The mild weather at the end of the year and the beginning of 2017 has all the animals thinking it’s Springtime! They shall shortly be surprised when Winter returns, but the daylight hours are already increasing. After a very busy 2016. we’ve taken a break and are working on our hopes and goals for this year. Following a year of building projects, 2017 will focus on people and our outreach programs. Stay tuned…it’s going to be a great year!
Rain, rain, rain…..the lifeblood of everything….and so far we’ve had over 13 inches for the month of May, and over an inch to start June. We haven’t been able to cross the creek much to reach the other side of the ranch….each time we fix the creek crossing up [usually a number of hours with the big 4 wheel drive tractor], its good for a few days then back to flood stage again! We had most of our places rented for the Memorial day weekend…luckily we got some breaks in the weather.
About three weeks ago, we planted three acres of corn for a fall corn patch/maze. In a couple of weeks we will put in about a quarter acre of pumpkins to go with it. We’re not sure how ambitious we will be with the Fall pumpkin festival…it depends on how much energy we have after the Summer, but we will be ready plant wise [Lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, which they have been doing].
Haying season will start as soon as things dry out and the weather gets warmer. Our newest place to stay, the Livery Stable, is done. Check out the pictures at our website. http://crystalcreekranch.com/lodging-adventures/
We had about 10 field trips this Spring, and have updated our activities with a hay mountain, feed sack slide, and a tire play area to climb and swing on. This will be part of our Fall pumpkin festival, if we decide to go with it. We also have a tire zip line in the works.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our program director [Tracy McVicker], and our many volunteers who help with fundraising, sidewalking, and other duties needed to do the program, we continue to serve more and more children with challenges in their lives. We just hosted a 5 day instructor training in SpiritHorse methods, and are now a licensed SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center. See spirithorsenews.com We had 10 instructors trained, who will assist us at Crystal Creek Ranch, as well as working at other Therapeutic riding centers. The SpiritHorse program is free to all participants, and funded entirely by donations and un-paid volunteers!!
The Livery Stable cabin is nearing completion, as we work on the plumbing and the final touches. It will sleep up to 6 people, with a small bathroom in the cabin. It and it’s nearby cousin, the Country Store cabin [coming sometime this summer], will give us a less expensive alternative to our full amenity houses, and still have restroom facilities. They are perched on a slight rise overlooking the fields and creek, where one of the original homesteads was located many years ago. As with all our places to experience, these two new ones will combine history with comfort, and will be themed to reflect their names. We hope you can visit and stay with us soon.
Only a year after we had it scheduled, we have finally finished our covered horse stalls for those guests who wish to bring their own horses and stay at the ranch. We have 6 new stalls, each one 9 by 10, and covered from the sun and rain. Also coming this Spring is our newest place to stay on the ranch, the Livery Stable. We will theme the outside in the style of an old fashioned stable, but of course it will be brand new inside with a restroom and sleeping for up to 6 people. We will price the livery stable in between our more economical cabins and our bigger houses. And of course it will be available at no cost to families facing difficult times under our outreach programs. If you wish to be among one of the first to stay here, we will be booking for May and after, so give us a call!
