It’s the 4th of July and down in the barnyard I’ll still raise the Stars and Stripes as usual proving that us Brits don’t hold a grudge. It would have all worked out but we just couldn’t stand by and watch our tea being drowned in Boston Harbor, that was clearly the last straw. Here at Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch America and England live and work in peaceful unity, all memories of a turbulent past forgotten….most of the time !
The heat continues and horse baths have become routine…in retrospect, I think I should amend that comment…everyone has a bath ! After a long hot day out in the pasture the horses enjoy a long cold cool down and since I appear to have little control of the direction the hosepipe faces (accidentally?) Anna, Greg and Bran didn’t escape without a significant soaking.
Anna took to the water in the little white rowing boat, surely a welcome escape from the overwhelming heat in the barnyard. Her mission ? remove the blackberry bush that has miraculously established itself on the island in the pond. The island has been the nesting site for the Canada Geese that return to the ranch each year but the invasive weed has been overwhelming the island and needed to be cleared. Bran the Border Collie regretted his impulsive leap into the murky water when the smelly, algae covered dog was also sentenced to a good shampoo wash and brush up. Only Bran could look so miserable through the soap suds !
The turkeys continue to thrive, the last egg has hatched midweek and approximately 60 little turkeys are now happily chomping us out of house and home. The oldest turkey miraculously appeared to discover his gender overnight and now struts around the pen with his tail fanned and his wings dropped, apparently enjoying the admiration of his younger siblings.
The sound of an antiquated tractor chugging around the adjacent pasture has reminded us that it is once again haying time. The sunshine and heat has dried out the grass and we are on warning that about 900 bales of hay will once again lie in the field waiting for us to re home them in our barn. Any able bodied volunteers who would like to use/build up their muscles is welcome to come and help…..we will be VERY happy to see you. Thankfully MJ, Fox 13 meteorologist has predicted a dry weekend with lower temperatures. Hopefully she has got it right !
Well, our young Woofer Anna celebrates her birthday today, Happy birthday Anna. She has returned to Tacoma for a few days after a long hard hot week, enjoy your birthday Anna, see you next week.
Time to go, Take care, happy holiday, M
The heat continues and horse baths have become routine…in retrospect, I think I should amend that comment…everyone has a bath ! After a long hot day out in the pasture the horses enjoy a long cold cool down and since I appear to have little control of the direction the hosepipe faces (accidentally?) Anna, Greg and Bran didn’t escape without a significant soaking.
Anna took to the water in the little white rowing boat, surely a welcome escape from the overwhelming heat in the barnyard. Her mission ? remove the blackberry bush that has miraculously established itself on the island in the pond. The island has been the nesting site for the Canada Geese that return to the ranch each year but the invasive weed has been overwhelming the island and needed to be cleared. Bran the Border Collie regretted his impulsive leap into the murky water when the smelly, algae covered dog was also sentenced to a good shampoo wash and brush up. Only Bran could look so miserable through the soap suds !
The turkeys continue to thrive, the last egg has hatched midweek and approximately 60 little turkeys are now happily chomping us out of house and home. The oldest turkey miraculously appeared to discover his gender overnight and now struts around the pen with his tail fanned and his wings dropped, apparently enjoying the admiration of his younger siblings.
The sound of an antiquated tractor chugging around the adjacent pasture has reminded us that it is once again haying time. The sunshine and heat has dried out the grass and we are on warning that about 900 bales of hay will once again lie in the field waiting for us to re home them in our barn. Any able bodied volunteers who would like to use/build up their muscles is welcome to come and help…..we will be VERY happy to see you. Thankfully MJ, Fox 13 meteorologist has predicted a dry weekend with lower temperatures. Hopefully she has got it right !
Well, our young Woofer Anna celebrates her birthday today, Happy birthday Anna. She has returned to Tacoma for a few days after a long hard hot week, enjoy your birthday Anna, see you next week.
Time to go, Take care, happy holiday, M
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