Imagine if we were meant to be a little awake at night. Just one eye, maybe. Farmers are always a little bit awake – we leap to our feet – well I leap to my feet – at any farmyard sound that is out of place. I have never understood deep unconscious sleep in the most dangerous time of night.
Maybe being a mother from a very young age trained me to lift my head at any sound. Or we can probably go back as far as looking after Mum (who was ill for years) and my siblings when I was a young girl teenager. Doing my night checks. Making sure everyone was breathing.
John’s grandchildren tell me I am part cat + part owl. I open my eyes and am immediately ready. And I love the night. And I love to stretch right out like a cat. And watch over my little kingdom.
Being predators ourselves means that we understand wild predators if we stop to think for a minute. We need to be watchful. Use all our senses.
Maybe I need to take up afternoon naps, just to add a few sleep hours in the quietest hours of the farm. When the animals feel safe enough to rest.
I love night chores the most. I love tucking everyone into bed. Do you remember when I would lie down with Sheila my big fat pig for a while. I would doze off next to her warm body, as she softly grunted her good nights and wake up with straw in my hair beside a 400 pound snoring pig who I loved more than any other pig and even more than some people.
Harvest Moon tonight, I think. Yes? Do you get dangerous with pent up energy when the moon is full? I do. This quarter has always been my favorite. Waxing gibbous. Leading up to the full moon.
Next we go into a waning quarter. Then we can rest.
Do you take afternoon naps for your health?
The Matriarchs aunt always laid down on her couch every afternoon and lived ‘til she was 105. She drank a lot of water after giving up gin at 101. Water is key.
She (the Aunt) also had a very long comfortable couch that we all got to sleep on, one way or the other. If we were not relegated to the Pool House.
The White Chickens
Finally the white chickens are outside. They have the beginnings of their run. It runs right out under the apple trees and is connected to the brooder. I swept the chicks out – literally, with a very slow broom – this morning.
You can always tell a rooster; they always try and attack the broom. Down tiger, I say. The hens just trot along ahead of the softly moving broom. Soon they will all know the routine.
Mr Flowers and Quacker
Solitary birds are so friendly.
Quacker runs to me now and we all know about Mr Flowers hanging out on the veranda and creeping up behind me with his soft clock-clock sound.
Such a good pair.
Barn Chickens
This fierce little mother has done so well.
She is a great Mother Hen. Even though she runs these chicks straight under the feet of the Big Pigs. As though their long bodies are merely a tunnel. I think it is a tribute to the gentleness of Jude and FreeBee too. That they have not stood on a tiny chick or simply hoovered a couple up.
OK.
Good morning. Time for me to get busy.
Then I might lie down on the couch for an hour this afternoon, while I am nanny minding. Her couch is quite comfortable. Though I usually end up sitting on the arm with my feet in the cushions. (Part owl remember).
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
22 responses to “Nocturnal Is Good for the Soul”
Those white chicks have really grown!
I have always been one of those who can wake in an instant and be at full alert. I know what my little house sounds like at night so changes cause instant awareness. It makes me happy to see the animals thriving 🙂
Yes! They are all doing well – even with my frequent absences!
I’m an on-again, off-again napper. It just depends. My favorite is a coffee nap, where you drink some coffee (for me, in the afternoons, it’s not much) then doze and in twenty minutes when you wake up you’ve got your caffeine buzz going. It’s the best.
Plus you need to go pee! That sounds like a good one. I actually cannot sleep in the day time I wake up headachy and sluggish. Still I have not tried for a while.
Maybe you’re sleeping too long. I like “power naps” of 10-20 minutes. But you probably don’t need to worry about napping anyway!
Those meat chicks are so big already!
They are growing fast – I am trying to hold them back a bit as we cannot get them into slaughter until Dec 4th or something!
They will be nice and fat for Christmas!
😀
Those two birds so make me smile. I certainly remember you lying with Shiela and l remember how much you loved her. Lovely post, words and pictures, thank you.
You are always welcome Andy! Happy Friday!
The only thing that gets me up in a flash is the sound of a cat getting ready to vomit on my bed! There have been memes about if someone made an alarm with that sound they would sell millions!!
Ha!!! I never even thought of that! Hilarious!!
Hi Celi…..
Anyone who works as hard as you do DESERVES a nap, anytime, anywhere. HA!
Jo
We’ll see! It IS Friday!
Still have not got to that nap yet today! And it has been a super productive day too!
I just love the pic of Boo peering in!!! And the moon!!! Beautiful!!! Our guinea hatched out two chicks, as a snake got to probably 15 of her eggs. But if the chicks make it to adulthood that will give us 8, which is plenty, as they can be quite noisy, as you know! 😉 One duck has hatched out 10 ducklings and the other is still sitting her nest. We must let some of them go as we have way too many ducks already. But they are sooooo adorable wandering around with their moms that it is hard to do!
I am a lifelong napper (as was my mom). I shout I’m going for a quick nap (so no one disturbs me). I lay down for 15 minutes and wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the world again. Since we have the little dog, she creeps in and naps with me at my feet. I love the idea of you sleeping with your pig.
I find that I sleep less soundly and I’m more wakeful at the time of the full moon.
I had a colleague who always complained about sleep trouble and insomnia at this time. He laughed and didn’t believe me when I pointed out that his complaints were always around full moon. Every month. Some of us forget our circadian rhythms.
You had a beautiful harvest moon! I was looking up at it from Scotland last night (on holiday here).
I believe this too. Sadly on the nights I have slept in town to mind my mother in law I lose the moon connection fast.
I have never been to Scotland. What a great place for a holiday!
I enjoy those chickens.
They are growing beautifully and seem like a happy bunch.