I hardly know where to begin….Spring has sprung, the leaves are “leafing” ( editors prerogative….?) and the buds are budding. The grass is growing as we watch and Mr. And Mrs. Canada Goose have returned to the ranch to do what they clearly do best. MJ Fox 13 meteorologist enthused about the rising temperatures…today was the warmest day of the year….but tomorrow and the rest of the week are going to be consistently wet adding inches of rainfall to our already record monthly total. Future Pacific NW residents will undoubtedly evolve with fins and gills !
The warm Spring sunshine brought out a very unfamiliar desire to work in the garden ( am I ill ??) and, having relocated the various gardening tools that I had apparently unsuccessfully tried to lose last Fall, I meandered through the thriving weed garden that had typically survived the ravages of Doris the matriarch Black Tail doe and her extended ….( and extended some more) relatives whilst my corn, lettuce, grapes raspberries etc….provided their breakfast / evening / night time smorgasbord. My raised strawberry beds weren't merely in distress, the decimated plants were needing life support and I was the one for the job. (sadly !!)
It may have been noticed that no mention has been made of Misty Moo our lovely VERY pregnant Jersey cow….that’s because our lovely pregnant Jersey cow is still just that, VERY VERY pregnant and overdue. Curious readers may wonder how we can be so certain, my response is definitive (and not very romantic ). Misty Moo didn’t wander off into the pasture with a handsome Jersey bull, Wayne the man arrived at 12.30pm. with a semen straw and the deed was done the calendar doesn't lie and yesterday was THE day. Greg and I spent the night sleepwalking through the barn waiting for the patter of tiny hooves which never came. Greg has just done the 5am check and the signs are there that a mini Misty is on her way ( just a LITTLE excited !!!)
We would like to introduce Baby Doll and Momma Bear our new arrivals on the ranch ( The woolly lady with the black face with a white spot is as yet nameless and awaiting inspiration) . Looking more like a bunch of Sasquatch than sheep they were introduced to our horrified Katahdin ladies and their startled lambs. Bernie the new yearling ram weighing about 160 Lbs joined Rodney the ram in the celibate man cave. It has to be mentioned, Rodney the ageing ram was less than impressed by the young upstart and courageously ( stupidly !) promptly challenged his existence. Happily the new comers have settled in to life at the ranch and by evening feed time, three big woolly butts were munching alongside their much smaller barn friends. Collecting the ewes and ram wasn’t without event ( is anything ever ?). Greg, WWOOFER Kevin and I were instrumental in getting them into the stock trailer which they clearly were determined not to do. Whilst Kevin pushed and Greg pulled one by one they were “persuaded” . Sadly (for me) the third big woolly ewe, with me stubbornly (stupidly) hanging on, elected to fly through the air like a cannon ball. Even more sadly for me…I didn’t fly….I HURT !
Kevin our young volunteer has become poppa to a tiny Soay lamb. Mom, Molly the blonde ewe is sadly willing but with a milky bar that never opened little “Shrimp” was struggling to survive and clearly human intervention is becoming inevitable. There is a very good chance that my farm kitchen will once again become an extension of the sheep barn….so much for my kitchen remodeling !All around the barn and pastures young Kevin is becoming familiar with the life of a farmer. Early mornings, late meals, inclement weather, birth and death are all an integral part of our life and our newest WWOOFER volunteer is happy to be part of it all. Thank you for your willingness to learn and your Enthusiasm to partake of any and all the ranch activities.
Time to go, take care, keep safe. M
The warm Spring sunshine brought out a very unfamiliar desire to work in the garden ( am I ill ??) and, having relocated the various gardening tools that I had apparently unsuccessfully tried to lose last Fall, I meandered through the thriving weed garden that had typically survived the ravages of Doris the matriarch Black Tail doe and her extended ….( and extended some more) relatives whilst my corn, lettuce, grapes raspberries etc….provided their breakfast / evening / night time smorgasbord. My raised strawberry beds weren't merely in distress, the decimated plants were needing life support and I was the one for the job. (sadly !!)
It may have been noticed that no mention has been made of Misty Moo our lovely VERY pregnant Jersey cow….that’s because our lovely pregnant Jersey cow is still just that, VERY VERY pregnant and overdue. Curious readers may wonder how we can be so certain, my response is definitive (and not very romantic ). Misty Moo didn’t wander off into the pasture with a handsome Jersey bull, Wayne the man arrived at 12.30pm. with a semen straw and the deed was done the calendar doesn't lie and yesterday was THE day. Greg and I spent the night sleepwalking through the barn waiting for the patter of tiny hooves which never came. Greg has just done the 5am check and the signs are there that a mini Misty is on her way ( just a LITTLE excited !!!)
We would like to introduce Baby Doll and Momma Bear our new arrivals on the ranch ( The woolly lady with the black face with a white spot is as yet nameless and awaiting inspiration) . Looking more like a bunch of Sasquatch than sheep they were introduced to our horrified Katahdin ladies and their startled lambs. Bernie the new yearling ram weighing about 160 Lbs joined Rodney the ram in the celibate man cave. It has to be mentioned, Rodney the ageing ram was less than impressed by the young upstart and courageously ( stupidly !) promptly challenged his existence. Happily the new comers have settled in to life at the ranch and by evening feed time, three big woolly butts were munching alongside their much smaller barn friends. Collecting the ewes and ram wasn’t without event ( is anything ever ?). Greg, WWOOFER Kevin and I were instrumental in getting them into the stock trailer which they clearly were determined not to do. Whilst Kevin pushed and Greg pulled one by one they were “persuaded” . Sadly (for me) the third big woolly ewe, with me stubbornly (stupidly) hanging on, elected to fly through the air like a cannon ball. Even more sadly for me…I didn’t fly….I HURT !
Kevin our young volunteer has become poppa to a tiny Soay lamb. Mom, Molly the blonde ewe is sadly willing but with a milky bar that never opened little “Shrimp” was struggling to survive and clearly human intervention is becoming inevitable. There is a very good chance that my farm kitchen will once again become an extension of the sheep barn….so much for my kitchen remodeling !All around the barn and pastures young Kevin is becoming familiar with the life of a farmer. Early mornings, late meals, inclement weather, birth and death are all an integral part of our life and our newest WWOOFER volunteer is happy to be part of it all. Thank you for your willingness to learn and your Enthusiasm to partake of any and all the ranch activities.
Time to go, take care, keep safe. M
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