Water, Wind, Wood, Work

The rain has been coming down in torrents. The wind has been gusting as much as 60 miles per hour! Last night the National Weather Service said 2-4 inches of snow would still be on the ground Thursday morning. I skeedaddled down to the Bay Area when I heard that. (I wasn't driving to work in awful weather this morning.) Another tree fell across Perry Creek in this storm. (PGE does no one a favor when they top those pine trees. They inevitably die.) Between the heavy snow in December, the rain this winter and these high winds, any weak trees still standing are coming down!

My oldest daughter, Alanna, and her boyfriend, Patrick, have been at the ranch the last few weekends. They worked hard to cut the downed trees and limbs, just the right size for a fireplace. Some were walnut trees that had to come out, others were oak trees that had to be removed to make way for the road and power to the new house. The orchard is looking downright cared for! Mom and Dad were up this past weekend, too. Dad sharpened chainsaws, Mom cooked great tasting meals. We even did some re-organizing in the barn!

It's so nice to have a warm and comfy house to retreat to after a days work. Still have lots to do.... but that's how it goes on a ranch. I'm looking forward to being together with family again this weekend. Never an empty to do list 'round here!

1901 - The Work Began

The hard work was harder back then. No machines to clear the land. No cars to drive to town on a whim. They grew their groceries. Our rancher/farmer ancestors had to work outside jobs to make ends meet, just like we do today. Our great grandfather rode a horse from Fair Play to Ione for work. Now that was a long ride! Check out our "Meet the Folks" page on our website, for more info on our family history.

Unlike many of us today, they were frugal. Maybe you had frugal grandparents, too. (I remember the smallest leftovers, carefully preserved in foil in the freezer to be put to good use the following day.) This is important when you try to eek out a living on the land.

They also knew the importance of family. There was the expectation of working together for the common good. Because of their willingness to work hard, the ranch stayed in the family. And when the work was through, there were family dinners, Grange dances, County Fairs, sleeping over at cousins down the road. The walnuts planted by Grandpa sustained my Grandma after his death. Those same walnut trees grew as their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren returned to the ranch at harvest time, picking the nuts from the ground all day long during harvest.

We all savor the memories of laughter, lots of it. Singing together: You Are My Sunshine, Barney Google, Pistol Packin Mama, Chickeree Chick, Mares Eat Oats, When You Wore a Tulip, etc. We savor memories of sleeping up in the attic at Christmas time and actually hearing the reindeer bells as Santa Claus approached. We savor memories of feeding the sheep and weeding the garden. And don't forget the joys of playing in the dirt!

Most of us connect to moments in time, and though we didn't live full time on the ranch growing up, I connect to those savored moments. The beauty of conifer and scrub oak. The quiet. The togetherness. And even the work.

My life long dream to live on the ranch took shape over decades of wishful thinking. It was time to dream with a purpose.