's willing to make her life what she deserves.
Then there's the retired school teachers, Terry & Linda Heustis. I don't know what to say about these two--except they're amazing. First of all, Terry (who's a retired shop/math teacher) can make anything. Then, there's his wife Linda, who is absolutely the most patient & accomadating person I've ever met. Terry made us these incredible sinks for our tent bathrooms. I'm sure they'll end up in New York, with proper marketing.
Now, we're working on our pool deck. Everyday, Terry (and Linda) come out here after he drives his moring bus route. Then, he welds, nails, measures.. measures again.. teaches... laughs.. says "that's good enough" and we move on. INCREDIBLE!
My point is.. these are local heroes. Every city/town has them. The trick is finding them, highlighting them..
I sure wish you'd come and visit. Who knows? You might meet Max (and his lovely wife Gail) while he's 'pondering or ciphering." You might get to know Tina as she cleans like "Mr. Clean" is a sissy or Terry and Linda who patiently, but quickly build the most unique items I've ever seen.
Local heroes sure make live a lot easier.
Bill Robertson, Ranch Mgr.

Busy shootin' & workin'

Hi everybody.. it's been a long time since my last blog. I thought I'd update ya on the latest events.
The biggest and certainly the most important for me is.. the family came and went. It's tremendously upsetting--but neither I nor the ranch was for them. So many days/hours pass that I wish my wife and kids were here to see the hawks, the dove, the bobcats, the rabbits, the coyotes, the ducks, the turkeys.. the pool (under construction).. etc. But, they're back in Tennessee and happy. Stay tuned for the next update.
As for the ranch.. whew, I've been swamped. Dove season started last weekend and we've had great groups both opening weekend and this latest weekend.
The dove are flying.. big time. The fun part is, I've gotten up early for the past 4 weeks to 'scout' birds. Then in the evening, Max (remember he knows nothing about plumbing) and I have scouted the tanks and the fields.
As one customer put it this past Saturday, "I'm 150% satisfied. I never thought I'd pay this amount, get to take a nap, watch football and get my limit."
We just had some severe weather roll through this morning. The birds slowed down, but it's only a matter of time till they pick up again.
You gotta come out here, either for a day hunt or overnight adventure. I promise, we can customize anything you want.
Hope to see you soon.
Bill Robertson, Ranch Mgr.