When we were children.....a very long time ago, I remember a little rhyme that we shared in a playground far away on very distant shores..."Spring has sprung, the grass is gris..I wonder where the birdies is ??". Here on the Pacific North West, Spring has sprung...the grass is sprouting with the unseasonal warmth and we have no doubts where the "birdies" is. Mr. and Mrs. Canada goose have re-established their particular patch of island real estate. Challenging groups of transient geese have circled high above the ranch and, seduced by the still waters of the pond have landed in our grassy pastures unaware of the resident pair of birds....who are particularly disinclined to apportion any part of their territory to another goose and are willing and very enthusiastic to wage aerial, surface or any other mode of warfare to defend their little pond island. Mr. and Mrs. Blue heron have been reported "making out" in the cool shade of the cedar trees over hanging the rippling water, Mr. And Mrs. Mallard have apparently already "made it" in the leafy ferns on the banks of the pond and the kingfisher pair have been spotted fraternizing whilst tapping holes in the telephone pole. Eddie the eagle...(or an unnamed offspring) even paid an unscheduled and very spectacular visit to the pasture adjoining the sheep barn. We are confident (NOT) that his visit had no relation to the little brat pack of lambs and although we hope that we never have cause to regret his association to the ranch are in awe of his regal beauty.
Down on the ranch, little Miss Bella, our Jersey heifer has just had her first birthday.....Sirloin the little red steer is becoming increasingly adept at avoiding the very vociferous and extremely demanding needs of our hormonal cow and we are watching the calendar and counting the noisy three weekly cycles until we can call Wayne the AI man and his redeeming tube.
Spring cleaning is happening from the newly painted "green room" at the ranch house to the barn kitchen windows and the umpty ump little panes of glass in the British, post box red, telephone box. Annie and Malc, on a "working vacation" from their busy city lives in England have (as usual) dug "and filled in a hole or three....we've collectively painted, unpainted (sanded) cleaned and scrubbed, walls doors windows and stall mats. We've weeded, strimmed and planted. Annie and I have washed and ironed, we have revisited years and memories long since passed, we have brushed stalls and flung horse pooh, stacked and unstacked wood rounds and together made light of the most tedious chores. Annie and Malc have been "home"...and for us, it is a VERY happy place to be.
Erin and James...in relative terms "new" members of our ranch family have also worked their way into "family", family....Sharing, giving and always happy and exuberant, Erin has with son James shared our family moments over the past 10 days. Ten o'clock break time has been re-introduced, Costco blueberry muffins, doughnuts and cookies have been consumed in the barn kitchen and in the big barns, laughter has echoed from wall to cedar wall.
Spring "has sprung"..we had a very trying Winter and we lost some much loved and never to be forgotten ranch members but as the bluebells bud between the waving daffodils and the trees begin to turn green, a new and wonderful beginning has begun.
Take care, keep safe and value those who mean the most to you. M xx
Down on the ranch, little Miss Bella, our Jersey heifer has just had her first birthday.....Sirloin the little red steer is becoming increasingly adept at avoiding the very vociferous and extremely demanding needs of our hormonal cow and we are watching the calendar and counting the noisy three weekly cycles until we can call Wayne the AI man and his redeeming tube.
Spring cleaning is happening from the newly painted "green room" at the ranch house to the barn kitchen windows and the umpty ump little panes of glass in the British, post box red, telephone box. Annie and Malc, on a "working vacation" from their busy city lives in England have (as usual) dug "and filled in a hole or three....we've collectively painted, unpainted (sanded) cleaned and scrubbed, walls doors windows and stall mats. We've weeded, strimmed and planted. Annie and I have washed and ironed, we have revisited years and memories long since passed, we have brushed stalls and flung horse pooh, stacked and unstacked wood rounds and together made light of the most tedious chores. Annie and Malc have been "home"...and for us, it is a VERY happy place to be.
Erin and James...in relative terms "new" members of our ranch family have also worked their way into "family", family....Sharing, giving and always happy and exuberant, Erin has with son James shared our family moments over the past 10 days. Ten o'clock break time has been re-introduced, Costco blueberry muffins, doughnuts and cookies have been consumed in the barn kitchen and in the big barns, laughter has echoed from wall to cedar wall.
Spring "has sprung"..we had a very trying Winter and we lost some much loved and never to be forgotten ranch members but as the bluebells bud between the waving daffodils and the trees begin to turn green, a new and wonderful beginning has begun.
Take care, keep safe and value those who mean the most to you. M xx
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