Bran the Border Collie is having a bad week ! We have been long aware that Bran and loud noises are not compatible. This week we had a long awaited visit from the young (and younger Sikoras), Greg’s son Matt, daughter in Law Jodi and grandsons Brennon and Cameron. Sadly, grandsons don’t appear to be on Bran’s favourite visitor list and the acutely oversensitive dog spent the entire afternoon trying desperately to avoid contact with anyone under 42 inches !!! We have given Bran’s aversion to children a great deal of thought and have decided that children are, to an oversensitive Border collie way too loud ! In addition to his apparent intolerance to the raised decibel level, children move fast….things that move fast need herding and Bran is permanently overanxious to work the two legged animals that are roaming loose on his farm. In addition to the vocal noise level being much elevated, Greg entertained the boys with a mini motorbike which made MUCH noise much smoke and moved VERY fast…then the gunshots started. Sensory overload….Bran could be seen ( fleetingly) flashing from hiding place to hiding place, under the truck, in the truck, under the kitchen bench behind the hay bales and in the goat pen, tail between his legs and ears flat against his head. Just to peak his misery Carla our resident WOOFER/ almost family member is musical and amongst her many and varied talents is playing the saw ( yes, the saw !!) and the fiddle….Bran has zero tolerance for either instruments and retreated to the furthest corner of the kitchen practically covering his eyes with his quivering paws and wearing an expression of total misery.

We would like to welcome new WOOFER volunteer Rebecca who arrived on Tuesday, she is joining the team for a month and we all hope that she leaves here with memories ..hopefully happy ones and experiences hopefully good !

Little Jersey calf Misty is no longer so little and as she grows she just gets cuter. Carla has at times sounded like a very proud momma as she leads the little lady around the farm on the end of a long lead rope, extolling the virtues of her young protégée with a huge smile on her face. Misty will be weaned next week…Carla will miss her quality time with her growing calf…something tells me we will have to wean her too.

Well, I’ve run out of time again, back down to the barn and it’s raining.

Take care, keep safe, M 

Starbuck the big black Appaloosa with no spots joined the “Boy’s Club” yesterday, and typically when testosterone meets testosterone and oversized ego encounters an even more inflated ego we had arrogance and posturing squealing bucking and kicking. For a week “Bucky” the black Appy has calmly and placidly mowed the pasture adjoining that occupied by Golden Palomino Charm (aka Mr. Attitude) and Roman ( Mr.I want to be everyone’s best friend). All has been calm and peaceful, the three boys had spent quality time assessing the equine competition over the fence, mutual grooming and some element of “horsey” conversation had been taking place. It was deemed to be a good time to introduce handsome Bucky into the gelding’s field, the Appaloosa thought it was a GREAT idea, Charm the golden palomino clearly considered three was a crowd and Roman (I’m not sure why I’m running but it seems to be “the thing to do”) was quite excited to ally himself to whichever of his pasture mates prevailed. Starbuck, the larger ( but not by much !) gelding has apparently deflated Charms previously inflated ego and by the time the horses were returned to the barn, Roman had evidently allied himself to the new top gelding, Charm deferred priority to Starbuck and the big black gelding was dominant. Poor Charm.

Yesterday we had a family visit, the volume on the ranch increased by 100 decibels, Bran the dog went into shock and the grandchildren had a BLAST…oh yes and Quatra and Carla all but disappeared ! It was great for the Sikora “seniors” to be able to spend time with the Sikora “juniors” hopefully as the boys get older we will be able to spend more time together…pssst…Matt, it’s almost hay time.

Tiger the tabby cat was caught in an unguarded moment…checking out the occupants of the chicken pen, clearly it was a moment of “great expectations” and, judging from the reaction inside the pen it was  “come on,make my day !”

Well, I’ve run out of time, the cuckoo clock has cuckood and the livestock will be anxious for breakfast. Got to go,..

Take care, keep safe, M

Who needs a beautician ? One quick visit into the cattle stall and we are treated to a sticky deep cleansing wash and a painstakingly thorough skin exfoliation all courtesy of not so little anymore (but ever so cute) Jersey cross steer Goliath. Goliath, Holstein calves Samson and his twin sister Delilah have all become a contentious and increasingly controversial subject around here…..the three are being raised with sirloin, T-bone and hamburger in mind but not one of us took into account that our meat packs on legs would very quickly melt our hearts. One whistle down Cow Lane as the evening sun is setting and one minky coloured Jersey cross and two little black and white calves appear from the tall grass and the waving buttercups. Pausing only for a tickle under the chin or a back scratch and ignoring Bran the irritatingly enthusiastic Border Collie, the three musketeers casually make their way to the feed station where they bury their noses in a communal feed bucket before quietly settling down to chew their cud and reflect on the days events. With Goliath’s gentle head buried in my lap and two Holsteins breathing down my neck I feel a strong (even irresistible) urge to consider turning vegetarian !!!

 Misty the adorable three month old Jersey calf has been with us now for just over a week and has already become a firm farm favourite. Each morning she meets the truck at the farm gate, happy to greet “her people” for the start of a new day. Her dewy nose searches for the bottle which she inhales within seconds and her raspy tongue investigates the body, ( ANY body) which is, at least for that brief moment,her “momma”. Misty is turning into a people cow, visitors aren’t permitted to pass the pasture fence without an inquisitive Misty checking out their credentials and posing, doey eyed and dewy nose for the cameras.

Lady also had the full beauty make over yesterday. With a hot sun high in the evening sky, lady was hosed down, with shampoo bubbles, frothing lather, conditioner and water everywhere, Lady Lump was bathed. I can’t say that she was overwhelmed by the experience, in fact, if the truth were to be told and I was totally honest….the cold water up her tail was in all probability close to last on her equine wish list but the Shire mare, encouraged by the occasional carrot morsel (and knowing it wouldn’t last forever) stood quietly for Carla ( who also had an unwanted shower!!!)

This is possibly my favourite time of the year here in the Pacific North West, The foliage is a brilliant green and the rhododendrons are a myriad of colours all over the State, it’s a wonderful time to be here on the ranch

Time to go, I have a beef pot roast to prepare……Oh no !!!!

Take care, keep safe, M  

Gertie the confused Canada Goose goose has been a welcome member of our ranch family for two years. Gertie has roamed the pastures, faithfully waddling after handsome Shire gelding Quest and now sharing her love between Charm the golden palomino with attitude and Charm’s black pasture pal Roman. We have tolerated, even become fond of Gertie the goose who thinks she is a horse. Protected her from predators on land and from the sky,we even encouraged hopeful beau Valentine, a transient goose who called in to offer his love and services but we have never offered to be a wildlife refuge for homeless Canadian Geese ! We woke to a cacophony of goose calls, mating squabbling and fighting, geese everywhere. Geese were 3 deep on the island, geese were all over the pond, all over the bank all over the pasture….A conservative count brought up at least 25 uninvited, noisy goosy gatecrashers and they were setting up home. Momma and Poppa goose (again tolerated but uninvited) relocated to an adjoining pasture… who knows what bad habits their well behaved five fluffy offspring could pick up from the partygoers but they weren’t taking any chances. Momma led the little troop of goslings in a regimental line followed up by Poppa across two pastures and as far away from the anarchy as possible. Now,we are animal lovers, we love wild life BUT there is a limit just how much goose poop, goose noise and chaos we can tolerate…and we hit that wall !! Strangely for some God only knows reason Canadian Geese are a protected species….?

Starbuck the new resident in our stable yard is settling in well, Roman ever sociable and keen to be everyone’s new best friend was keen to make his acquaintance and just tested how far he could stretch his long black neck over the electric fence…..not too far !! Three horses appeared to bounce on all four hooves into the air as a sharp snap of electric reminded the boys that fences need to be remembered and respected.

Time to go, there is work to be done and the sun is shining.

Take care, keep safe, M 

It’s Thursday and I know, the Almost Daily Diary has turned into the “I’ll catch it when I can” diary. I don’t feel any different, I may look different…I swear I know for sure that at least 3 new frown lines and if my blond wasn’t regularly re blonded I’d be as grey as a white badger !! For the past few weeks top issue on my mind was a little white book called “The Constitution”, the Preamble and the Bill of Rights. I ate slept and worked muttering the First Amendment rights and just why America decided to declare her Independence from Great Britain. I still say the last straw was drowning our tea in Boston Harbour but now I’m better “informed”, my little white book has taught me the error of my ways. Poor Greg Quatre and Carla have lived through my dogged and persistent determination to pass my Citizenship test. Whilst books, flip cards and a CD have followed me around the house and successfully brainwashed me I have to put it on record that on this occasion, Greg was totally useless !!! His response to every vocalised question either directed at him or just muttering to myself was a resounding “ THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS”. Two days before the test…sitting huddled alone in the bedroom Greg hesitantly asked “would you like me to help you study” ….Mmmmm!! The studying paid off, despite my lack of confidence in me, despite having to don corporate clothes for the first time in two years and despite having to exchange my tennis shoes for nice shiny shoes to wobble on… I passed. I am now an American citizen. As friend Heidi said, you may be an American, but when you open your mouth, who is ever going to believe it ? My change of status has however caused me a problem. “The cow” has been a long running challenge that has been the cause of much entertainment and much competition in our household. The cow was a gift, each side of the china bovine is painted with a flag one representing the USA and one representing Great Britain. American consensus of opinion is that the cow should now remain firmly planted with the Star Spangled Banner in view…It’s not happening and at every opportunity that poor china cow will be The Union Jack side out !!

Facebook comments about the cow have caused a little concern, I am almost expecting a visit from PETA, why are we messing around with a cow ? hopefully  this sets the matter straight….what did you start when you created that painted cow all those years ago (2006) LuLu ???

Well, time I posted my first diary entry as a US citizen. Thanks to everyone who had confidence in me, thanks to everyone who tolerated me through this and special thanks to Greg who, despite being no use at all has loved and supported me, I couldn’t have done it without you. Actually come to think about it…if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have had to do it at all !!!

Take care, keep safe, M 

What has big black liquid eyes a dewy muzzle and looks like she has jumped straight out of a Walt Disney movie…..Misty the adorable little Jersey heifer calf that is now junior princess of our barn.

 The girl team had gone on the offensive….Greg made a valiant stand but he knew he was losing ground when Quatre Carla and ally Mary answered my call. Phone calls to local dairies in search of my new baby were fruitless..I could have a boy baby…I could have a granny cow…I could have a crossbreed but no one would sell me a little purebred heifer. What do they do with ALL their girl babies. As a last resort, I fumbled my way through the confusion of computer keys and composed a plea that I expected to just get lost forever, unread in the reams of daily appeals posted on the wanted page.Greg had said “NO”, it looked like the dairies were on his side but the power of the girl team and a liberal dose of serendipity hadn’t been taken into account and miraculously we had a phone call. Misty came home Friday night, The girl team won, Misty has a wonderful home, Greg loves her too ( he knew he couldn’t resist) who couldn’t ? and I know that I’m a little (lot)  spoilt ( well taken care of !!) Life is good. LOTS of pictures of our little star will, I’m sure follow!

Life goes on outside of Misty’s stall ( unbelievably !) and today we welcome Debbie and her “boy” Starbuck to join our ranch family. Starbuck is a black Appaloosa (?) with no spots, he is interesting already ! Greg Carla and Quatre have been hammering sawing and stapling to make sure his new home is ready in time for his arrival. Thanks team !

Cammi and Carla have their momma back, number 20 was released from protective care. and her “abandoned” lambs were not slow to welcome her back. Hopefully her time in the barn was long enough to persuade her offspring that momma’s milky bar has been shut down and the emaciated ewe is able to recover her weight. The volume in the barn went up 100 decibels when she was in residence, the only time that skinny lady stopped bawling was when her mouth was full and her presence in my “hospital” stall will not be missed !

Well, time for another day. Looks like the rain is back..

Take care, keep safe, M

Well there was a vote. Me being outnumbered by two to one, my vote was nullified. It wasn't helped either that Maureen's wanted ad on craigslist was answered by a lady that had a calf we were looking for as well as registered. So I was left with no recourse since I knew what was good for me. As a result, we now have a gorgeous little Jersey heifer calf. A welcome addition to the herd. Already she loves her scratches.  Maureen will have more later. Welcome Misty!...

What has THE cutest eyes you have ever seen, liquid brown with eyelashes to die for ? What has  suction like a Dyson and a tongue like heavy duty sandpaper…..what ambles home from the pasture every evening like he is on a Sunday promenade and likes nothing better than a good hearty chin rub ? Goliath our Jersey / something (?) cross steer. After the evening roundup which actually just entails calling them in, controlling Bran the overly enthusiastic Border Collie, casually following the two momma Dexter cows, the three musketeers ( calves Goliath Samson and Delilah) and young Hol-ley to their pen ( still controlling the by now frantic dog !) and then guiding them to their individual feed stations ( STILL trying to control the frenzied dog !!). Sadly for Bran, the cow herd is in no need of harassment and refuse to be harried or herded, they are happy, sometimes even anxious to come home. Our bovine ladies ( and gentlemen ) are causing me anguish. Our potential beef cows are too personable….they don’t break fences, they aren’t aggressive, we don’t have to chase them over hill and dale…I may have to turn vegetarian.  Whilst trying to find three hands as three wet muzzles simultaneously reached up for attention and trying not to consider their ultimate ( but fortunately far off) destiny, I had an inspiration….we can find a cute, doey eyed, loveable Jersey heifer calf.   Quatre and Carla were instantly on board, no one loves cute, doey eyed and loveable like they do ( except maybe me !)…Greg temporarily joined in on the Jersey mania, but economical  common sense and logistics have prevailed and we have, in no uncertain terms been told “ NO new animals”. We didn’t want new animals…we wanted a Jersey calf with liquid eyes and extended eyelashes. Now, I’m studying for my citizenship test and I have been studying the American Constitution…and I know that NO is not democratic. We have an economic/logistics problem meeting an emotional wall here and it’s Greg versus the ladies team. Incidentally….we no longer have dear sweet ugly Lamb Chop, so a Jersey calf with long eyelashes and sweet disposition would just eat what he is sadly no longer able to eat.
Any comments ??
Postscript to the above….maybe we are a democracy after all. Smile. A lady called us in respect of a 2 month old …doey eyed, bottle fed Jersey heifer calf and we are going to look at her tonight. Girl power wins..or maybe  I’m just spoilt ( I think that’s it !!) I’ll update after we get her home.

Got to go, I’ve got some studying to do ( I know more about the American Constitution than is healthy !!!)

Take care, keep safe, M   

I remember back in the mists of time watching what appeared to be the beginnings of the new Great Flood, wild winds mercilessly whipping the cedar trees, icicles dangling from the guttering and deep snow drifts lining the fence lines. I remember wondering if Winter would ever end, if the rain would ever stop falling and if the sun would ever come back. It has !!! Yesterday we baked under a blistering 80 degrees ( 26 degrees  in English speak) and today we are having a cool down….only 75 degrees….only ?

Under these weather conditions even the Gentle Giant Meadows ewes formation eating team falters. The ladies apparently give up the will to live in the unforgiving heat of the day and  collapse in heaps under the protective shade offered by the lower branches of the cedars. The brat pack, still too young to be sensible and too old to be glued to momma’s milky bar take advantage of the prostrate bodies and lack of maternal discipline, bouncing and ricocheting over branches rocks and basking torsos.

Molly Moo, Daisy Mae, Hol-ley and the three musketeers ( the adorable Jersey cross steer Goliath and the Holstein twins) are lethargic under the heat of the sun. Molly and Daisy heavily pregnant (or obscenely obese) are due to calve later late in September and whilst eating appears to be a necessity, moving would appear to be an optional extra they have chosen not to take.

Charm the golden palomino with attitude is apparently unaffected by the heat. Tail swishing and head tossing he dances around the pasture, his golden body shining as he first chases poor Gertie the confused Canada goose and then harasses Roman the black Morgan gelding…..just because he can !

Lady the Shire Mare just looks miserable. Keeping close to the gate and the water trough, our oversize equine clearly is no lover of the heat and the irritating flies agitate and irritate despite her endlessly swishing tail.

Quatre loves the heat and Coffee break found her sharing a spot on my rose bed with the two barn cats who were languidly absorbing rays before another hunting expedition. Early Summer is a good time for Tiger and Shy, the Barn Swallows are busily nesting and the eaves of the barn have turned into a virtual smorgasbord for the fat cats.

Ewe number 20 mother to twins Carla and Cami was a very reluctant mom. Back in the Springtime her maternal skills were sorely tested and she failed miserably. Her tiny lambs were born prematurely and for the unprepared ewe may just as easily have dropped out of space. Carla and Cami gave us plenty of reason to be concerned, momma’s  milky bar was supplemented by the man made supplement and it was only after a considerable amount of coercion number 20 agreed to be a mother. Clearly and unfortunately for the first time mom, Cami and Carla are determined to make up for their painfully slow start and have voraciously drunk mom dry. The twins are now loudly lamenting their enforced weaning, pitiful bleats and bawling emanate from the depths of the barn and echo across the pasture. Number 20 has been isolated in the special care stall where she is hopefully going to recover her former rotund figure and we are treated to her painfully loud and incessant complaining…..all day!

Time for me to go, the sun is already shining and down at the barn there will be animals ready and waiting to start their day.

Take care, keep safe, M    

Did I say it is HOT…..well, it is really hot and if the amazing meteorologist Fox 13’s MJ has got it right, today it’s getting even hotter ! I am surrounded by “spotters”, I have the back police spotters and now the “your’e looking red”…need more water….sun hat…sun screen… sun burn poke team under Greg’s watchful eye and able management. Thanks for taking care of me team !

I rode and I didn’t just ride, I rode my boy,…. Mr. Attitude, Charm. Standing on a box looking at the saddle I really had to have a serious conversation with myself. I had to work to convince Charm to stand still and I had to convince my right leg that it really could get over chubby Charm’s butt….but he did …and I did. Charm must have known that it was his mum climbing aboard like a geriatric ( oops, maybe I am !!) and he wore his angels halo. No attitude, no head tossing and thankfully no fancy dancing, my boy took care of me and I was thankful…very thankful. It was nice to be back in the saddle, I am on the road back to normality and it feels GREAT. Thank you too Quatre for the really cute pink gloves…they are only missing the sequins..but I can fix that , smile.

Feeling better also means that my attention can turn to the garden which currently has the appearance of the Amazon jungle on a bad day. Somewhere in the jungle my blueberries are hiding, the weeds, lustily growing big and strong thanks to the liberal dose of nice healthy manure added to the garden soil in the fall are kindly shrouding the blueberries…which incidentally AREN’T growing big and strong. The only positive thing about a garden successfully growing weeds is that you have nice fat healthy chickens. When I go to war in the garden, the chickens follow every move, covet every weed pulled and wait anxiously for the spoils to be deposited in a big green pile in the centre of the pen. The chickens posted on watch on the fence line alert the chickens in the henhouse, birds come scuttling, loudly squawking and wings flapping out of the hen house. The roosters strut and oversee the weed feast as the hens decimate the anticipated treat.

Greg and the girls continue to work on the stall. It must be a female thing but we would like to know why a post being cut  because it is ½” too long…turns into too short when only 1/8” is cut off ! We blame shrinkage … the saw’s fault….or sabotage….or all of the above and we are sticking with our story.

Macho the man has left the hospital stall. We are sure he is feeling better, he has started liberally applying his “after shave cologne” which has the effect of rendering everyone in his locality undesirable company. Macho aroma wafts for miles and when he was led out to share the pasture with tolerant old  Rodney even the aged ram curled his lip. The smelly buck is still favouring a leg but he appears to be well on the road to recovery and a dose of sunshine’s vitamin D will, I’m sure help. After even limited contact with the amorous buck the goats avoid us and even the horses are reluctant to take a morsel of carrot. It is nice to see the twinkle of lust back in his eyes…but we could do better without the too liberal addition of rancid toiletries.

Time to go, I’ve had my second cup of tea ( necessity) the dog is by the door and the cuckoo clock has cuckood.

Take care, keep safe, M