Mother Nature got it all right today ! All around the Ranch angry black clouds hung heavily in the sky but wall to wall sunshine flooded the barn illuminating huge cobwebs that had been woven under cover of the Winter gloom. The barn critters, stifled by day after day of wind and rain cautiously ventured out of their warm dry pens and in the pasture the old guys, T Bone and Cooper kicked up their heels and galloped like Spring colts. The lambs sunbathed and the cows contentedly soaked up the sun whilst industriously mowing the lush green grass. On the pond, the returning pair of Canada Geese have reclaimed their exclusive spot of real estate on the island. Momma goose is lying deep and low in the feathered nest and poppa goose is busily keeping a protective guard, never straying far from the island nursery. Gertie the confused goose thankfully appears to have accepted the inevitable and swimming serenely on the glassy water with her feathered mate it seems that her infatuation with Quest the giant Shire is over.
Today was Ruth’s first day on the ranch. Ruth is our new woofer volunteer. We would like to extend a huge welcome to her and hope that she comes to love our ranch family as so many volunteers have before her. If our new WOOFER had concerns or misapprehensions about joining us, it was not apparent and Ruth enthusiastically took part in every activity in a very busy day. Clearly not intimidated by old T Bones “food NOW” face, eager to master the art of milking Daisy May the cow and Alicia the goat and confident with the huge gentle Shire horses we hope that Ruth’s first farm experience will give her very happy memories.
Possibly a slight hiccup in an otherwise very positive first day was Ruth’s first tractor lesson. In her defence, it has to be said that it was her first experience of manual transmission and clearly the largest vehicle that she has ever driven. I guess it also has to be said that Greg about had a serious medical experience as our young WOOFER was heading on a collision course with the water hydrant outside the big barn door. Oooops !!! Apparently it was very nearly a close call with the “no blame policy”. Smile.
The afternoon’s project was creating a chute system to release the formation eating team (aka the sheep) from their Winter confinement. Wiley Coyote and Edgar the Eagle have been keeping a very attentive eye on the lambs and we have been cautious to grant them a free meal but the ewes have been anxious to get out onto the Spring grass. Letting them out will be relatively easy…..getting them back in may be a little more difficult !
Time to go, brother John has arrived, all dressed for a day at the farm. Ruth is ready and waiting and the cuckoo has spoken. Take care, keep safe, M
Today was Ruth’s first day on the ranch. Ruth is our new woofer volunteer. We would like to extend a huge welcome to her and hope that she comes to love our ranch family as so many volunteers have before her. If our new WOOFER had concerns or misapprehensions about joining us, it was not apparent and Ruth enthusiastically took part in every activity in a very busy day. Clearly not intimidated by old T Bones “food NOW” face, eager to master the art of milking Daisy May the cow and Alicia the goat and confident with the huge gentle Shire horses we hope that Ruth’s first farm experience will give her very happy memories.
Possibly a slight hiccup in an otherwise very positive first day was Ruth’s first tractor lesson. In her defence, it has to be said that it was her first experience of manual transmission and clearly the largest vehicle that she has ever driven. I guess it also has to be said that Greg about had a serious medical experience as our young WOOFER was heading on a collision course with the water hydrant outside the big barn door. Oooops !!! Apparently it was very nearly a close call with the “no blame policy”. Smile.
The afternoon’s project was creating a chute system to release the formation eating team (aka the sheep) from their Winter confinement. Wiley Coyote and Edgar the Eagle have been keeping a very attentive eye on the lambs and we have been cautious to grant them a free meal but the ewes have been anxious to get out onto the Spring grass. Letting them out will be relatively easy…..getting them back in may be a little more difficult !
Time to go, brother John has arrived, all dressed for a day at the farm. Ruth is ready and waiting and the cuckoo has spoken. Take care, keep safe, M
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