Mom has gone back to Albuquerque and we miss her around the ranch. Each morning she would venture down the hill to the ranch to report for duty in the barn. Wrestling with her cane and a sweeping brush Greg’s feisty Mom swept the stalls to code. No hay shavings or poop escaped her discerning eye and tidy little piles of sweepings awaited me when the big green tractor pulled up at each stall door. By the time the poop machine got going, Mom was already dragging the hose from stall to stall emptying and filling water buckets. “ Now what can I do ?” was the question that always followed……it seemed there was little she wouldn’t try. At the table in the barn kitchen Mom chopped buckets of apples and carrots, Spring cleaned the refrigerator and  arms up to the elbows in bubbles washed whatever needed to be washed and…. some things that didn’t. She has sewn up splits in well used barn clothes, darned holes and replaced buttons…she can thread a needle faster than me …and why not, she is only 92. We miss you Mom. Stay safe.

Possibly one of the last warm sunny evenings of the year, we saddled up a not too enthusiastic Lady for a trail ride through the forest. The fallen leaves have created a rich and colourful carpet on the forest floor and the sound of Ladies hooves were muffled as we wandered through the sunlit trees. It was a beautiful evening for a magical ride and I was happy that I was able to share it with Christina. We have been blessed to have the young lady from Vermont here  for the past three weeks and are sorry that her visit with us is drawing to a close. Christina is returning to her family on the East Coast tomorrow and we hope that she leaves us with memories that will be with her forever.

While she has been here our young WWOOFER has seen the beginning…and (unusually) completion of several major projects on Greg’s “must do” list, she has dug holes and ( again unusually !) filled them in, built an insulation box to Winterise the external faucet (tap), started building a huge door for the back barn ( several years on the “wish list”) laid cable, used the chainsaw and the saw mill. She has learned to make wine and yoghurt and is a master and uncomplaining “mucker-outer” Christina has been a pleasure to host and much has been achieved during her stay. Thank you for choosing Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch for your WWOOFERing experience.

Time to go, Take care, keep safe. M 

Aristocratic grey thoroughbred Player usually spends his day alone, he doesn’t have to share his pasture, his hay or his time with another horse and has for some time appeared to be content with his singular bachelor existence…..but something has changed over the past week. At Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch we no longer allow pasture board for our equine friends partially to protect our grazing land but also to keep the horses out of harms way. Due to a series of unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances two very pretty little bay Arab mares have found a temporary home in one of our “resting” pastures. The arrival of our new four legged guests has not gone un- noticed by the other barnyard residents….in particular, handsome Player. Fitz and Raven arrived in the dark on a foggy damp evening and was for the most part a non event for the other horses sheep and cows who were more concerned with the sweet smelling hay in their manger than the arrival of two strangers but in the early morning light the two little bays became much more interesting. Player noticed the “ladies” as I led him down cow lane his ears pricked, there was distinctly flirty tail swish and a “look at me” tilt of his handsome grey head, clearly Player was interested….seriously interested. The two new comers in the adjoining pasture waited expectantly, shadows in the swirling fog. Player looked, acknowledged their undivided admiration nuzzled for his apple morsel …..and stood. Fitz and Raven waited. Player tossed his head, looked at his loaded hay feeder, looked at the enticing “ladies” still watching his every move and slowly…so slowly sauntered across the damp grass to properly introduce himself. Mr. Cooper, one of our two “senior” boarders wasn’t quite as unrestrained in his admiration. Close, but not close enough to challenge the younger grey for the ladies attention, Mr. Cooper had to watch from a distance but that didn’t prevent him from strutting his stuff posing posturing and prancing to attract their attention. Poor T Bone, way too unstable on his ancient old legs to worry about the alluring little bay mares in another pasture just enjoyed having exclusive access to the hay feeder without being harassed by his younger pasture mate. Daisy the black Dexter and Misty Moo the adorable Jersey heifer wandered down cow lane to introduce themselves and stood in awe as Fitz and Raven snorted snuffled and tried to make sense of the new ranch residents. Even Tiger the tabby barn cat left the manure pile (where he is either hunting or keeping warm on the cover of the steaming heap) to say hello. Welcome to the Ranch Fitz and Raven.

Greg and I would like to thank Christina for her help since she has been here but particularly for her help over the past few days. Greg has been down at the barn waving his walking stick and his crutches, he has tried to help with his swollen toes peeping out of the plastic bag with which he has shrouded them BUT if it hadn’t been for Christina….I would have been booking a nervous breakdown in the next week. Thank you Christina you have been amazing…..and fun.

Time to go, the cuckoo clock has spoken. Take care M

Around here there are many projects that are "in  progress". Some are small enough that they can get finished soon after starting. There are others that will wind up having someone else finishing it. Life on the ranch is governed by the "well lets see what awaits us this morning" as we head down the hill to open the gates. Most of the time things are quite. Other mornings another surprise awaits us to refocus on something not in the days plan. Christina is not alone in taking part in this paradigm. She gets to add to the drainboard project for the barn kitchen sink. Malcolm started the project a couple weeks ago. We ran out of dowels, so it had to be put on hold until the stock was replenished. So now hopefully Christina will be able to have time to complete it and put it up in the kitchen.
Later, while waiting for the glue to dry on the drainboard, Christina got a chance to start a new project! Hopefully there is enough time for her to finish it. Oh well, if not I am sure someone else will have the opportunity to complete it.
Oh yes, my foot. Bummer!! There is a bit more pain than anticipated. Bandage is too big for me to slip into my fireman's boots. So much for any plans that involve water or pooh. I've had to readjust the "schedule" until I can slip into those over-sized boots. Hhhmmm, there are some large plastics bags. I'll bet that will work.
Maureen passes on her apologies for not preparing today's blog and having to put up with me. Maureen promises her return tomorrow. So till then, take care, stay safe, and please come back tomorrow for the real author. G

It wasn’t a good start to the day. As the truck pulled up in front of the chick nursery a White Leghorn pullet pulled up in front of the truck. In stereo from within the beat up farm Chevi, there was a unanimous “chick loose !!!” just as Bran the Border Collie noticed the errant white bird. As one we tumbled out of the truck as Bran, tail wagging and ears alert barked,  the panicked chick took off into the wilderness like the proverbial Road Runner. Greg took chase, Christina followed, Bran barked some more,…. louder and the white chick disappeared into the depths of the blackberry patch. Greg pounced, the blackberries fought back and the runaway took to the air. The little white chick landed in Charm and Starbuck’s pasture. Both horses, familiar with the larger Canada Geese, hawks, eagles and herons are unfamiliar with the common white chicken…(particularly when it is descending from a clear blue sky) panicked. After much huffing puffing and posturing, ( the horses ), the escapee ( little white chick) took to the air once again and the recovery party accepted the inevitable. Some racoon, eagle hawk or cat was going to enjoy a chicken takeaway. The ranch rescue party suspended the retrieval exercise and reluctantly left the escapee to fend for itself until either it gave itself up (unlikely) or we learnt to fly (impossible). Despondently and battle scarred from forays into unwelcoming Blackberry bushes we headed back down to the barn to work out how to transform our little chicken pen into Folsom Prison….determined there would be no more break outs on our watch. There was a little hole….it was determined that the chick had made it’s run (flight) through THAT little hole…unlikely, but there WAS a hole. Then I turned around and there was a HUGE hole ( much more likely...uh….certainly!!!)  Christina and I got to work with netting, stapler and a ladder. It might not be pretty… but a fly will have a problem getting through our defences and a chicken certainly wont get out again.

Just when we’d given the runaway up as MIA, a little bobbing white tail appeared in the high grass, Bran the Border collie was securely kept away from the great chicken roundup and Greg pounced again. Missed…..again. The chick took off and settled on the branch of a big cedar tree, well out of reach and  a long way from the chicken pen. Ever resourceful, Greg and Christina threw the only missiles available ( and plentiful !) into the tree….horse poop…and the chick flew again….across the road. On watch from the crest of the hill I saw the little white bird land, Greg and Christina set off in hot pursuit. It was the chicks last mistake ( the first was escaping !), the tree stump in which she had taken refuge had no way out and with much squeaking and squawking she was returned to her newly reinforced pen. What a team !!!

Time to go, take care, M

The ranch remains shrouded in heavy fog the sky is grey and there is a cold dampness in the air. All around the ranch bare tree branches where there used to be leafy green foliage, red green and gold leaves litter the ground and frosted lacy cobwebs hang from every branch. Autumn is here and Winter isn’t far away.

Young WWOOFER Christina has been busy keeping up Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch traditions…..The holes she and Tyler dug on Saturday have been filled and currently her WWOOFER arrow is on the production line. Yesterday afternoon, with the wood stove crackling in the barn kitchen, Christina began to paint the arrow that will bear her name and point in the direction of Vermont ( hopefully !). The finished work of art will join those of WWOOFERS we have hosted over the years and be a memory of the time they spent with us. Earlier she and Greg had worked on restoring the stock trailer to road worthiness. Christina helped, under Greg’s supervision to isolate the problem and once located strip and rebuild the connector for the lights. She also got to play with another power tool and using a half inch drill bored a hole through the workshop wall ready for an electric fixture. Mom and Dad Fornaciari…..are you ready for your daughter’s return….hide the power tools !!

Mom Sikora spent the afternoon preparing an early Thanksgiving dinner which, after a long cold day was gratefully devoured. The home grown turkey was cooked to perfection and mom created some of Greg’s family favourite vegetables. Our thanks to the Ranch Cook… Thank you Mom.

I had a close encounter (way too close) with a relative of Doris the deer yesterday. Doris the deer who devastated my vegetable garden, ate the corn, devoured the raspberries, dined on the grapes and gorged on the orchard. Not surprisingly….I am no longer a lover of deer ! Whilst taking Charm the golden palomino out to the pasture a yearling blacktail sauntered down the farm road straight towards us. As I watched, the yearling headed straight for me, ears pricked. Someone must have told that little deer that I don’t have a permit, don’t have a gun….and even if I did I would have missed ! Finally the deer turned around and with no undue haste turned and wandered aimlessly up the path to munch on my house garden. DOH !!! 

It’s still dark out there but the cuckoo clock has spoken. It’s time to get back down to the barn. Take care, keep safe. M

This year we tried a better (faster) way to crush the fruit of our harvest for our annual wine making fest. Not good for using the fruit press though.. It squeezes out the sides. Probably cheese cloth would help. Does good for extracting all the good stuff for the wine though? At least 15 gallons in work at the moment.
Christina got some more time learning how at Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch we dig holes and then fill them in. All in good humor. Christina also got a chance to get some instruction on the tractor.
Well I have got to keep this short. Mom is making us an early Thanksgiving dinner, since she won't be here in November. I have to get things ready as well as its time to go feed the animals and turn them loose. Take care and stay safe. G

How nice it would be if animals could talk back ! Young Christina our current young WOOFER volunteer holds conversations with the horses, chats with the turkeys, converses with the sheep and says “please” and “thank you” to the chickens. Christina is becoming the new best friend to our various four legged and feathered barnyard residents and as the days pass clearly more comfortable with her new experience.

Yesterday, as the sun shone over the Pacific Northwest Christina got her first taste of construction under Greg’s supervision and apparently was an enthusiastic learner when the power tools appeared from the tool box. As I entered the barn, Christina appeared looking for all the world like she had used power tools all her life. Nail gun resting on her shoulder and a satisfied smile on her face. Together they had worked with the nail gun and the radial arm saw to build a wooden door frame which, when completed will help protect the back barn from the Winter wind rain and snow storms. Thank you Christina.

Lady our Shire mare is a BIG horse. Our policy here at Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch is to allow our volunteers to become familiar and comfortable with our horses before we saddle her up and take the trail through the leafy forest. It is not unusual to see a look of total awe when new WWOOFERs first catch sight of the big horses and Christina was as stunned as those young volunteers who have gone before her. As the sun set last night, all the horses were safely in their stalls, sheep penned and the cows quietly munching in their barn, the turkeys and chicks were fed, eggs had been collected and all the  horses groomed, Greg dusted off Lady’s saddle for an evening ride. As Greg launched Christina into the saddle the patient Shire mare chewed on her lead rope and waited as her new rider learnt the rudiments of riding…and staying on board. We had no reason to be concerned, Lady is no beginner to taking care of our novice riders and as the trail wound through the forest, the steady beat of her huge hooves, the rustling of leaves and the birds were the only distraction. Christina had a lovely ride in the evening sunshine and as we returned through the barn gates and I handed her the lead rope she was a very happy young lady.

Mom Sikora made a very welcome return to the barnyard yesterday, it was good to see her back after her unfortunate fall. I confess to anxiety when I see our senior “ranch hand” sweeping the stalls but Mom is a determined lady……call me chicken but I would prefer to challenge our 1 ton Shires than question mom’s judgement !

Time to go, happy Gail and Chris enjoy the photos of their daughters new life !

Take care, Keep safe. M

New WWOOFER (ranch volunteer/family member) Christina has never “done” horses. Horses bite, kick and are more importantly….alarmingly BIG ! Christina’s first reaction to our equine barn residents was predictably… intimidated… but no one told our horses. Golden Palomino Charm, aka beauty with attitude went on a “Charm offensive” and with his soft muzzle puckered in her face it wasn’t long before Christina surrendered to our barn gigolo. For the price of an apple morsel Charm will sell his soul and Christina was happy to trade apples for Charm kisses. Lady and Quest the huge draught horses give a whole new meaning to BIG but despite her initial apprehension and clearly concerned for her sanity (and her feet !) Christina led Lady out to her pasture and returned the Shire mare to her stall last night with all digits still intact…..and a big smile on her face. Misty Moo the Jersey heifer has also found a new friend in our Vermont visitor as has Daisy Mae the black Dexter cow and Bran the Border collie.

Yesterday Greg and Christina worked together on winterising the irrigation system in the orchard. Winterising apparently involved digging a hole which appears to be something every visitor experiences at the Ranch….fortunately for our new WWOOFER, this hole didn’t have to be filled in !

 Mucking out the Sheep pen takes on a whole new meaning here at the ranch where Greg has devised a method of expediting the process to warp speed. A back pack leaf blower with a hurricane force blow doesn’t just blow leaves around here. Christina had a quick lesson in the fine art of blowing poo around and more importantly how to blow it into a controllable pile.  All we need now is someone to use their initiative and work out how we can eliminate poo !!! (I wish !) Thank you Christina.  

Christina also had a new “first” when Greg gave her an introduction to being a potential Speed Queen on the quad. Allegedly her first expression was shock….quickly followed by a very broad smile. We are looking forward to nearly three weeks of “firsts” and hope that she leaves our ranch with many happy memories and experiences (good ones !!)

Time to go take care keep safe. M

As the five oclock alarm warbled, Greg buried his head deeper under the comforter and, with a start, one eye open, one eye wishfully remaining firmly shut….I remembered that it was going to be a special day down on the ranch….a VERY special day. At 11am the 3 year old class from the Gig Harbor Co-Operative pre school was coming. At 11am…in Tacoma 30 minutes from here, our newest WWOOFER, Christina was going to arrive (hopefully on time !). Greg and I like to think we are an efficient resourceful team…..mostly, looming big problems can be solved or at least shrunk before they are a crisis but our double date was potentially our BIGGEST bloomer ever. Even with our no blame policy…..Greg got the blame. The options were evident….young Christina, arriving in a strange place with no one to greet her or lots of excited, enthusiastic exuberant little 3 year olds wistfully looking at a big green tractor that was going to remain silent and a hay ride trailer that was going no where. I’m convinced that someone, somewhere watches over us from above, as I pondered the options…..considered the consequences…. and grew increasingly more despondent, Kelly caught me miserably muttering to myself. In moments the big black cloud surrounding me dissolved and there was hope, we may be able to rescue Christina she wouldn’t be alone and unwanted at Tacoma railway station and I wouldn’t be surrounded by sorrowful little eyes in melancholy 3 year old faces staring at the tractor that wouldn’t be giving the highly anticipated hay ride. Thank you Dallas and Kelly, without your help…..Greg may just have spent the night in the cow barn !!!

So, the bubble table was all bubbled up….the “hole in the wall “ wall had been erected, hay bales were in place on the trailer ready for lots of little butts and all I needed to do to be fully prepared was raise the flags. As Old Glory drifted in a lazy breeze, the Union Jack wafted off in a different direction….alone. Clearly the knot securing the line had broken and only minutes to go before our pre school friends arrived. DOH !!! Supposedly you are NEVER given more than you can cope with….?????? REALLY !!! With five minutes to go there was a tractor with its bucket elevated to the limit, a 20 foot ladder, Greg who has a fear of heights and a broken line. GREAT !

We had an amazing morning thank you Becca for choosing us, thank you families for your generations donations for the Food Bank, thank you little kindergarteners for making it so much fun, Thank you Dallas and Kelly for rescuing our newest volunteer and thank you Christina for coming to our Ranch. We look forward to getting to know you over the next weeks. Oh…..and Greg didn’t spend the night in the barn.

Take care, keep safe M

Just how many people have hundreds of strangers share their 17th Wedding Anniversary ? We did…yesterday was Farm Tour Saturday and our special day. As the sun set on Friday night the list of “must dos” and “can’t forgets” grew so long that we started a  “no time to do” and a “no time to remember” list that got even longer. Finally the rain had stopped falling, the drains had stopped backing up and the heavy black clouds had given way to a clear blue sky. The grass has been growing as we watch…..the weeds had been growing faster than the grass, the puddles had spread and the mud was everywhere. Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch was a venue for the Farm Tour, we were on the map….too late to cancel….too late to order “wellies” (rubber boots) or water wings and way too late to give up. We didn’t !!!! …..and we had an amazing day sharing our world and our Wedding Anniversary with our farm family and the many, many strangers who are now farm friends.

I’m sorry this diary is so late, over the past weeks my best friend Lynne came to visit, my twin sister Annie and her husband returned to share our ranch life for 17 days and Mom Sikora, Greg’s mom and honorary ranch cook is also here for the month. Somehow surrounded by REALLY special people made it difficult to settle in front of a keyboard…..typing the diary with my two ( not too speedy) fingers seemed to be a waste of REALLY precious time and much as I love to share our ranch life on the diary…..I REALLY needed to soak up valuable friend/family time while they were here. Thank you Lynne for your visit. I will always miss you. Somehow, when we head down to the barn on a frosty Winter morning, when the wind blows and the water tubs freeze I know that I won’t regret the path my life has taken, I won’t wish that I was In a toasty warm office with a pen in my hand and an irate lawyer on the phone. I will celebrate the peace and tranquillity of the ranch, I will remember that I’m not “on the clock” , the twelve hours spent in the sheep pen at lambing time will now be a blessing and mucking out mountains of poo will never be a curse. My life is here, Greg, our friends, (old and new) and family ( again old and new) all help to fill that life with special moments and for those moments I will be forever grateful. Annie, we have been down Memory Lane and back, we have cleaned out horses sheep cows and chickens, we have solved the issues of the world and we have happily munched on Costco muffins. Malc, my amazing brother in law, forever patiently and uncomplainingly translating American/ British instructions, (formulated in Greg’s brain but never put into writing) digging holes and filling them in and helping to deplete the Costco muffin supply…we will miss you until you come back “home”.

I will write a diary featuring the Farm Tour next time, I will thank the wonderful family friends and WWOOFERS that made it such a special day and I will relate some of the moments that made it so special.

Take care, keep safe and value your friends and family….one day it will be too late to regret lost time. M