Wow, what a day !! As first light dawned and we recognized the extent of the overnight deluge, our number one project was flood control. Flood control wasn’t limited to the barnyard…our daylight basement (courtesy of the ageing window moulding) was in the process of becoming a potential swimming pool….a revelation which, on it’s own merits could easily raise the blood pressure but clearly, potential disasters down at the ranch were inevitable and hypertension was a sure bet !!! From the warm, dry kitchen, the usually placid waters of the farm pond were turbulent as the infill creek broke it’s banks and the road culvert reached capacity. The upper pastures flooded the lower pastures and the lower pastures flooded the road. The road flooded the barnyard and the barnyard flooded the barn.
The sheep, (aka the formation eating team) were reluctantly kept in the barn, their pasture under water. Keeping the sheep in the barn is always a reluctant decision, reason number 1, our sheep appear to be very opinionated and extremely vocal and number 2 ( if only the first reason wasn’t enough !!) …what goes in must come out and our girls eat a lot and poop disproportionately to their size. Big clean out required in the morning. DOH !
Talking of big poop…Lady and Quest, the Shire horses were relocated to higher ground, their current pasture clearly more appropriate for fins than hooves. The cow family obviously unwilling to relinquish the protection afforded by the barn were evicted from their stall, reluctantly herded through the gate and down a very sodden Cow Lane. Unfortunately for us and clearly fortuitously for our bovine friends, the gate to the unoccupied Shire’s field was inadvertently left open. Evidently the horse’s pasture despite being under three inches of water was still much more inviting than their relatively dry field ( the grass on the other side of the fence) which, being on a higher elevation was still relatively flood free ( note…. “relatively”). All day long the six amigos happily enjoyed the forbidden fruit in the flooded pasture….we were all actively employed elsewhere, the errant cattle the least of our worries. The rain continued to fall relentlessly and the soggy cow pies multiplied in the horses field. More poop.
High fashion clearly not being a priority considering less than typical circumstances and bearing in mind the extreme weather conditions, I decided to make my own fashion statement. In retrospect, my decision to wear a shower cap, fortified by a second even bigger shower cap, to try to prevent the out of control, dragged through a bush backward frizz, will guarantee me an elevated status in redneck hierarchy. Earlier this morning it seemed like a really good practical (if not flattering) idea. Sadly the unforgiving lens of my ever ready “must catch the moment” camera caught the moment and my fashion faux pas will live in infamy…but I have to say, my hair stayed dry !!
BIG NEWS !!! Our book ( mine, co author Renee Riva and wonderful photographer Greg) arrived today. I am SO proud of it. The publishers have done an amazing job of combining a wonderful, true inspirational story with beautiful photographs and producing a children’s book that I feel will be amongst my highest life achievements. Better stop, I’m getting choked up and my mascara will run. Books are available on Amazon.com or ( much more fun) directly from the Ranch. Quest is always open to his admirers particularly if they come armed with a carrot or apple. Carla, our amazing WWOOFER/ adopted family member created a new web site for us, if you have a moment,check out Sikora Books. I think that Greg is hoping that this will be the dawn of a little farm series….I have ideas ! I will sign all books and we are actively working on getting Quest to leave his signature too. Sadly Gertie is currently unavailable for comment at this time but may be back in the Spring.
Well, enough of the J K Rowling thing, I’d better get back to earth and get ready to get down to the barn. Our HUGE thanks to Quatre, Carla and Michael who have helped encouraged and supported us through everything. You are the best. XXXX
Take care, keep safe and dry, Maureen
The sheep, (aka the formation eating team) were reluctantly kept in the barn, their pasture under water. Keeping the sheep in the barn is always a reluctant decision, reason number 1, our sheep appear to be very opinionated and extremely vocal and number 2 ( if only the first reason wasn’t enough !!) …what goes in must come out and our girls eat a lot and poop disproportionately to their size. Big clean out required in the morning. DOH !
Talking of big poop…Lady and Quest, the Shire horses were relocated to higher ground, their current pasture clearly more appropriate for fins than hooves. The cow family obviously unwilling to relinquish the protection afforded by the barn were evicted from their stall, reluctantly herded through the gate and down a very sodden Cow Lane. Unfortunately for us and clearly fortuitously for our bovine friends, the gate to the unoccupied Shire’s field was inadvertently left open. Evidently the horse’s pasture despite being under three inches of water was still much more inviting than their relatively dry field ( the grass on the other side of the fence) which, being on a higher elevation was still relatively flood free ( note…. “relatively”). All day long the six amigos happily enjoyed the forbidden fruit in the flooded pasture….we were all actively employed elsewhere, the errant cattle the least of our worries. The rain continued to fall relentlessly and the soggy cow pies multiplied in the horses field. More poop.
High fashion clearly not being a priority considering less than typical circumstances and bearing in mind the extreme weather conditions, I decided to make my own fashion statement. In retrospect, my decision to wear a shower cap, fortified by a second even bigger shower cap, to try to prevent the out of control, dragged through a bush backward frizz, will guarantee me an elevated status in redneck hierarchy. Earlier this morning it seemed like a really good practical (if not flattering) idea. Sadly the unforgiving lens of my ever ready “must catch the moment” camera caught the moment and my fashion faux pas will live in infamy…but I have to say, my hair stayed dry !!
BIG NEWS !!! Our book ( mine, co author Renee Riva and wonderful photographer Greg) arrived today. I am SO proud of it. The publishers have done an amazing job of combining a wonderful, true inspirational story with beautiful photographs and producing a children’s book that I feel will be amongst my highest life achievements. Better stop, I’m getting choked up and my mascara will run. Books are available on Amazon.com or ( much more fun) directly from the Ranch. Quest is always open to his admirers particularly if they come armed with a carrot or apple. Carla, our amazing WWOOFER/ adopted family member created a new web site for us, if you have a moment,check out Sikora Books. I think that Greg is hoping that this will be the dawn of a little farm series….I have ideas ! I will sign all books and we are actively working on getting Quest to leave his signature too. Sadly Gertie is currently unavailable for comment at this time but may be back in the Spring.
Well, enough of the J K Rowling thing, I’d better get back to earth and get ready to get down to the barn. Our HUGE thanks to Quatre, Carla and Michael who have helped encouraged and supported us through everything. You are the best. XXXX
Take care, keep safe and dry, Maureen
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