Morning Chores
I force myself out of bed with the sun. It’s cold and I start the fire before I dress for the day. The boys laugh and play up in their beds and Annabelle can be heard yelling "Daa! Dada!"
I relent, put her in bed with her Papa to stay warm, and head out the door. I round the corner of the cabin and see this…
There is frost on the mulch, the "grass", the kale/cabbage (still not sure which one).
I head to the first chicken coop where there’s a whole lot of hoopin’ and hollerin’ already going on. We’ve got two broody hens so after I let these hooligans out I take a peek in to make sure they’re still there.
I start towards the second chicken coop thumping along in big rubber boots and an over-sized sweatshirt.
I walk past the full-to-the-brim pond. Thank the Lord for the rain!
I make my way on a path between the pond and the pallet garden, so-called because it is fenced in by that always-free material. I make my way around the garden and to the second chicken coop, also made from pallets.
Once everyone is let loose to roam for the day, I return back to the kitchen garden. Just next to it is the clothesline holding some whites from the day prior.
The incessant chirp chirps get closer and closer as I check their water and throw out some grain.
And finally I lift the lid to the soaking laundry tote – not frozen, but icy cold. I have high hopes of washing it this afternoon. That was two days ago.
I linger here in this garden area which is mostly bare save a couple of cold frames and that bed of cabbage/kale. I know that once I enter that cabin it will be non-stop all day. "Mama, I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast? Can you help me with my shirt?" Diaper to change. Pork chops to fry. Heat water on the wood stove. Start school. Fold laundry.
Yes, I think I’ll stand outside in the cold with only those chirp chirps for just a moment.
Ha ha ha O my, I feel so much like you, only, morning is not my cup of tea. Breastfeeding all night (and I mean literally all night because my little milk-sucker sucks the life out of me while sleeping comfortably) is making me all nervous and tired, so I wake up, and it takes me 30 minutes just to light a fire in the stove to be able to cook coffee and breakfast (although lately we’ve been using the technique from the Last Pilgrims, bringing water to boil in hot coal from the wood that’s been burning all night in the fireplace). Than I negotiate a half an hour mommies coffee drinking time, but it never last for that long because the little ones start climbing on me wanting…whatever…usually just to climb 🙂 I am usually fully awake when it’s time to make lunch.
And washing dishes + rinsing them in cold water, together with cloth washing, is my favorite part of the day/week NOT! I so much want an off off grid washing machine and a dish washer !
People usually get really surprised when I admit that washing cloths isn’t my favorite part of living like we do.
Anyway, I get to drink my coffee in peace, just around, now (11.30 pm) 🙂
PS: I loved the interview you did with Silvia
Ugg the nightly nursings. Can you train them to only nurse through the day at that age? My babies all weaned by 10 months, but had to be goat milk supplemented because of my feeding problems. Sounds like you need some more sleep, mama.
@Shannon,
Yes, a good night sleep would solve most of my problems.
Usually it’s natural for them to stop nursing as excessively by the age of 1, but my boys decided that age limit doesn’t suit them. The older one stooped nursing at 16 moths roughly, but the younger one is still nursing as a newborn at 15 months. I do not not how to deal with this. I’m to weak to let him cry it out, plus I’m not so sure the cry out method is good. I’m just living with it as it is for now. Any advice would be highly appreciated 🙂
Quiet mornings, just you and the Lord, even if for only a few moments… I hope one of these mornings you’ll get to hop back under the covers and snuggle up with the littles until the fire warms the cabin. 🙂
Just checking in on you. Everything looks great……and I’m thinking that is Ornamental Kale you have there. Hugs
Or is it Ornamental Cabbage ? It’s beautiful for sure. Both are edible at any rate………….beautiful.