Well, we’ve had sun and wind and rain…lots of rain. Rain is amazing, somehow those big black gloomy rain clouds always manage to turn on the faucet just in time to catch us with a drenching downfall as we step out of the door. Yesterday it was bitterly cold, there was no wind ( amazingly !) the sun was shining…and it snowed !  Knowing that I never know what weather conditions to anticipate these days, I start with T shirts ( yes, in multiple) and work up to polar outerwear. I make no excuses….I used to be cosy warm and dry in an office, it’s a tough mentality to break….I freeze !

The chickens don’t appreciate this wet stuff either, the hen houses are fully populated, rows of wattles and feathers hunched over the perches. Adolf the Rhode Island Red rooster remains in full control even there. Should a squabble or dispute arise over perching rights or a particularly enticing chunk of grain Adolf is very fast to restore peace and tranquillity. No hen fights on his watch ! Big brother John has been busy keeping our feathered ladies happy by providing them with foraging and pecking material….complete with replacement silly hat ( the original silly hat had malfunctions and sadly had to be retired) but the chickens for the most part remain dry and warmly tucked up in the henhouse, his efforts ignored.     

Gimpy is still holding out, every move is laboured, a struggle to get up, a struggle to get down. Her bulging udder swaying between her legs indicates an immanent birthing but baby watch to date has just seen Gimpy looking particularly miserable and still pregnant…maybe today ? The other lambs are creating chaos and mayhem in the sheep pen. No respecter of age or infirmity those tiny bouncing machines trampoline from back to back, under heavily pregnant tummies and round and round the pen. Anxious moms try to keep control and soon to be moms get irritated by the newest arrival’s exuberance. The sheep/ lamb pen is an entertaining place to be right now which is useful as sheep retained in the “maternity ward” generate a lot of “recycling” and here at the ranch we know what that means….poop!!

Now we have two confused geese, Gertie our resident goose with an identity crisis appears to have persuaded her ardent suitor Valentine that standing under a  horse’s tummy or waddling six inches from stomping hooves is a really good idea. Not too clever Gertie ! Charm has a very low tolerance level, when the hay in his feeder runs low our palomino with attitude looks for alternative entertainment and two confused geese just fit the ticket. Gertie and Valentine can be seen flapping their wings and honking running in front of Charm hot on their tail feathers….you CAN fly guys !!!

All the babies are thriving. Cody and Song are growing daily. The two kids and the three calves are becoming real attention magnets, when people are around you can be sure the babies are close by. People mean food and a back scratch..clearly both top of their “must have” requirements.

Welcome home to Cody who came back to the ranch last night. It was good to see that big enthusiastic smile coming through the kitchen door, Cody is a WOOFER Intern who has quickly morphed into a family member and we are very grateful that he chose to be here.

Well, time to move. It’s snowing/raining out there and yes, it is still very COLD. Take care, keep safe, M

What a start to a Monday morning ! I have so many clothes on I feel like I’m waddling. As the early dawn light came through the windows, the snow/ice that fell yesterday still lies, white and frozen on the ground. Hopefully this is Winters last hit, it has been a long cold wet season. Three weeks today and Spring will be here…really ?

Typically today is the weather trend that sees the majority of our little flock of perverse ewes deciding that conditions are just perfect for introducing their tiny offspring into the world, which makes it all just that much more fun for us ! Yesterday we arrived down at the barn just in time to see one of our big mommas giving her brand new babies a thorough wash and brush up. Two healthy little coloured lambs to join the unruly lamb school that is already causing chaos and mayhem in the lambs pen. Gimpy is still waddling, watching us watching her. She is as wide as a battleship and her udder looks like she is ready to feed the five thousand but, because we are keeping a close eye on her, she is holding out. What do they say about a watched kettle?….

The incubator has been transferred up into my kitchen, last month it was the goat kids, it’s going to be chicks this week and I would bank on it that we will be housing a lamb or lambs in the next few days. Not too long ago that would have reduced me to a quivering neurotic mess with a disinfecting towel…now it’s tolerance and acceptance…but two disinfectant towels !!

Big brother John arrived home yesterday evening from his 10 days of rest and recuperation…after 2 days of servile labour on the ranch. Complete with obligatory “silly hat” he is ready and waiting to get back down to work, at least till the weekend when we are sure another period of respite will be required. It’s great to have John here, he has been both moral and physical support through the past year, thank you JP. 

Song and Cody continue to grow but Cody is keeping us on our toes, he would appear to have some digestive “issues” and swings from the galloping trots to the exact opposite condition and back again. It’s our hope that he will grow out of whatever it might be…before we run out of ideas !

Time to go..everyone is layering up, the dog is at the door and I’m still sitting here. Take care, keep safe, M   

Well, it looks like flippers and snorkels are going to be on general issue today…an umbrella surely isn’t going to work ! “pretty active weather” is the enthusiastic forecast issued with a big smile on his face.  Whilst he is having so much fun with his “double Doppler” we are working out which fences are going to be annihilated by a falling branch or tree…even worse, which trees are threatening to topple. The horses get the wind up their tails and it can transform Lady the docile draft horse into a dancing prancing crushing machine, you learn to watch your feet on a windy day or your consequence will be a set of flattened toes in flattened boots !
Cody the constipated kid took his soapy enema like a man…that little brown baby lay across  Greg’s knee and hardly peeped. Not sure how that little guy managed to hold all that soapy water….he should have been blowing bubbles but he held out and left us scratching our heads as to what to do next. Since his butt clearly wasn’t co operating with us Cody was treated to a couple of precautionary shots. Last evening there was clear evidence that whatever had caused the butt block had moved…now we have a new mess to sort out !!
Our Canadian goose Gertie, whilst still totally enamoured with Charm the golden palomino appears to be tolerating the attentions of the persistent gander, Valentine. As I walked Charm out into the pasture, two honking geese took flight to land by the horses heels. Charm turned carefully and with his soft muzzle nudged Gertie’s tail to move the goose on. As Charm trotted, the goose trotted and the unlikely threesome spent a peaceful day in perfect harmony. Across the pasture, on the pond all was apparently not peace and harmony. It would appear that last years nesting pair have returned but they aren’t alone ! We have a goose population explosion. Mom and pop goose have brought back all their surviving goslings from last year and the pond island which is the preferred bridal suite is surely not big enough for all. There would appear to be a considerable amount of sibling rivalry, wing flapping and honking on the pond, hopefully domestic harmony can be restored shortly and we don’t end up with a pasture full of re homed geese.
Time to go, it’s 7.30 and Greg and Bran the border collie are making moves towards the door. Take care, keep safe, M   

Happy Friday ! It’s going to be a short entry today, Greg and I are going to be “home alone” and still kids and calves to bottle feed in between poop scooping and milking Alissia the goat. I’m only running on one cylinder and can mostly only watch with growing..ever growing frustration at the chores I can do….but can’t ! But, I can be there for support, offer encouragement and “offer suggestions” ( aka round here known as nagging !) and I do, annoyingly frequently! ( smile)
Well, we got through the galloping trots and Montezuma’s revenge with both the rescue calves and our little kids now it would appear little Cody is constipated. How do we know ? Clearly, the earlier malady was obvious and messy, treatment was easy and two healthy happy kids have been guzzling their bottles and growing at an alarming rate until last evening. Song latched on to her bottle and inhaled, little Cody was uncomfortable. His little back arched and if a goat can look miserable, Cody turned it into an art ! The kid ignored his evening feed and from the warmth of the heat lamp let us know that all was not well. Cody is constipated, he has a tummy ache and today we have to make that right. There are several options available, the internet is very informative…  most of the options are really not pretty and things are undoubtedly going to be messy whichever option is selected. Our little brown buckling is going to have a warm soapy water enema, I’m pretty sure that it’s not going to be fun for us and even more sure that it’s not much fun for Cody.  Updates on his condition ( without nasty pictures) tomorrow.
Greg and Quatre took “care” of the little ram lambs yesterday before releasing them out into the big wide world. Tails and “extra bits” were securely banded, tails to prevent them getting infections later in life that could cause them problems and their “ bits” to prevent US having problems with them later in life! Unfixed ram lambs are not discriminative with their lusting when testosterone kicks in and usually docile Rodney the ram is less than tolerant with would be challengers.
Time to go, the cuckoo clock has just cuckood and dawn has broken over the barns. Bran the Border Collie is anxious to get to work and there are hungry animals waiting for breakfast.
Take care, keep safe, M

I’m sorry, I know it’s called the “almost daily diary” but over the past few days it seems like it transformed into the annual diary. I’m happy to say, I have been really busy !! And I’m even happier to say that I’m one step closer to not being broken any more. Thank you to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers, it feels great to be on the home run !

It has been a busy time here at the ranch too, Bandit our matriarch ewe surprised us by quietly and efficiently delivering a set of tiny white ram lambs. Clearly Rodney the ram was not tardy in his “duties” and equally clearly Bandit was more than happy to be “available”. The big black and white ewe’s lambs arrived several days earlier than our calculations had accounted for but, safely tucked up in a claiming pen both are doing well and Bandit’s milky bar is apparently permanently open.

Yesterday “almost family” /woofer  Quatre came to the rescue ( again !) I had to be in Tacoma for an appointment and Greg was home alone….sheep ready to pop, calves and kids to bottle feed, goat to milk and lots of poopy stalls to clean out. It was great to see that big red truck park up in the barnyard. Typically, Mother Nature wasn’t done yet,…. when Greg thought it was safe to leave and rescue me from the city, number 7 ewe very unfairly decided to test Quatre’s knowledge and fortitude ! An un-natural first  birth of a necrotic embryo lamb left our almost resident “ranch foreman” scratching her head even more so when it was quickly followed by a healthy and hearty little coloured lamb with no apparent adverse effects for its mom. Thank you Quatre ! Number 7 and her little “Patches” are also safely installed in a claiming pen where they can bond and momma can get stabbed every evening with an antibiotic shot. All the other ewes are immanent to lamb and all we can do is watch and wait.
Song and Cody the goat kids are growing like weeds and getting cuter by the day. As they grow upwards and outwards....their voices get louder and more strident. When those kids are hungry they make sure we are listening !!!
Goliath Sampson and Delilah are also thriving, one bottle is no longer enough to content the hungry calves and a wheelbarrow is now required to transport the multiple bottles. It is good to watch them running and bucking around the pasture, their frailty seems to be a distant memory and attitude is growing as fast or possibly faster than they are !   
Gertie is still clearly thinking that she is a horse and has transferred her affections to Charm the golden palomino but Valentine her ardent suitor hasn’t given up yet ! When the horses are taken out to the pasture they are joyfully and noisily welcomed by Gertie the Canadian goose, watched closely by Valentine who has not yet allowed himself to have an identity crisis. The two have been spotted serenely swimming side by side around the glassy pond and apparently canoodling under the old cedar tree. Hopes are high for a goosey relationship working out and chicks hatching on the island pond this Springtime.

Well, got to go, I have banana bread burning in the oven. It is a permanent mystery to me how one minute it isn’t cooked and the next it’s burnt. DOH !!! Take care, keep safe, M         

Happy Monday from a dreary drizzly damp Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch. Somewhere up in the sky, Song is on an aeroplane winging her way back home to Seoul, South Korea…she left a little bit of her heart here and took a little chunk of the ranch with her. Young Cody caught a before daybreak commuter bus back to the city and Quatre has also gone city side for a short time. We miss them all, come home soon.
Today is going to be my first day “semi” functional. Today was the first day for at least 6 months that I didn’t watch the reserve team doing the chores I have done for so many years. Today I almost felt like I am useful again !! ( only almost !) It didn’t last too long, Greg (aka back police or nurse Cratchett) was only going to tolerate me bending unspoken rules for so long and here I am back at the house watching the world go by.
The three musketeers, Goliath, Samson and Delilah are flourishing. Those desperately weak little bodies now gallop around the pasture bucking, tails in the air like fluffy banners, the picture of health and vitality. Their sad early days now far behind them, they will benefit from the open pasture and the early Spring grass. Bottle feeding the trio has become quite the art, three calves, three bottles…two of us. I take docile demure Delilah. That black and white heifer is the smaller of the trio, equally ravenous and just as active as her comrades, but oh, so gentle. Whilst Goliath and Samson push and head- but, Delilah just puts all her bovine energy into inhaling the contents of her warm richly vanilla smelling bottle, eyes closed and little tongue wrapped around the big pink rubber teat. It is going to be interesting watching those little babies grow, we have never had the Friesian breed and who knows what breed Goliath is. From his size I’d guess that boy’s daddy is a buffalo !
The newest babies on the ranch, tiny doeling Song and butch buckling Cody are also thriving. The twins were born on Thursday and have had to discover the instinct to suck and more importantly learn that people bring bottles and bottles mean food. Like two little puppies the kids curl up together in a cosy ball under the warmth of the heat lamp and bleat and bounce like little rubber balls when awake. Those two babies are cuteness personified !
Our little Lamanche doe, Alissia, mother of the twins was lonely. She had been living with dominant daddy buck Macho the man. Macho had, for obvious reasons been removed from her pen prior to birthing and was apparently missing goat company. A quick phone call to Mary of Herrons Hill Dairy and Acorn the red doe came to be Alissias new best friend. Peace and harmony has been restored to the goat pen after a brief but feisty discussion as to just who is the queen of the goats.
Time to go, a hungry farmer has dragged himself away from the barn and requires feeding ! Take care, keep safe, M

Alissia wasn’t going to be a silent new momma….when the birthing process began I could hear her bawling from my kitchen, I’m sure you could hear that young lady the other side of the pond and if is possible for a goat to look very sad and sorry for herself, Alissia made a very good impression. The first kid, a little brown buckling ( boy) is a mini Macho from the tip of his stumpy brown face to his little brown waggy tail was reluctant to make his entrance into the world and Alissia’s wailing made it necessary for a little human intervention. If there is ever a crisis or disaster around here, Super Greg can sort it out and with a little encouragement and gentle coercion, little buckling Cody arrived in a big wet sticky puddle. In the barn kitchen, whilst Quatre and Cody enthusiastically cleaned up the newborn, Bran the Border Collie went to work. Bran always helps, his lapping tongue stimulates life and starts to form a bond between the animals. On the command “find the babies” that dog will move Heaven and earth to locate missing offspring. All attention focussed on the newly named Cody ( which is REALLY going to cause confusion with WOOFER Cody in the house) I went to check on momma Alissia…just in time to see kid number two slide into the straw. Operation kid kidnap went into action for the unexpected twin and a towel soaked in sticky amniotic fluids replaced the still unmoving kid. Removing Alissia’s babies after all that effort seems unjust but her creamy rich milk, universally tolerated by all other baby creatures will help to nurture failing lambs (should we have) any in the Springtime. Kids that are handled and comfortable around people are like little puppy dogs and Greg and I are a little beyond climbing the woodpile or digging under a henhouse for startled wild babies. Our first experiences, many years ago of purchasing a flock of wild sheep and unstable goats has convinced us that a little time handling saves hours retrieving scattered animals! The cute little doeling looks much like mom Alissia and we thought it would be nice to call her Song, she is more delicate and gentler than Cody ( mini Macho) and we look forward to watching them grow.
Oh yes, as a postscript, ….I cleaned the kitchen floor yesterday and watched in dismay as two little goats found their feet.. and their pee and poop machines on my clean floor. The kids spent the night in a warm crate and we were woken to the sound of young Cody loudly bawling for a bottle. Here we go again !!!
Time to go, …I have a kitchen floor to disinfect ! Take care, keep safe, M            

Yesterday was a busy day and yesterday was a sad day. We said goodbye to  Song our lovely South Korean WOOFER at the Amtrak Station. Song had only been with us for two weeks but that young lady has earned a place in our hearts. We will miss her I know but one black and white hyperactive  Border Collie is going to miss her even more….Bran had found a stick / fetch ally, Song could find him a stick if there wasn’t a tree in sight for 100 miles, that dog crossed the language barrier, translated stick and play and he loved her. We will miss you Song, safe travels, come back soon.

Big brother John started his 10 days of rest and recuperation…..( and he’s only been here 5 days !) We dropped him off at a drizzly Purdy Park’n’Ride at lunchtime and just after 5pm were back at a still drizzly Park’n’Ride to pick up returning WOOFER Cody. Cody arrived with the biggest smile, his usual great attitude and more than ready to reacquaint himself with Alissia, Macho Bandit  the formation eating team…oh, every four and two legged critter and bird on the ranch !  Welcome back Cody.

Whilst we were out doing drop off and pick up all over the Pacific Northwest  (well, it seemed like it !) Quatre nervously held the fort. Quatre nervous ??? Nerves isn’t something that can normally be accredited to our chief WOOFER and the cause of her anxiety ?….Alissia’s immanent maternal situation. Odds were on that whilst we were gone and Quatre was clearly alone and single handed, the doeling would choose her moment to begin her birthing, have an upside down back to front presentation of no less than quads and consequently completely spoil Quatre’s day. Fortunately, we arrived home, Alissia still looks like a battleship and I believe ( but I may be wrong) quads are a remote possibility. Alissia has been trained to haul herself laboriously onto the milk stand and tolerates her udder being handled, all we need now is a safe delivery. Fingers and toes crossed.
Quatre and Greg were doing some electrical work yesterday, since she was around for breakfast and there was no sign of damage I guess the lesson went well.
Gertie appears to have found a goosy soft spot for the visiting suitor. We aren’t exactly sure what this beau has that the others didn’t. They all look the same to us, big loud and feathered but Gertie and Valentine are looking very much a couple…both hanging around under Charms tummy !! ( oh no, another confused goose !!!)
Time for me to go and find some trouble to get into…I’m still being watched closely by the back police and still not able to do the barn chores but I’m working on being as good as new…as soon as possible. Thoughts and prayers for Mum J who sees the heart doctor for results today. Good luck Mum.xx

Take care, keep safe, M

Wednesday again, still grey and dreary, the damp mist/fog is hanging over the barns and valley like a shroud and I know for sure, the moment I stick my head out the door my hair is going to frizz up like I stuck my finger in an outlet (plug socket for us Brits !)

Potentially good news for Gertie the confused goose. A travelling band of transient honking geese came to visit and, despite Gertie’s more than obvious disinterest one hopeful beau has remained. As of last night, the wishful one was being treated with not much more than disdain as he followed her at what I guess is a respectful goose distance. Gertie is clearly mentally still a horse and Charm the golden palomino is her new guardian and pasture mate but the aspiring suitor wasn’t giving up. If he hangs around..we may call him Valentine !
Alissia the doeling that is currently impersonating a battleship is still holding out. Constant butt checks have confirmed that her udders are “bagging”  (such an endearing term )  her “bits” are softening her tail is flagging, she is moaning and miserable…sounds about ready to me but the kid or kids are still nicely tucked up in momma’ nursery and we just have to wait for nature to take its course. Song our lovely WOOFER from S Korea is holding her breath, she leaves tomorrow and was desperate to welcome the kids before she returned home. We will be able to keep in touch through the wonders of technology…it would all be so easy if I knew how to work it !! Luckily for me Greg can do everything I can’t do..and more.
John, complete with extra silly hat is back to work in the barn, uncomplainingly putting nails in, pulling nails out, chopping wood and piling it…due to good behaviour he has been granted 10 days rest and recuperation away from all the excitement ( ?). Hopefully he will come back refreshed rested and ready to…pull more nails ? smile. Thanks John, it is fun having you around.
The frogs have started to chirp, traditionally a notable Springtime event, …now we have confused frogs around here too !
Today is the day that Samson Delilah and Goliath graduate. Since their arrival here the three little rescue calves have lived in a stall in the barn. They gave us many moments of concern in their first weak days of life but all three are now strong and healthy and healthy calves thrive in the pasture. I’m not quite sure how exactly those three babies are going to make it from the stall to the pasture ( I have serious concerns for my roses and pansies !) and I’m not sure what reaction we will get from our prima donna Hol-ley when she is introduced to the newcomers. Maybe we will have a soccer team as little Hol-ley has been seen cautiously kicking the ball around her pasture….we could have a “2 a side” game !
Time to go, there are Crispy Crème dognuts in the kitchen that are calling to me and it would be rude to ignore the call.
Take care, keep safe and warm, M

Good morning from a rainy miserable grey Monday morning. Raindrops drip from the very sad looking garden furniture and on the deck the clearview glass is misted over with dampness no longer clear but opaque. In the distance the tops of the tall cedars are shrouded in low clouds.

Quatre returned to Seattle again last night but before she headed back to the city, time was taken to help us feed the three rescued calves waiting anxiously in their stall. The calves now see us as “mommy” and when they hear our voices three little noses and three little mouths start to salivate, our babies are always hungry! 

Today Ginger leaves us to begin her new life we would like to wish her good luck for the future and thank her for helping us through these past troubling months. I’m sure that Ginger will not forget her time and experiences with us and we hope that she keeps us informed of her progress in the City.

John arrived home safely from his trip to Seattle. I have to say,…..I don’t think I have ever seen him smile so much,…must be that Seattle air ? mmmmm. I guess he must be having a feeling of dejavu,….all the poo is still generating, just like it always has and the moulding from the lounge that he ripped down the last time he was here has miraculously reappeared and now needs nails pulled and sanding. His suitcase arrived here in Washington without an essential item of clothing…Johns iconic silly hat ! Doh !! When big brother is here at the ranch his silly hat is part of his persona ! A substitute had to be found.

Edgar the eagle appears to have singled out Gertie the goose for lunch. That poor confused bird that doesn’t know she is a goose DOES know that the dark shadow that covers the earth when Edgar comes to visit, isn’t good news. Edgar is not on a social visit. While Edgar balanced on a waving Cedar branch, his brilliant white feathers shining, Gertie panicked. With a rousing honk and a frantic run across the pond ( who said you can’t walk on water ??? clearly you can if you think you are Edgars lunch !) Gertie fled ..right under Charms oversized tummy, and there she stayed. Goose head peeping from between the palamino’s front legs, Gertie waited out the Eagles lunch break.

Song our WOOFER from S.Korea, now into her last few days on the ranch is still smiling. Every experience appears to absorbed, every experience has to be photographed and every experience is a reason to smile.

Well, time I signed out, it’s another trip to the doctor and hopefully a visit with Mum J, it’s her birthday today and I want an Mum J hug.

Take care, keep safe, M