Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch
  • Home
  • "Almost" Daily Diary
  • Maureen's 60th Birthday Trip to England
  • Gertie and Quest: A True Story - The Book
  • Foresaken Love
  • The Gentle Giants
  • Photo Gallery
  • WWOOFER Program
  • John & Jean Hudson Wedding Nov 2013
  • Lambs
  • Poo Time
  • Memories of a New Cattle Rancher

Done!!!!!

7/25/2011

3 Comments

 
It’s going to be a short diary entry this morning…my volunteer deputy editor hasn’t yet surfaced from the bed, not a sound can be heard down below. The kettle remains cold and the toaster as yet unused. As I write, Leslie and Derek have appeared, ….so I am going to hand over the editorial reins to my Guest Editor Leslie, after I tell our missing ranch hand Quatre that we miss her. Take care Quatre, see you soon. M

Good morning! I’m Lesley, one of the volunteers here at Gentle Giant. Derek and I have been here since June 23rd and will continue working with Maureen and Greg until August 22nd. Every day so far has been a different adventure, but yesterday certainly takes the cake. We were bucking bales, which means that we were wandering around a 10 acre field throwing 50lb bales of hay onto trucks in the sweltering sun and heat all day! Greg said it would be the hardest working day of the year, and now I believe him.

          Although the description of our activities may sound miserable, we all had a great time. Heidi and Patrick, who should receive “Friend of the Year” awards joined us and helped keep attitudes positive. Holly, being the smallest and youngest of the crew was a tough, bale throwing superstar. Lift with your legs, perfect form Holly! Maureen and I took turns driving the truck and sweetly endured the tired workers yelling STOP! and GO! with no please or thank you’s. Derek took a turn driving at the end of the day, but will not be allowed to do that job next year. He kept stopping the truck for optimum photo opportunities, rather than optimum bale bucking, further wearing out the team…but he did get a few good photos and we found the energy to laugh at his antics. Greg, our intrepid leader on this mission lifted each of the 970 bales of hay twice over the course of the day. By the time we were eating dinner his hands were putty, but somehow this morning he seems ready for another day of intense physical labor.

          After the day was done Derek and I were so proud of our accomplishments. The whole barn was filled with almost 1000 bales of hay. This was definitely the hardest day of work that we have ever done together and it was a thrilling feeling. Thank you so much to Maureen and Greg to teaching us about being farmers. Someday we’ll have our own farm and it will be, in no small way, successful due to our time spent here at Gentle Giant.

          Some final thoughts: Quatre, we REALLY missed you while bucking bales. You need to be here next year. And finally, still no baby calves. Where are you babies?

GREAT job Lesley, thank you for taking up the editorial gauntlet!! Take care, M
3 Comments
Mom K
7/25/2011 02:44:51 am

Wow, Lesley! Not everyone can make such hard work sound like so much fun! But I can certainly underwtand why Quatre is so missed, Don't know if that was good or bad timing on her part. :-) The calves will come when they're ready, just like our babies do, the waiting is the hardest part. If you're there again next year, L & D, we will have to come and visit the ranch! We here in Maine are getting a reprieve from the heat wave of last week, today is in the high 7o's and may get up to the low 80's. Nice. Have a great week and hopefully the calves will arrive sooner than later...can't wait to see them! Love to all...

Reply
Quatre
7/25/2011 05:43:45 am

Aw wow I miss you all, too! I'm sad to have missed hay baling with all of you! I'm sure you all are buff and tan now. Fingers still crossed for the calves' arrival. Heavy rain and thunder swept into Seattle today. I hope the weather stayed good there.

Reply
Mom E
7/25/2011 11:18:27 am

Lesley, like Maureen, you wear many different hats....editor job, well done!
Oh where oh where are the baby calves?
Keep smiling...love to D & L ~

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Its me, Maureen, (the Boss)

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly