Thankful Thursday

This is what a corn field, that I pass quite frequently, looks like today. We have been blessed this year with enough rain for it to reach this height. Last year, with the drought, the corn died before maturity.

Do you ever start to write a post and it goes in a different direction than you had planned? That is what happened again this morning.

My plan was to show the progression of a corn field from the beginning. Here is what the corn looked like the first time I noticed it in the field.

As I was editing the photos, I remembered a blog I follow, called Mooberry Farm Homesteading Journal. Julie, mother of eight, lives on a 20 acre farm with hubby and children. I hope you check out her blog. She gave me the idea of my post today, "Thankful Thursday".

A couple of weeks later, I drove by the same corn field. It had grown several inches....








These photos remind me so much about a busy life. I forgot about the corn field for many weeks. Then, one day as I drove by the same field, the corn had grown taller than me. The horizon was no longer visible.

So what am I writing about today? I hope my photos allow you some time to be thankful for all that is good in your life.

 Life gets so busy sometimes we forget to take notice. And sometimes our problems can seen as daunting as this dense corn field. But, today, I choose to be thankful for the blue skies, the rain and the beautiful corn growing in that field....

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Back Roads

As I was driving the back road to the farm, I saw a pasture with about 30 white goats, with brown spots. Do you know the breed name?

 They all had their heads down, grazing in a pasture of beautiful native grass.

Then, I did my clucking sound that seems to work for attention. One little guy raised his head. If you click on the photo, you can get a better look.

Are You Laughing?

I moved a little closer..... and, before I knew what had happened, they were all looking at me. They just stood there, perfectly still. Five minutes passed before heads went back down to continue eating. I  guess they decided I wasn't a danger to them.

Are they not adorable?







Meggie Mac

Remembering Our Soldiers

In the United States, we celebrate Memorial Day this week end. The holiday, formerly known as Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War. The cemetery is about 6 miles from the farm.

Driving the narrow country road, you will find the historical church and cemetery located in the middle of the large group of trees, on the right side of the road.

The cemetery is connected to Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church. The sign over the entrance is metal with the words cut out. You can see that some words have the blue sky showing through and some words, are white from the clouds.

Standing in the Older Part of the Cemetery

The oldest part of the cemetery is located towards the back where it is quite wooded. A large cross marks this entrance.

The church is part of the historical Painted Church Tour. I'll give you the grand tour of this church, next week.



This week end is a time to remember all our fallen soldiers and their families.....

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

How about a small town rodeo? Well, it is Texas, and we do like rough riding.....and competition!

Here is where you might find yourself, if you are riding a bull or bare-back bucking horse.

I just love using the words "Sheriff's Posse". It sounds like something you might hear in a wild west movie.

On rodeo day this area is filled with cowboys, cowgirls and lots of horses.

The announcer and judges for the competition will be sitting high above the arena.

No reservations necessary....the "early-birds" will have front row seats. Just in case all seats are taken, it's always good to bring a folding lawn chair.

Water for horses only, please!

It looks like there is ample parking space today. On the next Rodeo Day, it will be filled with pickup trucks and plenty of horse trailers.

The schedule shows a rodeo in August. Watch for another serious looking fence when you turn into the Rodeo Grounds.......

See you at the Rodeo
Meggie Mac

I'm joining with Jan 'n Jer's Friday's Fences. Please check out their blog.

A Post of Few Words

Just deep breathing today.......

Meggie Mac

Mystery Squash

Occasionally, when I'm in the garden center, I will buy a starter plant. It was tagged acorn squash. Now that the squash are growing, I believe it had an incorrect tag on it.

I'm hoping you will be able to tell me what I have growing in the garden.

Usually, I don't have the best of luck with squash. I always seem to loose the battle to squash bugs. But these vines have taken over one area of the garden.

The bloom has a ruffled edge...

And the bottom is shaped like this.

I couldn't resist cutting one, having no idea if it is ready to be eaten. The flesh inside is soft and moist with a nutty fragrance.

Do you know the name of this squash and how to prepare it?

Meggie Mac

Comfort Food on the Prairie

This is probably not what you had in mind when you read the title of my today's post. The word "comfort" was my first thought in looking at this photo.

Here is the scenario leading up to the above photo.....

I saw the baby calf taking a nap near a shade tree.
His mother was grazing in the pasture not too far away.

Because I wanted a better photograph, I did this "clucking" sound to wake up the sleeping baby. (naughty me!)

 Up popped the calf's head.....

He stood up, looking at me with this questioning look of, "Why are you looking at me?"

On the run....."Mama, Mama!"

Mother's are always close by when you need them.

How about a little privacy.........


Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Backroads

I've passed this old house so many times over the last 12 years, not giving it much thought until yesterday.

I wonder if a mother sat on this porch in the evenings, watching her children play in the yard until bedtime.

Shutters no longer used to block out the hot Texas summers.

As you can see in the photo, the house is in an open pasture, the pathway no longer visible.

There are two choices of travel when I drive into town. I can take the main highway which is much quicker. But, more recently, I have taken the backroads, giving me some time to slow down a bit. Yesterday, the trip took me on a photo expedition.

I'm thinking I might publish a photo each Monday....

Would you like to see more from the Backroads of the farm ?


Meggie Mac

Church at High Hill

Would you believe High Hill is a small community in Texas? Nativity of Mary, Blessed Virgin Catholic Church is one of the beautiful Painted Churches, located near the farm, in High Hill.

The church, built in 1906, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The architect, Leo M.J. Dielmann, was born in San Antonio, Texas. He studied architecture and engineering in Germany.

It always takes my breathe away when I first walk into one of our Painted Churches. This one is no different. If you click Here, you can read about another Painted Church.

In 1912 Ferdinand Stockert and Hermann Kern applied the decorative painting to the inside of the church. It is said they first painted the designs on canvas and then glued them to the wood walls.

The columns are also wood with a Faux Finish to look like marble.

The details are shown on every wall.....Your eyes have a difficult time taking in all the beauty.

Each stained glass is a work of art.

The inside of the church is a photographer's dream. I came away with about 50 photos. It was difficult to choose which ones to post for the blog.

My hopes are that I have given you a sense of what it is like in a painted church. I also want you to see the church is not located in a busy town.

It is located......High on a Hill

Meggie Mac