Sorry – this has taken a little longer than anticipated.
As stated in last post – I run my farm with military precision – mornings that is.
They are fairly uncomplicated – nothing has upset the apple cart yet so I can be pretty spot on when it comes to getting the days started.
Evenings however, they can be a bit unpredictable. So much has happened during the day and it can take the slightest little twitch to dump that apple cart on it’s sorry ass!!
I have chosen almost “worse case scenario” for the evening run.
I typically leave work at 1650 – any earlier and I hit traffic – any later and I hit traffic. So, timing is key!
Once I am out of the grind of the city – it it usually smooth sailing down back country roads – pushing the speed limit of course.
I try to make sure any errands I have to run I do on my lunch break so as not to have to stop on the way home. Sometimes lunch break is a foreign creature so occasionally I have to stop – not too often.
I typically get home at 1735 – give or take.
Bag is dropped and upstairs I got to shake off the work’a’day me – make up is wiped away and the perfectly coiffed hair is pulled back in a pony tail. Off with the heels and hose and on with the real clothes. Heavy socks, flannel pants and hoodie as this season dictates.
1745 sees me layering up in my Farmer Jane’s and grabbing the feed for the Herd. Outside cats come inside for a bit to get warm- grab trusty flashlight and out to feed the idiots.
NOW – this is where it can go to hell in a hand basket in seconds!!
Moods pending – it can be smooth as silk – grain, grain, grain, however if they are feeling frisky it can be grain, grain, grain – and stop this horse from eating that ones grain and this one from running me over, that one from freaking out because “OMG – HE LOOKED AT ME!!” – yes – they are much like children sometimes. Grain eaten and a flake of hay each later and I commence to de-pooping my barn. When it’s warmer – I take my time – when it is as cold as it is tonight – I rush!!!
Those little poop balls freeze fast so I like to make sure I get them all because should they decide to sleep inside and lie down on one – well “Princess and the Pea” syndrome!!
This typically takes 20 minutes. Then I check the water trough to make sure they have enough. If I need to fill it (like I did tonight) I have to go to the cellar – struggle with the hose – hook it up and do the “hose dance” out to the trough – trying not to trip and fall ass over tea kettle – go back to the cellar and turn the tap on. If it is frozen – get the torch and un-thaw it – tonight it was NOT – SCORE!!!
This takes 10 minutes.
By now we are 1820-1830ish- coil up the hose – lock the door and head back inside.
Start dinner. When I am feeling ambitious (IE smart) I’ll throw something in the slow cooker and dinner is done when I get home. When I am lazy – frozen pizza and salad or something simple.
We are now 1920ish and dinner – dishes done. Note- tonight I thought it would be fun to slice open my pinkie on my super sharp knife – blood everywhere – no stitches needed – at least I don’t think so but that is uncommon. Hey – it stopped bleeding so I am good.
We eat – we sit – we chat and then we get dressed to go back out and feed hay for the night. Sometimes hubs comes with me – sometimes not. He is usually pretty tired and if he falls asleep after dinner – it’s all good.
I have have energy to burn and I can’t sit still very long.
Tonight’s feed was exceptional – nice and quiet. I changed out a blanket and everyone was calm and serene.
I doused the outside flood lights and looked up at the stars.
Wonder!!! it is so clear tonight!! You can see the comet near Orion’s Belt and Jupiter is so bright I am sure you could read by it. It biting cold and dead quiet – beautiful.
This is a typical winter night.
Now – throw in a farrier for hoof trim with stupid horses and you have a different story or someone stopping by or a cat that is missing and it changes. (oh side note – my farrier is super hot!!)
Nothing changes the night feed though. It could snow – whatever – or rain – or be windy but the solitude on this cold cold night was magical.
Orange Acres 