Daily Chores…

Randy will be working late tonight, so I am on my own with chores.  I thought this might be a good opportunity to give a little rundown of what our evening chores consist of as of right now.

The first thing I do when I pull in the driveway: 

Let the cats (2) out of the pool house so they can get some fresh air and stretch their legs.

Unload the car

Let the dogs (3) inside, and take off collars.

Feed them and add cod liver oil to each bowl.  Give them fresh water inside and outside.  Let them back outside after they have all eaten.

Change into work clothes and head outside.

Cats:  feed, water, change litter box, and feed our stray kitty

Chickens:  collect eggs, feed, and water, give kitchen scraps, and check oyster shell

Sheep:  feed grain to three separate groups, fill stock tanks for three separate groups, give a handful of grain to the llama, move protein tubs around, check salt and mineral and fill if needed, look over well to make sure everyone is healthy, and close pasture gates.

Get the mail.

Head inside to assemble dinner, eat, hand wash dishes, and wash the eggs that have just been collected.  After dinner it’s back outside.

Before dark:

Lock up cats in pool house.

Close up the chickens.

Let the dogs out again (and back in).

Change into pajamas.  Snuggle with the dogs for awhile.  Read.  Go to bed.

This is daily.  Rain or Shine.  Hot or Cold.  Sick or Well.  This doesn’t include the extras when someone is sick and in need of doctoring, lambing, bottle feeding, baby chicks (which should be arriving in a week or so), etc.  

Luckily, although my workload will be increased significantly without Randy there to help, I will not have to make and clean up dinner. 

The “simple life” isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding.

I was just talking to a co-work about lambing and having to pull lambs.  She said the usual, “I could never do it” (pull a baby lamb).  I told her I never thought I could either until there is an animal who counts on you to take care of them.  They look at you with those eyes saying, “help me” or “I don’t know what to do” and you know you have no choice.  I told her I have two baby lambs (not really babies anymore) walking around our farm that would not be here today if I had not pulled them (mamas either).  You do what you have to do, for their sake and for your sake.  It’s not for everyone, but it is the most rewarding way of life I have lived so far.  I hope to be able to live this life for a long time.