Monday, November 28, 2011

Third week on our first gate for this season!

Here we are starting another week at the Tanquecites Ranch here in Larado, Texas.  The well drilling seems to be going quite well.  Not real sure of there depth but we are looking at at least another couple of weeks here.
This last week has been very quiet, all the men had plenty of groceries for Turkey Day and then yesterday of course after the temperature dropped into the 30's everyone had to go get some warmer clothes.
Most of our traffic for this last week was ranch owners and hunters.  We have been promised a back strap from the deer that was gotten yesterday.  We may have to go get a freezer if they keep this up as they brought us a turkey breast the day before Thanksgiving and also a bottle of wine.




We were setting out this week watching a little blue and yellow smasher monster and decided it was an auto smasher, we watched until they pulled out and even pulled out a whole load of smuched vehicles.
  As they were doing there thing
 Jack had a real nice visit with two nice border patrol guys.  They stayed and talked for about thirty minutes and really made us feel pretty safe around here even if we are pretty close to the border!



We have also snapped a few pictures of others that visited this week, the game warden was called out to the ranch as a lock on another gate was found broken by the pumper.  He drove around with the owners and was supposed to be back but I bet he is to busy this time of the year.




There is also a beautiful sunrise picture (fire ball).
One the little females that runs around here had to get close enough for me to shoot her also.
Will try to find out some well details this next week.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Second Week on our Gate!

Big Part of Rig!

Another pretty sky!

Thank heavens we moved it!!


Had to fix lock after getting rig in!

It's up and running!!!

Looking from trackside!

Now where to park it!

Beautiful Texas Sky!
This has been a beautiful week here at our gate.

 I got in a hurry last Monday when I posted and missed letting everyone know of our excitement.  Jack stepped out the door to answer the gate bell and was told to get back in the house and lock the doors!  The Laredo city cops, sheriff's deputies and border patrol cars were everywhere. They even went to the well and told those guys to leave, which they did. They were looking for 4 armed and dangerous persons, which they did find and hauled off.  It's been quiet since then and I don't think they were illegals. Opps, forgot something else, the safety man came by just before all the cops and ask that we move our house back about a foot as it was in the way of getting through the gate with the big pieces of the rig, and also the living trailers for the crews.  They had already got pretty close to our home, so that will be the first order of business Tues. morn.

Ok, back on track, Tues. morning after a windy and rainy morning, Jack prepares to move our home over to keep it from getting clipped by the big pieces of the Pioneer drilling rig and the other trailers that the crews live in. Soon after getting  all settled in again the rest of the rig comes in.

By Wed. evening we had a big tall drilling rig up in the air.  They seem to be a very good organized bunch and have received many loads of supplies so when they get started they shouldn't have to stop for supplies.  Sometime Wed. night I think they started drilling and seemed everything went good for the first goal as Halliburton has already been in and cemented for the first faze.  They were here Sat. night and finally left out Sun. evening.

Jack finally got a break on Sat. morn and got to go to town.  We needed water and pop and a new microwave.  He brought us back Subway sandwiches which were very good.  He also ordered our Thanksgiving Dinner from HEB.

Today is crew change again so the new crew probably gets to start drilling again tonight.  Going pretty smooth so far.  The man in charge told Jack we would be here at least 30 days.
Sure close to home!

Drilling Rig coming in!



Some pics are out of order but I am still trying to learn how to get this done. 

Monday, November 14, 2011

Our First Gate this Season 2011

OK , Here goes my try at this blogger deal.  I have enjoyed following a couple of different ones this last year and finally decided I need to try it myself.
Sunday morning, 11-06-11, Roger our boss for Gate Guard Services came over and ask "how far south are you guys willing to go"  Jack and I both looked at each other with ??'s, and ask how far are you talking about?  He replied and said Laredo, Tx. which is a town we have always enjoyed in the past so after he gave us a brief idea as to where and how close to town we said ok.
Monday morning, 11-07-11 at 5am???? we are ready to travel from Carrizo Springs to Laredo.   Brandon, our feerless leader is to lead us down and get us set up and he does.  We arrived about 8:30-9:00 after making  4 and 1/2 miles into about 24, turning around and around.  Needless to say  though we did make it and we were finally set up by about 11:00.
We have now been here a week today so this blog may be short and have a few pics as the well drilling rig just started pulling in to day. 
                                                  Early! 5:30am  Moving out!
                                                  Froggy trying to sleep as we leave!
                                             Brandon with our fuel, generator and potty!
                                                           We have arrived at our gate!
                                                   Do you think the train is close enough?


                                             Water well being drilled for oil rig!
                                               Jack talking to one of theland owners
                                                              Checking feeders!
                                                           View from our house!
The water well rig people have been here all week and the owners and vistors to the ranch have been in and out.