It snowed !! Tiny little icy white crystals floated from the sky……and there is CHAOS out there in the real world, spin outs, rear enders and abandonment ..and that was all by 6am. Here on the ranch, changes in the seasons and changes in the weather don’t get us too excited. Each season gives us different challenges but the livestock don’t forget to eat / drink or poop ‘cause it’s cold….though the chickens do appear to forget that they are obliged to provide eggs in exchange for food. Egg production has dropped to an all time low and according to chicken guru Ginger,there is no significant decrease in grain consumption. Apparently it is too cold to lay….but not too cold to eat, Ginger has had harsh words for the indolent birds, it would be advisable for our feathered friends to ramp up production…Ginger loves chicken soup ! . Yesterday I watched from the kitchen, warm and dry as the reserve team went to work. Wood smoke hung in the sky, a lazy grey curl hanging above the barn kitchen and the composting manure pile quietly steamed. Horses, warmly blanketed were taken out to the pastures white with ice and snow. Hol-ley’s, first experience of the fluffy flakes was met with caution, little white crystals settled on her nose, initially pensive, suddenly she erupted into a faultless imitation of a rodeo bull, bucking, twisting and bucking some more that little calf hurtled round her pasture in the falling snow. Poor Lamb Chop, no match for the power of the excited Hol-ley retreated to the field shelter and, up to his knees in warm dry bedding he safely waited out his pasture mate’s strange behaviour.
Poor Bran. Over the past few days the border collie has been enthusiastic for his milk bone treats but wasn’t actually eating them. I’m almost certain that, if there is such a thing as recreation, Bran was a man in his other life. Bran is a sulker. Leave Bran behind, give him a bath or even just forget that he believes he is number one and that dog will sulk. It isn’t a “ he’s a bit off” type of sulk, it is a full on I’m finding a corner, I’m turning my back and my ears will be flat on my head type of sulk and we are used to it ( that’s my reasoning for him having been male in at least one of his pre lives.) It hasn’t quite been the same over the past few days. The dog hasn’t eaten his treats and he has been strangely clingy and unusually dejected looking. Last night we examined Bran’s mouth and discovered that one of his canine teeth has apparently lost the battle, chewing just one boulder too many. One of today’s projects is going to be to find a vet that is open. Typically for our household, everything happens at the weekend or on a national holiday. What’s today ? ..a National holiday ! It is tough to think that the dog has a toothache, it must be bad if he isn’t taking his goodies !
Well, it is snowing again, the pond is already frozen over, looks really cold out there….think I will go and snuggle up in my “must have”, national craze ( so the advertisement says !) snuggle blanket. Take care, keep safe, M
Ps. Please visit the Hope for Georgia page and if you can find it in your heart (and cheque book) support the effort to help find money for research into Dravet Syndrome, we would really appreciate your support
Poor Bran. Over the past few days the border collie has been enthusiastic for his milk bone treats but wasn’t actually eating them. I’m almost certain that, if there is such a thing as recreation, Bran was a man in his other life. Bran is a sulker. Leave Bran behind, give him a bath or even just forget that he believes he is number one and that dog will sulk. It isn’t a “ he’s a bit off” type of sulk, it is a full on I’m finding a corner, I’m turning my back and my ears will be flat on my head type of sulk and we are used to it ( that’s my reasoning for him having been male in at least one of his pre lives.) It hasn’t quite been the same over the past few days. The dog hasn’t eaten his treats and he has been strangely clingy and unusually dejected looking. Last night we examined Bran’s mouth and discovered that one of his canine teeth has apparently lost the battle, chewing just one boulder too many. One of today’s projects is going to be to find a vet that is open. Typically for our household, everything happens at the weekend or on a national holiday. What’s today ? ..a National holiday ! It is tough to think that the dog has a toothache, it must be bad if he isn’t taking his goodies !
Well, it is snowing again, the pond is already frozen over, looks really cold out there….think I will go and snuggle up in my “must have”, national craze ( so the advertisement says !) snuggle blanket. Take care, keep safe, M
Ps. Please visit the Hope for Georgia page and if you can find it in your heart (and cheque book) support the effort to help find money for research into Dravet Syndrome, we would really appreciate your support
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