The sun shone over Gentle Giant Meadows ranch today, Old Glory and the Union Jack fluttered in a moderate breeze from the flagpole in the barnyard and the chickens in the pen scratched clucked and squawked under the watery Winter sun. In the pastures, the stormy winds and torrential rain have left their legacy in broken cedar branches, ancient maple trees have been uprooted and little creeks wend their way through the sodden earth. The sheep, heavily pregnant are content to linger close to the hay mangers, safe and dry in the big cedar barn....not so in the adjoining cow pen. Little Miss Bella, our Jersey Heifer and Sirloin our red Dexter steer have been confined since the untimely demise of Misty our beautiful Jersey Cow. Fences have needed repair, the weather has been wild and windy and Bella and Sirloin no longer have the guidance of their matriarch cow.....but nature has taken her course and hormones are rampant in the cow pen. Early this morning a gentle moo was detected as the ranch gates were opened.....by lunch time a frenzied look had come into little Bella's eyes and this evening beautiful Bella's hormones were clearly rampant, poor Sirloin had nowhere to run and quite clearly his message to his wanton stall mate was...."sorry....not me...I have a headache !!!!" Clearly it was going to be a sleepless night for anyone within five miles of the Ranch and I feel a phone call to "Wayne the man" (with the semen straws) coming on...like TOMORROW sadly.... we have another six months of Bella's hormonal sessions before nature's aid can come to our rescue !!
Tiger the ageing ginger tabby cat has discovered a new soul mate, Fiona the feisty little chestnut filly now infamous for her part in the recent "Great equine Escape" has accepted the furry feline as her new BFF ( Best feline friend). As the horses are bedded down for the night, warmly wrapped in their rugs, peacefully munching on their evening feed, Tiger our tabby tomcat appears from the shadows of the barn to accept his equine loving. Fuzzy muzzle meets fluffy feline whiskers and Tiger's purring and paddy pawing indicates his acceptance of the chestnut filly's attention.
Misty Moo the beautiful Jersey cow was part of our ranch family. Losing her and her unborn calf has been a very difficult start to the New Year but Life on the ranch goes on and each day brings new challenges which we are bound and determined to meet. We are thankful for the friends, family and ranch family that have helped and supported us both physically and mentally through these toughest of times. Life on the ranch can be unbearably tough....but, it can be so fulfilling. We love our life...Stick with us !
Take care, keep safe, M.
Tiger the ageing ginger tabby cat has discovered a new soul mate, Fiona the feisty little chestnut filly now infamous for her part in the recent "Great equine Escape" has accepted the furry feline as her new BFF ( Best feline friend). As the horses are bedded down for the night, warmly wrapped in their rugs, peacefully munching on their evening feed, Tiger our tabby tomcat appears from the shadows of the barn to accept his equine loving. Fuzzy muzzle meets fluffy feline whiskers and Tiger's purring and paddy pawing indicates his acceptance of the chestnut filly's attention.
Misty Moo the beautiful Jersey cow was part of our ranch family. Losing her and her unborn calf has been a very difficult start to the New Year but Life on the ranch goes on and each day brings new challenges which we are bound and determined to meet. We are thankful for the friends, family and ranch family that have helped and supported us both physically and mentally through these toughest of times. Life on the ranch can be unbearably tough....but, it can be so fulfilling. We love our life...Stick with us !
Take care, keep safe, M.
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