I’ve noticed a pattern of late - it takes me about 12 hours to shift into Ranch Brain. Maybe it’s the drive, which feels a touch too long; or maybe it’s arriving to a trailer where there has clearly been a mouse party. Whatever the case, and whatever the funk I find myself in, I always wake up stoked to be here and awe-struck at the beauty of Hummingbird Ranch. The mornings are crisp and fragrant with the night’s remaining moisture; and the colors are saturated by the rising sun. Bluejays, doves, and songbirds chatter loudly over each other, occasionally punctuated with a turkey gobble or a donkey braying. It’s a lovely way to begin the day.
This is snake season in these parts, so I limit my walks with Charles to the shade of the tree-lined dirt road. Although the road is not the fully-immersive nature walk the trail is, it’s still enjoyable, and a reliable place to see a variety of critters. One of the longhorns was up close to the fence chomping grass in the cool shadow of a large oak, separate from the rest of the herd grazing in the meadow. She looked up as I walked by, bored.
As I approached our main gate, the infamous albino turkey leapt from the fence and raced away into the pasture, it’s black-spotted head barely visible among the high, already dried-out grass.
The neighbor has acquired a small black cow, and she/he is currently corralled in an enclosure next to the horses on the road. It has the sweetest black eyes and the most darling pink nose - I nearly risked possible snakebite to get close, but Charles dragged me away in the nick of time to continue his search for the perfect pee spot.
On our road walks we always visit the old donkey, and his even older horse companion. I brought them apples and carrots once, but neither of them had the teeth to enjoy them. No matter, they’re just as happy with ear scratches and sweet nothings about how gorgeous they are.
Not all the wildlife interaction is so touchy-feely. Chad saw five snakes - two of which were rattlers. Unfortunately, one saw the business end of his hedge clippers, and is now headless in the freezer…why? Because that’s what the YouTube man said to do. Sigh. He got a little caveman about the whole thing, and while Charles and I held each other in the trailer, Chad strutted around the barn with Duran Duran’s Union of the Snake blasting from his phone.
One of the things I’ve loved about Hummingbird Ranch is watching how much visitors love it. Emma came up from SLO one night with 6 friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. It was a perfect HR night with darts, drinks, laughter, and music.
They all camped overnight and met up back at the barn in the morning for coffee. I love that Emma is beginning to feel at home here.
On our last night, I took Charles for a walk down to lock the gate. The moon hung low, just over the foothills like a glowing, buttery orb. It was huge and radiated a warm, but powerful energy. I stood and stared at it for a long while. The ranch always provides these moments where I feel deeply connected to something larger than myself. Not a monolithic, traditional god, but a connectedness that resonates deep within. For me, that is the true gift of this place.
Hey Jen, Marla Ghere (Layer) here. Ran across your IG page. Congrats on your ranch, looks beautiful. I’m in Santa Ynez, would be fun to meet up with you two when you are headed north.