I had to put Happy New Year as my title because it is, after all, the first day of a new year. Living in the city, you get a more tangible sense of that...leaving the past behind, dealing with a hangover from the party(ies) attended the night before, and knowing you'll forget to write the correct year on checks for at least the first 2 weeks of the new year.
Here on the farm, the animals do not celebrate the new year. They do not have a party, they do not watch the ball drop, they do not get drunk, they do not suffer hangovers, they do not "take the day off" as a reward for getting to start over, and they do not write checks. It is, for them, a new day--as is every day! Their celebrations come with the changing of seasons and sometimes the weather. The males are particularly fun to watch when the the females come into estrus (talk about a party!!). When the babies are born, there is a celebration of new life and the babies bounce and play as though they have been around for forever.
We did not sleep in, staving off hangover effects. We got up this morning, just like we do every day, had a cup of coffee and headed out to do our chores. At the warmest part of the afternoon, we'll head down the hill to gather a good load of dried firewood. Later in the afternoon, we'll head back out to feed and water. Early evening before it is completely dark, I'll fuss at the geese for not being inside the coop when the barn yard light goes on and they'll make their waddling way down to the chicken coop. I'll close the door after the geese go inside, turn out the light and say good night to the chickens, geese and ducks. Then it is time to fix dinner and relax.
Some would think there is a general "sameness" to living on a farm. I suppose if you looked at it that way with chores that must be done every day, twice a day, 365 days a year, that description would apply. Yes, the animals must be fed, watered, and hayed each day.
For us, however, there is always variety. The variety comes several perspectives, such as the season or the weather. This morning it was colder than it has been this past week and very windy, which produces a lot of natural wind chiming from the dried leaves on the trees. The sky, a brilliant aquamarine blue playing host to a bright and smiling sun.
So while it is essentially yet another day, for us this has been the prettiest morning of a beautiful day of a fresh new year...and tomorrow will be just as varied, just as surprising, and just as wonderful.
Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year...a very Happy New Month...a very Happy New Day!
Here on the farm, the animals do not celebrate the new year. They do not have a party, they do not watch the ball drop, they do not get drunk, they do not suffer hangovers, they do not "take the day off" as a reward for getting to start over, and they do not write checks. It is, for them, a new day--as is every day! Their celebrations come with the changing of seasons and sometimes the weather. The males are particularly fun to watch when the the females come into estrus (talk about a party!!). When the babies are born, there is a celebration of new life and the babies bounce and play as though they have been around for forever.
We did not sleep in, staving off hangover effects. We got up this morning, just like we do every day, had a cup of coffee and headed out to do our chores. At the warmest part of the afternoon, we'll head down the hill to gather a good load of dried firewood. Later in the afternoon, we'll head back out to feed and water. Early evening before it is completely dark, I'll fuss at the geese for not being inside the coop when the barn yard light goes on and they'll make their waddling way down to the chicken coop. I'll close the door after the geese go inside, turn out the light and say good night to the chickens, geese and ducks. Then it is time to fix dinner and relax.
Some would think there is a general "sameness" to living on a farm. I suppose if you looked at it that way with chores that must be done every day, twice a day, 365 days a year, that description would apply. Yes, the animals must be fed, watered, and hayed each day.
For us, however, there is always variety. The variety comes several perspectives, such as the season or the weather. This morning it was colder than it has been this past week and very windy, which produces a lot of natural wind chiming from the dried leaves on the trees. The sky, a brilliant aquamarine blue playing host to a bright and smiling sun.
So while it is essentially yet another day, for us this has been the prettiest morning of a beautiful day of a fresh new year...and tomorrow will be just as varied, just as surprising, and just as wonderful.
Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year...a very Happy New Month...a very Happy New Day!
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