Double S Ranch

10/04/2023

It has been awhile since posting anything on the Double S Ranch site. Lots of changes have taken place over the past five years. BUT...
Today I took a walk into the woods behind our house and barn. I haven't been there since recovering from a two year battle with some health issues.
Maybe today it was time.
It has been a difficult day. Last night we lost another beloved pet. Our little male goat, Pip.
Today, for us on the Ranch, it was finding a final resting place for our beloved pets that are so much a part of this ranch.
When we bought this property, we discovered, in the woods, a Tee P*e built by the previous owners. As you visit this place in the woods, there is a sort of special spiritual presence that can be felt. Don't know why, its just there. What better place to honor our beloved that are no longer with us. Today we selected this spot for Pip's final resting place, alongside Jonah, Ariels long time furry friend who was already laid to rest in this spot. It will also become a final resting place, in spirit, for others that lived here on the Ranch but no are longer with us.
I took some time today to photograph this spot along with other parts of our woods where life goes on and is still present.

08/28/2023

Double S Ranch
Here are a few of my favorite photos taken at the ranch since we moved here five years ago.

38 new items added to shared album

08/28/2023

Life on the Double S Ranch
Here are a few of my favorite photos of our farm life since moving to the ranch five years ago.

38 new items added to shared album

08/19/2022

What's on your mind?
Promise
These photos represent things to come!

08/17/2022

This was a good productive day on the Ranch. Can't believe that August 14th marked our forth year living on the Ranch.
Jim who has been dealing with some health issues was feeling better and able to do a few necessary things outdoors like gathering stuff for and making a dump run, plus installing a better hose system out by the barn.
This past week, we all sat down and made a "to do" list of things that needed to get done or finished. Plus outlined some future projects to make living on the Ranch easier for everyone.
Today, Ariel and I began working on the "list". We did some sorting and making piles of stuff that is cluttering the barn, keep, sale or throw away.
After working on a complete remodel of a future rental property that Ariel purchased, she has become a very talented "handy- woman". Today she installed smoke alarms throughout our house and figured out what needed to be done to fix a leaking toilet.
While they made the dump run. I mowed some weeds, the north lawn and did a little watering.
I also played a being a chef and created a pasta, sausage, and
broccoli casserole and a flat bread to go with it for our evening meal.

08/13/2022

I really love seeing the wildlife visiting the ranch but it's rude of them to waste the food they choose to eat.
Yesterday we had a nice little Buck wander through in the morning. Well he or his girlfriend returned and feasted on the apple tree that is not fenced. Now, mind you, there is an entire lean-to filled to the brim with excellent hay, but oh no they bypassed that and choose the apples.
I would not be at all upset but they only ate part of the apples leaving the rest to rot on the ground. Come on man, you are more than welcome to the apples but please if you choose to eat them, eat the entire apple not just half.

07/29/2022

Thought this was appropriate for country living this summer.
(Would not trade for anything)

07/28/2022

Here are a few more pictures of the chicken tractor move.

07/28/2022

Today was a lesson in, "if there is a will, you will find a way". Here is a series videos of Ariel setting up a better environment for some of her bunnies. Some time back we bought a used chicken tractor to grow out our meat birds. Once they were in the freezer Ariel decided it would be perfect for a grow out cage for her meat rabbits. However, that would require moving it from the front yard to back behind the barn where the rabbit cages are located. Not an easy feat as the chicken tractor is a huge cage and it needed to go across the front of the house, down the driveway and threw the barn to get to the new location.
With lots of determination, Ariel "got her" done and those bunnies are loving there new home.

07/16/2022

Gardening is one of my passions as you are well aware of, as I am constantly sharing pictures of my gardens. One of the things I love to do is go out in the mornings to see what's new. My gardens are ever changing with new plants, new experiments and bringing ideas that are floating around in my head to life. These gardens are only four years old and a long ways from what I hope they will look like in future. I could not have created the ones I have now without Jim's and Ariel's help
Here are a few pictures of what I saw in my Walkabout this morning and some future plans.

07/07/2022

Summer is a busy time on the Ranch. In spite of all the rain storms, projects are getting done and things are thriving. I did a little walkabout this morning. I love country living, especially in the early morning, when all is quite and it is so peaceful. It is a great time to forget what is going on in the rest of the world and just enjoy what the Lord has provided.
Here are a few pictures from my Walkabout and how the Lord has blessed us.

07/06/2022

Another project Jim can scratch off his Hunny Do list. This completed project is our trash can storage.
Looks a lot better than a tarp thrown over the trash cans. It will shelter the cans from weather and prevent chickens, cats and other critters from getting into the trash bags.

06/13/2022

Here is a rather long video of today's work.

06/13/2022

Busy day on the Ranch. Shari and Ariel spent the entire day butchering 22 meat chickens. Me and some of the farm animals were the Supervisors. I was also elected as the official "go fer".

04/27/2022

Finally the snow has melted, except for a couple small piles. Outdoor spring projects have begun. We have baby bunnies being born, horses getting some special grooming, baby chicks getting big, work on the greenhouse resuming and gardening begun.

04/27/2022

These 24 Cornish Cross meat birds are some of the healthiest I have seen. They are being brooded in our mud room in a truck bed tool box and being fed Wood's Non GMO Chick Starter for now. They will be moved to an empty horse stall that will be modified to contain them in a corner and where we will continue to give them warmth via a hanging lamp. Then finally out to our new chicken tractor until the go to freezer camp in about 5 weeks.

04/24/2022

Lake Whoobegone has wildlife. Home for some geese and Mallard Ducks. Unfortunately they were at the far end of the pond so didn't show up in the picture.
Tex got a new look, and finally some spring weather. Beautiful day for a trip to the dump!

04/16/2022

Introducing Pewter, pronounced "poo er" in a heavy British accent & Bobby Dazzler. Can you tell which TV show Dad and I are fans of?

04/08/2022

Awww the joys of farm living!
My decorating style is industrial farmhouse. Well two new additions were added today. The Barn cats will be taking over Jim's bathroom while their incisions heal from being fixed. Then new baby meat birds now reside in the mudroom until they are old enough to go out to the barn.
The dining room will soon house veggie and flower starts until they get big enough for the unheated greenhouse.
Brings back memories of the days our bottle fed baby goats stayed in a playpen in the house and even traveled in our RV to the dessert races on the weekends. Or hauling hay and the girls 4H animals in our station wagon.
Happy memories and happy times.

04/04/2022

Meet our newest addition to the Double S rabbitry. I've yet to name him. He is a Broken Lilac Rex.

01/16/2022

Welcome to our newest cuddle bunny, Thor. Hopefully he will be the start of our Otter line. He still has his baby fur but his temperament and type are promising.

12/31/2021

I don't know what I was thinking breeding rabbits in the winter as it can require a bit more management. When you see these cuties though, you might understand how I can't help myself 😁 One first time momma didn't make a great nest and only had two live births. Another 1st time momma had 7 babies and made a great nest. While this isn't my first time raising rabbits, these temps and my new set up had me a bit concerned. After consulting with some other breeders, I decided to divide the 9 babies into two groups and bring the poorly made nest inside during this horrible cold snap. I take the babies out to the momma 2 times a day for feeding and this has been successful. Many don't know but rabbits only nurse their young a couple times a day and then leave the babies in their nest as a way of protecting their young.
To add even more fun I have another doe due to kindle on the 4th!!