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Welcome back to the Monkey Ranch

I been missin' you and I know you been missin' me.

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The Squirrel That Ate My Rabbit Trap

Welcome to the Monkey Ranch! We are always so glad to have you spend time with us. You know we always have something fun going on. We've been missing y'all and I know y'all been missing me. Whether it's a sneaky squirrel or learning how to make a wooden rabbit trap, there's never a dull moment here.
Read More

Uncle Coochie and His Mule, Johnny Pearl

Now, one hot June day Uncle Coochie was plowing a field with his favorite mule, Johnny Pearl. Uncle Coochie's daddy, Ossie, was plowing an adjoining field at the same time with their other mule, Ruby. This story is a staple of our Southern folklore, reflecting the rich history and traditions of our community.
Read More

No Muddy Shoes In My House

The little boy pushed open the screen door, ready to step inside. Before he could, his mama caught him just in time: "John Mark, don't you dare bring all that mud into my house!" she scolded, hands on her hips. It's all part of our lessons in self-sufficient living, teaching respect for keeping a clean and orderly home.
Read More

Solving Life’s Problems — Conundrum

Today I want to discuss with all y'all a most important and extremely distressing issue that each of us experience every single day, but we seldom, if ever, think, consider, ponder or study on it. We rely on old-time survival skills to address and solve these everyday mysteries and challenges.
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The Monkey Ranch

Welcome
to Monkey Ranch Life:

Stories Tied Together with Genuine Southern Heartstrings

Pull up a chair and sit a spell, because life at The Monkey Ranch is full of stories that’ll make you laugh, nod along, and maybe even wipe away a tear. Here, critters run wild, folks get into their share of mischief, and every tale is carefully tied together with genuine Southern folklore and heartstrings.

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quis nostrud exercita laboris

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat

quis nostrud exercita laboris

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat

Backyard Chronicles

The People, The Wildlife, & The Stories They Share

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Welcome back to the Monkey Ranch

Trending Blogs

Step Into a Dream: A Sneak Peek at Walking In My Dreams – Book One

At Monkey Ranch Life, we believe dreams are doorways — little whispering paths between what we feel and what we know. And sometimes, when the world gets heavy or confusing, a Dreavin named Doolittle just might come wandering by...

We Sho’ Gonna Miss That Dog

Back in the old, old days, Uncle Coochie’s grandfather and my great-grandfather, Sam Ben, owned a big ol’ stretch of land that backed right up to the Waccamaw River. That Lowcountry soil was as black and rich as a preacher’s voice on Easter Sunday—some of the best farm dirt in the South.

The Great Birdfeeder Caper: How the Monkey Ranch Got Its Name

It’s been near five years since we staked our claim on this little patch of Carolina heaven, built us a veranda, and started rockin’ our way into rural bliss. Back then, we had no idea we were movin’ smack into somebody else’s neighborhood. But oh, we had.

And Then, There Was a Monkey Ranch: The Great Birdfeeder Heist

That ol’ red metal feeder, hanging’ from the shepherd’s hook by the flower bed? Yep, that one. The one the finches and chickadees flock to like it’s a Baptist potluck. One mornin’ last week, it was just gone. Not tipped over. Not cracked. Gone like it owed money.
Read More

The Great Birdfeeder Caper: How the Monkey Ranch Got Its Name

It’s been near five years since we staked our claim on this little patch of Carolina heaven, built us a veranda, and started rockin’ our way into rural bliss. Back then, we had no idea we were movin’ smack into somebody else’s neighborhood. But oh, we had.
Read More

The Squirrel That Ate My Rabbit Trap

Welcome to the Monkey Ranch! We are always so glad to have you spend time with us. You know we always have something fun going on. We've been missing y'all and I know y'all been missing me. Whether it's a sneaky squirrel or learning how to make a wooden rabbit trap, there's never a dull moment here.
Read More

Uncle Coochie and His Mule, Johnny Pearl

Now, one hot June day Uncle Coochie was plowing a field with his favorite mule, Johnny Pearl. Uncle Coochie's daddy, Ossie, was plowing an adjoining field at the same time with their other mule, Ruby. This story is a staple of our Southern folklore, reflecting the rich history and traditions of our community.
Read More

No Muddy Shoes In My House

The little boy pushed open the screen door, ready to step inside. Before he could, his mama caught him just in time: "John Mark, don't you dare bring all that mud into my house!" she scolded, hands on her hips. It's all part of our lessons in self-sufficient living, teaching respect for keeping a clean and orderly home.
Read More

Solving Life’s Problems — Conundrum

Today I want to discuss with all y'all a most important and extremely distressing issue that each of us experience every single day, but we seldom, if ever, think, consider, ponder or study on it. We rely on old-time survival skills to address and solve these everyday mysteries and challenges.
Read More

Let’s Talk About Re-Caning a Rocking Chair

Several years ago, I was able to get my hands on three wooden rocking chairs that had spent many years on my grandfather’s front porch. These chairs, perfect candidates for antique chair repair, bring back fond memories every time I see them. He passed away in 1956, and my grandmother in 1983.
Read More

The Waccamaw River – Our Western Boundary

The Waccamaw River don’t just run - it meanders, drifts, and dreams its way down through South Carolina like an old soul with nowhere particular to be and all the time in the world to get there.
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How Liver Hash Nearly Got Me Shot

We’ve talked ‘bout a whole lotta things since y’all been visitin’ me here at The Monkey Ranch, but somehow, we ain’t got ‘round to one of the most important:
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Thinking with Both Hands

Thinkin’ with both hands—on the one hand, then the other—is the only way to make sure you don’t end up swingin’ a hammer at your own foot. It’s an old-school skill, like knowin’ how to trap a possum without endin’ up in a slap fight with a trash panda at 2AM. It’s rare. Almost extinct.
Read More

And Then, There Was a Monkey Ranch: The Great Birdfeeder Heist

That ol’ red metal feeder, hanging’ from the shepherd’s hook by the flower bed? Yep, that one. The one the finches and chickadees flock to like it’s a Baptist potluck. One mornin’ last week, it was just gone. Not tipped over. Not cracked. Gone like it owed money.
Read More

The Great Birdfeeder Caper: How the Monkey Ranch Got Its Name

It’s been near five years since we staked our claim on this little patch of Carolina heaven, built us a veranda, and started rockin’ our way into rural bliss. Back then, we had no idea we were movin’ smack into somebody else’s neighborhood. But oh, we had.
Read More

We Sho’ Gonna Miss That Dog

Back in the old, old days, Uncle Coochie’s grandfather and my great-grandfather, Sam Ben, owned a big ol’ stretch of land that backed right up to the Waccamaw River. That Lowcountry soil was as black and rich as a preacher’s voice on Easter Sunday—some of the best farm dirt in the South.
Read More

Step Into a Dream: A Sneak Peek at Walking In My Dreams – Book One

At Monkey Ranch Life, we believe dreams are doorways — little whispering paths between what we feel and what we know. And sometimes, when the world gets heavy or confusing, a Dreavin named Doolittle just might come wandering by...
Read More

My Therapist Took a Job at the Liquor Store

Well folks, it’s official. The only licensed professional I ever trusted with the twisted topography of my mind packed up his office and took a job at the liquor store. Said he needed to “be around people who are more honest about why they’re cryin’.”
Read More

Living with Black Bears: What to Know When You Share the Land

There’s something magical about living in close proximity to wildlife. Out here at the Monkey Ranch, we’re lucky enough to share the woods and riverbanks with all kinds of critters—raccoons, deer, foxes, and yes, the occasional black bear.
Read More

Ranch Riddles & Rustic Revelations

The Art of Living Off Your Own Land: Simple DIY Homesteading Ideas for Self Sufficient Living

DIY homesteading ideas | Homemade craft ideas | Self-sufficient living | Old-time survival skills | DIY homesteading projects

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Reviving Tradition: DIY Chair Weaving & Antique Chair Repair the Old-Fashioned Way

Antique chair repair | Woven chair seats | DIY chair weaving | Reclaimed wood crafts | Handmade decorations

Read More

Southern Folklore and the Tale of the Rabbit Who Outsmarted Me Twice

Southern folklore, Traditional folk art, short humorous stories

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How to Make a Wooden Rabbit Trap Without Losing a Finger (or Your Sanity)

How to make a wooden rabbit trap, Wooden rabbit trap, Best bait for rabbits, DIY rabbit traps

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How to Trap a Raccoon in a Live Trap Without Starting a Neighborhood War

Self-sufficient living, how to trap a raccoon in a live trap, live bait trap, humane live traps
Raccoons have a way of showing up right when everything is finally in order. You’ve secured the chicken coop, stored the feed, maybe even planted new rows in the garden. And then, under the cover of night, they arrive raiding the bins, harassing the hens, and turning compost piles into playgrounds.

Read More

Reviving the Craft: DIY Chair Weaving for Self-Sufficient Living

What started as a repair job turned into one of the most satisfying homemade craft ideas I’ve ever taken on. It’s not just about the end result it's about tradition, sustainability, and putting your own hands to good work.

Read More

See All Blogs

The Squirrel That Ate My Rabbit Trap

Welcome to the Monkey Ranch! We are always so glad to have you spend time with us. You know we always have something fun going on. We've been missing y'all and I know y'all been missing me. Whether it's a sneaky squirrel or learning how to make a wooden rabbit trap, there's never a dull moment here.
Read More

Uncle Coochie and His Mule, Johnny Pearl

Now, one hot June day Uncle Coochie was plowing a field with his favorite mule, Johnny Pearl. Uncle Coochie's daddy, Ossie, was plowing an adjoining field at the same time with their other mule, Ruby. This story is a staple of our Southern folklore, reflecting the rich history and traditions of our community.
Read More

No Muddy Shoes In My House

The little boy pushed open the screen door, ready to step inside. Before he could, his mama caught him just in time: "John Mark, don't you dare bring all that mud into my house!" she scolded, hands on her hips. It's all part of our lessons in self-sufficient living, teaching respect for keeping a clean and orderly home.
Read More

Solving Life’s Problems — Conundrum

Today I want to discuss with all y'all a most important and extremely distressing issue that each of us experience every single day, but we seldom, if ever, think, consider, ponder or study on it. We rely on old-time survival skills to address and solve these everyday mysteries and challenges.
Read More

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