Margie's Ramblin'
Farewell for Now By
Margie Taylor
Hello again,
I'm afraid you're stuck with me this Month for one last time. As
you read this Lil'Bob and me will be back home in Bonnie Scotland.
Robert will be on top of a roof instead of a horse, and I will be
smothering my grandchildren in kisses and huggles (cross between
a hug and a cuddle).
You would not
believe all that has happened since my last blether with you, but
the days have gone by much too fast. There have been four new baby
calves born. We had the pleasure of naming the first one, so because
he is feisty little redhead we called him 'Wee Hamish,' a real Scottish
name. The second calf has been named 'Wee Bobby' after Robert, which
he is really quite pleased about (although he won't admit it to
anyone).
Also this month
we had another real special birth,The Boss Lady's horse, Punami,
had a gorgeous colt. He has been named Cracker Jack, Jack after
his Daddy and Cracker because he definitely is a wee cracker. Unfortunately
we missed the birth as we were away for a few days but we took lots
and lots of photos when we got back. Watching them together is amazing.
Cracker Jack is so frisky and Punami is just the best Mammy. The
Boss Lady says there never have been so many births so close. It
must be the Scottish fertility influence (as if we Scots all do
nothing but run around barefoot having bairns all the time).
We have had
a few more big chaotic parties, all going really well, and the weather
is getting quite warm now. It's great watching everyone play cowboy
games on the Ranch in the beautiful sunshine. Robert has been teaching
axe throwing to the guests, who compete against each other throwing
axes at a target of logs. He had to learn himself first of course
but by now he really is quite good. It's pretty funny to watch though,
if you can imagine a 5ft 6" bald Scotsman dressed as a cowboy throwing
tomahawks just like a Comanche, you'll just about get the picture.
We have had
the chance to spend some time with guests on trail rides. A lovely
family from North Carolina were a great example of how welcoming
and friendly everyone here at the Ranch is and how the wranglers
and the horses make everyone feel at ease. The family was Mum and
Dad and two little girls, Kaitlin and Kelly. Now the girls and dad
had ridden quite a bit before but mum had been thrown from a horse
about two years ago and was quite apprehensive about just getting
on again. So off she went on the trail ride with a worried look
on her wee face, but next time I saw her she was in the arena penning
cattle with her man and her girls, with a great bit smile on her
face.
After dinner we all sat around the campfire chatting and roasting marshmallows. They said of all their two-week vacation, the day they spent here at the Ranch together as a family was the time they loved and will remember the most. Being part of the Ranch helping make people feel like that is amazing. When they have such a great time it makes you feel so proud. We have also had a couple of weddings making me cry (again!), and a few visitors from the U.K. (who can't quite believe their ears when they hear a Scottish accent so far away from home).
Oh! And I nearly
forgot about this one. We have quite a few visitors coming to the
ranch to be 'cowboy for a day' which is basically doing everything
a cowboy would do in a day's work on a ranch -- trail rides, cattle
penning, cattle drives through the desert, etc. This day all the
wranglers were waiting for their 'cowboy' to arrive anticipating
the long hard day ahead, when their 'cowboy' turned out to be a
5ft 5" blond 'cowgirl' called Amber. It was hilarious! You've never
seen cowboys move so fast straitening up and showing off, all except
for my wee man who was just his usual cheeky self (when I wasn't
looking anyway).
I had a wonderful
birthday on March 6th with a surprise party in the Ranch House arranged
by everyone, especially my wonderful friend Colleen. If you remember
I mentioned her in last month's Ramblin's. She is from New York
with a little Irish thrown in. You just know when you meet the special
people in your life and Miss Colleen Patricia O'Conner is one. She
is a breath of fresh air, whizzes around like a little tornado doing
everything that need's doing from cleaning to office work, always
happy, even when maybe some days she doesn't feel like it. She has
been my partner in crime, my best friend, my inspiration and my
big sister all rolled into one. I love her with all my heart and
I will miss her more than she will ever know.
Before I say
goodbye, I would like to give you a wee Scots lassie’s perspective
on some people here at the Ranch who have made us feel like we belong
and who we can never thank enough.
You have read
Mike O’Neil and his Barn Goddess Janice’s Ramblin’s,
well they are two of the nicest people you could ever meet.
JANICE.
Janice being the trail boss has been more Robert’s boss than
mine so he could tell you more about her than me (but he still refuses
to speak). I think it’s because I’m taking him home
away from his beloved ranch and his horses.
He has never had a woman boss before, but he has so much respect
and admiration for Janice it’s unbelievable, though thoroughly
deserved. She is absolutely amazing, 5ft nothing with a figure more
like an 18 year old than a ‘cough cough’ year old (She’ll
kill me for that one!) And a finer horsewoman you will never see.
She was born to be doin’ what she is doin’ and it shows.
I just can’t imagine her any place else.
MIKE.
Mike is, well, Mike is Mike, one of a kind. He has to be seen to
be believed. He’s a man of few words, except when he gets
mad (which I haven’t seen too often, thank goodness). If you
can imagine the coolness of John Wayne with the fiery Irish temper
of Maureen O’Hara then you’ve just about got it. Robert
and me just love the guy. He’s just like every real cowboy
from the old old west you’ve read about or seen in movies.
Doesn’t say hi just nods his head and grunts, can rope cattle
like you’ve never seen and when he rides his horse Jack he
just looks amazing. He tells wonderful stories (if you can get him
talking, he’s a bit like Robert that way) of cattle drives
through the mountains with old cowboys. You can see the love of
the old west just shining in those Irish eyes, that and the love
of his Barn Goddess. It has been a privilege to meet and spend time
with this man. One look and you just know he deserves to be called
a true cowboy. To him and Janice we will always be grateful for
all the time they have spent with us and for sharing their home
and lives for these past few months.
MARILYN.
This whole journey for us would not have been at all possible if
it weren’t for this lady. So I’m going to take this
opportunity to thank her soooooooooo much (and if she edits this
I will have her shot!!!).
She is now our very very special friend and I know she knows we
love her with all our hearts.
From the very beginning of S.V.R. she has been in the ‘memory’
business, creating so many special memories for everyone who passes
through these gates, and the memories she has made possible for
us to treasure are priceless, as is her friendship, which we will
cherish forever. The two words Thank you just aren’t enough.
To her and her Boy Toy Scotty for giving so much and for the inspirational
look of love in their eyes every day, we will remember always.
So a final farewell to
everyone at S.V.R. till we meet again, be it where the coyotes howl
or the haggis fly!
Our love and thanks always and forever.
MIKE & JANICE
:- “Mumble mumble mumble”
DAVE :- “SVR’s very own Sam Elliot”
BOB :- “ Captain Morgan with a ponytail”
ANDY :- “ Oh My Goodness”
CLIFFORD :- “ Tequila Tequila tequila, Floor”
MARK & LISA :- “ Ahhh ,Young Love”
BOBBY C :- “ Fancy a bud? “
KYLE :- “Little Elvis “
MIKE GAY :- “Are there any Gay’s in Scotland? “
ANDREA :- “Come home and cook for us pleeeeeeeeze”
COLLEEN :- “ Gordy Gordy Gordy, or Where’s the little
one ? “
SCOTTY :- “ Come fly with me, let’s fly let’s
fly away “
MARILYN :- “We LOVE you guys”.
ROBERT
AND MARGIE TAYLOR.
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