UK Team Hard at Work

The rain is still falling over the Pacific North West. One moment the sky is clear and azure blue Eddie the eagle floats on the thermals……wishfully watching the chicken flock and the turkeys below. In the distance heavy black threatening clouds are moving ever closer and torrential rain is a constant threat. Far below the menacing sky, Gentle Giant Meadows Ranch is preparing for a busy and hopefully dry Farm Tour on Saturday. Sister Annie and her husband Malc are once again visiting from England and, more familiar with inner city life than our simple rural existence have enthusiastically thrown themselves into preparations despite wading through deep puddles, ploughing through mud and being virtually drowned in the constant heavy rain storms. Also currently visiting the ranch is Mom Sikora Greg’s mom who has returned to the ranch from the vastly different temperatures and climate of Albuquerque New Mexico. Always an inspiration, 92 years young, Mom Sikora still walks down the hill to sweep the stalls, help out in the barnyard and undertake ranch cook duties in the kitchen. In their different roles Annie, Malc and Mom have significantly helped with the preparations for the most  public day in the farming year. Malc has been sawing, stapling and hammering the cedar siding which has almost completely transformed the barn kitchen wall, just a few more boards and the transformation would be complete…..sadly time and the inclement weather has halted production at the saw mill for the immediate future and sadly Tyvek (house wrap) still covers a portion of the wall. Thank you Malc for working and smiling through rain hail and sun. Mom Sikora has busied herself with assisting Annie cleaning and sanitizing the barn refrigerator and kitchen area whilst struggling with sinking temperatures and darkening skies. Sadly, the prospects of sunshine and warmth in the immediate future are low to non existent but Mom is determined to make the most of her return to the ranch and we are more than happy to have the most senior ranch hand in the world back here with us. Clearly, age is just a number !! Welcome back Mom. Annie, in her Union Jack rubber boots is everywhere on the ranch. Apple morsels in her pockets and a smile on her face she splashes through the puddles in the pasture to greet Lady the huge Shire mare. Slice of white bread in her hand she whispers sweet nothings to Misty the golden Jersey heifer, buckets of chicken scratch and a basket over her arm she encourages the “ladies”  in the hen house and without hesitation she challenges Tom the turkey and his numerous and very vocal offspring in the turkey pen.

Today the UK girl team (  Annie and I) breezed through mountains of poop in the horse stalls (between rainstorms) and moved on to construction in the chicken pen (again between rainstorms). A system of  rope helps to support the net that serves to dissuade Eddie the eagle from his chicken takeaway visits but the weather and the years had caused it to collapse and it needed to be replaced. Our mission !!  I guess the rolls of nylon rope we were assigned had once been carefully rolled up but somehow yards of rope instantly converted into a bundle of knots….where were the ends ? The more we pulled and tugged the more tangled we got, the chickens were around our feet, the roosters checked us out and the dark clouds threatened. The chicken coop net is once again supported, knots were tied as directed and our net system successfully passed customer control ( Greg).

Only four days until the Farm Tour….So much to prepare…..we are looking forward to seeing you. Take care, keep safe. M