Making Some Changes

 While Brett and I (and the animals) were evacuated and waiting to be allowed back home, we did a lot of thinking and talking about changes that we need to make given that we live in an extreme fire danger area and that we don’t want to move.  Despite the craziness, fear and discomfort of fire season, we love our little ranch and we love living in the mountains.  

The changes we discussed included downsizing our herd and getting an RV so we have a place to stay in the event of evacuation.  Finding a place to stay when you have three dogs with you isn’t easy.  We were very fortunate to be offered a place to stay, with the dogs, this time.  There are no guarantees for the future and driving out the gate, and past the police barricade, with no idea where we were going to sleep that night was very stressful.

Some of you know that I drove a little BMW coupe to work, as my commuting car.  I figured that if I had a long commute on winding country roads, I might as well have a fun car.  Besides, I’ve always loved those cars.  When I retired, it spent most of its time in the garage.  I hardly ever drove it.  When we evacuated, I parked it in the middle of the arena and prayed it wouldn’t burn.  Brett drove his truck and I drove the CRV.  Brett has never asked me to sell my car, he knows how much I loved it.  So, he was surprised when I suggested that we sell it and use the money towards a RV.  If we had a trailer, we would have a place to stay in the event of an evacuation.  And, we’ve always loved to camp so we could do that as well.  That first step is done.  We sold my car and put a down payment on a RV.  And, I don’t miss the car at all.  I wasn’t sad when I sold it.  Not for one minute.  I guess the BMW driving healthcare executive persona just isn’t me anymore.

The second thing we decided to do is to downsize our herd.  We can’t fit five horses in our trailer.  It carries three comfortably, four in a pinch.  We had time to move all five this time but that was unusual.  And, who wants to be in the position of choosing who doesn’t get out?  Not us.  

This past weekend, we took Luek down to his previous owner who lives on a huge cattle ranch on the Central Coast of California.  It was a very long drive, almost eight hours, but Luek trailered great.  He quietly munched his hay as we drove down the freeway and when we stopped for gas, he put his head out and let people pet him.  When we pulled up to the gate, he got very excited, stomping around and tossing his head.  He knew he was home.

His owners’ granddaughter asked if she could unload him and put him in the pasture.   Green grass!!  …and a 12 year old girl to fuss over him.  We feel so good about this decision.

Clearing the Lines

Oak Creek Ranch is in California, in the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills, in fire country.  When there is wind in the forecast, the power company shuts off electricity in areas at risk for fire.  That would be us.  The power is out for a day, if we are lucky, and a week, if we are not lucky.  When the power is out, we not only don’t have electricity for the refrigerator or lights — which is inconvenient but not life threatening — we also don’t have power to the well.  That means no water is pumped out of the well and no water is pumped from the well to the house or barn — or horse pastures.  A year ago, we purchased a humongous generator that powers everything: house, well, barn.  It runs on propane (and we have two tanks to provide it with fuel) and is hard-wired into the house.  A month ago, I was taking a shower when the power went out.  It was immediately pitch black.  I stood, water running over me, unable to see anything.  I was thinking, “how do I find my way out of the shower?” ...and then, with a roar, the lights came back on.  I thought, “best investment; ever.”

The electricity is not turned back on until all the lines have been checked by the power company and that takes a number of days.  Helicopters swoop low and PG&E trucks cruise up and down our roads.  Currently, contractors are trimming trees away from the power lines.  This morning, there was a knock on the door and a very polite tree trimming guy informed us that they needed to go into the girls’ pasture to trim one of the oaks that is too close to the lines.

We moved Lucy and Pistol into the donkey pasture.

They loved the new locale, with a soft, sandy place to roll in the dry pond bed and bits of green grass here and there.

The donkeys weren’t so thrilled.  But, they also weren’t about to argue with Lucy about it.

 

Fire at Gateway Farm

Yesterday a fire burned down a barn at Gateway Farm, killing one horse and injuring eight.  I don't think they know how it started; there was an explosion heard by neighbors but I don't know anything more than that.  There's a short video clip on this news report.
News report on the fire

Gateway Farm breeds flashy sport horses, spotted eventing wonders like Winston's Appaloosa sire, Wild Time Joker.

 Yes, Winston was born and raised at Gateway Farms.  Sandy Savage's wonderful mare, Releve, was also bred by Liz.

But, Gateway Farm is more than a sport horse breeding farm. There is also a long standing Pony Club (Liberty Oaks Pony Club).  Liz loves her horses and the kids.  Many of the horses are in their late 20s and even 30s and, when we visited, Liz introduced us to them with obvious love and pride.

The barn that burned was her main barn, containing her tack room and office, in addition to horse stalls.  Brett and I are going to sort through our boxes of unused tack and donate them to her for the Pony Club.  Here is a fund raiser link, if any of you are so inclined.