Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Saturday 15 October 2011

Are you working today?

This post is not a complaint or a rant , its just a fact of well, my life .And I suspect I am not alone in this. As most of you know I work in town as a Mental Health aide ,up to September I also did 2 days a week as  Administrative support staff. After a lot of talking and thinking , Martin and I agreed , I have a lot to do here, and especially when he is working away ,I could use a bit more time . SO I now only "work "3 days a week . Friends a fam will call from time to time and ask "are you working today?" I smile , because most if not all are in the same lifestyle as I and they know full well we sometimes work harder on our days off than on scheduled "working days " I think the better question might be "are you getting paid for what you do today?" and even that has a couple of answers, no, not getting paid right away for what I do here on the farm, or not in $$$ but in a sense of accomplishment ,pride and hopefully eventually some funds as well, yup I am .
So what was I not working at today?
Got up , threw on a load of laundry . Got a load of bales and unloaded them in the spots I wanted. Did a quick spit polish of the house (emphasis on quick) more can happen later . grabbed a bite of lunch , and had a fast coffee with my brother in law. Then out to clean the stalls and re bed them for Quinn and Comet .The barn now has a lovely fresh pine scent , significantly better than when I started and well probably better that I smelled when I was done.Dewormed Comet , Quinn, Annie and Dandy , swept up the barn and did afternoon chores a little early . In the house by 4:00pm  and have the whole evening to either clean house , or work on registration papers or maybe figure out if I am doing a Winston calender ,or boot my muse in the tush and write a poem, or just put my feet up and relax hmmm...So (forgive me Garth Brooks ) "The stalls are clean , the horses fed , a bubble bath and I 'm off to bed"



Whatever I do I will do , so was I working today??? not really just doing what needed doing , did I get paid? Oh yes! snuggles and nuzzles from horses , purring kittens  of the 7 toe advantage type , and Winston and Skeeter just being their usual helpful sweet selves .
(C'me on breaks over ! What do you think this is ?a union job?)


(Supervisor)

(when is snack time?)


(Shovel Poop??? I think NOT)

(It was terrible ! Slave driving)

(Who is our job steward?)

(Hurry up!! I don't know how long I can hold it !)


Stay safe everyone

13 comments:

Daisy said...

Such an enjoyable post! Good read! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Great! Hard work and satisfaction - that's a good combination! Love all the photos!

Country Gal said...

The kind of day I would love to have again with the farm. Believe it or not I miss all that farm stuff now and now would be a great time for me cause I am retired but Papa isnt and we want to do all the farm stuff together so I will have to wait till then for our hobby farm like the one I was raised on as a kid. Great post and photos. Put your feet up and rest and have a good eve. you deserve it.

GoLightly said...

I'm with the supervisor.

Great post, as usual!

But now, I need a nap...
Your days off exhaust me;)

Reddunappy said...

We havnt had a freeze yet, so I havnt wormed for the Fall. Although I have only seen bot flies one time!!! this season, yeay!!!! To cold for them I think it has been.

Love that little guy with that loud blanket!!! (dont remember who is who)He is gorgeous!!!!

Shirley said...

I'm a huge Comet fan. If I was into Appy's, he'd be living here.
I see my fave kitty is thriving.

Linda said...

You are one busy lady....paid or not. It is about doing what satisfies us and I think for the most part you sound like your doing that.

Ami said...

Not exactly the same... but when I was home raising kids I got, "So do you work or are you just a mom?"

Yeah. that's me. Just a mom.

I wish I could come over and watch you work. lol. Not volunteering to shovel horse doody.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

LOL over that last pic and caption. Yeah, my in-laws always have to ask, "Are you working?" when they come to visit. I get agitated by the question. I want to say, "I'm busier than ever and not getting paid a dime, if that's what you mean."

There are a lot of people who will fill up your time with their agenda if you let them, so the "Are you working?" question makes me nervous.

Christmas-etc... said...

Hi!!!
So glad to find you again - I always seem to miss your new posts and I have really missed your "down to earth, let's get it all done, and I know why I am doing it so forget the $$$ business!!" approach to your wonderful life. You are doing real work... real and lasting and well, something that is very much missing in the world today.
Bless you for sharing all the ups and downs, pains and joys of your amazing life... and that of all your animal loves!
Have a lovely Sunday afternoon! (And try to put your feet up awhile - dust will just come back... :)and it doesn't snuggle you for taking care of it!)
Ann

Crystal said...

I love this post! I agree, even though Neil does most of the cow work around here, the horses are my responsibility, cause if I dont do it, we wont have them. And of course thats on top of the housework, cooking, and the yardwork. So even though I dont get paid, I dont have time for a "real" job.

kden said...

I would think that anybody that really knew you would know better than to ask that ;-)

aurora said...

Good post, love the jingle!