It is raining and cold at Old Machala Farm this morning. We are now getting way more rain than we need. The meteorologist says we are experiencing excess rain because of the "El Nino" we had this summer. I will take too much rain over a hurricane any day. The animals are still in their stalls munching hay. The goats hate the rain so they are more than glad to be inside and the Jay family is all snug in the hay barn. Hope the rain stops soon. I sure could use some sunshine right about now.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a Joyful and Merry Christmas from me, James, and all the critters at Old Machala Farm. May your lives be blessed with the presence of the Lord!

OMG! Just when I think it is going to be a quiet Christmas Eve, havoc takes over. I was going out the back door when I see this basset hound running across the back yard with a young man in hot pursuit of him. There is a elderly lady right behind him. Of course it is muddy back there because of all the rain we have and both the dog and the guy are covered with mud. The dog just manages to stay out of this guy's reach. I get Ashton to go get some animal crackers so that we can try to get our hands on the dog. I guess the dog is getting very tired because he finally lets the young man catch him. Both the dog and the boy are exhausted. It seem that this elderly lady had been chancing the dog for about 2 miles and this kind young man stopped to help her. When I get to the lady she is exhausted and very emotional. It seems that her granddaughter is visiting from Amarillo and this is her dog. The lady, Mrs. Merritt, was left in the care of this dog and it managed to get out of her yard. Mrs. Merritt told me that her son had died 2 years ago today and the dog belonged to his daughter. She was so very greatful for the kindness of strangers. There was also a young lady out there who took Mrs. Merritt, the basset hound, and the young man back to Mrs. Merritt's house. Mrs. Merritt was insisting that she was going to give the young man monetary reward but he said it was not necessary. I guess they will work that out later. I was very worried about Mrs. Merritt. I was afraid she was going to have a heart attack. I might try to drive over to her house later and check on her. You know about the time you want to lose faith in mankind, something happens to reknew you faith in people. Hope yall have a quite and safe Christmas Eve. Old Machala Farm

Wishing you a Happy Christmas Eve from our family to your family. Be safe.

Love yall,

Old Machala Farm

The hunt was on at Old Machala Farm tonight. After feeding the horses and the Jays', I set up the varmint trap and baited it with dry cat food. I was worried that Jake Jay would be tempted to enter the trap to eat, but after a stern warning he decided to go on about his business. Ashton and I went back to the house to wait and see if the varmints decided to return for a quick dinner. I went back out to the barn around 6:15 and just like clock work there was Mr. Opossum munching away on cat food. He tripped the release on the trap when he saw me. In the morning, James, Ashton, and I will go relocate and release Mr. Opossum. Tomorrow night the hunt is back on for "Rory Raccoon. Wish me luck!

Varmint update

Well I did not catch the opossum or the raccoon! What I did catch is"Jake Jay". I went out to check the trap and there was Jake. He looked at me as if to say "aren't you going to get me out of here". Guess I will try again tomorrow night. The hunt is on!

munchies

I have these 3 cats, "The Jays", that I leave dry cat food out for them to munch on at night. The last week or so I have noticed that each morning the three bowls are empty and scattered around the barn My granddaughter, Ashton, has her best friend over today at Old Machala Farm and were hanging out at the barn at dusk tonight when I get cell phone call from Ashton requesting I come rescue them. Well Ashton hears a noise and sees a opossum and a raccoon eating the cat food. Well she panics and wants me to come to the barn because the varmints are between them and their escape route . When the opossum and raccoon hear me approaching the barn they both run under the barn. I get a look at the raccoon and it is a big one! I go next door to borrow the small animal trap so that I can bait it and see if I can at least catch one of them tonight. When I get back to the barn the opossum is back but again runs. The kids are now back at the barn with portable lights hiding to see if I catch one of them pesky varmints in my trap. Just hope I do not catch one of the Jays. So far no cell call so I guess that the opossum and raccoon must be full and not returning tonight. Never a dull moment at Old Machala Farm!

this is tag

this is tag

this is burrito

this is burrito

this is ross

this is ross

this is sadie

this is sadie