Ever have one of those days when you just feel like "What the heck was I thinking??!" I'm seriously thinking about rehoming ALL of the animals..except the goats and the dog and a few chickens....
See what keeps happening????
My day goes like this;
Wake at 5:30, suck down a cup of coffe and check emails.
Prepare goats bottle and grab any kitchen scraps.
Find a pair of socks that won't fall down inside tall boots.
Peek outside to see if blackflies are swarming and decide how much deet is needed.
Whisper to good dog to go out, hoping bad dog won't hear us.
Head to the barn with anticipation of happy greetings.
See how close I can get before a horse sees me.
Say good morning while trying not to trip over chickens and ducks.
Throw some scratch outside to get birds out of my path.
Throw a flake of hay in each stall to occupy horses and goats until I can pass out grain. Hurrying to give Dreamer hers first to get her to stop pawing.
Say hi to new PB pig in her crate and realize she's the only one who doesn't eat hay. Give her some anyway so she's not left out.
Give buckling goat his bottle while hushing the squealing pig and reassurring her that I'll let her out in 2 minutes.
Halfway through the bottle, notice the pig peeing in her crate. (she tried to tell me). Try not to let guilt overwhelm me.
Start passing out grain. Same system as every other morning.
Goat doe decides it's not enough and breaks down a stall door that even a horse would find difficult. (Consider dehorning).
Wrangle to goat to the paddock and scold her verbally.
Hammer the gate back together and baracade it with 2x4's.
Go about passing out grain and feel quilty about scolding her.
Fill hay racks and feeders, making sure that there are enough different hay piles for each so no one is bullied.
Line up buckets to be rinsed and filled.
Turn on hose to only to find that someone has parked on it.
Wish I had applied more DEET.
Bring horse from inside barn stall to paddock shooing chickens out of the way.
Get pig situated in a stall for the day knowing she won't be happy.
Fly masks and bug spray (that's a whole nother story
Open coops (to the sound of 3 screeeeching broodys) and let
remaining chickens out for the day.
Run through my checklist again as I point to each animal/area and say out loud "food & water..food & water....food & water...etc...)
Check all gates and latches.
Breath deeply...say "Bye everyone, see you after work."
trudge back to house swatting blackflies and scratching.
Get to porch and realize I left the goats bottles in the barn aisle.
Run out to get it and chase chickens out of the garden on the way back.
Shower and get in the car.
Look around for escapees...just in case.
Pull down the driveway thinking "retail management is a piece of cake. I'm off to work.
Get to the corner and think about all of the chores I have to do as soon as I get home. Wish I could spend the whole day at home and get started.
It's so much work and I have no time for other things. But I don't know if I could give any of them up. (except the pig). (and a few roos). But I have a lot of days when I think I may.
See what keeps happening????
My day goes like this;
Wake at 5:30, suck down a cup of coffe and check emails.
Prepare goats bottle and grab any kitchen scraps.
Find a pair of socks that won't fall down inside tall boots.
Peek outside to see if blackflies are swarming and decide how much deet is needed.
Whisper to good dog to go out, hoping bad dog won't hear us.
Head to the barn with anticipation of happy greetings.
See how close I can get before a horse sees me.
Say good morning while trying not to trip over chickens and ducks.
Throw some scratch outside to get birds out of my path.
Throw a flake of hay in each stall to occupy horses and goats until I can pass out grain. Hurrying to give Dreamer hers first to get her to stop pawing.
Say hi to new PB pig in her crate and realize she's the only one who doesn't eat hay. Give her some anyway so she's not left out.
Give buckling goat his bottle while hushing the squealing pig and reassurring her that I'll let her out in 2 minutes.
Halfway through the bottle, notice the pig peeing in her crate. (she tried to tell me). Try not to let guilt overwhelm me.
Start passing out grain. Same system as every other morning.
Goat doe decides it's not enough and breaks down a stall door that even a horse would find difficult. (Consider dehorning).
Wrangle to goat to the paddock and scold her verbally.
Hammer the gate back together and baracade it with 2x4's.
Go about passing out grain and feel quilty about scolding her.
Fill hay racks and feeders, making sure that there are enough different hay piles for each so no one is bullied.
Line up buckets to be rinsed and filled.
Turn on hose to only to find that someone has parked on it.
Wish I had applied more DEET.
Bring horse from inside barn stall to paddock shooing chickens out of the way.
Get pig situated in a stall for the day knowing she won't be happy.
Fly masks and bug spray (that's a whole nother story
Open coops (to the sound of 3 screeeeching broodys) and let
remaining chickens out for the day.
Run through my checklist again as I point to each animal/area and say out loud "food & water..food & water....food & water...etc...)
Check all gates and latches.
Breath deeply...say "Bye everyone, see you after work."
trudge back to house swatting blackflies and scratching.
Get to porch and realize I left the goats bottles in the barn aisle.
Run out to get it and chase chickens out of the garden on the way back.
Shower and get in the car.
Look around for escapees...just in case.
Pull down the driveway thinking "retail management is a piece of cake. I'm off to work.
Get to the corner and think about all of the chores I have to do as soon as I get home. Wish I could spend the whole day at home and get started.
It's so much work and I have no time for other things. But I don't know if I could give any of them up. (except the pig). (and a few roos). But I have a lot of days when I think I may.
