La Grange.
The Barn.
I expected worse, having not lifted a pitchfork in over two years. But we are down to seven animals so they aren't making nearly the mess 28 did ten years ago.
The work has begun. I much prefer to trade my P90 daily workout for cleaning the barn. As much as I like the way I feel and look when I regularly do my exercises, I really, absolutely, hate institutionalized exercise.
My course is now set.
Today, the far end of the aisle was cleared, as well as the large enclosure at the end.
Next will be the "diet" pen, a narrow enclosure where we used to keep chubby llamas that needed less food than the others.
After that I will begin working on the larger llama pen. That's going to be a chunk of work; I figure if I spend 30 minutes a day (instead of my P90 workout - yay!) I can get through it pretty quick.
In May we are going to rearrange the horses with the male llama, freeing up another stall for cleaning.
Jim has to do the horse stall. That may take him all summer. Truly, maybe longer. It's pretty heaped up (that would be the manure; horses are big animals).
The current plan is to keep the animals for one more year. Partly because it will be so weird without them; partly because we have enough hay for one more winter.
Some of the llamas, well, actually, all of the llamas are getting old. Legacy has been creaking since we got her in 2004. Both she and Cappy are 18 years old. Irridessa is 12 and Sunny is 13.
Our last male, Skippy, is 11 and I co-own him with someone. Maybe she'll take him back?
For the horses, Sam is 23 and has been struggling to keep weight on for two years now. Jet is 13 and never been kissed.
We are going to have to either purchase a huge tall ladder, rent one, or hire someone to clean the dust off the interior walls of our mylar-like barn. The lights, which hang from the very tall ceiling, are covered in a thick layer of dust. I remember the guy that was supposed to install them (they had a ladder) was afraid of heights and Jim had to finish up the installation.
Once the animals are gone (sad sad gone gone) we will have another year or so to clear the floor, do some repairs on the doors and fencing, and make it pretty again.
Much of my adult life has been centered around these animals. But lately my interest has waned and the chores have fallen to Jim. He who never asked for these chores has always done them with not a single complaint (other than sometimes things hurt because the work is hard).
It will be strange to look out my window, from the back deck, or front porch to 20 acres of fields grown up with grass and, eventually, weeds. This house, these fields, these animals, were my dreams come true. For those years when I gazed out into my pastures and watched these beautiful animals peacefully grazing; the years when I would spend my winter evenings in the barn cleaning the stalls, then afterward, sometimes for hours, just watching them, listening. Melding with the quiet solitude of quiet animals.
Now I have a new dream.
The Barn.
The work has begun. I much prefer to trade my P90 daily workout for cleaning the barn. As much as I like the way I feel and look when I regularly do my exercises, I really, absolutely, hate institutionalized exercise.
My course is now set.
Today, the far end of the aisle was cleared, as well as the large enclosure at the end.
Next will be the "diet" pen, a narrow enclosure where we used to keep chubby llamas that needed less food than the others.
After that I will begin working on the larger llama pen. That's going to be a chunk of work; I figure if I spend 30 minutes a day (instead of my P90 workout - yay!) I can get through it pretty quick.
In May we are going to rearrange the horses with the male llama, freeing up another stall for cleaning.
Jim has to do the horse stall. That may take him all summer. Truly, maybe longer. It's pretty heaped up (that would be the manure; horses are big animals).
The current plan is to keep the animals for one more year. Partly because it will be so weird without them; partly because we have enough hay for one more winter.
Our last male, Skippy, is 11 and I co-own him with someone. Maybe she'll take him back?
For the horses, Sam is 23 and has been struggling to keep weight on for two years now. Jet is 13 and never been kissed.
We are going to have to either purchase a huge tall ladder, rent one, or hire someone to clean the dust off the interior walls of our mylar-like barn. The lights, which hang from the very tall ceiling, are covered in a thick layer of dust. I remember the guy that was supposed to install them (they had a ladder) was afraid of heights and Jim had to finish up the installation.
Once the animals are gone (sad sad gone gone) we will have another year or so to clear the floor, do some repairs on the doors and fencing, and make it pretty again.
Much of my adult life has been centered around these animals. But lately my interest has waned and the chores have fallen to Jim. He who never asked for these chores has always done them with not a single complaint (other than sometimes things hurt because the work is hard).
It will be strange to look out my window, from the back deck, or front porch to 20 acres of fields grown up with grass and, eventually, weeds. This house, these fields, these animals, were my dreams come true. For those years when I gazed out into my pastures and watched these beautiful animals peacefully grazing; the years when I would spend my winter evenings in the barn cleaning the stalls, then afterward, sometimes for hours, just watching them, listening. Melding with the quiet solitude of quiet animals.
Now I have a new dream.
View to Mont Blanc, from the Aiguilles Rouges, 2014.
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