Ugghhh – Sunday.

You cruel bitch.

Back to the grind – to the jail  – to the office.

I do have a great job – really – I do love my job – somedays I love it more than others – it’s never dull – there is always a crisis afoot and I am respected.

Sure would be nice though to not have to face the grind – the crisis.

I’d love to be able to make the coin that I make working to stay home and shovel shit and hang with my bockers.

To cook amazing meals and live in a spotless house with all my cats lying about in the sun with the look of leisure and walk about my perfectly manicured lawn (it’s coming – I swear – spring is coming)

To  sip white wine under the maple tree and watch my perfectly behaved equines prance about in my spotless white riding breeches with perfectly coiffed hair.

BUT NO – I constantly have the look that seriously a squirrel did the Lord of the Dance on my head every night and my behaved equines who have chewed through my electric fence 3 times this week!!!

Jokes on them though – that F’rs LIVE NOW!!!

To whirl about in a polka dot sundress carrying an amazing chicken!!! HA those assholes crap and I do mean ALOT and they don’t discriminate!!

Don’t even get me started on the attack from above from my shit machine ducks!!

Have you ever tried to get duck feces OUT of your hair.

Hmmmm – maybe the work grind is not so bad.

Maybe….

Back before hoof picks were all the colours of the rainbow with little brushie things and plastic and ergonomically correct – we had these full on metal ones.

You had two colour options – blue and red handle.

I have an amazing recall when I bought what was most likely one of my very first hoof picks at a feed store in the East end of Ottawa – feed NOT tack store (ya’ll know where I mean if you are old like me). They have  a location in the west end now….

I kept that darn thing in my back pocket – all the time. You always need one and can never find one – so I swore I would never be with out one.

I stopped riding when I met what is now my ex husband. Destined for a better life I suppose  – or so I thought. Breaking free from small town life to experience life in the big city.

I kept that hoof pick with me. Perhaps a reminder of the joy I found in the barn – flying over fences and smelling like a manure pile or just because I could not bear to part with it.

That hoof pick traveled with me to each home in a box most likely – through the birth of two children and the ultimate demise of my marriage where I “lost” custody of some of my most valued treasures.

I still had that hoof pick though.

Fast forward MANY years to meeting the love of my life – my children grown and my very own grand baby and I often wondered where that damn thing was.

Owning my own farm and ALWAYS with a hoof pick in my back pocket or at least within arms reach – you know??? like lip balm – you got your pocket one   – your purse one  – your car one?? No??

I knew I had it – it was in a box somewhere no doubt where I would stumble upon it in my waning years.

Spring is coming and with that – I tend to like to rearrange my office.

Get some more light in here – get my tack out of here and just a general clean up of the pile that just builds.

Cleaning my credenza – what do I happen upon?

Well I’ll be damned it wasn’t in a box after all – it was in the bottom left hand corner credenza all these years.

I hold it in my hand and I am instantly transported back to my 4H days with a beat up old Appy named Blue (my first horse) and I smile and tuck it in my back pocket.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

I cannot believe it has been since November since I have written a blog post.

How very lazy of me.

I have not really been “farm” inspired as of late and it’s not like I can make EVERY blog post about Evie June (grand baby) – while I love that little Cookie with every fibre of my being – it would get old for the readers.

I did not even with a Merry Christmas or Happy New Year!!! Shame on me.

That is if I have any left!!!

Inspiration has not been here on our farm lately.

It’s been mundane and boring an same old same old – get up  – feed horses – feed chickens – feed ducks – feed cats.

Worry about hay quantities – worry about money – worry worry worry.

Stuck in a rut I guess.

Tonight – well – I got a kick in my fat ass whilst slugging back from the barn in the thigh deep snow.

It was so reminiscent of our very first winter here- November 25th – 2013.

Can’t believe it has been 6 years!!! WTH!!!!

Well -these last couple of days of Mother Nature’s wintry blast sure made me realise a couple of things.

1. Hubs still gets called out in the wee hours of the morning.
2. My truck is typically still buried.
3. My calves are still aching an my lungs still burning – NOTE quitting smoking has helped.
4. Ponies still “Lord of the Dance” in the deep snow.
5. Heating this “barn” don’t cost no 600 bucks a month anymore – thank you propane
6. I still love our life.

We got crapped on with snow – more so than in the city – the driveway is thigh high  – blessed be great neighbours for making a path so we can get in and out until Hubs has enough sleep in his system to finish the job.

And then I went out to do night feed.

The wind has dropped.

The sky is crystal clear and the moon so big and so bright I swear I can reach out my hand and grab it!!!

And then it dawned on my thick head – RIGHT!!! – you get it now dumb ass!!!

Look at that sky!! – have you ever seen a sky just like that – right at this moment right now?

No!!!

Where’s my phone?? Where’s my phone??

And breath – why try and capture it on a substandard phone camera when it is right in front of your eyes and you have that shuttered in your brain now?

Not sure – don’t care.

I do know that I remember all that fun I had back when we moved here and I love every moment of the crunch of the snow and the air so cold it took your breath away and how every thing was just exactly what I had dreamt of my whole life.

And then I came inside and wrote it all down before I forgot how good I felt.

Sure the weather sucks – it’s cold and it’s snowy.

But look at that moon!

We all have it – that little voice that sneaks around inside our brain.

The voice that speaks to us typically at the worst times – for me mostly when I am trying to fall asleep.

That Little Voice told me today that I have been neglecting the fun in owning the farm and making it more of a task – a job.

I have a full time job. I have full time job that keeps me away from my home at least 10 to 12 hours per day including commute.

The job that pays for what is supposed to be my dream of living my dream life on my dream farm.

I have not been listening to that voice for the last 6 or so months and as a result of that – the dream has not been a good dream but more so a bad dream. Not a nightmare that bolts you up out of bed  – out of breath – struggling where you are all like “WTF just happened!!!”

The dream has been more of a niggling feeling of “now what?”.

I’m not happy about that – not at all.

So I have decided to make a change.

No no – not to worry – not a bad change where I chuck it all and move to the city to a condo where they don’t allow chickens and pay exorbitant amounts of chaching to board my horses at a barn where I might get out to see them once a week “if I have time” No no – not that change.

I’ve decided to NOT let the work bog me down. Horses will get fed – chickens will get tended and I will start enjoying my farm again.

Ya sure – there is a ton to do before the white stuff flies but it will get done.

I try to cram everything into two days on the weekend. Work Work Work but see little progress.

This past weekend – I said F&$! IT!!! I bought two tickets to a movie for Sunday – picked up my son and off we went to sit in a theatre for a couple of hours.

I have not done that in a VERY long time.

And you know what??? Horses, chickens and ducks did not die a slow lingering starving death.

Shit still got done for the most part.

It’s really quite simple – you can only do so much in two days and if you take those two days and work your ass off that you are exhausted – you will miss all the fun things.

Like seeing movies or riding a horse or spending precious time with the Little Ginger Cookie  – Evie.

PLOT TWIST!!!

We will either be ready for winter or we won’t but either way I ain’t lettin’ it get in the way of fun stuff.

So there!!!

 And just to all ya’ll let ya know I ain’t shining ya – here are pics of things that are important!!!

(disclaimer – my pics on this device are limited – missing chickens, horses and my amazing son in law  – Sorry B!!!)

My dearest Tiny Human  – welcome – welcome to the  world.

Sorry for the mess – we really are trying to clean it up and make it a better place.

Let’s just say  – it’s a work in progress!!!

I’m a little late in this post but I did need to wait for permission from your mother and I’ve kinda been struggling as to what/how to convey what I want to say.

So – kiddo – what too you so long?? Personally – can’t blame ya – Mum made it pretty comfy in there I’m sure. Lounging around – kickin’ back and watching the Flix – just chillin’.

Now – with your permission – would like to lay out just a few ground rules – trust me – just as few. You see as the grandparent – I have the luxury of not having to discipline you for the most part. Of course if you step outta line you’ll hear about it but you see Grandparents are mostly for fun.

If we could however get one thing straight though??? I’d prefer to skip the Grandma moniker – choosing instead to referred to as GG.

GG for  three reasons.

One is for my Mum – who would be your Great Grandmother – your Mum called her Gramma.

Then there is MY Grandmother – My Mums Mum who your Mum called Gramma Gramma – sooooo – GG to honour them. Seemed fitting for two classy dames.

Third reason – it’ll be easier for you to say.

That leads me to my next point – I cannot call you tiny human any more.

You do have a name.

Evie June Brady. I hear your name, I smile.

You really have filled our lives with so much joy –  because you are an adorable little bundle of light.

When I had your Mum and your Uncle my life took on a whole new meaning and feeling of love and protectiveness and joy – it could not be explained.

When I saw you – those feelings rushed back and the best part – the absolute best part is that I get to spoil you and teach you things that I know and have learnt through my life that I could not teach your Mum because I was busy learning them from my Mum and Gramma.

It is actually the perfect circle.

I can’t wait to tell you secrets and share with you inside jokes and teach you all about chickens and buy you a pony and watch you discover all the wonders of this world and get you all dirty in the mud and teach you to drive a tractor and ride a horse and so much MORE!  It will be epic.

Your life will be filled with loud people and laughter and sheer craziness that comes with being born into a large family.

In all my life – I did not think I would feel this kind of joy. To watch my child bring a human into this world is very humbling to me. I know for sure I have made a lot of  stupid mistakes in my life but now I also know that somewhere – I did something right.

Dear Evie- we welcome you – with our arms and hearts open.

We vow to protect you from here forward.

I cannot believe it has been since May that I have actually written a post.

How incredibly silly I’ve been however – how incredibly busy I’ve been.

Have you even noticed how quickly time just ticks away.

Seems like just yesterday (Jan 5th actually) that we were praying for hot weather and here we are.

It’s hot!! Frigging stinkin’ humid hot.

Ugghh – inspiration escapes me with this post – I have struggled as of late to come up with quirky and fun musings and fun.

As I was walking back from night feed at 843 (1943) I realised how time regimented my life actually is.

0515 first alarm goes off – press button and snooze.

0525 second alarm goes off- contemplate actually getting up – press button and snoozish.

0535 resist temptation to hurl alarm/phone across the room and haul sorry ass out of bed.

Stumble downstairs tripping over this feline and that feline – shoes/boots/flip flops – who the hell cares – eyes are not even open yet.

It’s clearly not raining because apparently the Gods of Rain have forsaken us to have stupid grass less dead brown lawns – bonus saving a fortune on lawn cutting – digressing here.

It’s cool/warm/humid who the hell knows any more but I am really too NOT awake to realise that sweat is forming already and then I hear it – I hear that noise that is surely driving the entire neighbourhood to stick pins in Orange Acres shaped voodoo dolls – Cock – a – frikken – doodle – doo!!!

I am greeted but an entire symphony of noise and wide awake Roos and one Hennie who is posing as a Roo. (link to video – quality ain’t good but that is a hen – her name is actually Veronica)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We0jGZj-QVU&feature=youtu.be

“Hello my darlings” I call to them all – each one getting a good morning and I check to make sure each one is awake and alive and moving about. There are a “few” can’t say how many  CFIA gets pissed off if you have too many. Ducks!!! yes – Lucky and his harem get a nice howdy do as well.

When I’m done with the fowls  – off to the equines.

I am fortunate that Hubs has a later start to the day so he does the heavy lifting in the morning but I make a rule of connecting with each member of the farm.Grain is given – fly masks are applied should the weather deem – all get a pat and a hug and “have a great day/make good choices”.

Back to the house – coffee, cats and shower – heels and make up – lunch and out the door to work.all by 0630.

It is said that the first 15 minutes of your day dictate the mood of the rest of your day ??

Spend 15 minutes in my world at the beginning of my day – the cacophony of chickens and birds and life – it is a set up to the grind of the work a day world.

The best part??? – at about 430pm (1630) – I get to drive home and do it all in reverse.

Such is life at Orange Acres.

Whoa!! last post was in March welcoming the news of our Dear Tiny Human!!!

Where has the time gone??

Well I’ll tell ya…

Rain – sun – rain – rain rain – Spring – more rain and then of course May happened.

Oh ya  – 8 hour work days coupled with another 4 to 5 when I get home and BLINK!! time raced ahead dammit.

Easter and the copious amounts of food that go with it came and went.

THEN….I said to myself – “self – you have not spent any time with your daughter since Easter – we need to remedy that”

Today I picked up wee Mama at work (Wheelhouse Cycle – Ottawa Ontario – feel like getting your ass kicked in a spin class – book hers – pregnant or not she’s spinning) and we went to Art Is In Bakery for lunch – mmm mmm mmm  – in City Centre -highly recommend!!

What blew me away the most was the fact that holy shit!! My little girl is having a tiny human!! – an amazing little girl human – just like her – just like me and tiny humans father’s mother – just like Mum and Gramma Gramma and all the amazing girl humans that were part of – are part of and will be part of her life!!

LR is wearing this pregnancy very well- but she has popped out that belly that just makes me giggle when I see it. My daughter is a wee little human herself- 5 foot nuthin and man oh man is she gonna get all huge and belly.

So – in conclusion – had lunch with Daughter – got to see ever growing belly- ate way too much and will most likely go on and on about babies.

I promise – I’ll get back to farming and chickens and ponies soon.

After many years and begging and pleading with the superior beings – my amazing daughter and her equally amazing partner have announced that they are expecting a “Tiny Human” in September of this year.

I have such a joy in my heart rivalled only by how I felt when I found out I was expecting Tiny Humans and then the arrivals of said Tiny Humans.

Now that my daughter has gone public with the announcement (finally cause keeping the secret was killing me) I would like to write a letter/post to this Tiny Human in preparation for – uhhhh – “It’s”?? “Their” – arrival – whatever…

Dear Tiny Human growing inside my daughter…

How’s it going in there?

I did get the pleasure of seeing you on camera at your Mum’s last ultrasound.

You sure have a lot of growing to do it’s a good thing she has made a safe and comfy place to do so.

Oh FYI – your Mum works out lot so there could be some bouncing around and stuff but that’s ok -a fit Mum is a happy Mum!!! Promise though – she will feed you some junk food!

Now- first of all – a lot of stuff is going to happen before you actually arrive in September – oh and if you would not mind – your due date is September 21st  – do you think you could hold off until September 27th – that is my birthday – Thanks in advance. Just keep growing and swimming around in there.

Just as an FYI Tiny Human – your arrival and life will NOT be dull.

Both  families are large and loud and crazy!!!! (no offence to anyone)

You will be surely spoiled by myself – Oh you will be calling me GG – I’ll explain when you can actually like understand – Hubs will be Oompah and you also have your  Uncle Curtis – that is if that is what he wishes to be referred to – that will be up to him.

Your Uncle Curtis  – he is the BEST!!! He will teach you all about style and substance and to not take things too seriously. He will be your fierce protector – I can promise you that!!!

Within all these crazy large and loud families – there will be a knowledge base from every walk of the earth for you to learn. Your education will consist of  – well  – farming and chickens and  horses of course – but of the law – the medical profession – the down and dirty of mechanics – to the math and the sciences and the general all “aroundness” that is this world – and endlessness of everything!!!

You will be loved – so loved -you will have cousins and aunts and uncles both of blood and not – you will be well fed – always well fed and you will learn and grow in this amazing collective of people.

The world that you are coming into is far from perfect – but amidst all this – this collective of people that will surround you will protect you and educate you and nourished you – both physically and emotionally they will always be there.

Your parents are so excited to welcome you – I’ll tell you the story of “them” when the timing is right – it is the stuff of epic novels or in the very least a Lifetime Channel (no copyrite infringement) movie of the week

There are some people that are missing that would have loved to have greeted you and that again will be a story for later.

Dear Tiny Human – we love you and can’t wait for your arrival.

Oh my – it’s been ages- since I posted – I am sorry- but life and well shit have gotten the best of me I guess.

Warm – Cold – Warm – Cold.

Hey look – the sun is out!!!

Time Change – SPROING!!! We spring ahead  – we lose an hour sleep – it is currently 1741 EST and STILL light out YEA!!!

Comings and goings – we have been most boring as of late – not a harsh winter – not a mild winter – not good – not bad – just meh!

NEWS NEWS NEWS!!! sworn to secrecy – PM or email – haywardleighann@gmail.com if you want deets!

UGGGHHHH!!!-  have a new kitchen faucet – 3 new ducks- whoa!!! boring!!!

Sorry – again – Sorry – sigh….