Rough and Ready - The Farm Life

Not long ago, I noticed an old email that I'd written to a dude ranch in Wyoming or Wisconsin ...

or Montana or Idaho.  I really don't remember where.  I was pretty open then.

"What I'd like is an opportunity to immerse ourselves in a ranch lifestyle..."

Where we can learn about and care for the animals without owning them.  Where we can live the ranch life for a bit.

In other words, can we borrow your life for a roadschooling smidge?

It's funny how things work out.  I only received one response from the Dude Ranches.  They probably all thought I was a nut case. Probably, rightly so.

But wouldn't you know it?  Within two months, we wound up at a farm in Rough and Ready, CA.  Smack dab in the midst of 61 quacking, flapping, neighing, bleating, barking, and meowing farm animals.

It used to be closer to 70, but we lost a a couple of chickens and ducks and one cat over the winter.  Farm life.

Let me write quickly so I can get the kids up for some plant love ... aka weeding.

A quick introduction to a few of the animals and especially for Krista-baby who wanted some photos to share.

 Tommy follows us everywhere but off the deck. He has been sprayed with water and pushed off the table numerous times.  He still insists his place is right in the center of all the action.  Wherever the boys are playing or working, he is there.

Sadie is one of the lovey dopey sisters who proves her worth daily by herding horses who neither need nor want herding.  She likes to rest near people so she can quickly flip onto her back in case anyone has a spare pat for her belly.

Sally is her sister.  Equally loving and dedicated to the task of herding reluctant animals, she is both a touch more dog-wise than her sister and a touch more immediately submissive in her presentation.  Both dogs know how to stretch it out.  Make themselves at home.  Chill.  They herd when they need to herd.  Rest when they need to rest.  And bark frequently during the in-between.

This is Gus.

And his friend, Dez.  Both of them are recovering from recent rattlesnake bites.  They are recuperating in the lower paddock.  It is the medical ward and reserved for recovering horses.

We used to use paddock for time-outs; when one or the other of us would need a break.  As in, "Go to the paddock!"  Now we don't.

This is Bow's (pronounced BO, short for Rainbow) nose.  We have learned that horses are very, very curious.  We have many pictures of their noses.

And Bow's eye.  He lives across from Gus and Dez, right by the main driveway gate.

We've been doing a long-term experiment with Pavlovian conditioning and bring him a carrot or an apple whenever we go through the gate.  Interestingly enough, I think it is working both ways.  He whinnies and comes to the fence when we arrive; we remember to bring his treats more regularly.

The first sunflowers.

The first reddish brown sunflowers.  I'm sure there is a proper name; I just don't know what it is yet.

The garden.  It looks like it does and not a tropical jungle because of Harry, a family friend who comes around to put his hands in the dirt every now and again.

This is Camille in the apple tree.  Camille spent her formative years bonding with Sadie and Sally and crosses easily between the canine and feline worlds.  Irreverent and graceless, she does absolutely what she wants when she wants -- including pouncing on any unsuspecting resting dog or cat.  She has recently re-discovered the advantages of human companionship and tracks us down for pets and playtime now.

Jenny scratching her bum.

And Lucy scratching her neck.

We've also learned that horses are very, very itchy.  With four legs on the ground and hooves instead of fingers, they get creative when it comes to scratching that itch.

Lucy and Maggie watching to discover if the new activity will translate into more hay for them.

And a boy in the apple tree. Can you find him?

While we've always been grateful for our find, consciousness to the real opportunity before us has taken a while to settle in.  This year, we'll take it on for real.   Roadschooling on the farm.

Last year we used and loved the variety, the personalities, and the multi-dimensional aspects of farm life.  This year we give.  We dig deep and give the best of ourselves to the animals, to the learning, to the home.  Ironically, of course, when we focus on giving the most, we end up getting the most.  Pretty rich deal.