I finished digging out the holes for the white posts this morning and then did some transplanting in the greenhouse this afternoon during the rain (and hail, for the second time in a week). Fortunately, the lambs are finally learning to follow their moms to whatever pasture they are going to so "lambing season" is feeling close to being done. I'll add the old ewe to the flock tomorrow when the weather is nicer. And there is still the ewe with the huge belly that I'm waiting for to lamb. She just doesn't look close yet.
I've been pretty focused on the fencing project; and although I hope to get the white fence along the road in this week I still have 75 wood posts in that field to install, plus another 75 steel posts (which are easy!), plust over 2000 feet of wover wire; so still lots to do.
The fencing project is a little like Sisyphus pushing his boulder up the hill as it goes on and on and just when you think you're making progress you realize there is more to do- the electric wire, the insulators, the corner braces, hanging the gates, etc., all need to be done after the posts are in; but there is an end to it. Someone asked me the other day how I keep myself driven to keep working on it and I admitted it is a bigger project, physically tiring and taking longer than I'd envisioned. But it's a project that if it weren't for this "fallow" time where riding lessons can't happen we'd probably have to pay somone else to do it. So I figure I'm saving as more money in doing the fence myself as I'd make during the same time period teaching riding lessons. I'm hoping to have it done about the time lessons can start up again... we'll see how each goes.
When I'm doing projects like this I think about how fortunate I am that every day is a little different for me; or at least I can choose to to make it so. I'm able to integrate the different farm enterprizes: sheep, garden, woodlot, poultry and various other things with the equestrian programs. I do tend to take on more than I should; but I can't complain when it is my choice to do so.
How many people have jobs when they do the exact same thing every day? I have the routine of chores, lessons, and some things I do every day; but each enterprise changes with the seasons so I guess that's my answer to the question of how I keep on digging out those post holes.
Hope you all have things in your life to keep you motivated.
First photo: The lambs now nicely with their mothers. Last week was difficult as the ewes are protective of their babies the first couple weeks so won't let Cooper herd them and the lambs miss the gates and get left behind. Chaos reigns.
Second photo: This is the ewe who is left to lamb. I'm guessing triplets, but you never know until they are born.
