Hello All, When our sons were little it was a big deal when I would bring groceries home. I learned quickly that taking them shopping with me would increase my grocery bill by 20% - easily. Not to mention the weird things that would show up when we got home. So they would stay with Dad while I shopped and when I pulled up in the drive it was "Hey guys let's help mom bring in the groceries"! Well, it's not that much different at Golden Curls Ranch. Yesterday I worked in the office with Dad, Martin and Andrew on year end reports. I bought the guys cheeseburgers and cokes. I have found that giving food to critters of all shapes and sizes really makes the time you spend together more pleasurable. So just before dark I headed out on I-30 with everyone else in Dallas trying to escape the city. I arrive at one of my favorite feed stores, Aggie's Feed Store at St. Augustine and Hwy 175 around 5:20 pm. Yep, I 'm cutting it close as they close at 6:00 pm. Have you ever noticed that's when your sweet hubby wants to talk to you on the cell phone? "Gotta go dear, I'm gettin' groceries!" First, it's a 50lb bag of dog food. My big strong friend picks one up and throws it over his shoulder. "Next?" He smiles....OK, need horse food but they don't carry Purina they stock Acco so I say two 50 lb bags of Safe and Sound. "Oh yeah, a bag of Oats...make it crimped - I notice the whole ones are going right through them". No problem he disappears and pops up just in time for me to remember goat food. They're out of goat developer so I go with All Stock thinking I need to separate Mama Becca anyway and I will feed her the last bit of the high protein feed. Brownie and Brady could stand to lose a few pounds and the All Stock is only $8.95 a 50 lb bag. "Oh yeah, two bales of hay". That's what I came here for since I'm out and my hay guy said he could not get to his hay barn with all the rain we've had - he'd get the truck stuck. I figure a few bales will get me through till it dries up a bit.. He charges $3 a bale. Aggie is $8! Then, I see Randy and we talk about laying chickens. I believer he is the owner. He has a lot of experience - actually he is a walking encyclopedia. After looking at the Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Barred Rock I think I like the colors on the Plymouth Barred Rock. But, gosh $20 an adult is way too much. So he shows me the pullets that are only a few weeks old for $2.99 each. Ok, I will need to barn proof my barn from coyotes and more importantly - Maya! So I say I will come back to get the chicks. Back on the road with over a $100 in groceries. Things are the same - people driving dangerously close to your tailgate. I wonder if they ride their horse that close. Ha, if only my Tundra kicked like my Sweet Mama donkey, Salsa! Pulling in the gate, singing with George Strait, I see my sweet, loving critters waiting for groceries. I quickly open it up and pull in and then get out to run close it. Now onto the next gate into the barn, same exercise. Then I get out and leave the music on - it's one of my desensitization technique. Besides, I'm sure the horses like country music. I pull down the tailgate and before I can turn on the lights (yee haw - we have lights) Lakota has grabbed the bag of oats and is eating it off the tailgate like he was a Longhorn frat boy. Chester is right beside him and I swear he is smiling. Mama Salsa is coming up slowing on the side. Sarita was right behind. OK, guys. I start putting feed and oats into the buckets. Lakota prefers to tailgate it. I try to shoo him away. Funny thing about these Curlies. They don't spook - even when you want them to! Let's just get them some hay and call it a night since it is already 7:00 pm. Darn, it's baled with wire and the wire cutters are down at the other barn that is flooded. OK, so I drive through the new barn (well it looks new on the out side) and pray I don't get the truck stuck while I jump out and grab the wire cutters. Back in the truck and on to the new barn. At this point I'm thinking how nice it is there's beer in the frig. OK, the equines are finishing up on the grain and I throw them a couple of flakes. Oh, the goats remind me they have not had their allotted grain and hay. Ok, ok I will unload everything tomorrow in the daylight I think to myself. Pulling through the barn and head to the house. Hugs and kisses to Lee Marvin and Maya. Guinness has been keeping the home fires burning inside and he is excited to see mama. Life is good. A dear, sweet, friend calls we share a beer and chat about life, kids - the important stuff. It's bedtime and boy am I ready. I look out my window and my sweet mama donkey and Sarita are lying down beside the window resting. It's a tranquil and peaceful feeling. Around 11:30 pm, I wake up to Maya barking like a mad woman and look out the garage window to see Lee Marvin's hair standing straight up on his back. Mama donkey is trying to enter their den (garage) and they are not happy. I open the garage door and as I walk out I see this shadow of Lakota picking up a 50 lb bag of grain with his teeth as if it was a bag of Cheetos you'd get out of the vending machine. "Stop I yell" he freezes like he has been caught for about two seconds and continues on this pleasurable midnight snack. I go back inside and after searching for a while find my truck keys and run out and drive it back to the barn. Close the gates and take a deep breathe. Ok, Ok, that's what I should have done earlier in the night! "Dang it, half the hay and grain is gone!" As I walk back to the house I see a figure walking towards me. It's my sweet Lakota. He comes up to me and gives me a big bear, hug and kisses as if to says "thanks mom, for the groceries"!
Angie and her well fed critters.
www.goldencurlsranch.com
