Thank Heaven’s I can take on a challenge !!! “You’ll NEVER tame those Soays” was the confidently negative counsel I was given by the previous owner of our bunch of mutinous, dreadlocked Soay sheep. Those little animals can run like a whippet and jump like a gazelle….the prospect of a Soay sheep roundup was about as popular around here as a trip to the dentist and I hate dentists.( apologies to my lovely dentist !) The alternative to a never ending standoff with our new residents was to inflict myself on them and ultimately MAKE them like me…..and, luckily, I have. Today, Greg left a gate open. I’m sure the “oversight” was deliberate, designed to teach our young WWOOFERS Brian and Sarah the consequences of being careless. Whatever Greg’s reasoning,… the “no blame policy” most definitely was called into play when Galveston and Blondie the two Soay rams found an open gate. Greg was busily relocating rotten bug infested wood to the fire wood stack when two testosterone loaded, celibate rams nonchalantly meandered past, heading resolutely for the ewes and lambs. Something was clearly not right…..something was most definitely wrong, the boys were supposed to be sequestered in a pasture well away from the “girls” and there they were….scarily close and well within sniffing ( or worse) distance. Fortunately Galveston and Blondie have been well schooled in the “Maureen School of Persuasion” and, as Sarah headed off for the blackmail / enticement supply of bread, Brian headed off to re direct the rams who were by this time single mindedly heading in the direction of hormones on legs at the other end of the pasture. Galveston and Blondie had a decision to make, Brian may have bread……the girls may NOT be receptive. The rams fortunately opted for the potential bread bribe ( forget the girls !) and trotted on with Brian ( who had no treats !) back into their pasture.
Sarah arrived yesterday, I guess the hustle and bustle of busy New York feels a very long way away from the tranquil valley of waving cedar trees that is gentle Giant Meadows Ranch but our newest WWOOFER is very quickly settling in to farm life. It would be very easy to be intimidated by Lady and Quest our two giant Shire horses and all around the farm, in each stall and every pasture a potential disaster awaits the unwary WWOOFER . Sarah appears to have laid her fears to rest and today, carrot morsels in hand, Sarah has discovered the significant benefits of bribery.
Brian and Sarah had their first stick shift tractor driving lesson this afternoon, fired up the chainsaw and operated the saw mill …..Greg was happy to report that no significant damage was inflicted on any farm structures or any WWOOFER persons during the course of the afternoon. I guess that means they graduated !
Brian was warned that it was recommended that he stretch before he mounted Lady our beautiful Shire Mare. Sadly, Brian had a temporary lapse of memory which only returned as his body stretched and groaned in compliance to her size. This morning we anticipated the “John Wayne” walk but clearly Brian’s body is more resilient than most and if he was hurting, we didn’t know it !
Well, another busy day tomorrow. Time I let Bran the Border Collie out to water a tree or ten and time we headed off to bed, Take care, keep safe, M XXXXXX
Sarah arrived yesterday, I guess the hustle and bustle of busy New York feels a very long way away from the tranquil valley of waving cedar trees that is gentle Giant Meadows Ranch but our newest WWOOFER is very quickly settling in to farm life. It would be very easy to be intimidated by Lady and Quest our two giant Shire horses and all around the farm, in each stall and every pasture a potential disaster awaits the unwary WWOOFER . Sarah appears to have laid her fears to rest and today, carrot morsels in hand, Sarah has discovered the significant benefits of bribery.
Brian and Sarah had their first stick shift tractor driving lesson this afternoon, fired up the chainsaw and operated the saw mill …..Greg was happy to report that no significant damage was inflicted on any farm structures or any WWOOFER persons during the course of the afternoon. I guess that means they graduated !
Brian was warned that it was recommended that he stretch before he mounted Lady our beautiful Shire Mare. Sadly, Brian had a temporary lapse of memory which only returned as his body stretched and groaned in compliance to her size. This morning we anticipated the “John Wayne” walk but clearly Brian’s body is more resilient than most and if he was hurting, we didn’t know it !
Well, another busy day tomorrow. Time I let Bran the Border Collie out to water a tree or ten and time we headed off to bed, Take care, keep safe, M XXXXXX
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