Our breakfast table lost a big smile this morning, yesterday we took our lovely French WOOFER back to Seatac and we hope and pray that she has her freshly bleached, meticulously scrubbed and poo free boots back on French soil. Our loss is going to be Alaska’s gain, our intrepid Camille is off to Alaska, hopefully with a little ( lot) less in her suitcase! Yesterday morning it looked like mission impossible when Camille smilingly ( always !!) produced a veritable mountain of what she hoped would fit in her backpack. A vacuum bag sucked out the air but couldn’t cut down on the volume. We pushed and we shoved but there was no way that her treasures were going to accommodate us and quietly fit. There was no alternative, re think and re pack ! A by now, very concerned looking French girl un-vacuumed the vacuum bag and the bag was placed empty into her back pack. Her mountain of belongings in two dishevelled piles were tucked rolled and folded into every corner nook and cranny, the vacuum bag was activated and Cammi bounced on top of her bag as every air pocket was emptied. The backpack must have made the lady on Icelandic air take a second look but all Cammi’s treasures hopefully made it back to France.
Our two remaining WOOFERS, a newly returned Quatre and current resident, Carla had a lesson in roto tilling on the tractor yesterday. Fortunately Quatre was paying attention and was in just the perfect spot to observe that the elevated bucket on Greg’s tractor was playing Russian roulette with a low hanging ( that’s Greg’s get out line) telephone cable. Apparently Quatra’s look of terror and frantic flailing of arms alerted Greg how close he was to a potentially very expensive and even more embarrassing disaster. Fortuitously, Greg was able to turn the incident into a tractor lesson on how NOT to roto till and on observance of potential pesky overhead cables that shouldn’t be there!
Edgar the eagle is apparently paying an inordinate amount of attention to our tiny lambs. Since his fast food chicken diner was closed to him he has unsuccessfully tested Gertie the confused goose for size on his dinner table and is now considering a-la- carte lamb. Sorry Edgar, not on our watch !!
The recent rays of sunshine has brought out the latent gardener in Greg and whilst busying himself with other matters ( moving poo from one place to another) Camille was given a crash course in the operation of a riding lawn mower. Face set with concentration and French determination, that little John Deere went through the orchard looking like she was on a Nascar course and winning !. Smoke trailing behind her (accidently left the choke on !!) she ploughed through the “growing as we watch” grass and hopefully(?) avoiding the hidden irrigation sprinkler heads. The orchard with it's trees beginning to bud now looks less like the Amazon jungle and ALMOST well maintained.
The whole team graduated from the training arena out on a little trail ride. Carla is excelling in her horse riding class and yesterday evening even experienced a little Shire horse canter. Seemingly canter wasn’t what was asked for but horse and rider were still together as they returned through the farm gates. Black Morgan gelding Roman, who has been the class super brat of late apparently co operated with Quatre who was more than happy to elevate him back up to honor student. Charm was, as usual, "beauty with a lot of attitude" but we have come to expect nothing more or nothing less from our resident smoocher.
Well, I believe it is time I moved these aching bones. It looks like the sun is beginning to shine. I’m sure I can find something I can do without getting in trouble….well, maybe not !!
Take care, keep safe, M