First the bad news:
ALL Mike's tools were stolen from the ranch last month, on Valentine's Day. Many thousands of dollars worth. He was working in Waimea that morning, and I was sick at home when the pics from the security camera came through - INTRUDER!!! I zoomed up to the ranch. It takes 20 minutes, a little less this time.
Mike called the cops who showed up just minutes after me, thank goodness. Because what would I do on my own if someone was still there? "Hey, you (cough cough) get out of here (hack hack) and drop our stuff (cough cough cough) right now (achoo)!"
Actually, at this point we thought it was yet another trespasser who had climbed over our locked and posted gate, ignored the security camera clearly visible from the road, walked on down the drive, passed through an electric fence gate (and closed it behind him), and proceeded further in... like the guy last January did. At least our cameras are now above reach... unlike the one that was stolen in December. (For those keeping track, this makes three times people have come onto the property uninvited; stuff has been stolen twice.)
Anyway, the cops were there with me when we reached the Banana Shack, aka Mike's workshop, and I noticed all the doors were wide open. We hadn't seen any camera pics showing the guy leaving so assumed he was still around. The cops drew their pistols to secure the building. I was shaking like a leaf. Poor Mike was a nervous wreck, hours away but in touch by phone. He asked me to check for his brand new chainsaw and professional-grade weed eater, both less than two weeks old at the time. Nope, both gone. So now it was theft. The cops searched all around the building, down to the Lower Banana Patch and out to The Meadows... to no avail. They took fingerprints before searching further up the road as well. Nothing.
It was upon Mike's return that we discovered lots more tools were missing, including our generator, his $1000 hammerdrill, all the power tools and expensive stuff. We looked and looked for a stash in the bushes... but nope, nothing... it was all gone. He was devastated. We both felt violated and angry and bewildered.
Later, we learned there were actually three thieves involved. But none of them have been arrested thus far. We had some good leads and forwarded all info to the police. One thief was trying to make a deal with the cops but nothing ever came of that. Of course, lists and photos and serial numbers have been posted and shared. Pawn shops have been notified and flea markets checked regularly. Craigslist is perused every day. Our assumption is that, by now, everything is long gone. So here we are... filling out paperwork and awaiting the official police report and wondering how to proceed with our plans for the ranch.
All this, just as Mike was working on preliminaries for house-building. We are now rethinking everything. My goodness, has it really only been three weeks?
Thankfully, the cattle and horse are okay. If only we could understand them, they could tell us what they saw that morning.
Now, the good news:
First, one of our customers started a gofundme account to help us replace the stolen tools. (Thank you so much, Brittany, for your generous and proactive self!) It has been completely overwhelming and humbling to have such support from so many people wishing us well. We don't even know them all! But every single one has touched our hearts deeply and helped restore our faith in humanity. And Mike has been able to start replacing tools as needed.
We send our deep heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who donated to the fund or shared the information about the theft or helped search for our tools or just sent positive messages and good vibes our way. It all helped, and it continues to help.
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| (in our yard) |
And more good news:
Our oldest cow, Unicorn, had her calf this morning, a little heifer. Mike found her when she was just-cleaned-but-still-wet, maybe a half hour old, if that. Awww! This is the fourth calf and the first female born at Serenity Ranch. Welcome, little one!
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| (Calf photos by Mike) |
