Wednesday, June 5, 2013

How We Homestead: Our Daily Life

Welcome to the fourth installment of our new five-week series, How We Homestead. Each Wednesday I write a post about a different homesteading topic to shed more light on where we are on our path to self-sufficiency and what homesteading looks like for us.
 
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a homesteader looks like? Here is a typical day for me.

I wake at dawn to let the chickens out of their coop and feed all the animals. This time of year, that means the alarm goes off at 5:45 each morning. I usually try to snooze a few times before getting out of bed, but Jasper won't have any of that and he climbs all over me until I get up to feed him and Fitz.


By this time, Sylvester (one of our outdoor cats) is sitting right outside the back door waiting to accompany me down to the chicken coop. I fill up a bucket of fresh water for the chickens and head down the hill with Sylvester by my side. Duchess is happy to see me emerge from the house because she knows I'll give her a few treats when I get down to the chicken coop.


The chickens are usually screaming at me to make sure I know they are in the coop and I need to let them out, so I open up the coop door and get out of the way because they all come flying out like they've been locked up for years. They follow me around until I throw them a handful of treats (scratch in the winter time, black oil sunflower seeds in the summer). I fill up the chickens' food and water, let the "pre-teens" out of their coop, then tend to Ellie and her chicks and make sure they have plenty of food and water.

After everyone has been fed and watered, it's inside to feed and water myself and get ready for work. During the school year, I also fix David's lunch and help him get out the door on time, but right now he's on summer break so he's been catching up on sleep! I pack up my lunch (usually leftovers from the previous night's dinner) and drive 35 miles to work where all day I dream of being back on the homestead.

Once the work day is over, I run any errands that I need to in town (like grocery shopping) then drive 35 miles back home. When I arrive home, I greet David and tell him about my day and ask about his, then it's outside for the rest of the evening. First I go down to check on the chickens and see how they're doing, then David and I walk the property and gardens to see how all of our plants are growing and changing. We do a little bit of work in the garden if need be and beg our plants to grow faster.


Usually I head back over to spend more time with the chickens. I make sure to hang out with the "pre-teens" as much as possible so they continue to feel comfortable around me and let me pet and hold them.


Ellie and her chicks are irresistible, so I usually spend a good chunk of time just sitting and watching.


I like to walk Duchess and let the chickens out for some supervised free ranging if there's enough daylight.




Once the light begins to fade, the chickens head back to the coop on their own and settle in for the night.


I gather eggs, lock the chickens up in the coop, lock the pre-teens back up in their coop, check on Ellie and her chicks one last time, and feed Duchess. I usually play with Sylvester for a bit, then if I'm lucky and the cows across the street are out by the fence, I go visit them and hope they don't run away at the sight of a crazy lading mooing at them with a camera pointing in their direction.



David is usually still tending to the garden at this point (he usually handles the flora department while I cover the fauna), so I head inside to get started on dinner. I try to fit in a little bit of exercise just before dinner (I really like my mini trampoline and free weights) since I really slacked on that over the winter.

This time of year we like to stay outside for as long as possible, so dinner is quite late; sometimes 8:30 or 9:00. We watch a little tv while eating dinner to unwind, then clean up and do any other inside chores that need to be done (like laundry). Lately we've been doing a little bit of reading at the end of the night just before heading to bed, and I usually end up falling asleep on the couch with a book in my hands. David wakes me up and tells me it's time to go to bed, so I groggily head towards the bedroom and pass out until my alarm goes off at 5:45 the next day and I start all over again.

Other than when I'm at work, basically my day consists of tending to the chickens, gardening, cooking, playing with the animals, and spending as much time as possible with David. We have really worked hard to get to this point and have the lifestyle that we have dreamed about, so right now we are enjoying the fruits of our labor. I recently heard someone say, "Think about how you would spend your day if you knew this was your last. If it looks completely different from your typical day now, then you need to make some big changes." I can honestly say if I knew today would be my last day, there is nowhere else I'd rather be than on my homestead surrounded by God's beauty, my animals, and my precious husband. Maybe I'd call in sick to work that day, but otherwise, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm right where I'd want to be.

Four other awesome bloggers are participating in this series as well, so don't forget to check out their posts to read more about where they are in their homesteading journey. You can find them here -

Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farm
Meg at Little Homestead
Daisy at Maple Hill 101
Amber at Making A Home

Thanks so much for reading and please do let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you! Don't forget to check back next Wednesday for the final installment in the series where I will be focusing on future plans and goals we have for our homestead.

~Tammy

Shared with Rural Blog Hop, Down Home Blog HopFrom The Farm Blog Hop   

55 comments:

  1. I love it! Our day would be fairly identical to yours if you just added in the words "wrangled our five year old and watched her pretend to be a chicken while watching in horror as she attempts to drink out of the chicken water." Look forward to reading more!

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  2. Although your homestead is bigger than I'd wish for at this point in my life, I'd say your homestead time is more in keeping with how I would wish to spend a last day than I usually manage (well, weekends get me there!). It's wonderful you've found your bliss....and are grateful for it. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I hope that someday all of your days will be spent at the farm!

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  4. Such beautiful blue eyes on kitty!
    So you let the chickens out while you are gone at work? Of course your husband is there now during the summer, but everyone stays penned up when you're not at home? And Duchess stays in the pin all day with the chickens? She does looks so much cooler shaved down!
    Such an exciting life you have!!

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  5. I wish my days were as lively as yours;)

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  6. Sounds like a perfect day. :)
    I work out of my home office so it is often difficult to discipline myself to work when it is so nice outside (like right now). I usually end up outdoors playing with the dogs, watching the ducks, playing in the garden or going kayaking instead of working, and I always think to myself, what is really going to matter more in the end, that I spent the day working, or that I was outside enjoying life! I have the lifestyle I always dreamed of, I just dream of living it in a different place... but I am working on that!

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  7. Awesome photos! Beautiful kitties! My flock is right outside under my bedroom window. Come about 7am they and the ducks let me know it's time to get moving for the day! LOL

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  8. Sounds like you love your life. That's wonderful. Your photos are great and I love those kitties. Deb

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  9. Great post about your day Tammy! I love it!

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  10. That's wonderful that you are right where you want to be :-)

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  11. Is Ellie in her own little area away from the other girls? I am still on the fence about a Roo! I don't have the time to spend taming him or separating him, so I am leaning towards No. BUT, I would LOVE to have my girls have a few babes. BUT, I don't want them to get beat up by the Roo either...see. I'm very undecided!

    So, can I ask what you do away from the homestead!? I used to work for an electric company reading meters for 13 years, and now am home, working for hubby and our business.

    I love these posts! I do!

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  12. My day sounds SO similar to yours! Except that I have an hour commute :( Like you, we like to spend most of our time after work in the summer outside if we are not making dinner or watching TV late at night. And in about 5 more months our lives will change dramatically (we are expecting twins!) with babies to care for in the mix!

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  13. Love, love this post! Sounds like a wonderful way to spend your days. I also feed all animals early in the morning and let the chickens out for the day. I love to watch them. There is no better joy than to be content with your life......and you seem to be very content......:))))) Hugs...
    Lisa

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  14. It sure sounds like life is good and you guys are exactly where you should be. Good for you! Its hard work and driving into town is a chore I'm sure... but I'm sure it makes it all worth it too. Great photos!

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  15. I always enjoy hearing about your chickens and love photos of the "girls."

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  16. I enjoyed reading about your day, Tammy!

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  17. Such a lovely day! Your Jasper looks a lot like our cats. They're so affectionate. Life is so nice when all the priorities are in the right order.

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  18. Sounds like a mighty good life. Hope you can retire soon! ;0)

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  19. This was a fun read!
    I've been thinking of sharing more about our homestead.. but keep not getting around to it. Our Lilly just got four young chickens for her birthday from her cousin (my seven year old nephew has his own chickens and hatched out dozens of chicks this spring.) So our coop is once again occupied after sitting empty for a few years. Our kids have brought small camp chairs into the coop and have been spending hours upon hours in there with the chickens! They'll be very socialized. :) They hop right on Lilly's lap when she sits in her chair.

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  20. Love your blog, used to be a farm boy many years ago. Still love all the animals and way of life. Just to old to do it now.

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  21. Your photos are fantastic as always. I just love the one of the chickens roosting! It is hard to leave and go to work, isn't it? You just want to get your hands in the dirt and hang out with the animals. :) Being around the chickens, I think, is like being in the middle of the office gossip. Cracks me right up!

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  22. Lovely, lovely lovely :)
    Janie x

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  23. Oh Tammy I understand this satisfaction of knowing you are right where you are supposed to be even if it turned out to be your last day. Sounds perfect to me. Enjoy every minute I know I enjoy every minute reading about it. B

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  24. That sounds perfect! (Except for maybe the 35 miles to work...) I love your chicken pictures! They are just too cute. And the cows too. I've had my share of mooing and baaing at passing livestock...

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  25. I'm really enjoying this series, Tammy. You are quite a busy lady!

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  26. I love this series Tammy and as always, your pictures. I don't think I've seen Sylvester before - adorable! BTW - My girls were outside after school making toad houses! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

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  27. Your homestead sounds like it is getting some wonderful attention.

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  28. I love that you're living your dream day! And the photos are swoon worthy :-)

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  29. Wow, you have a busy day. Starting early with your cute pets and then on the chickens and then work. I drive 30miles and thought that was a lot. You are amazing. Great post!

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  30. Tammy, you keep yourself pretty busy! I enjoyed reading about your day, you're a happy girl!

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  31. I love this series you have been sharing. You make me smile :)

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  32. I love that you are so happy homesteading! It really is amazing how much you both have accomplished in such a short time. You really found your lot in life!

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  33. Your days sound a lot like mine. I have a long commute too and I'm so excited every Friday when I can finally come home and spend two straight days working in my garden and cooking and doing "country things."

    I am enjoying this series so much. I love your photos and your writing!

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  34. Ah - you look just wonderful! Sounds like you're living a magical life.

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  35. I gotta be honest - this day sounds like perfection to me...the way life is meant to be lived :-)

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  36. Wonderful photos as usual. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your future plans and goals. :-)

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  37. How delightful hearing about your very full days. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who moos at cows.
    Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog and website, and please give Duchess a pat from me.

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  38. I enjoyed reading about your typical day on the homestead!
    Kathi @ Oak Hill Homestead

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  39. Sounds like a lot of work - but also very rewarding! Great post!

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  40. Beautiful photos and I enjoyed hearing about the chickens...we have thought about getting chickens...

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  41. What a wonderful series. Thank you for a glimpse into your day. Beautiful photos.

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  42. Wonderful post! It all sounds perfect! I am outside all morning everyday just about tending to our garden...there isn't much I'd rather do...except live on more land!! Have a wonderful day!!

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  43. If we let our chickens out of the fenced area, we have to chick sit them. Otherwise the hawks would have a feast on the ground.

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  44. It sounds like a beautiful life, Tammy! Your animals all look very healthy and happy and so do you! I just love all your photos - you capture the sweetness and joy so beautifully. Hugs, xoxo

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  45. I'm so fascinated by your life. It is so different to city living and sounds absolutely wonderful.

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  46. So glad you and your husband followed your dream and saw it come true. Your love for your life shines bright.

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  47. I grew up on a farm and I love looking at your pictures and posts. Newest follower from HickoryTrail

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  48. Lovely post - I really enjoyed reading this.

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  49. Sounds like busy but fulfilling days. You are right where you should be. Aren't you glad you decided early on to follow your heart? :) Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

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  50. There's no other place I'd like to be than home too. Beautiful pictures and I was right there with you for your chores!

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  51. I agree-I'd rather be home than anywhere else! I love your homesteading life Tammy! Bliss!!

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  52. A lot of hard work and Love in your full packed day. Glad you are in the place you most want to be. Wonderful Post , thank you for sharing.
    Sheila :)

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  53. Do you have any idea how much your day is like mine? Except...I do the gardening too. (can you get my husband motivated for me? lol)
    Great post!

    ~L

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