It’s been a week since I’ve posted. Darn. And I was doing so well there for awhile.
The good news is that I’m managing. I’m keeping the animals fed, moving them from pasture to pasture. I’m weaning the baby calves—down from 3 bottles a day to one. I know which ones are likely to sneak up on me and put their noses in inappropriate places. (If they weren’t my animals, I’d report an assault.)
I’m not afraid of the four massive steers, and lead them from place to place like they’re babies. (They ran up to Melissa one night in the dark and startled her, so she’s been a little skittish around them. The next time we passed through their pasture, I volunteered to hold her hand if she was afraid. I’m so bad!) The other day they were so excited to be moving to new pasture that they thundered toward the gate, inspiring me to start humming the theme song from Bonanza. They must be at least 700 pounds now.
I’m appearing lots of places to promote my new book. And I’ve started a new novel and am playing with a few ideas for a new nonfiction book. Our capacity to create in the face of so many other distractions amazes me. I wonder if the distractions actually help focus our attention.
I’ve always wondered how parents juggle jobs and kids and kids’ activities and house/bill needs and sleeping. I see now that you just do it because you have to. Just because we’re having a bad day doesn’t mean we can sell the animals or stop taking care of children.
In the past, if I’m not feeling well or am lacking energy, it’s been so easy to let Melissa take care of whatever needs doing. I can’t do that now. Other than a few minor meltdowns, I’m doing what needs doing. If the animals need checking on in the middle of a 100 degree day, I do it.
I think everyone should take a minute to give themselves credit for stepping up, and doing what needs to be done even if we’d rather make a batch of popcorn and collapse on the sofa….
which I plan on doing tomorrow… 🙂
8 Responses
Yep, you are so right, we do what we have to do. Children, animals, partners and even our aging parents make demands we have to deal with on a moments notice. Gets crazy, but I couldn’t imagine life without them.
Keep up the great work!
“. . . which you plan on doing tomorrow.” Yeah, right. You KNOW some minor calamity will come up and you’ll deal with it with your usual aplomb. And that elusive bowl of popcorn will slip through your fingers. But hang in there, February (popcorn/couch time) will be here before you know it.
Ya know what? I truly think we get more done when we are busy enough to keep our bodies and brains stimulated. It’s all connected somehow.
Having said that, I’m exhausted and am going to chug a glass of wine and go to bed early.
You’re right, it’s just because we have to some days! I see the heat is going to let up on you tomorrow, enjoy while you can!
You are correct – you just do it. I was a single mom for 13 years, and believe me, there were times I just wanted to sit down and cry – and I actually did a few times 🙂 But you get through it and it makes you a better, stronger person. You have so much going on there, I give you MUCHO KUDOS for getting it all done!! I am down to a husband, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 4 pullets now that my daughter has moved out on her own. Still plenty to keep me busy every day!
There were days I wanted to sell the kids, but managed to hang on and am glad of it now.
Keep up the great work – it will repay itself in so many wonderful ways.
I had a steer named Joey who had been born a little off. He had had a hard time standing when he was born and had a HUGE head. He never quite grew into that head. But my one of my fondest memories was of visiting him in the pasture once he had grown. He would lope over to me at practically full speed, stop about 2 yards away and then just walk up the rest of the way to me and boink his head on my chest. Loved that big lug.
Can’t wait to hear more about the possible new non fiction book. I gave my brother Hit by a Farm and now all I hear about from him is that he wanted to hear more about the construction of your outbuildings. So make him happy and put something about that in your next book, please…so I don’t have to listen to more of the same old thing from him.
We both love your books, Catherine. Keep on writing and blogging!
FYI…I started a little blog myself in March…
http://www.farmgirlstudios
Love how it got the creativity flowing once again.
Ellen–selling the kids? Now there’s a solution.
Barbara, love your story about the steer. I LOVE our big steers. The babies are still butting me as if I’m a walking udder, so not so much love there. It’ll get better when they’re weaned.
Mama Pea—yes, you might be right. Being busy makes us more efficient.
BrokenRoad—pullets! We need some of them. We need someone to raise them for us!