Hey ya’ll!
It’s been a while, I know! Hope everyone is happy and healthy these days. Looks like COVID is here to stay, and everyone is just learning how to cope, as we do with the Flu and the likes.
We have been very busy at the Ranch all this past year, and the New Year doesn’t seem to be starting off any different!
We had a crazy, non-conventional (at least for most) calving season. Well, I don’t know if we could actually classify it as a ‘Season’, since they were kinda born all year long, lol. We started having babies hit the ground in May, and we just had our last one almost two weeks ago! I know, I know…..that’s crazy, right!?
Different things just took place, and well, it just be that way sometimes. But, I definitely do NOT recommend doing it that way.
Anyway, we have decided to sacrifice a season to get ourselves back on track. Our new Bull (Rocky) had his first crop in 2021, and our old bull (Mr.T) bless him, had his last. We have decided to hold ole Rocky out until April at which time he will be put back in with his girls to ‘do his thang’. He’s not all that happy with the memo, but hey, we gotta do what we gotta do!
So, John and I had some visitors this week. Our Son and his family are moving from San Diego to Virginia, and they stopped off at the Ranch to spend a few days with us. We were so blessed to have them and the Grandkids here for a couple days. It was the first time they had been here, and we were so excited!
Paw-Paw and Grandma were just as excited as they were, I think, to help them explore the Ranch and find out what it’s all about. We fed the bottle calf, we rode the horses, helped Paw-Paw feed the cows, and helped Grandma put out hay on the tractor. We wrangled a chicken and learned about how they give us all of our eggs we had for breakfast.
They learned that the animals get to eat before we do, and that some of the animals get fed twice a day, and some only get fed once a day. They learned that we don’t walk behind the horses, and we use our ‘inside voices’ outside when we’re feeding the calf so we don’t spook her. Everyone got a chance to hold the bottle and experience the tuggin’ and pullin’ firsthand. It was all smiles and giggles.
The sandbox had some frequent visits from the little hands that were eager to create. As a child, I have vivid memories of my brother and I spending countless hours in our sandpile, and the thousands of roads and hills we built for our Tonka Trucks, and pastures for the plastic horses and other farm animals.
I feel so blessed to have grown up on a farm and feel somewhat sorrowful for those who have never gotten to experience that kind of life. Because of that, John and I host an Annual Fall Party at the Ranch and invite friends and family to come out with their families so that they and their kids can have the Ranch experience, and we love every minute of it!
The Grandkids, unfortunately, had to finish their trip to Virginia as of last night, but will be returning again in two weeks for a few more days! We are already planning out what we will be doing! We definitely want to plan some fun but educational activities.
Our daughter and her son will be visiting in a few days too from Delaware. We are also excited to have them here for a few days. They have been before, but our Grandson is a little older now, so hopefully he will get to appreciate the animals this trip. He has been learning the names of farm animals and the sounds they make, and Momma has taken him to petting farms, so he is somewhat familiar and is armed for his visit!
One of my favorite things about the Grandkids visiting, is they also have the opportunity to visit with one of their Great Grandmas (my Momma) who happens to live next door to us and is a large part of the everyday function of the Ranch, especially when I am working my full-time job at the Fire Department! She is a perfect example of what a strong woman is, as she is in her 70’s and still gets out and feeds cows and horses.
Lady, our family dog and ‘cow dog’ was in heaven with all of the attention and little hands petting her, and oh yes…..I did find the treat bag almost empty lol.
We have two other children, John and I, and we can’t wait for them to tie the knot and give us more grandbabies! Hopefully, they will all settle somewhat close, at least close enough to be able to take a long weekend to visit!
It’s an exciting time when kids are young and impressionable, and you are able to subject them to real-life adventures that teach them about survival, morality, respect and hard work, and what better place than a Farm or Ranch!
Do ya’ll have Grandkids? Have they had the opportunity to visit a Farm or Ranch? Do they already live on one? What experiences have you had with that, and what suggestions do you have for life lessons that can be taught in a fun way on the Ranch? I would love to hear your suggestions and stories! Leave me comments here!
Well, I promise not to be so long before I post again. Things have been busy at the Fire Department too, so I will try and post about that too!
Until next time! Be Safe and be Blessed!