It's snowing ..again. Sitting up here at the house it's toasty warm and looking down on the farm poor Greg is doing his best to stay warm and dry. Every so often I spot his fleeting figure scurrying from one part of the barn to another, head down and shoulders hunched. Bran, no respecter of the weather or the mud, his little black and white body hurtling through the snow flakes is checking on his charges, furred or feathered, if they move it's his responsibility to know and if there is a chance of a chase he is going to ensure he is in the right place at the right time.

For the past few days the TV hasn't been working properly so this morning Greg reluctantly had to call the "help line". Don't you just love trying to explain your problem with a computer voice and dont you just love it even more when you do get a human voice on the end of the line it is "Jacob" or "sarah" talking to you from their help desk in the outer limits of Pakistan. The icing on the cake is when you are asked by "Jacob" in Pakistan if you have had "weather" over the past few days. Well, correct me if I'm wrong, dont we have weather every day ? sometimes its good some times its not so good and sometimes it's pretty awful,  but it's always weather ! Then you get told you will have to have an engineer who is going to charge $95 ...unless you buy into the plan ( said plan has never been mentioned before...tell us more) hearing slight hesitation in accepting this amazing offer out came the ace card ! "Jacob" in Pakistan has just noticed that we have been paying for something that we shouldn't have been paying for and if we accept the stupendous offer of "the plan" we would actually be on the winning side. Funny how it took till now to notice we are overcharged and how kind of "Jacob" in Pakistan to point it out. So we accepted the "plan" an engineer should be paying us a visit today and "Jacob" in pakistan keeps his job. It's all good...but the TV still doesn't work!!!!
Just had the biggest suprise.....My twin sister Annie and her better half Malc just turned up ! Doesn't sound like too big a deal but they have come from England. I knew that they were coming but expected them tomorrow when the plan was to surprise Greg. Now for sure I know Greg needs new glasses...it took him the longest time to recognise Malc, he was squinting like a mole in the sunlight. So Greg has 2 new ranch hands,.... 2 new ranch hands to supervise, sounds like Greg Heaven. smile. As for me, it's wonderful to have my sister and her husband around. Thank you Annie and Malc, we are so lucky to have you both.
Well, I've had my sit down time, I've done my walkabout and I'd go for a lie down but Mr fixit from the TV company has arrived, "jacob" in Pakistan did a good job, hopefully the TV will be working again when he leaves..or maybe there is another deal ????? There is nothing in the "dont do after back surgery book" concerning TV engineers, guess I'm going to have to play this one by ear. Take care, M

　

What is it they say.."can't keep an old dog down!"...This taking it easy stuff is REALLY going to be a challenge, physically and mentally. I've got the rule book, dos and donts...I've got Doctor Greg and a multitude of well meaning friends that constantly remind me to "take it easy" but that being said.....I'm just not good at doing nothing. I'm only allowed to sit for so long..stand for so long and lie down...you've guessed it...for so long. Greg said I need to walk...so I walk, bedroon to kitchen, kitchen to bedroom and just to add a whisker of change, sometimes I even make it into the utility room. I'm not allowed to bend, I'm not allowed to twist and I'm not allowed to lift....every little "walkabout" tests me, I REALLY need to sweep the floor...I need even more to put the washing into the machine and I need even more than that to tidy round...all big NOs in the "what not to do" in post op back care rule book. I resigned myself to staying in the bedroom, what I can't see I can't hanker after...right...WRONG, it's not that easy to be an ostrich and bury my head in the pillows....I know what needs to be done and what I can't do for a while.
Friends and neighbors have been amazing and Greg has been blessed by willing volunteers arriving at the ranch, prepared to do whatever, chickens, cows, horses or sheep in temperatures that would test a polar bear. Thank you all so much, you have made this whole issue less of a drama and prevented Greg going into meltdown !

Gertie the Canadian Goose had a bit of a suprise landing this morning. As usual she stood waiting for the Shires to leave the barn to go to the pasture. Gertie, the frustrated goose honked her greeting and started making her way to the field. As usual she took off at the last fenceline and took her usual flight path to join her buddy Quest. Sadly, the pond was frozen solid and Gerties landing did not take into account the ice. End result, one big frustrated Canada Goose sliding less than graciously accross the frozen surface of the pond. Poor Gertie.

Oh well, I've had more than my allocated "sit down time"....got to get up and do another circuit..bedroom to kitchen, kitchen to bedroom and no breaking the rule book on the way. Take care, keep warm and please spare a thought for one very frustrated rancher. M

Well here I am, trying to take the editorial, writer place of Maureen.  I don’t think so.  I struggle to have that creative literary fluency that Maureen has.  There how was that for a start.  Wednesday started out very early for us.  We had to set off at 5am just in case the weather forecasts were true.  Has MJ ever been wrong? Thank heavens this was one of those forecasts where we were on the edge.  We gave ourselves ½ hour extra and wound up having a snooze in the truck for ½ hour waiting for the doors to open.  Going home was going to be another story.

The operation went without a hitch.  About 0830 the Dr came out and said all went well and Maureen was going to be fine.  At 1030 we were on our way home.  Well as I said, weather was now more like the forecast.  BLIZZARD!!  Thank heavens it lasted only for about 10 miles.  We soon broke out into sunshine.  Only here in the northwest.  Wait a little while and weather will change.  We made it home watching the dark clouds in the horizon.

Well then it began.  “I’m fine.  I’m British.”  Oh dear… That was well exemplified this morning.  Out came the communicator (cell phone) and service bell.  Maureen had her makeup on, propped up on pillows, TV on and waiting for her next cup of tea.  This is going to be a long 3 weeks of R&R.  Dr says no house work for a couple weeks.  Lifting only 5 lbs for the first three weeks.  “Light duty for the next two months”!  watch this space.  I think this will be as good as I gave when I was in bed and recuperating a couple years ago.

Thanks to all for the phone calls, emails and help on the ranch.  We know that we are surrounded by a great community and friends.  Nice thing is, it stretches all around the world.  Holland, Scotland, England, Canada, and all those other readers we have in other countries we know are there but have never met.  Thanks for your support!!!!

Looking out the window this morning is a white wonderland.  I should be nervous, but I know its going to be a great day.  Horses will be snorting, milking machine cold, but there will be a warm fire in the barn and warm heart watching me from the bedroom window, poised with a finger on the send button, making sure I don’t forget something.  I love it.  Time to get the quad out and do a few doughnuts in the snow to remind me how much fun it can be.  Its hard work with the chores, but I love looking out the window and seeing the beauty and peacefulness of a quite snow covered landscape.  Time to bring out the woolies.  Hopefully Maureen will be able to start writing soon.  I really need more practice to make it up to her level.  Be back soon. Take care. G

Oh dear, it's going to be a tough few weeks !!!!....and I don't mean the surgery ! I REALLY struggle doing nothing....I can't cope with seeing something that needs doing and not being able to do it. I'm not good at telling people what to do and even worse at being told what to do ....it's REALLY going to be tough. Greg is in "taking care" of me mode...I swear that man of mine has eyes on stalks, he can see round corners and I think he can even see through walls ! I'm starting to think that he's reading my mind...all I have to do is think about being able to do a chore and from somewhere in the depths of the barn there's a "NO !!!". I've never thought of myself as stubborn ( ok, maybe a little...a long time ago,..I'd better come clean, I know my family will be reading that with a few smug smiles !!) and I know I'm not normally petulant sulky or sneaky but I have a bad feeling that being a patient is going to bring out all of the above. I've had a strong stiff talk to myself and I've promised myself I'm going to be good but Lord, it's going to be hard !
The troops have answered the call, volunteers, willing (and some maybe not so willing have rallied to help Greg run the ranch while I am out of service being "fixed". Our farm friends have been amazing and Greg is confident that all will run smoothly without me, Danielle and Alissia wont escape, Molly will meekly enter her milking stand, Rodney the Ram and his ladies will always head in the right direction on the way to their pasture without taking a tour of the ranch first, Hassan wont have another terrorist tizzy and Dolly the mutant cow will be a good girl . it sounds like I wont be missed at all ! DOH !!!

Gertie the goose IS BACK !!! ( see forsaken love web page). Yesterday Greg took Lady and Quest the Shires out to their pasture and from the distance came the joyful honking we became familiar with last year. There she was, her flight path took her right to the pasture, her landing gear came down between the horses and she went right back to grazing between her equine pals. Greg will add a few photos of them all,...hopefully.
...maybe...in his spare time !
This will be my last diary entry for a little while, Greg is going to be stand in editor. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, Mum, hang on to your angel and I'll be back asap. Take care, keep safe and warm. M

Yesterday was bitterly cold, one of those days when the toasty woodstove in the kitchen became a focal point for everything, business meeting ( you said we were going to do WHAT !!!??) visiting and defrosting. Breath froze in static air as you talked..if you talked, usually we were moving so fast we didn't see each other till we'd passed them. I cleaned out dear old Destinys pasture for the last time, her poo balls frozen into golf balls hit the wheel barrow like drum rolls and Destiny followed me around anxiously looking for the carrot treat she knew would be in my pocket....buried about 10 layers of clothes down. Sorry old girl, not the day to be shedding clothes, even for you. Destiny is going back to the home she had when she was a rising superstar in the horse world, she never forgot how special she was and like an aged super model or beautiful old actress still had her attitude and carried her head and tail in a manner which clearly said "look at me, aren't I beautiful ??". Yes Destiny, you are and I'm sorry I had to let her go but right now that old girl is fitter than Greg and I put together !

The ice had frozen the water puddles in the chicken pens and the hens looked comical as their bulbous bodies slipped and skidded. They congregated in a group like radicals plotting an uprising, the Rhode Island Red rooster Adolf in the center of the noisy rabble, strutting and tossing his bright red wattle, he'd have been waving his red and green tail if he still had it, the ladies have very disrespectfully eaten it.

Daisy May our little Dexter calf in her red headcollar snuggled up with Macho the young buck and her best buddy, trying to keep warm. Lamb Chop irreverently tried to join the buddy snuggle, he tried climbing over them, he tried busting up the toasty twosome and eventually settled down to chew his cud by the gate, within bawling distance from the carrot treats.

We had a farm vist yesterday, a family who has roots in Blackpool ......my English hometown, my home in my other life. The little girl was left wide eyed in awe at the size of the shire horses thundering accross the field in a flat out gallop, giggled and laughed out loud at the chickens scrumming and squabling for treats and tentatively held out her hand to feed Rodney the ram and his ladies. Our ewes are looking very rotund at the moment, their lambs are due next month, another season starting on the farm.

Well, my wedding invitation hasn't arrived yet but I guess it's still stuck in the snowstorm in New York, I can wait. Time to go, looks cold out there, hopefully the sun will shine this afternoon. Take care, keep warm. M

Happy Sunday.....Gosh, I've been having SOOOOOOOO much fun !!!! On Friday I escaped from the Ranch and found myself in a very happy place.... the Angels Guild Thrift Store in Key Center....just waiting for me was the perfect reading material for my upcoming enforced "rest". "How to do just about anything on your computer" sounds pretty good to me who can currently do just about NOTHING ! So I got to playing, pressing buttons I have closed my eyes to...totally ignored or been scared of. I clicked, double clicked dragged and deleted.....so in charge it was scary, just wait, by the time my broken bits are back in order my almost daily diary will be a colorful masterpiece. I can just see Gregs face.....the demon in me has been loosed. Watch out world !!

Talking of watch out world,...our grandsons visited yesterday...things can get a littly loud...a little (lot) rambunctious...a little wild. Those two boys had so much fun on the quad...there is a 10 mile an hour speed limit on the road...speed limit, whats that ???.. watch out Nascar. Daisy, Macho and lamb Chop came over to the fencline to watch the strange species of humans that were having more fun jumping leaping and running than them. Bran tore around the yard beside himself with excitement, the boys ran faster, Dad and Grandpa went to the wood pile, suddenly our Dale Earnhardt race car wanna' bes were lumberjacks climbing jumping and laughing. The farm is a great place for kids and it's so good to watch the boys grow. Come back soon.

Well, I'm anxiously awaiting my royal wedding invitation arriving in the mail box but I guess I will have to go and get ready for a day at the Ranch in the meantime. It was a cold night, the fields are white and the pond looks icy. Oh, quick update on Gertie the lovelorn goose, she has been reunited with Quest ( see web page ) and her joyful goose trumpeting filled the valley yesterday...Quest has clearly not yet reciprocated, poor Gertie !
Time to go, take care, keep warm. M

Good morning, here I am, sitting in front of my laptop, a "mondo" mug of tea ( with milk) on my left, Websters English dictionary on my right, Brans nose resting on my foot and waiting for my brain to go into auto mode. A happy place to be. One curious reader asked how... or where I find my inspiration, the answer is simple, I dont, the Daily Diary pretty much writes itself,....I dont multi function too well and tapping away with one finger and thinking at the same time is tough. I find it easy to let my brain go into freefall but Greg struggles. Greg reads my ministerings and points out spelling, grammer and paragraphs, which brings me to where I was heading.....from Wednesday, Greg will be taking over the Almost Daily Diary. Greg has a much more controlled brain than mine (which apparently is a free spirit and a loose cannon)...and I get the very distinct feeling that his diary style may be very different to mine. He may also be less consistant than me as he will possibly be typing ( yes, Greg can use about 8 fingers at once, a constant source of amazement to me!) at the same time as washing eggs and making my tea. Anyway, what I am trying to get to in my roundabout way is, please bare with him ( with us) as it will be some time before I can sit for long enough to write the diary.

Greg got back to work on the grain bin yesterday, without Jodie (who should now be back in her cabin by the lake) It's looking good though the clean out hatch looks to me like it was built for a vertically challenged anorexic ranch hand and since we dont have one I'm wondering if I'm going on a diet !

It looks like the Canada Geese are back, our resident couple are back on the pond and momma goose is setting up home on the island. It looks like Gertie the goose that chose Quest, our Shire gelding as her mate ( see "forsaken love" web page) is back, still alone and apparently searching for her lost love. The 2 shires have been in their sacrifice field for the winter months and Gertie hasn't yet found them. I dont give that romance much hope.

Bran stinks ! somehow, somewhere, that dog has found something obnoxious to roll in, from head to tail he reeks like something dead and rotten. He doesn't seem to mind but we dunked him in the horse trough, he blew bubbles in the soap suds and we've hosed him down till his black was nearly white but he still STINKS.

Time to go, it's looking beautiful out there, the pond looks like a glass mirror and the breeze is gently blowing the wind chime. We are so lucky. Thanks for visiting, take care, keep safe. M

This place must be the beating heart of America,  there is so much care and love around us I really don't know how we ever lived anywhere else !!!.. ..There aren't too many farmers and everyone has their own problems and concerns but somehow the Penninsulaites always seem to find room in their hearts and lives to help someone else out. Potential farm hands are offering their healthy ( and sometimes not so healthy) bodies to help Greg out and where minds are willing but bodies are too frail, we have been added to prayer lists...Thank you, we really do appreciate how lucky we are to be part of this amazing community.

Back to the ranch ...yesterday dawned bright and cold but luckily the snow stayed north of us and the rain held off till the evening shift.  Dear old Destiny got tucked up in her heavy green comforter, it covers her up from ears to tail and keeps the beautiful ageing gray mare snug,  warm... and in a perfect world, clean. However, we are talking Destiny here,that old girl could be wrapped up in saran wrap and she would find a way to get mudded up  from head to hoof !  I put her hay in her hay manger and just for kicks ( no pun intended, smile) Destiny just noses it out over the floor, I clean up the poo in her stall and field and Miss attitude  promptly goes and creats a brand new pile just as I walk away !
My bearded angel ( Dave) and the lovely Michelle his wife also paid us a visit yesterday, within moments they were up to their eyes in chicken feathers as irate chickens defended their eggs from the strange marauders. Quest, our huge 19 hand Shire Gelding wasn't quite sure which direction to look as Dave mastered the mane brushing, Michelle attacked the tail Greg had the feet and I had the polishing brush. Evening chores were over in a heartbeat. Thanks you two, as usual you were a great help and its always such fun having you around. So, its time to move again, the cuckoo has cuckood and Bran the dog is looking towards the door. Frost covers the fields and light is just coming over the treeline...another day on the ranch. Take care, keep warm, M 

So, I'm officially "broke" now too, I have a certified reason to moan and the pictures to prove it. Greg has been "broke" for a long time but they can't fix him. I go to get mended next Wednesday so that I can get better quickly and get back to helping broken Greg. Apart from that, I'm FINE !! Mum sat all day holding on to her angel but I guess it was furlough day in heaven and I know that I'm on lots of prayer lists and I know that there is an awful lot of love out there for us, so thank you all. Iit's all part of the greater plan...it just wasn't part of our plan ! I will try to keep my diary updated but with Doctor Greg in the house everything will be done to the letter and I dont think there is a rule in the rule book for the "almost daily diary" so I'm sure it will be a tougher "dont do" than they could think up. It's always the closest we ever come to a domestic....Greg has a "do as I say, not as I do" mentality when he is taking care of me, when Greg was post op, his brother, mom and I ...( and any and every neighbour that called by ) did our best to limit him to "what the book says" without success. "I know my limitations" only seems to apply to Greg !! Bless !!

Sadly, my "issue" seals the farm rethink and we will be cutting back in order to lighten our work load but we will still have the key players in our daily soap opera. Not much happens that I can't see the funny side of and there will ALWAYS be stuff going on around here. Today Jodi leaves, save some of your prayers for a safe journey home for her, she said she will keep in touch, take care Jodi.

Well, it's almost time to get down to the barn, the white cold "stuff" is falling around the area, so far none falling here but I'd better go and start layering up. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and keep smiling, we are !!! Take care. M.

Last nights power outage gave us a few problems, not least, what to do with the 3 dozen eggs in the incubator (one third of the way to hatching) and how to keep 18 fluffy little chicks that hatched 2 days ago warm. Since us sitting on them wasn't an option and we have no wanna be mum chickens at the moment it quickly became apparent that the chicks and eggs had to go back up to the house ( kitchen back into a barn, DOH !) and we had to get the generator running before chicks or eggs got cold. Gregs night was spent babysitting a generator until 2.20am when the lights came back on...thank goodness and Greg could hibernate till his Big Ben alarm went off at 5am. Who'd be a chicken farmer ??? All was well this morning, 18 cheeping chicks in their temporary bird cage home from home were watched over by an over attentive Bran and the 36 eggs were warm and secure in the incubator with the little red light showing all was well and back to normal.
Outside the barn the rain fell, everything looked miserable, the gutters overflowed and the puddles spread until they looked like little lakes. The horses out in the pasture found the muddiest patch of pasture and rolled until grey, brown or palamino all looked the same colour. The chickens found the crop of worms driven out of the ground by the rising water and ran around the pen scratching and scuffling searching for the wriggling delicacy.Inside the barn Greg and Jodie laboured over the Grain bin that is gradually taking shape and the barn cats tired of waiting for dinner to be served stretched and yawned on the stall doors. Bran the border Collie ran from fenceline to cow barn from chicken pen to goat shed, splashing through the puddles muddy from head to tail, anxious not to miss any activity that may just happen and me, I just watched the raindrops fall and looked forward to Summer
Got to go, busy day today. It's sister Trishas birthday far away in Holland, Happy birthday Trish !!!! and we are missing her. Jodie leaves tomorrow and we will miss her too. Take care, M