David and I are currently listening to Dr. Becky Kennedy's book, Good Inside, where she introduces the powerful concept of 'Two Things Are True.' In the context of the book, it relates to boundaries: parents can set boundaries, and kids can have their own feelings about them. Since learning this concept, I observe how multiple truths coexist in the world and within myself. This becomes particularly evident during the last week of April.
A long-term guest moves out of the Garden House, and the Deck House prepares to welcome new guests. When Milo asks if I would enjoy working on furnishing the Garden House, I respond with a resounding 'Yes.' My creativity flourishes when I'm immersed in physical spaces, and now I have the opportunity to work on the interiors of both the Garden House and the Deck House.
As I enter the houses, I deeply appreciate Milo's beautiful designs and the loving touch Lani infused into the houses each time she prepared them for guests during her five years on the ranch. Each house has its own unique personality, and it feels as though they are speaking to me, telling me what they want. I rearrange furniture, moving pieces to where they feel more at home. I forage in the barn, embracing Windermere's value of sustainability. I spend considerable time sorting and cleaning salvaged items and begin releasing things in the barn that are no longer needed. There is much more to do in this area, which we’ll share in our next newsletter!
After preparing the Garden House and Deck House and turning over the Bunk House for guests, I feel both delighted to engage in something I love and tired from the effort. However, when Zoe and Eric, the Alvarado-Peake family, and the Walsh family arrive, I am reinvigorated for the Garden Work Party on Saturday, April 27.
Our project involves weeding and clearing rocks to create a path for a dinner table in the garden where we can dine that evening and host future farm-to-table meals. We bring a grill from one of the guest houses to the garden, where each family provides their own items to be grilled. In addition, I make both a kale and potato salad with kale, mint, and parsley picked by Lisa from the Windermere Community Garden. David makes a mushroom pasta with foraged California Golden Chanterelles from Windermere.
We plan to have ice cream sundaes in the cute bowls I find and wash in the barn. However, as it gets colder in the garden, Ellen comes to the rescue with s’mores supplies she has in her car from a recent camping trip. We bring our gas fire pit down from Canyon Ridge, and the kids find sticks. It is such a delightful experience that we've since acquired a wood fire pit!
The next day we meet for hiking, rock climbing, fishing at the pond, and lunch at the picnic tables by the upper ponds, where we enjoy the ice cream sundaes we planned the night before. Sitting at the picnic table, I feel both sad that the Pages and Gaga are leaving and excited for their new adventures, while also cherishing the sense of community with the Windermere guests. Once again, two things are true.
Tuesday, as I say goodbye to Gaga, I jokingly say, 'If you want to know what comes between you and peace, move to a peace ranch.' However, my deeper learning while living at Windermere Ranch is peace can hold all of the truths.
I have recently had the profound privilege of bottle feeding our newest Windermere family member: Ricky Baker. A long-horn cow, then just a few weeks old.
I have been in love with cows for some time, after falling in love with a whole herd of dairy cows that were in a pasture next to where we stayed for a month. And since that life-changing experience, I have been looking for cows to love 🤣
So when David and Ashley told me that a baby calf had just been born, and her mother had rejected her and was needing to be bottle fed, I knew I was being divinely called to serve 👍 So I spent a couple of weeks tending to the animals morning and evening. And it was pure joy.
I got to feed Ricky by bottle and then by bucket, and get to know her Mama, her sister Delilah, and the steer of the herd: Clyde. As Ricky spends her time with the herd, I would wonder the property to first locate her, and then bring her her bucket of milk 😁
And I got to feed and fall in love with the goats too. OMG I spent hours playing with them. It was pure heaven.
Serving at Windermere, and getting to be on that land, is a privilege. I look forward to serving there in June. And hope to see you there 😉
~ Zoe
Photos & Videos
Enjoy these photos and videos from Windermere Ranch.
Album: June 2024, Part 1
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