Ranchhand was a very special friend of mine and will be truly missed. Ranchie, or Sally as I knew her better as, was one of the most wonderful, kind-hearted people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I am blessed to have had her in my life. Sally helped me and took me under her wing through both chicken and personal ups and downs. Several years back her and I decided to work on a breed that was very special to both of us. The Delaware Blue Hen. She and I would talk on the phone and laugh for hours about the smallest, most silly things. I can still hear her voice on my message machine saying hi to us all! She would talk to my kids on the phone and my daughter would send her pictures to hang on her wall above her incubator. I would send her eggs and we would laugh about how her husband would flip his top if he knew that many more were coming!
I had gotten about 15 Delaware Blue Hen babies and as a long shot question, I asked Sally if she would want them. She amazingly said yes! She basically hopped in her truck and made the long trip from South Carolina all the way to Delaware. I will never forget that day. She pulled up, got out and we hugged and just smiled at eachother. I was so happy to meet this person who I had grown so close to. She hugged my husband and kids as if she were a part of the family...well she was a part of our family. As I walked her around the farm, she got to meet all the animals she had heard so much about. Tj, my old man horse, Pal my trouble maker, Heather the witchy girl and Kahlua the little brat. Those were her names for my horses. We spent some time together then it was time to pack up the crew of 15 babies into her truck. I still remember loading them up and wishing her luck on the long drive home with those yappers in the back seat! She called me as soon as she got home to let me know that they had arrived safely. That was one of my favorite days.
I could go on and on with all the stories and good times we had. I will miss her so very much.
My heart goes out to Todd, her loving husband and I wish him the best. I pray his heart heals. He was a wonderful husband to her and I know just how much he meant to her..she told me all the time.
My thoughts will be with everyone who will miss her as I will. This is truly a sad loss for everyone.
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I'm sure the big guy will make sure Ranchie has her own flock of special Delaware Blue Hens. Ones that never molt, lay eggs daily, and when the chicks hatch they are predominately pullets.
Just her luck, she will get my Ceasar, who passed away earlier this year. He was the father of a majority of her DBH. We would always say what a brat he was and just mean as the devil! But there is no doubt that she will take care of my Tj for me. I never shared on BYC Tj's long battle with old age and sickness. Sally helped me through it all until his last day in December 2010. She will be riding around on the old man waiting for me to get there I'm sure
Another memory that came to me last night - Awhile back I went on a chocolate kick; specifically ghirarelli's raspberry filled dark chocalate squares. Sally and I would be voice chatting on messenger and she'd hear me eating something. She'd ask me what it was, I'd tell her and she'd called me a naughty name; the same naughty name every time.
I intended to send Sally a huge box of the chocolates but wanted to wait till the weather cooled off to send them (afraid that they would melt). I never got the chance.
One other favorite memory, and Todd you wouldn't know about this because we always waited until you were gone to town or out in your shop. We'd again be talking on messenger and I'd get my dogs barking just to rile up Tiger and Bingo. We sit back and let all four dogs carry on the conversation until our ears hurt.
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I LOVE this!!! You gotta know she is in heaven riling up all the dogs and getting them barking. And then she is sitting back to just laugh and laugh and laugh.