Special Correspondent

Chad flew a solo mission to the ranch over the weekend to have a couple of meetings and spend Easter with Emma. I asked him to write a little contribution to HR, please enjoy -

One Bloom

I have the privilege of writing a guest article for Hummingbird Rancher. Normally I’d say no, I’m not worthy, but in this case I feel more than qualified to opine on what Jenn has so eloquently begun to capture about the mood of this life changing adventure. A contrary departure from our known and all too familiar life in the Laguna Bubble.

Spring has sprung up here in the Central Coast as the picture I’ve provided shows - the actual first crown daisy bloom of a thousand to come.

Since we adopted the most neglected piece of land in our neighborhood, the journey hasn’t been easy. I tell Jenn all the time I’m trying to remove the “Haunted House” element from the property. We have a long stretch of roadside here on Hummingbird Ranch and we feel an obligation to maintain it for the residents on our country road - to make it look nice, after it has laid fallow and unkept for 5 plus years. When we got the property, it was grim. Thistle stalks, weeds, and dead trees lined our almost 1/4 mile of roadside. My grandpa had a small ranch when I was a kid - The Funny Farm - and he always told me, “if you mow it, the grass will come.” So, equipped with a battery operated weed whipper, I trudged through the weeds and thistle surely thinking a snake or varmint was going to send me to urgent care. After much effort and developing a nice case of tendinitis, the weeds have mostly given up and the grass has grown. We now have 1/4 mile of what I’d term “Amber Waves of Grain!” We still get seasonal weeds like everyone, but we now proudly have one of the nicest, most procured roadside properties on the road. Grandpa was right.

Improving the property has given me a real sense of purpose. Forty acres is a lot. Luckily, most of it is natural terrain, existing for all time as is and doesn’t need any attention. Still, the areas that need tending to, well there aren’t enough hours in the day. Jenn often complains I can’t sit still and take in the beauty, but I have to remind her, it wouldn’t be as beautiful without the efforts. 

Becoming empty nesters and going through Covid, I guess Jenn and I were searching for our next act. Having gone to UCSB I always had a fantasy of what lies north of Santa Barbara. The rolling hills, the oak trees..and candidly, my secretly-held fantasy of someday being a part of that environment and “playing cowboy.” That said, this has all been quite a personal departure from my normal sense of self. I pride myself on my surf heritage, and am a disciple of the New Wave/Ska/Reggae/Punk music scene. In fact, I have always despised country music, yet liked the boots, jean jacket, straw hat vibe - even before Yellowstone. Jenn turned me onto a music group called Watchhouse and I finally found a brand of country music that goes with the property, and when I’m up here, I “vibe” it and it just feels appropriate. All that said, I am truly a Green Horn up here - “look, there’s the poser whipping weeds by hand in trunks and boots” - I truly think the neighbors are taking photos of me for some country version of Kook of the Day…

Despite the hard work, the ranch provides so many rewards - golden hour, nature, stars, birds, animal sounds, views, trees, and the bluest of skies. It really is god's country. 

After all the much-needed rains this year, nature is really working its magic this Spring. Where once stood dilapidated manufactured homes on the property, the native daisies are thriving and while I was up here, this trip, the first bloom of Spring popped. For some reason that first bloom represented more than just a flower. It was a sign of a new beginning, a glimmer of hope, a sign that hard work pays off. When life seems like you are “in the weeds,” put in the effort and work, the beauty of life will follow…