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Tuesday, August 9, 2011

All the signs are there.

I am definitely NOT a night owl.  I am a rooster.  Well, a female rooster.  You know what I mean.  I have a list (what a surprise, right?) at which, lately, I have not been chipping away.  Last night I realized it was because I have been waiting until I am home from work to do most of the chipping-away-at.  I pull in my driveway around 6:30 every night.  After I push my way through the happy dogs, I let them out, setting off the sheep alarm.  Then back in we go; I change into barn clothes, feed the dogs, collect the (puny) eggs while checking on the poultry; then off to the goaties I go, setting off the goatie alarm.  I give them their grain ration, then grab the wagon and head for the hay. I drop hay into the goats' hay crate, then schlep the hay and grain ration to the sheep.  Toss hay onto the feeder, try to sneak in to dump their grain (never, ever get away with it), get mobbed, feed them, stagger out of the gate, check the water levels, and go back inside.  Then I take the dogs for a short walk.  Then I collapse in a heap and forget all about my list and want only a nice cuppa and a Murder She Wrote episode on my DVD player. 

Compare my morning:

Bounce-ish out of bed at 4a.  Let dogs out with "No Barking!" warning.  They ignore this and race off the deck to defend the chicken yard from whatever.  Turn lights on, turn radio on, make coffee.  Check email.  Slice zucchini and put in dehydrator.  Heat milk for yogurt.  Cut out flannel Shush Bunnies (soon to appear on my etsy site).  Let dogs in.  Write a letter.  Change into barn clothes and feed dogs and cats, and police the litter boxes.  Take dogs for long walk.  Eat breakfast.  Pack lunch.  Feed and water chickens and ducks.  Let goaties out and give morning grain and hay rations.  Hay and water sheep (notice, I do not "schlep" in the morning?  I have a spring to my step).  Back inside to set up the ironing board and iron enough clothes to tide me over the week.  Get dressed for work and out the door I go.  Drive to feed mill and pick up poultry and sheep feed.  Drive to work.

I find that I spend a lot of time in the evening thinking about the time I waste sleeping.  I need to work on that mindset if I am going to continue my mornings with a spring in my step. 

14 comments:

The Apple Pie Gal said...

Good Grief, I need a nap woman! How you squeeze time is amazing! Don't cut down on your sleep, I think you need it!

Susan said...

APG - It always sounds worse than it is. My mom says I squeeze time as hard as I squeeze a dime. I definitely need my sleep, but I always feel like I'm missing something! Nuts.

2 Tramps said...

You do an amazing amount of work there! Yes, sleep is so important - I should know - I am a night owl and a rooster and am always tired. When I do get some good sleep my energy levels soar.

Mama Pea said...

Manomanomanoman! You get a lot done in the morning! Then you get a good amount done in the evening. You may not feel like it 'cause you're draggin' your wagon (figuratively and literally) by then, but you still get a bunch done. I still wish I could get by on as little sleep as you do . . . but as APG says, don't cut it down any more. You need rest and regeneration for all the physical work you do.

Susan said...

2T - I really do have to work on my sleep attitude. You are so right - when I get a good night's sleep I feel so much better. I usually don't stay up past 9:30, though. I don't think that would qualify me as a night owl!

Sue said...

I'm like that in the morning--always have been. But you get far far more done at night than me. I'm toast by 8:30 pm. But 3:00 a.m.---look out, I'm doing laundry, making a casserole, cleaning.My schedule is soooo screwy-but I wouldn't change it for the world!

Susan said...

Mama Pea - It is in my very bones, this need to get things done. I guess I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I am going to have to do those "sleep things", low lights, lavender under my pillow, thinking sleepy thoughts...

Kayten said...

Etsy site?

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

You must sleep well to get out of bed with that much energy. Or you sleep well because you passed out at night from the exhaustion of your day. Hum, a perfect circle.

Kayten said...

Holy crap! My new computer lets me post on your blog! How exciting is that? Now I have yet another way to annoy you.

Carolyn said...

Etsy site?? What's your web address? I can put it under my "Support a Dmall Business" section on my blog!

Carolyn said...

"Small Business", that is. :) stupid fingers

Susan said...

Sue - I see we not only have a name in common! A woman after my own heart!!

Kayten - OMG! You can comment! Uh-oh...;o)

Jane - Perfect circle, indeed. I think it's more of the latter.

Carolyn - Yes, all will be revealed....

Erin said...

It's crazy how much you realize you do when you write it all down! I'm amazed that you take the dogs for a walk AND let them out...LOL, here it's just "let them out"! I'm not showing this post to the dogs :)