Where has March gone ?….I know, I’m sorry, my poor daily diary has been the victim of an overloaded priority list and I don’t even know what I’ve been doing. The spirit has been willing…but the typing finger ( yes, I did say finger as in one !) has been otherwise employed.

Lambing season began on the first of March and 20 little bawling baaaing bundles of mischief are causing chaos and mayhem in the sheep pen. From all around the pen, little brat packs of multicolour lambs form. Quietly resting moms, eyes closed and mouth grinding horizontally as they contentedly chew their cud are abruptly woken as junior abruptly bounces into frenzied action. Bands of lambs, all colours, all sizes, zip around the sheep pen, hopping over a startled Chance, bouncing on poor sleepy Alice,  ricocheting off the water tub and vaulting over anxious Katie. On the other side of the fence, Bran waits…ears alert, tail waving like a banner and eyes fixed on the mischief makers. Go on…..make my day little lambs !!

In the goat pen, Buster and Bonny are growing fast. The tiny door, designed to allow the kid’s access and the moms out is beginning to be a tight squeeze for a chunky Buster. An attempt at dual entry ….both heads at the same time, has been disastrous, neither willing to be the first to retreat and both attempting to out- wail it’s sibling the twins repeatedly scrabble to escape. One day they will grow up and be goats…we hope not too soon !! .

The cuckoo clock has spoken, it’s almost time to get down to the barn but I wanted to say goodbye and thank you to Brian. Brian was our most recent WWOOFER and his three weeks are sadly up. Every experience was embraced, every lesson absorbed  and I believe that I can honestly say that I never saw his face without a smile. Thank you for choosing our ranch for your first farming experience Brian and we look forward to seeing you again.

Time to go, take care, keep safe, M 

Today we have a guest editor. Brian, our present WWOOFer, will replace Maureen for a day. Hope you all enjoy. We have!

Almost three weeks of helping in the feeding, grooming and rotation of horses from pasture to stall; time spent milking under the utters of a temperamental cow and a back-kick happy goat; mornings spent feeding a stampede of Sheep and their countless Lamb; learning the swift maneuver that is required to collect the eggs from under a laying hen; none of this compares to the pressure of writing a guest post on Greg and Maureen’s “Almost Daily Blog.”  I shall rise to the challenge of writing an entry just as I rose myself onto the saddle of the stately Shire horse, Lady. With Greg walking along side us, I experienced the beauty and thrill of riding a horse.  As the horse trotted along I wondered why at 28 yrs. old I had never ridden a horse before. It is truly a remarkable feeling to be hoisted up so high, moving in concert with such a strong and giant animal.  This reflection characterizes a lot of my experiences here on Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch. Growing up in the city all my life, everyday here on the farm is a new and learned experience. Some are probably typical of most farms, but most -I suspect -are unique to Gently Giants, where each animal is affectionately called by its given name-Buster, Daisy, and Acorn are but a few.  Here on the ranch I have seen the birth of Lambs, on four consecutive nights! I have learned the art of manipulating the growth of trees and plants, more widely known as pruning. I have sipped on fresh raw cow and goat milk. Participated in process of making heavy cream and Yogurt and have quite happily enjoyed the latter with raspberries on more than one occasion. One morning as I cracked the eggs- Gently Giants very own- onto the skillet to make breakfast, I thought to myself how happy I am to have come. Through osmosis I have developed a respect and love for the sweat and labor that goes into farm life. For this I have Greg and Maureen to thank. And the animals. 

Take care and stay safe. M&G

I’ve heard it said “you can please some of the people some of the time….but you can never please all of the people all of the time”. That’s JUST how it works here at the ranch ! Player the flashy gray who boards here at the barn was diagnosed “bored”. Clearly, eight hours mowing the pasture, being thoroughly pampered and preened by his people and taking his special person out daily (weather permitting !) for a usually turbo spin around the arena, popping over a few strategically placed jumps and being fed a gourmet meal twice daily isn’t enough….clearly, Player needed more in his life. The gray gelding entertained himself for a while by turning on the barn lights. At three in the morning, the barn was frequently lit up like a Christmas tree, the valley was illuminated. The no blame policy got old as we each wondered who’s advancing senility had caused our electricity digits to match the national debt. Each morning, the horses, accustomed to a food bucket arriving almost simultaneously with the magic light going on would be impatient and irritable…..we were three and a half hours late at 7.30am, the lights had been on since 3am. Greg resolved the situation and foiled Player, normal breakfast service was resumed and our electricity bill returned to almost acceptable…  but the horse was bored. Player’s horse family had an inspiration, the pampered gray gelding needed a distraction and the equine toy shop was just the place to find said distraction, a brightly colored gizmo with a peppermint and apple sucker and a selection of shiny hanging balls. It was with great excitement the new distraction was elevated into just the right position…at just the right height. Player looked strangely disinterested……he was just playing it cool…right ? Our answer came as breakfast was served yesterday morning. There in a crumpled heap of rope and not so shiny balls, mashed into the pee and poo was the very sad looking gizmo and Player, having clearly reached Nirvana by destroying something was standing over it…I guess he wasn’t bored any more.
Well, looks like the frost is on the pumpkin again, it’s going to be another cold morning out there. Time I got layered up for another day. Take care, keep safe and warm. M 

“ It’s a pretty soggy mess” was just the very accurately descriptive weather forecast we just heard as the Komo 4 weather map glowed green yellow and orange. It’s going to be very windy he enthused…40mph. The wind chimes are playing Beethoven’s 5th symphony and the rain is beating on the deck. Welcome to Spring !!!
Brian returned from the city, still smiling (which is always good) and hit the ground running…well, as fast as you can run with rubber boots two sizes too big. So far this week, aside from re locating mountains of various types of poo, Brian has helped me to scalp a cedar tree in order to camouflage a  turkey nesting habitat.  Thomas the turkey talks the talk, he even walks the walk, he has all the right moves and he is looking like he REALLY wants to… but somehow all the talking and walking , all the wing display, the drumming and spitting doesn’t seem to excite Mrs. Turkey who just keeps walking. Hopefully the cleverly (?) disguised dog igloo will help persuade the reluctant lover to do what should come naturally. I have informed them both that there is a new box of aluminium foil and a turkey tray waiting should amour not be “happening” in the turkey pen very soon.
Shenanigans the Soay ewe that has been in the farm Penthouse suite since she gave birth to her tiny triplets was released yesterday. Reluctantly, she and her three lambs joined the other sheep in the pen where doubtlessly they will  connect with the brat pack and very soon be causing chaos and mayhem for their frantic moms.
Thumper, Peanut Bonny and Buster are growing daily. Twice daily Brian and I head into the goat pen with the super sized coke bottles topped with grey rubber teats full of warm creamy momma’s milk. Twice a day Thumper and peanut latch on, inhale and don’t let go until they are sucking on air. All attempts to persuade the boys to sample tasty molasses and grain have been futile, the kids will sniff it, walk through it, stomp in it but they clearly don’t want to grow up. 
Gertie the confused Canada goose is currently dividing her time between Charm the golden palomino (am) and Quest the giant Shire (pm).  Whilst virtually ignoring her TWO ardent goose admirers, the goose faithfully waddles in the hoof prints of her equine beaus……closely followed by her two feathered suitors.
Out of ime again. The rain is still falling and the wind is still blowing…it’s going to be a messy day. Take care, keep safe and dry. M 

Is it a trampoline ? is it a bouncy ball ? it’s not momma goat……it’s Quatre !!! A familiar red truck found itself parked in our driveway again this weekend and our long time ex WOOFER/ family member found herself back in the cow stall with Jim Reeves crooning, multiple frantic ewes baaaaing desperately whilst trying to find errant lambs who are in turn bleating pathetically for a lost udder.

Quatre left the ranch after over a year to restart her “real life” in the “real world” and went back to the city… but super cute photos of even cuter little goat kids and tiny new born lambs lured her home. Sadly the cookie tin was empty and the 10 o’clock muffin break was muffin less following a very traumatic appointment with a nutritionist who has imposed a no carbohydrate dictatorship on my life. As you can image I am less than impressed at having the prospect of chewing lettuce leaves and chomping on chard but Quatre was compensated by a tin of brownies cooling on the counter before she left for Seattle. I’m not certain who had the most fun, Quatre or the four goat kids….but I could hazard a guess when our returned WOOFER got “lost” AGAIN in the goat pen. King of the castle gets a whole new meaning when Bonny is standing on your head and Buster is trampolining from your back. Thumper and Peanut our little bottle babies bounced from wall to wall taking turns to catapult over Quatre almost prostrate in the hay and Acorn and Alicia chewed their cud and watched.

It wasn’t fun all day, it was time for the lambs to be tagged and the little rams required their “extra assets” to be “dealt with”. Ear tags were a new fashion accessory and little lamb heads, left ear for the boys and right for the girls looked overpowered by the blue and green plastic tags. Thank’s Quatre !

Oops, time to go….enjoy the photographs. Take care, keep safe. M            

Just a quick update this morning, I can only type with 2 fingers and after a visit to the doctor yesterday even those two overworked fingers are only semi functional. I swear that those needles used for cortisone shots are just knitting needles disguised !!!

Just going to take a second for the “quote of the day”, I know, I don’t do a daily quote but I think this is worth remembering…..(anon.) “Growing up into an adult SUCKS”. It was really difficult not to respond with ”Honey….you don’t know the half of it yet !!! bless.

Brian our newest WOOFER has really fitted into farm life well…he’s even lost the city boy look and now looks like a farmer ! It has to be said that Peanut, Thumper, Buster and Bonny have largely assisted in his farm makeover. It has to be hard to keep looking sharp with four goat kids using him as a trampoline, chewing his hair and sucking his clothes. Yesterday was “boys toys” day and Brian got to lean to drive the tractor and the quad and instantly got re named Hasty Harry. With the corner of the barn well out of the way of runaway tractors ( that wall keeps jumping right out in front of horrified learner tractor drivers !) Brian mastered the fine art of the co-ordination between clutch pedal and gear stick…..after almost rearranging Greg’s toe alignment and progressed on to raising and lowering the tractor bucket filling and dropping wood chips….or maybe filling and filling and filling.!!! Somehow up always seems down, down up and forward either sideways or back. Don’t despair Brian…you never saw me learning !!! Greg’s comment, “not a bad job, little way to go”….Brian’s despondent declaration “DISASTEROUS !!!” Not to worry Brian, you are here for three weeks. Smile. The quad clearly offered less of a challenge to Hasty Harry. Greg concluded that our farm volunteer’s finger just got stuck on the speed button as the engine roared ! 

It’s Friday and Brian will be heading back home to the city for the weekend. I’m sure that the alarm clock will remain OFF and Brian will only see one seven o’clock in the morning. We are hoping he returns on Monday for round two !!

Talking of seven o’clock…time to go. I’m now trying to type with two alternative fingers and recognising I am totally un co-ordinated. Take care, keep safe, M    

Good morning…I think !!! The big wind chimes on the deck sound like a full on orchestra, it’s a good job we don’t have neighbours ( neighbors for my US friends…it’s not that I can’t spell, smile). Through the night the rain continued to remind us that if it keeps up at this rate an Ark may make Greg’s priority list. Greg and I have been enjoying our “honey time” here on the ranch but last week a very interesting e mail appeared in our in box that sparked Greg’s interest( with Uncle Sam’s taxes and lambing taking top billing at the moment. It had to be VERY interesting !!) As a result of said e mail and subsequent phone conversation, Brian, our new WOOFER arrived in the barnyard on Monday morning. Brian hit the ground running with a big smile on his face and I don’t think he has stopped smiling yet. All around the barn, in the cow stall….crowded by the ewes….mobbed by the goats and kids and smooched on by the horses Brian is learning what farming is all about….in the rain. Early morning and long days, snatched lunches, lots of aching muscles and still 4 ewes still to lamb. Our new farm volunteer has learnt the fine art of squeezing Acorn’s engorged teats into the milking cups, has helped to tend to new lambs and watched them being born. He has helped with feeding in the evening and then mucking out in the morning ( what goes in must come out, right ?). His first evening found him under our giant shire horse, learning how to clean his feet and unusually confident going through our evening grooming routine. Last night as we turned out the lights we mutually agreed….we are glad we postponed our honey time !

It’s time for me to go, the cuckoo clock has spoken. Take care keep safe…and dry. M          

We have had babies pooping (…oops I meant popping but I guess pooping works too) out on a daily basis for the past week. As we turn on the barn radio and Jim Reeves begins to croon, baaaas and bawls break out from the goat and sheep pens. In “goatville”, growing chunkier and cuter daily, Bonny, Buster, Thumper and Peanut lead the early morning chorus with wavering falsetto notes, quickly joined by Acorn and Alicia our momma goat Tenors. Not to be left out in the early morning musical extravaganza, Daisy May and Misty Moo the Baritones lend their less than dulcet baritone voices echoing from the cow pen. In the chicken pen, the ladies just run a constant “free mike” and the horses occasionally add a deep bass to make sure their voice is heard. This week there have been new voices added to the Gentle Giant Meadows Choral Society, quietly and hesitantly, little tenor bleats rise from a bed of straw leading our search to the newest arrival(s) on the ranch. Yesterday morning we had the biggest smallest (no, I didn’t make a mistake !!) surprise when we followed the newest voice(s). Standing in the corner of the barn was one of our little Soay sheep, a rare heritage breed not much bigger than a dog and at her tiny feet, not one, not twins but miniature TRIPLETS. How on earth that little ewe managed that we will never understand…..and looking at her, neither will she !

Got to go, baby goats to feed and maybe new lambs !! Take care, keep safe. M

Any strangers “lurking” around the horse pastures are watched very carefully….not quite sure just what I would do if there was bad intent Gimpy (me) and Gimpier (Greg)… but Bran the Border Collie does. A vehicle that’s engine drops to idle speed 100 yards away arouses his interest. Unfortunately the dog’s defensive behaviour is not discriminatory, if said engine happens to stop, an egg customer arrives at the farm or a hapless walker just happens to pass the gate, Bran the Border Collie will go into “I’m a puppy dog in big bad wolf clothing” and all we will see is a black and white blur and a frenzied wagging tail racing for the fence line. On Sunday I noticed Alice ( not the sheep with the speckled nose) standing wistfully by Charm the golden palomino’s gate. Bran alerted us…..and the whole valley ! We, busily brushing horses (trying to find the horse under the mud !!) in the stalls heard the canine commotion and a quick check over Lady’s broad back saw her beckoning the horses from the road. It took seconds to establish that her intent was not malicious….quite the opposite and young Alice was invited onto the ranch to meet “the family”. I’m quite sure that these past days have created memories that the horse loving young lady will never forget. In the goat pen Alice giggles at our lively bouncing kids, in the cow barn she cuddles with Misty the Jersey heifer and obligingly scratches (obligatory) Daisy May’s back. “Oooohs” for our giant Shire gelding Quest and “Ahhhs” for gentle giant Lady. We have enjoyed your excitement Alice and your enthusiasm…..we are glad you happened to pass by.

Last night ( just as we were about ready to end a long day!) Chance our big white ewe opened the lambing flood gate and a seemingly effortless labour resulted in two tiny black and white lambs. From a vantage point on top of the hay pile I watched as all the other ewes silently left the stall leaving the heaving ewe all alone for the birthing process. Throughout the whole procedure, there wasn’t a sound. The other heavily pregnant ewes waited in little groups patiently out in the rain. As twin  number two fell into the straw, the waiting ewes quietly filed back into the stall but kept a respectful distance from Chance the new mom.

Only another 11 to go !!!

Time to go and check on all our babies, take care, keep safe. M 

Bonny, Buster, Thumper and Peanut went out to play today. As the sun shone, the four chubby little goat kids bounded bounced and sprung around the pasture. A molehill became a castle, a tree stump a mountain, mom, Alicia ( good mom) became a trampoline and Acorn ( worst EVER mom)  did her best to become invisible !! A trip round the supermarket was a hunt for a super size pop bottle. No, we aren’t on a sugar fix ( Greg’s peach and apple rocket fuel would fix that !) Thumper and Peanut’s appetite has grown past the 16oz plastic Pepsi bottle…now we are BIG boys and even the air is sucked out of a 32oz and they are still looking for more.
Not much has been said about Gertie the confused Canada goose….she’s even more confused now ! Two weeks ago, along with a great commotion, flapping wings, honking and hissing Gertie arrived back at the pond where she hatched…but our feathered friend was not alone. Flying in formation were two ganders and both ganders appear to think they are “the one”. Both amorous suitors follow their clearly fine looking goose who in turn is following a set of hooves ! Love is apparently transient however and the set of hooves that sets her little heart beating faster are a great deal smaller than those attached to Quest our big Shire gelding. This year, the object of her affection is Charm. Charm, commonly known as “beauty with attitude” is not known for his tolerance, more likely to stomp than smooch with little Gertie, he has apparently accepted her as a squatter around his hoof space. Where Charm goes, Gertie goes….and so does her two frustrated followers. Yesterday morning as I turned the golden palomino out for the day, a heavy frost covered the pasture and as Charm was munching the obligatory 3 carrot munchies, three honking geese flew right over our heads and plopped heavily right under his feet. NOT great for my blood pressure !!!!
Got to go, the “Almost Daily Diary” is struggling for priority with feeding two ravenous goat kids and organizing Uncle Sam’s taxes for this year….Take care, keep safe, M