Well, it’s that time of the year again…Christmas, and we here at the Cross K are looking forward to another wonderful Christmas and a better New Year.  This year has really flown by, seems just yesterday Liz was complaining about the worst heat/drought in recorded history and now the heat is on and a fire in the fire place….what a difference a couple of months makes. 

Yes, we finally have had a little rain here, but not enough.  We have a little water back in our stock tank.  Hay has been the topic around here.  Liz and I have made two trips to Tennessee and three to Mississippi for hay.  Seems the hay we bought was not what it was suppose to be, so we are selling that for cow hay. One trip to Mississippi, we stopped in Louisiana for a short visit with my daughter, so it was not a total loss.   We’ll make it through the winter just fine and hopefully, the good Lord will smile on us and we will have grass  in the spring.

Liz has the ranch decorated for Christmas so nicely.  She has enough lights outside to light the place up.  Speaking of Liz, she and my horse, Cash, have been doing very well in sorting.  They bring home the “cash”  almost every time….she’s been calling him her “money pony”.  Maybe she’ll trade me him for her big Palamino, but I’m not holding my breath.

I was back in the studio again back in the summer producing a CD on our church band, Open Range Band.  It turned out really great and I am so proud of them.  They are having a CD release party after church on Dec. 11th.  It’s a rocking version of some standards and a lot of cowboy gospel, with a rocking sound.

We  wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a greater New Year.

God bless each of you…..happy trails

Kilroy and Liz

Hey Folks….

Well, it is hard to believe that it is October already.  It has been a summer from HELL here in Texas.  The worst drought/heat in recorded history and we here can well believe it! We finally got a little rain, not nearly enough, but it helped and it is cooler. The hunt for hay is the chore of the moment.  The surrounding states of Texas has just about dried up as they have been sending hay to Texas daily.  This historical drought has played havoc on our economy in many ways.  Our neighboring states have done well, however, in our plight as the cost of hay has doubled and sometimes tripled.   The cost of shipping has gone off the charts.  It’s really a shame as we as American’s should stick together when in trouble instead of sticking it to you, but the dollar bill makes the most noise.  One day, these folks may be in need themselves, it always comes back around.  We were some of the few that did get a spring cutting, but only 10 round bales.  We MAY get one more, but if we do, it won’t be over 7 or 8 bales.  We have been feeding hay since June, so that doesn’t last long.  Liz and I are going to Mississippi soon to get a couple of loads to take us through winter and spring.  We bought a trailer to haul our own and it is working out good.

Last month, I went on my yearly trek to south Texas, the canyon, with my Tejas Vaquro brothers for our week long ride.  I took my horse, Cash, the dunn and we entered in a couple of team sorting, but, no buckle.  Liz, however, has been winning money on Cash just about every time they compete in team sorting.  Mm-mm….maybe the horse likes her best, don’t blame him.  Her horse, the big Palomino Trigger, appears to be finally coming sound…praise God!  By next spring, she will be back to competing on him.  I know she has missed him and it has been a long rode to recovery.

The colt “Pistol” that we adopted is not a colt anymore…he is nearly as big as the rest and he is now 17 months old.  He is as big as my old retired roping horse, Hank.  Liz works with him a lot and she has him minding his manners on the ground work very well.

Our plans for the future are marching along fine.  We will post more as it becomes final.  We are excited.

I have been back in the studio recording our church band “Open Range Band”.  We are nearly through and it will be great when done.  I really enjoy making records, next to Liz and horses, that is my passion and it has been fun.

I guess that about raps it up for now…..take care and God Bless each of you

Happy Trails,

Kirloy and Liz

Pistol, the adopted colt

Hey folks.

Liz and I hope you all are doing well and good as expected.  We are finally “burning” up, literally.  Half of Texas is on fire.  PLEASE, pray for rain to come to this grief sticken, dry land.  This is a picture taken a month ago of our tank, which is now dry as is everyone’s.  The grass is like winter.

The temps have finally come down to a bearable temperature, which is good, but no rain in sight.  We have been sorting, but that is about it.  Maybe now we can expand out with the weather being cooler.  We went to TN. last week and brought back a load of round bales.  If it doesn’t rain soon, we will not get another cutting of our own.  We have been feeding our winter hay for two months now.  We are looking for good quality horse hay within a 400 mile radius at a fair price.  We have a 30 foot trailer and will go get it, the problem is we are falling victim to the money game….supply and demand.  Texas is in need, so these other states that have plenty are doubling there prices just because they can…like the oil companies.  Sadly, the transportation rates are skyrocketing for the same reason….we need the hay. 

Enough of the woes of the world.  We hope to see some of you at Red Stegall’s cowboy gathering in Fort Worth next month.  We always have a grand time…especially at the chuck wagons. 

I have emerged into the 21st century….I have an IPhone.  Talk about a train wreck!  Right off the bat, Liz was driving, set my IPhone on the console and it slid off into a glass of tea.  She stuck in a bag of rice and after 2 days it started working again.  I’ve always been with AT&T, but now I guess I’m with “Tea Mobile”.  Learning to use these modern wonders is a chore in itself…thankfully I have Liz to figure things out.

Well, Happy Trails to all and God Bless…..Remember….PRAY for rain in Texas and let me know of any good round bales of hay at a fair price within a 400 mile radius of Fort Worth.

Kilroy and Liz

Hey folks….

What a hot hot summer we are having. We are the driest I have ever seen it. We have already put out round bales in June. I think we have had 1 inch of rain in 2 months with none in sight. At this time, there are only 3 counties in the state of Texas that is NOT under a burn ban. WOW! The temp’s are running 100 plus and have been for nearly a month and it is just now July.

Enough of the weather. We have been doing some team sorting, but not a lot with this heat. Last Saturday Liz and I went to Glen Rose TX and visited with Mel Tillis. He called early in the week and told me he would be there and asked if we could come over and of course we were thrilled to visit with Mel. I had not visited with Mel in 15 years… at least, maybe more. It was really nice to see him again and he is just as good as he ever was. Johnny Sea showed up and we really had a great time telling stories….and maybe a few lies sprinkled in.

It was great seeing Mel, just hope it won’t be so long next time. Maybe Liz and I will go visit him at his ranch in Florida.

Liz’s beautiful granddaughter, Cheyenne, visited us from Florida for a couple of weeks. What a joy she was to have and what a natural at riding horses…like a duck to water. Liz would have her horse back in no time if she lived closer. She helped with the horses and we sure hated to see her go home….next year she’ll stay a month!

Well, this is a short post this time. We hope those of you that are getting to much rain are drying out and those of us who are in great need of rain will get our share.

May God Bless and Happy Trails……..

Kilroy and Liz

Happy days to everyone.

Things are going good around here.  It seems Elizabeth’s horse, Trigger, is becoming sound….thank God.  I believe she is going to start riding him a little.  It’s mowing time and I’ve been busy on the ol John Deere, staying just ahead of weeds, which Liz is spraying for weeds right after I mow.  We went on a LOTT  ride  and Liz will post a great shot of us.  LOTT stands for: Ladies Of Texan Tradition, the ladies answer to our Tejas Vaqueros.

Yesterday was Liz and our’s anniversary. We had a great day and finished it off with a wonderful dinner at Reata’s  in beautiful downtown Fort Worth.  What a great restaurant.  If you get to cowtown, be sure to go there for lunch or dinner.  You won’t leave hungry or disappointed.  Service and food is outstanding.

Visit us on Face Book….

Happy Trails and God Bless…

Kilroy and Elizabeth

Boy….we went from snow and freezing weather to summer!!  I know it’s crazy all over the country, but it sure is crazy here.  We are dry, windy (and I don’t mean a breeze) and hot. I know all of the sand we have hauled in for the round pen and walker track is at least in Fort Worth or getting close by now.  The horses have been “leaning” sideways bracing the wind so much, that they are leaning when they come in to eat….habit I guess.  Now I know why the trees around here all grow leaning to one direction.

We’ve been staying busy with the horses and ranch work….spring always brings a lot of things to do…helping neighbors with spring shots and branding for their calves, etc.   We’ve gone to some sorting and Liz won a little money on that buckskin of mine.  We seem to be running a “horse  rehab center” around here.  Liz’s palomino, Trigger, has not recovered yet after 9 months, my big roan horse will never be better, now her paint horse, Kody, is down for a month with sore hocks!!   That colt we fostered is 11 months old this month already….time does fly, seems it was just yesterday he was just a little guy, now he’s pretty big and looks like he will be a fairly big horse.  Liz says he will be my horse after she breaks him, puts him through school then I can have him. Nice of her…..

Liz and I went to see my daughter, Lisa, in Folsom La. last week.  I hadn’t seen her for some time. She has been very ill for quite a long time, but she is better …. thank God… and Liz met her for the first time.  The two of them hit it off  famously, which I knew Lisa would love Liz.  I was very excited to visit her and meet the wonderful man she married, Wayne…. we had a grand time.  We had plenty of one of my favorite foods….Cajun, and I think I’m about to persuade Liz’s taste buds in that direction….she’s starting to like craw-fish and hot sauce…..there’s hope for that girl yet.

Last week we had the biggest hail that we have ever personnel y  seen.  Liz took pictures of them in my hand, to which she will attach to this post, (I don’t have a clue how to do that).  I have a nice size dent in the hood of my truck, Liz’s came out of it unscathed.

Happy Easter to all and be safe…

Happy Trails and God Bless…

Kilroy and Liz

Hey folks. February is just about over and boy what a month it has been.  Record breaking temperatures, snow and ice.  We had over 100 hours of highs in the 20’s  and lows in the teens with wind chill below 0.  Anything that could freeze, did.  We lost water to the barn for a few days, but the outside water troughs are heated, so we bundled the horses up and left them out for those nights we didn’t have water in the barn.  Not bad, they have plenty of great Cross K hay and good shelter.  We are truly glad to see those couple of weeks gone.  Our stock tank/pond froze hard enough to ice skate on.  We had fun playing with the dogs on the ice with Padre’s frizbee . It’s very pretty now, highs running way over normal….go figure. Elizabeth’s shoulder is doing good and has gone back to riding, lightly for now, but just in time for show season which will kick off next month. It won’t be long before I’ll be out spreading fertilizer again, looking forward to another great hay crop. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Trails, and God Bless. Kilroy and Liz

It’s finally a new year and we both hope you all had a great turn onto 2011.  I hope you’re better at writing “11″ than I am…still stuck on ” 10″.  Habits are hard to break.

Liz is getting along very well with her rotator cuff surgery.  She does all of her home work, really, I have to admire her for her staying with it so well.  Doc says she’ll be back in the saddle by middle of Feb., just in time for the show season.

The TV show is not dead.  It has just been put on a short hold, but is starting to pick up soon and I’m looking forward to a great year with it.  The logistics will be told at a later date, as I can’t go into that at this time.  So many things have happened, little bumps in the road, but it will be all for the better.

Thanks for stopping by, and come back to visit us.

God Bless and Happy Trails…

Kilroy and Elizabeth

Hello to all of our friends…

We sure hope everyone had a great and safe Thanksgiving.  Ours was good and quite with friends.  Liz had rotator cuff surgery in November and she’s been down some…not as much as she should be.  I believe she is still in shock when the doctor told her no riding for three months, but my money is on her riding sooner.

Speaking of riding, her horse, Trigger, has been given a good bill of health.  It took shock treatments and time off and now more time due to Liz but that will only make him better.  Now, it’s my horse, Amigo’s, turn in stall rest.  He has lameness problems and is up for 5 months.  We feel like we’re running an equine hospital around here.  Anyway Liz has the paint 4 year old that will be ready for competition in STOCK which stands for Stock Horse of Texas. They will compete in reining, cow working, pleasure and maybe trail.   He is our poster child as he was saved from slaughter when he was 6 months old.

Christmas is almost on us and will be here before we know it.  Liz and I wish everyone a wonderful, safe Christmas……for those who listened to us on XM, you know we always said “Merry Christmas”…none of that Happy Holidays for us. By the way, the picture below is the colt , Pistol, we saved which is now 6 months old. Both Pistol and Trigger are ready for Christmas.

Happy Trails and God Bless ..

Kilroy and Liz