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
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “The lovely tiredness that comes from good hard work”
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..