The Ranch 2015-2019

May 24 2019

I had a good walk this morning, out to the road, to the highway, and then back to the ranch, Jerry’s way.

And one of the ranch dogs, Scarlet, came with me round trip. It was so much fun. She’d trot beside me for a few seconds then tear off to chase rabbits, always looking over to check that I was still in sight. She was such a great entertainer.

By the side of the road.

There were several mirrors along the winding road.

Some of the olive groves against the surrounding mountain. All the trees were heavy with little rice crispy-sized buds so there should be quite a harvest.

One of the olive trees along the road.

Peter Cottontail, in camo!

I missed two years so I wasn’t there for the Grand Opening of this, the new kitchen. Awesome, right. Good thing too because we have a full house of 32 guests, some number in high-chairs.

The joy, the delight and goodwill I felt in this new space cannot be overestimated.

We used to prepare similar feasts in a space one-fifth the size with generations of things stashed high in every imaginable space. Man-o-man was I happy to find all these open counters.

Lena, Dennis, Daniel, Rita, Bill, Carl, Bonnie, David, Ben, Marijke, Naomi, Jerry

After dinner I took one last turn…

…for the serenity of The Ranch.

May 25 2019

Always nice to start off with a flower.

The extensive storage buildings are full of treasure, like this sign: The Busted Knuckle Garage, Repair and Disrepair Under One Roof.

For Sale..Want It?

The grasslands that haven’t been mowed this year are as high as an elephant’s eye. There have been more cows here, more horses, but now the commercial use of the property has turned to renting the houses separately and in total for holiday makers, visitors to Pinnacles, conferences, seminars, etc.

Business has been good at the R & G Ranch Stay.

I, walking, Samara, running, she passed me Five Times.

It is a ranch here at The Ranch with barns full of hay, tractors, implements I didn’t recognize, and a couple of big horse trailers.

We had five adorable children this year and I got lots of chances to carry babies around and show them lights and flowers and mirrors.

The parents were excellent fun too so yay for that.

Dusty and Jessie have Connor and Tucker. Lena and Daniel have Jack. Robbie and Roscia (sp?), friends of Dusty and Jessie, have two kids. All Boys.

Connor and Tucker both have nearby birthdays, first and third, and everyone enjoyed the party with singing and cupcakes.

Dusty, son of Barbara and Jerry, our hosts and owners of this fabulous property, and Dusty’s family Jessie, Connor, and Tucker.

Jessie’s facebook.

Jessie’s mom and dad Joan and Gary come too.

Jessie’s facebook.

Bob is Jerry’s brother here with his family David, Lena, Daniel, Jack, Marijke.

The roses were going nuts this year because of the rain, as were all the flowering plants.

A welcoming front door. There are eight similarly welcoming accommodations.

May 26 2019

There’s always someone who will ‘walk around’ with you. Here’s Lew, Ben, Bonnie, Naomi, Lynn.

Lewis and his daughter Samara. Sandy was having a separate and splendid time in Ireland. We miss you Sandy!

Another go at the kitchen.

Let’s see..Lina, Jerry, Hao, Ben, Bob, Lynn, Mark, Naomi Marijke, David, Michael, Carl, Lew. I was beside Bonnie when she took this picture.

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For fun I’m counting the guests. The grandbabies, their parents, and their friends=11. Me, B-J, B-B-M, C-L, L-S, N-D, B-M-D, B-R, M-H, and Jessie’s parents. That takes us to 32 and I sincerely apologize if I missed someone!

Talent Show Night!

Oh my goodness yes, the Sassy Sisters, Barbara on drums, with the singing dancing chorus performing Me and Bobby McGee. We were awesome…dang I do wish I was looking over those glasses…

Barbara, Bonnie, Naomi, Lynn, me

There’s Jerry in the foreground making a video of one of the other fine performances. You can also see Rita and Bill who made really interesting contributions.

Lew was the MC, a roll he was born to.

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September 2 and 3rd 2016

I drove up to The Ranch with Ben (Bonnie was already in Berkeley) arriving Friday night. I usually get a nice picture of the Shabbat candles and singing and the sharing of the challah, but not this time, because we have a baaaaaby! YAY Baby Connor!

Saturday morning I took a stroll around…

…to see the alpaca, and there are llamas too…

…and a long path of interesting historic farm implements.

A view of the basketball court and the barn. You’ll see more of the barn later.

My front door.

A few gathered to put lunch together.

Lynn, Rita, Sandy, Barbara, Naomi

Barbara and her first grandchild, the His Cuteness himself, Baby Connor!

Jerry moves this howler around for the entertainment of his guests…

…and likes people to notice this guy far in the distance.

A real cow.

You saw the outside of the barn, and here we have a small clip of one room on the inside. I’m standing on the stairs that lead to the loft of 15 or so beds for when there are a lot of kids.

And this is one corner collection. EVERY corner has a collection.

That’s Baby Connor’s mommy when she was much younger!

The welcome gate…

…and how it looks from the back.

Happy Trails!

Our Jerry whose identity is now ‘Conner’s Grandpa’.

Conner’s Grandma Barbara, keepin’ the beat.

May 22 2015

Driving up the I5 on my way to The Ranch!

You can find prior visits at The Ranch 2009-2013

Often it is so dusty and nasty with agricultural detritus darkening the sky but today it was nice.

I let my new car and its new gps take me to The Ranch. It took me through Oklahoma.

It also bypassed all towns for 100 miles as I zigged and zagged turned left turn left turn right turn left. I had No idea where I was!

Jerry and Barbara painted on the side of the first barn. Welcome to The Ranch!

(Dog details forthcoming…)

(More.)

Let’s have a little Shabbat before Friday dinner.

May 23, morning

I walked up to the main road with Bonnie.

Turning toward the ranch road, here we are at the entrance…

…and a little further down the road is the barn with the picture of Barbara and Jerry painted on the side.

Bonnie and Ben in the olive tree groves, home of the award winning Oils of Paicines.

One of Jerry’s many entertainments placed strategically around the property.

More, with a reflecting edge to catch your headlights in the dark.

The hiking trails from the road.

May 23, afternoon and evening

Lunch today was up at the top of a very Very high hill, Mountain really. It used to be that 10 or so people would walk up and the others would ride. This year 5 walked and I was among them.

Sincere thanks to my fellow walkers for being so kind and gentle despite me being sooooo slooooow.

Not there yet, up up up! And then I walked down.

Say Jerry, say I, may I please have some gas? Sure he says, this being the result of my new gps bypassing all towns for 100 miles.

After another fantastic dinner it was Show Time. Everyone did a bit but the hit was Barbara’s drumming and her…

…all girl Dancing Queens routine. Wow, Fun and then, after the show…

…we immediately watched it 3 more times and it’s on youtube for your viewing pleasure.

May 24

Llamas and alpacas waiting for breakfast.

Barbara is doing another round of construction projects.

She’s totally re-doing that pink house in the background where a caretaker had previously lived, and she’s also building from scratch a huge new kitchen and dining area large enough for fifty guests. And a real library too, to hold their ever growing collection of books.

The Ranch is as much an Art Project as it is a ranch.

Because of the drought the bobcats are coming down into the ranch and eating the peacocks. They lost so many that they’ve brought the survivors into a caged area.

It was hard to get a shot through the two layers of mesh.

Sunday night = BBQ Night and another feast.

May 25

Ben is cracking the farm fresh (This farm fresh) eggs for a delicious breakfast frittata. Jerry made two huge trays eaten, with gusto, by the various guests who wander in for breakfast throughout the morning.

Some of the olive trees of the ranch that make up the award winning Oils of Paicines. You can order off their website at oilsofpaicines.com and they have a facebook page called WeLoveOliveOil.

We had an organized mixed doubles table tennis tournament. I said I’d play if they needed another girl but since they didn’t…

…I just took some pictures, here of the winners of the big grand finale.

It was an excellent idea and fun for all.

Farewell, it’s been Swell!