Daily Diary

One of my writing groups wanted members to write about their day and that got me to thinking. There's no such thing as a "typical" day here at Thistle Cove Farm and today was no exception. The writer's group wants posts limited to 250 words so that meant a LOT of stuff was left out of my "daily diary".

For example, I spent about forty minutes talking to a farmer wannabe who wants to raise Shetland sheep, chickens...essentially he wants to have a small homestead. He seems a nice guy and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty which is necessary in farming. There's a lot of dirty grunt work in farming but, like Dolly said, if you want to see the rainbow, you have to feel the rain. Or words to that effect.

Truth be told, there's a lot of my day that's eaten up in such small increments when strangers call me, wanting information or help. I try to give them a bit of each but there's only so much of me to go around and every time I stop my work, there's no one to help me. So I get further and further behind but when I don't help, there have been some curse me for being "uncaring, unfriendly, etc.". I told one man I'd be happy to send him my rates and his reply was, "Why should I pay you when I can call my extension agent for free?" I figured it was churlish to point out he did, in fact, call me.

Anyhoo...here's my daily dairy as submitted to my writing group.

The day started around 6:30 a.m. ~
*fed dogs/cats, listened to XM preachers
*fought w/my 94 year old MIL to dress, wash hands
*made ham biscuits, coffee for humans
*barn chores - fed horses, sheep, barn cats, checked water & fence lines
*set out minerals/salt
*got out tractor, went to hay lot, retrieved & set out a round bale for stallion
*came back to house, checked on humans, started yeast bread and soup
*checked e-mail, tended to farm & public relations business
*baked bread, shortbread, finished soup; prepared lunch for humans

Afternoon/Evening ~
*took neighbors some bread, shortbread, soup
*worked in studio - art projects completed, ready to be mailed; used
laptop to write a devotional
*started snowing so checked on horses/sheep
*at house, started supper for humans, dogs & cats; made cookies for Dave
*Abbie, the Jack Russell, got into a skunk fight so bathed her, several times *re-thought my devotional along lines of dog, skunk, sin, washing, etc.
*back to fixing supper then got phone call, acquaintance killed himself
(financial/health problems - please pray for the family)
*fought w/MIL to wash hands for supper; everyone ate...finally.
*called a friend to start a prayer chain, find out in the past few days there
have been six suicides in Tazewell
*put phone on no-ring /if it's that bad, the state police will come to my door - ask me how I know/ took some aspirin and headed to bed
*gave the day to God, it's been too much for me, again

Blessings ~ God, bless His holy name ~ praying friends ~ the strength to do the word He has set before me ~ good food and plenty of it ~ this farm, my animals and Dave...without whom I'd lose some focus ~