Good morning, here I am, back at my desk it’s 6.11am. I’m sorry that the diary has been a little neglected of late, I have been made very aware that it is more of a “weekly” than “almost daily diary”…I will try to be more timely!! Apparently there has been a little dusting of snow overnight and it would seem the entire Pacific North West is considering grinding to an icy sliding stop ! All local channels were unavailable and embarrassingly, I have to confess the thought crossed my mind that “maybe the Mayan calendar had got a point”, Armageddon was coming several days early…. and beginning in Seattle or Mount Rainier had done it’s thing and erupted. Thankfully, normal service has been resumed, all is well here at Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch, Fox 13 news and weather channel is back, MJ the meteorologist can tell us just how bad it all is and apparently Mount Rainier is still the sleeping giant.
We would like to welcome Andrew to our Ranch family, he arrived yesterday and will hopefully be with us for a month during which time he will undoubtedly experience poo of all different genres as well as the day to day running of a livestock farm. Sadly yesterday also saw the departure of Carla who is leaving to live in Oregon. Whilst we are sorry to see her go, we are excited for her future and wish her success and happiness in her new adventures. Thank you for everything Carla, we will miss you…a lot.
Poor Bran, the Border Collie has over the years perfected the art of looking miserable. Yesterday Bran very nearly had a reason to be VERY miserable. Each evening, Bran travels from stall to stall as the horses get their daily wash and brush up. Generally lying close by the horse’s hooves with his head on his paws he is constantly in danger but never quite so closely as last night. Michael had just completed grooming old man Cooper. The big bay gelding had found (or made) the muddiest patch of ground in his pasture and had clearly worked very hard to ensure that not one square inch of body not covered by his horse blanket was well coated in mud ( and, amazingly body also covered by his blanket !!). Dutifully, Michael worked to meticulously eradicate every speck of mud and dust, gave Mr. Cooper the final flick of the brush and turned just in time to see the old horse swooping on the sleeping dog, teeth bared. I understand Cooper moved fast…but Bran the Border Collie moved faster !
The chicken population in both the Shack and the Roost have begun their annual “work to rule”. Stern words and strong threats of chicken soup and pot pie have failed to inspire the ladies to return to their nest boxes and the egg count is decreasing on a day to day basis. Hopefully, normal service will be resumed in the not too distant future as it is difficult not to feel sorry for the egg customers who arrive at the egg stand to find the “sorry, sold out” sign. On more than one occasion a disappointed customer has managed to catch my eye before leaving “eggless” and I have gone wishfully into the chicken houses to try to fill at least one egg carton. Raiding the nests whilst the ladies are in production mode generally results in a very strong reprimand from the incensed birds and more than one enraged peck. I have been made very aware that an early assault on the hen houses will not be tolerated ! Please ladies…start laying again soon.
Well, It’s 7.20am and time I started to layer up for the snow ! Take care, keep safe, M
We would like to welcome Andrew to our Ranch family, he arrived yesterday and will hopefully be with us for a month during which time he will undoubtedly experience poo of all different genres as well as the day to day running of a livestock farm. Sadly yesterday also saw the departure of Carla who is leaving to live in Oregon. Whilst we are sorry to see her go, we are excited for her future and wish her success and happiness in her new adventures. Thank you for everything Carla, we will miss you…a lot.
Poor Bran, the Border Collie has over the years perfected the art of looking miserable. Yesterday Bran very nearly had a reason to be VERY miserable. Each evening, Bran travels from stall to stall as the horses get their daily wash and brush up. Generally lying close by the horse’s hooves with his head on his paws he is constantly in danger but never quite so closely as last night. Michael had just completed grooming old man Cooper. The big bay gelding had found (or made) the muddiest patch of ground in his pasture and had clearly worked very hard to ensure that not one square inch of body not covered by his horse blanket was well coated in mud ( and, amazingly body also covered by his blanket !!). Dutifully, Michael worked to meticulously eradicate every speck of mud and dust, gave Mr. Cooper the final flick of the brush and turned just in time to see the old horse swooping on the sleeping dog, teeth bared. I understand Cooper moved fast…but Bran the Border Collie moved faster !
The chicken population in both the Shack and the Roost have begun their annual “work to rule”. Stern words and strong threats of chicken soup and pot pie have failed to inspire the ladies to return to their nest boxes and the egg count is decreasing on a day to day basis. Hopefully, normal service will be resumed in the not too distant future as it is difficult not to feel sorry for the egg customers who arrive at the egg stand to find the “sorry, sold out” sign. On more than one occasion a disappointed customer has managed to catch my eye before leaving “eggless” and I have gone wishfully into the chicken houses to try to fill at least one egg carton. Raiding the nests whilst the ladies are in production mode generally results in a very strong reprimand from the incensed birds and more than one enraged peck. I have been made very aware that an early assault on the hen houses will not be tolerated ! Please ladies…start laying again soon.
Well, It’s 7.20am and time I started to layer up for the snow ! Take care, keep safe, M
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