More rain and translation fun down on the farm !

Just for a change the Pacific North West is under a deluge ! The ewes and lambs remain huddled in the barn, trips to the water trough are carefully managed, avoiding the waterfall from the fractured drainpipe and hugging the barn wall under the shelter of the barn eaves. The horses have perfected the fine art of looking miserable and stand head down and ears back in the corner of the pasture, rain dripping from their waterproof rugs and occasionally switching resting legs as they wait for Summer. The chickens are in hiding and the cows secrete themselves under the shelter of the arms of the cedar tree. We are fortunate, our pastures, mostly sandy loam drain well and flood control is minimum…under normal rainfall conditions, this rain isn’t normal. Big brother John is smiling smugly, he and brother in law Malcolm were sentenced to ditch digging (and ditch filling in!)  earlier in the Winter and he is back, to watch the fruits of their labor (labour …Brit spell). Torrents of rain, driven by a front coming through Alaska….California..probably even China are falling, the pond banks are close to bursting and John and Malc’s ditches are flowing like the Mississippi, just how they were designed. All this rain/wind/snow/sleet/hail raised another English-French conversion discussion. Our young French WOOFER commented that “Il pleut comme vache qui pisse” which, literally translated caused our young lady to blush..and since I don’t use colourful language ( I might think it occasionally !) I am going to translate carefully…”it rains like a cow having a pee ( guess the exact translation !!). I guess it sort of makes more sense than “raining cats and dogs” but I probably won’t be trading cats and dogs for cows any time soon. Smile.

This morning a smiling Camille was told that I would like her to bring me her sheets to wash. The smile faded as she assimilated the given information. A hesitant and questioning …Maureen..we wash the SHEEP ?! followed. Time to break out the English/French dictionary.

Yesterday we welcomed Carla, our newest WOOFER, we hope that her time with us will leave her with happy memories. Welcome Carla. Now I have two house guests both beginning with C…..I know it’s going to be a challenge !

Katie the sheep with attitude had her lamb yesterday, a cute little ewe lamb arrived without drama to our rescue sheep. Currently in the bonding Pen she gave Carla the opportunity to give Katie a manicure  and to assist Greg in tending to the newest arrival to the brat pack.

John is still tucked away in the woodpile, happily unable to hear my Country music he is in a happy place with his earphones firmly under his silly hat. The wood pile is transforming on a daily basis and I’m sure that John sees wood rusty nails and a lump hammer in his sleep. Thanks John…it must be better than digging /filling holes !

Well, time to go and make the team some peanut butter cookies. Take care, keep safe and dry. M