This morning, we dodged a steady, consistent downpour ( loosely translated from MJ Fox 13 Meteorologist’s early morning weather prediction for “showers”) as dense grey clouds skittered across the increasingly gloomy sky. In the pastures, the skeletal branches of the giant Maple trees are being transformed as leaf buds unfold in a mantle of green and the Spring grass and a myriad of wild flowers and bothersome weeds have appeared from beneath the warming earth. I watched a tiny farm visitor, blonde hair forming tight curly wet ringlets around a petite elfin face intently searching through a little mound of grassy soil….a shiny black Darkling beetle, a slithering earth worm….a visiting Mason Bee and several buzzing Honey Bees rewarded her perseverance in the rain. When I wonder is it that we lose that adolescent enthusiasm and start to worry about being wet, dirty, smelly or all of the above ?
Annie and Malc are back home in the city, not too many miles from London, England and several thousands of miles from the ranch. I know that they are back in the life with which they are familiar, the buses, cars and people, the buildings and the scenery of England, my homeland…but I know that each time they return to the ranch, they leave a little more of their hearts behind in the pastures creeks and orchards that I am happy to now call…home. Miss you Annie and Malc….’till next time.
The flock of sheep, aka, “the formation eating team” have for the recent past been confined to the barn and adjacent field, pending the birth of their respective lambs. Today, as the rain formed puddles in the barnyard and the hole in the newly erected Chinese gutters dripped relentlessly into the overflowing water trough, our portly mommas, udders swinging and lambs at foot, headed out for their first day out in the pasture. No thanks to Bran the Border Collie..and despite the attendance of Luke the “wanna be” Australian Shepherd, all five ewes and nine lambs arrived in the belly high grass at the same time. The same cannot be said of their return to the sheep barn as the sun set this evening…invariably at least one lamb finds itself facing in the wrong direction as the flock races to be first to the feeder. A debacle ensued as the unfortunate, directionally challenged youngster collided repeatedly with the unyielding fence before, cornered by Bran and Greg he was returned to his unconcerned (busily munching) mom.
Well, another day is over, the animals are warm and dry in the big cedar barn, the cuckoo clock has told us it is bed time, the dogs are ready and the kettle is on. Time to wish you good night, take care and keep safe once again. M
Annie and Malc are back home in the city, not too many miles from London, England and several thousands of miles from the ranch. I know that they are back in the life with which they are familiar, the buses, cars and people, the buildings and the scenery of England, my homeland…but I know that each time they return to the ranch, they leave a little more of their hearts behind in the pastures creeks and orchards that I am happy to now call…home. Miss you Annie and Malc….’till next time.
The flock of sheep, aka, “the formation eating team” have for the recent past been confined to the barn and adjacent field, pending the birth of their respective lambs. Today, as the rain formed puddles in the barnyard and the hole in the newly erected Chinese gutters dripped relentlessly into the overflowing water trough, our portly mommas, udders swinging and lambs at foot, headed out for their first day out in the pasture. No thanks to Bran the Border Collie..and despite the attendance of Luke the “wanna be” Australian Shepherd, all five ewes and nine lambs arrived in the belly high grass at the same time. The same cannot be said of their return to the sheep barn as the sun set this evening…invariably at least one lamb finds itself facing in the wrong direction as the flock races to be first to the feeder. A debacle ensued as the unfortunate, directionally challenged youngster collided repeatedly with the unyielding fence before, cornered by Bran and Greg he was returned to his unconcerned (busily munching) mom.
Well, another day is over, the animals are warm and dry in the big cedar barn, the cuckoo clock has told us it is bed time, the dogs are ready and the kettle is on. Time to wish you good night, take care and keep safe once again. M
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