On Monday 10 year old grandson Jaden arrived from Arizona for a holiday…(roughly translated as a week of hard labour) on the ranch. At the same time as total chaos reined in the barnyard with an army of chicken processors buzzing around, three wired up grandchildren keeping mom Amanda on her toes ( I’d have been on my hands and knees with a stiff G and T !!!) , all the livestock anxiously waiting for dinner service, new WOOFER Dan arrived….he sure hit the ground running !) We are currently seriously concerned for Dan’s mental state, our new WOOFER volunteer left a perfectly serviceable, clean ship to come and WOOF on the ranch. Over the past few days Dan has been found shovel and brush in hand wandering from pen to pen with his wheelbarrow. Dan has been found, an assortment of facial expressions ranging from pensive,.. milking Alicia the goat, rounding up the cows, been batted around by Misty the Jersey calf and looking like a seasoned cowboy out on the trail with Roman the black Morgan gelding and a smile that lit up his face. We are enjoying Dan’s “visit” immensely but know that his week with us is drawing to a close. Thanks for choosing our ranch to languish on during your shore leave Dan.
Jaden our grandson has joined the farm team and after his initial initiation in the cow pen….”EEEEWWW, everything smells like cow poo” has enthusiastically taken part in morning chores and participated in afternoon activities but all the while his mind is out in the pasture with golden palomino Charm ( Mr beauty with attitude) and getting back in the saddle for an evening ride. Jaden excitedly mounts the golden gelding and safely attached to a lead line is becoming a rider. It has been our pleasure to watch his confidence grow and his smile widen as an amazingly angelic Charm takes care of his young charge. Hopefully this will be the first of many visits over the years as we watch him grow. Maybe by his next visit his legs will be long enough to reach the stirrups ! Jadens other passion appears to be the quad, it has amazed the team just how many diverse chores that young man is prepared to inflict on himself just to be able to hear the growl of that engine. Summertime has brought about yet another institution at the barn. Morning break, coffee and a fat pill ( Costco chocolate and bananna muffin) is routinely called at 10am when the big brass barn bell is run and lunch is habitualy 12 noon when the team pile into our beat up farm truck. Yesterday Jaden was heard to introduce yet another break when he was heard to plead…”what time again is Otterpop /Popsicle time ?”. Not much later, after finding both Quatra and Carla surveying their latest achievement in the stable yard and enjoying a few sun rays whilst enjoying their Otterpop, I found Greg and Dan deep in discussion…sucking on the icy treat. Although I didn’t find Jaden with Popsicle in hand (mouth)…the evidence all round his mouth was clear. I guess 3pm is now Popsicle break !!
Well, time for me to get this posted. I have had at least 2 threats should I not get back to keeping the diary up to date. Please bear with me…Take care, keep safe, M