Being tired appears to be a catalyst for reflection.
Recently my sister said, “I hope you can sleep in on Saturday. Catch up on your rest.” Sleep in? Not. I am a farmer. I have an internal alarm clock. It goes off each and every day before daybreak.
If I sleep in, in theory only – because I cannot (will not?) do it, a couple of orphaned young goats receive late bottles, the goats do not get their hay, I milk the does late (which can set their internal clocks – actually hormones – into an irreversable mode of “okay, time to shut the milk down”). I don’t get the milk filtered, frozen, or thawed. I don’t get the soap and lotion made. Not to mention the crazy cat – whom was also a bottle fed orphan – that now has to be fed (all in the same morning) canned food, then dry, then water…or else. The day is rushed into a mode that I do not want to be in.
Lately we have worked extra hours at the soon to-be new farm. Being a small person in stature, I am lifting beyond the normal bales of hay. Moving concrete blocks, helping to dig holes, hauling wood, you name it. Then there is the frozen water bucket situation, oh yes, always a winter joy with farm animals. I am tired. We are tired. We have help, but there are some things a couple simply does on their own.
We are happy. Why? We GET to work each day. We wake up and are granted one more day to serve the animals, make nurturing soaps and lotions, and are given the gift to work the small farm and our independant businesses.
What more can a human ask for? Not much!
Morning is when the wick is lit. A flame ignited, the day delighted with heat and light, we start the fight for something more than before. – Jeb Dickerson
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
I used to sleep in but that was before living on a farm though but I still sometimes sleep in that is if I get up too early though. But some day we’ll get to sleep in when we have no more goats that is! But we do get to sleep in some while on vacation though which we’re planning on one the end of February to Georgia then to Florida!
I posted a picture of a robin in one of our crab apple trees which was there off and on this afternoon while the snow was rapidly coming down, it’s on my blog titled “Ready for Spring?!”
Amy
Amy, please post a link to your blog. I did not realize you started it again! I lost track of it!!! A robin in a snowstorm??? I bet that was a site.
Thanks, you have a wonderful weekend too! Nope, we wouldn’t use something that wasn’t safe. But we grouped goats together in small pens though so the buckets work for us plus we don’t have a large herd anymore!
Here’s the link to my blog: http://goatpod2.wordpress.com
I decided to pick up blogging again though but still post on my other facebook account but I do post some things on my blog that people can’t see on my other facebook account though.
Amy
No frozen buckets here since we use heated water buckets and bowls though. Don’t have to worry about milk since we’re not milking now.
Amy
I have always worried about mixing electricity with water around the goats, but I am intriqued about the heated water buckets. I bet they work out well. Do they have thermostats?
No, they don’t have thermostats! The goats really don’t mess with the cord to plug it in and the cords have a protective coil around the cord too and the outlets that we plug them into are outside of their pens though. We use heated water bowls for our cats and dogs though.
Amy
Good information, Amy. If I can break things down to smaller pens in the winter months I might give the heated buckets a try. They sound safe. I know you wouldn’t use them if they weren’t. Have a wonderful weekend!
Yes, it is a pleasure to work; better than the alternative! If only our children and our children’s children will remember this. My husband reminds our growns, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat!” Enjoy working while we can.
I cannot imagine not being able to work. Somehow, though, I remember not wanting to work when much younger. Perhaps in the earlier years we do not find that passion. It would be sad to never find it!
I know what you mean…sleeping in seems to mess up the whole day. I try to get things done and then take a nap. And it is so much sweeter when all is done.
Ohhh, a nice welcomed nap after being productive. They don’t happen often enough, but when they do, a big “ahhh!”
I don’t take naps that often but when I do they’re very much welcomed!
Amy
http://goatpod2.wordpress.com
I absolutely agree – the occasional daydream about sleeping in, doing nothing is quickly replaced by the faces of dear creatures who depend on us for food, shelter and fresh water – would rather have my animals than sleep in like I was still a carefree teenager (which is an oxymoron in today’s world but that’s another topic entirely) so up we are and blessed to have something useful we are able to do – thanks for putting it in to such good clear words. My husband points out – we can rest when we are done – whether with a day’s work or a lifetime.
Your husband puts that very well, “We can rest when we are done.” I would venture to bet you never slept in as a teenager either. 🙂