My day starts with tending the chickens. This means clean the water dispenser, mix a good helping of mash, grains, and pellets, and remove all the chicken poop from the coop to mix into the compost. I will also add wood chips to the nests and if I have any veggies for the compost this is usually a good time to add it. The chickens make excellent tillers. Three items that are essential for this work: mud boots for stomping in mud and poop, small shovel to remove waste from the coop, and a pitchfork to turn the compost.
After my breakfast is made and eaten, it a good time to clean around the house. At our place there tends to be daily accumulation of dew or frost, which means a lot of wet grass which also means a big mess to clean if dogs go outside then track in grass. Therefore, the dogs are not morning risers instead lounge around while I make the bed, laundry, vacuum, dishes and so forth. After lunch usually the grass is dry and the dogs are released. Now I have one dog who is getting along in age and not very interested in frolicking. The other two however are content to be outside all day. Usually this means one has found something dead or smelly to roll in or devour. By the time the dogs are worn out or thirsty they return to the back door covered in mud and sticky seed pods, that will most likely need to be cut out, and reeking of the most foulest smell. It is then the chore to decide who is cleanest and work to the worst. I now have a designated doggy shower complete with shower head hose and doggy shampoo. Amongst the dogs is a puppy, currently about seven months old, who is at the "destroying everything she can place her mouth on," phase so I also spend a great deal of my time cleaning up after her.
Then there is my husband. He is not a dirty man by any means. I know no one who can make a tub shine with a scrub sponge and Comet like he can. However, he is now a full-time working man with nine to five hours, so when he comes home the shirts get abandon wherever he drops it. My nicely groomed bedroom and bed are tossed about for relaxation. Whatever light is turned on whether being used or not is irrelevant because guess who pays the bills now. I grew up in a home where shoes worn inside was strictly forbidden and now that we have mud stomping and chicken poop it is more important than ever not to track filth in the house. After almost four years of marriage it is a concept my husband is still trying avoid. I will keep sweeping and vacuuming with a reluctant smile on my face.
At present, most rewarding time is the late afternoon when I walk the grounds with the dogs. A path has been mowed around the perimeter of the property and we take this opportunity to survey the land and the neighboring fields. It is also a lovely time to move in deeper from the house and the busy road. Towards the end of the walk I turn to face the back and have seat where I have placed a chair under a tree. With my face warmed by the sun I relax and listen to the sounds around me. I spot a spider weaving a web in the deep blue sky, listen to the crickets write a symphony to the arriving night air, and watch my dogs pounce the earth in excited pursuit of a living toy.
I am growing into my newly acquired position. I am definitely still in training, hopefully for the better when the little peep arrives. I suppose for any job description there is always some clean-up involved. The beauty of my job is I have lovely scenery and I get to work at my own pace. Yes, I think I will like the position.
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