Summer equals vacation time for many people, as noted by the voluminous sharing of beach, mountain, and other travel pictures on social media. Here at Star & Sparrow, Bryon and I are just trucking along with our daily routine while we ponder how we can take a break ourselves.
When we decided to start a farm, we knew travel would be difficult due to increased work load and decreased income. We were okay with that. But now it’s been about two years without going anywhere overnight and more than a year of taking care of a myriad of animals…so we’ve decided we need a little retreat.
Our trip to London in April 2019, a nice reward after the whirlwind of selling our house
If you’ve been following our story, you know we get up early every morning to feed and water the animals. There’s bucket lugging and bird herding and chasing Bear away from the cat food and back into the house. Later in the day, we might pull a mountain of dandelions or pick raspberries to dispense as treats and allow for some free ranging. Nighttime means one last round and securing everyone in their pens and turning on the electric fences. (That’s not counting all the non-animal chores during the day.)
Left to right: geese, turkeys, Muscovy mamas and ducklings, Welsh Harlequin ducks, and not pictured further right: more Muscovy, more geese.
The problem is that there’s never really a break. Even if you feel bad or want to stay in bed, the crowing roosters, honking geese, and quacking ducks make it impossible to sleep late. And living where you work, even with a beautiful view, means you can never escape the work. For me, anyway— I’m always making a mental list of the tasks that have yet to be done.
Bryon and I are both feeling worn down from the never-ending to-do lists, along with the aches and pains that accompany farm life. We’re both employed part time on other farms, along with our various volunteer positions, and I can’t remember our last day off. However, it’s not as easy as booking a hotel and packing a bag. Or even as simple as a quick camping trip. Dogs, a cat, dozens of birds in multiple pens, and now pigs need care. So we’ve started putting out feelers for local folks who might be able to help out while we get away for a bit. Wish us luck!
If indeed absence makes the heart grow fonder, then we will come back refreshed and with renewed appreciation for this little farm and our furry and feathered friends who reside here.