The lovely tiredness that comes from good hard work
I am not used to working so hard anymore, my body has gone into winter mode but this brief respite from the cold must not be wasted. So I shoveled the proverbial almost all day yesterday. A new pile of compost was started. And the others were turned over. And any areas that might have had hay mixed in with the straw were wheel-barrowed straight out to the fields. One day I will get a manure spreader but they are OH so expensive.
The barn was overdue for a good clean up and tidy. In fact as a rule I do more house work in my barn than I do in my house. In old fashioned language instead of being described as a housekeeper I would be described as a barn keeper. Which has nothing to do with an inn keeper though I would not mind being one of those either. Anything but a house keeper actually. A gate keeper is not an arduous job. I could do that one. But I digress. A barn keeper I am. 
I found a little time in the late afternoon to walk out the dogs and the kinks in my back.
And see what we could see. Um. Nothing. Nothing to see here yesterday except some pretty impressive shadows. 
The Daily View. There was green grass under all that snow. Who knew.
Good morning. It seems that this warm interlude will last another two days, though the rain and snow that was promised are being slowly taken out of the forecast.
Today I shall finish pruning the grapes in between clearing out that one last big pen and freshening the chook house. We are getting two eggs a day now, and one a day from the barn birds. All the animals are in the sacrifice fields, stomping about enjoying the warm.
Daisy still has access to her corner of the barn and had a lovely day watching me work. She takes her Mastoblast homeopathic medicine very well. I just cut a capsicum in quarters and pour the fluid in as though it were a spoon. She opens her mouth and eats the lot, spoon and all. This will keep her healthy while she transitions to once a day milking and hopefully bolster the two weak quarters.
Oh and when I was in the barn last night I heard a peacock call out. That loud Neil Neil sound. I have not heard a peep out of them since early last summer so that is an interesting change. Kupa’s tail is so long now that when he shifted position on a fence, as I walked past, he managed to brush my face with his tail feathers. They are not soft.
Have a lovely day.
celi
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I just love the picture of your compost heaps Celi! We are still collecting our own pigs’ manure, chicken and rabbit to go into our compost, and beseeching neighbors for any horse or cow manure they may have. I’ll muck out a friend’s barn with her this weekend, load it into the small cart and drive it home (across the road) with our small tractor/riding lawnmower. And right into the compost bin, which My John will then turn and mix. Always thinking ahead toward making soil and amending our raised beds. Spring is just around the corner, right? 🙂
you need lots of compost down there, I never have enough compost! c
It is a delicious feeling – muscle-sore and bone-deep tired…sip from your wineglass in the evening and think, “Now, THAT was a good day…”
Have another Really Good One, C!
It is true, speaking of which – how is your back doing, i shall pop over and see how you are.. c
When I was in Chatsworth, I could here my Dad’s peacocks across town. I always said they sound like they are yelling for help.
It is an eerie sound.. I like it though..c
Oh how lovely to be brushed by peacock feathers. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts.
🙂 Mandy xo
we are very warm here too! i think the rain from texas is heading this way. glad daisy is taking her meds!
I admit to feeling envious of your hard physical labor, miss c. I have no time for anything at all just now, except working sitting down.
we need to devise some sitting down exercises for you.. ! that you can do while you work.. c
I could do with a few of those, too. In all this wet, I’m getting my exercise marching on the spot and swinging my arms about.
I whole heartily agree! I would much rather be a barn keeper…take it slow Miss C. 🙂
If my housekeeper doesn’t return from her annual holiday soon – I too will be a barn keeper 🙂 Enjoy your warm interlude. Laura
My back just aches reading about your day of pitching manure. Surely and old manure spreader must be rotting in a grove somewhere.
I hope so, John could fix it up! c
I’ll bet you have no trouble sleeping nights, Celi. We city-sitters have to drum up good honest physical work or we toss and turn at night.
I am always so surpised at how one day the photos show so much snow and then it’s gone. I am sure you feel the need to get out there and “barn-keep” any time it warms even slightly. And may I just say that giving Daisy her dosages using a capsicum as a spoon is just brilliant! Hope she’s responding well to treatment, poor dear.
She is actually, her kicking was markedly down today. So I think we are getting on top of whatever is bothering her.
Wish I had some of those barn keepings here…
We have a couple of magazine’s that Terry LOVES for the purchase of farm implements…one is called THE FENCE POST, and the other THE GREEN MAGAZINE. Start watching for farm sales in your area. We got our old-time manure spreader at a farm sale. There are great farm consignment sales starting late January through early March in our area…an old time manure spreader would be just the right size for your place, and you could pull it with your tractor…just like the baler! Then when you want too, you can put chairs in it and take it to town and pull it with your tractor in your local parade!
Heck, why not! We are going to this summer! I will sweep it out and wash it down really well….I think it will be a hoot!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Morning Celi. The vistas of nothing brought back memories of years of living on the prairies. Saskatchewan weather is extreme. Blistering hot in the summer, freeze your mitts off in the winter. And the wonderful feeling of being able to see forever. Cousin V.
Heavenly – you have to be one of the most admired women on the planet! At least in my book you are.
When I was doing it long ago, I really enjoyed barn keeping more than housekeeping…and as you said, the tired and sore, but “accomplished” feeling of your muscles after a hard day’s labor. I definitely spend way too much time sitting at a computer these days.
Celi, I am amazed that you ever take a break from hard chores. You’re always so busy on the farmy.
Sounds like a beautiful day! I was stuck in my office looking across a cold and foggy rail shunting yard. I’d have thought Kupa’s tail feathers would have been soft – you learn something new every day 🙂
I should thin that barn keeping is a full time job.
I just saw a wonderful Peacock and Bird carpet in the Tate Gallery by William Morris – it made me think of Kupa 😉
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/makers-on-makers-luciene-calabria-42pots-on-peacock-and-bird-carpet-william
That would be amazing to see, I love The Tate.. c
that’s the way i feel about my new classes. I am worn out but it is for a good thing in the end
I think you would be a lovely inn keeper. If you had an inn to keep I would come and stay forever just to meet all the interesting people you would attract.
Imagine if we ALL came to my inn!! c
Nothing like a good day of labor. For me it is the chopping, hauling, and stacking of firewood that puts the muscles to aching and the mind in a happy place.
firewood warms you twice.. c
Lovely writing and lovely pictures – again!
Good news about Daisy. I hope you have gotten whatever it was under control and have no more problems getting her into a once-a-day milking schedule. 2 eggs/day? You’ll be making pasta soon. 🙂
I hope you got some of the rain. I’ve not seen a drop yet. Have a good one!
we had three drops.. more coming? c
I see a little bit on the weather map but not much. The biggest part of the storm has already passed us by. 😦
poo. (sad face) c
I’m back from vacation C…Happy New Year and l’m looking forward to your posts in 2013.
Say hi to Daisy for me!
welcome home! daisy sends her love.. c
It’s not just the tiredness which feels pleasant after a day like that, is it? It is the feeling of satisfaction: this and that are done because you did them!! Hmm, methinks you are happier as a barnkeeper than you would be as an innkeeper, but, oh boy you would not be wanting for customers 🙂 !
It is satisfying.. i would be a great innkeeper if they let cows into pubs!! no problems then! c
I’m reading this in the evening: in the photo where you saw “nothing” I saw pale sky and distant bare trees.
You are a powerhouse of industry, Celia. I love that feeling of tiredness after a day in the sheepyards (haven’t been there for a while). A productive day at the computer is similarly satisfying.
Busy as usual. I can’t believe how much “proverbial” you have actually shovelled. It’s not an easy life that you have chosen but there’s something about it that I envy. Bon courage.
When I saw that first photo with the piles of manure, I thought, just the boost my garden beds need.
Bet you fall asleep the minute your head touches the pillow and sleep through the night until there is a bit of light in the sky, or may be you are up and about way before that. I too prefer other activities to housekeeping..
It seems like a good, beautiful day. There’s nothing like resting after a full days worth of hard work.
I love your descriptions of your work and I’m jealous of your delicious exhaustion. Thank you for your posts.
That is a great feeling, but I’m always so very happy when the hard work ends.
same! c
Woman, you have more physical stamina than I ever dreamed possible at this stage of life. Even if I stopped riding my bike 50 mi/wk, the kind of work you are doing, and that I did for years, is so intense I think I would drop in my tracks!
Blessings to you and all the creatures on the farmy!
They certainly looked soft! 😉