Yesterday was just one of those days ! Before we reluctantly tested the air temperature ( toe tip out of the bottom of the comforter) we could hear the rain beating on the deck and bouncing out of the overflowing gutters. Didn't sound good....so we snuggled down for another 10 minutes. Sadly, ten minutes changed nothing and as dawn broke we seriously considered building the second edition Arc or alternatively issuing snorkels and flippers. Down at the barn, the livestock were about as enthusiastic as us about spending time under a relentless deluge and with just noses appearing over the stall doors , clearly no one appeared anxious to leave their warm dry stalls. Our turkeys are paddling, our chickens have all taken refuge in the hen house, the sheep, evicted from their barn for the day ran directly for shelter under the nearest cedar tree and the cows moved so reluctantly down Cow Lane, we were going slower than stop ! Poor Bran the Border Collie, attentively sitting in a muddy puddle by the fence line perfected his most miserable impression as rain drops dripped off his tail and nose, only the heron fishing on the pond looked content. It didn't get any better as the day went on, the rain got heavier, the puddles deeper and the sky blacker. The tractor canopy collected water like a leaky bucket causing an unavoidable overflow each time the wheels rolled. I was not a happy farmer. Did I really long for rain in those long dry warm Summer months ?
The aroma of apple and cinnamon baking in the stove cheered me up as the rain still fell and the cuckoo clock advised me that it was 3.30pm and time to venture down to the barn for the evening shift. Simultaneously, the rain fell, the wind blew, sun down was early ( mainly because there WASN'T any sun !!!) our new WWOOFER volunteer, Greg, e mailed to advise he was on his way . Jerry the blacksmith arrived to shoe Player the gray gelding and proceeded to park his trailer in the front of the barn. Unfortunately the old farm tractor, no friend of the cold winter was parked just behind the barn door obstructing access for the blacksmith's trailer, just to add insult to injury, Jerry's truck was unknowingly blocking access to the ranch truck which was designated to retrieve the newest WWOOFER from Purdie Park and Ride. Just as my panic level reached critical.....Tim's little blue car appeared through the evening gloom to return Tonto the Peruvian Paso to his stall......which was currently blocked by the shoer, the tractor the farm truck and a big grey horse standing on 3 legs. Chaos didn't seem to adequately describe the barnyard dodgems as Jerry moved his trailer to give Greg's Truck access to the road, I moved the tractor to give Jerry access to the barn, Tonto was safely maneuvered into his stall..... and WWOOFER Greg called to advise he was currently waiting in the rain at Purdy Park and Ride.
All's good and back to normal on Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch, the rain stopped falling and Greg (no 2) has settled into life on the farm. It's actually quite ego building....I shout for Greg and I get two responses.....what more could I ask ? smile. Greg (1) has a new right hand man and Greg (2) from Vermont just looks like he was born to be a rancher. Together they continued to build the huge barn door s that have been an epic project, contributions to said doors have been made by several of our recent WWOOFER volunteers and I am happy to say that one door nears completion.
One hole ( that was dug and duly filled in, a ranch tradition) in the barnyard resulted in a broken irrigation pipe which caused (yes, you have guessed it !) yet another hole to have to be dug. The rusting old Case Backhoe rumbled out of extinction and Greg gave Greg (2) the opportunity to operate the bucket and help dig the hole to find the hole (?). Clearly Greg (2) was overly enthusiastic and the hole became a little (lot) larger than required or wanted. Happily the "no blame policy" applied and just meant that there was more to fill in !
We'd like to welcome Greg (2) to the ranch family and hope that his time with us leaves him with happy memories.
Time to get this entry posted but before I do, I would also like to welcome son Dean and Carly's baby, Gabriella Poppy into the world. Congratulations !!!
Take care and keep safe and warm. M
The aroma of apple and cinnamon baking in the stove cheered me up as the rain still fell and the cuckoo clock advised me that it was 3.30pm and time to venture down to the barn for the evening shift. Simultaneously, the rain fell, the wind blew, sun down was early ( mainly because there WASN'T any sun !!!) our new WWOOFER volunteer, Greg, e mailed to advise he was on his way . Jerry the blacksmith arrived to shoe Player the gray gelding and proceeded to park his trailer in the front of the barn. Unfortunately the old farm tractor, no friend of the cold winter was parked just behind the barn door obstructing access for the blacksmith's trailer, just to add insult to injury, Jerry's truck was unknowingly blocking access to the ranch truck which was designated to retrieve the newest WWOOFER from Purdie Park and Ride. Just as my panic level reached critical.....Tim's little blue car appeared through the evening gloom to return Tonto the Peruvian Paso to his stall......which was currently blocked by the shoer, the tractor the farm truck and a big grey horse standing on 3 legs. Chaos didn't seem to adequately describe the barnyard dodgems as Jerry moved his trailer to give Greg's Truck access to the road, I moved the tractor to give Jerry access to the barn, Tonto was safely maneuvered into his stall..... and WWOOFER Greg called to advise he was currently waiting in the rain at Purdy Park and Ride.
All's good and back to normal on Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch, the rain stopped falling and Greg (no 2) has settled into life on the farm. It's actually quite ego building....I shout for Greg and I get two responses.....what more could I ask ? smile. Greg (1) has a new right hand man and Greg (2) from Vermont just looks like he was born to be a rancher. Together they continued to build the huge barn door s that have been an epic project, contributions to said doors have been made by several of our recent WWOOFER volunteers and I am happy to say that one door nears completion.
One hole ( that was dug and duly filled in, a ranch tradition) in the barnyard resulted in a broken irrigation pipe which caused (yes, you have guessed it !) yet another hole to have to be dug. The rusting old Case Backhoe rumbled out of extinction and Greg gave Greg (2) the opportunity to operate the bucket and help dig the hole to find the hole (?). Clearly Greg (2) was overly enthusiastic and the hole became a little (lot) larger than required or wanted. Happily the "no blame policy" applied and just meant that there was more to fill in !
We'd like to welcome Greg (2) to the ranch family and hope that his time with us leaves him with happy memories.
Time to get this entry posted but before I do, I would also like to welcome son Dean and Carly's baby, Gabriella Poppy into the world. Congratulations !!!
Take care and keep safe and warm. M
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