Last night we moved the goats to a new pasture. They promptly got into a can of chicken feed I had foolishly neglected to move, spinning us into an evening devoted to researching bloat, enterotoxemia and how to deal with both.
We were in and out of the house all night giving remedies, massaging rumens, and leading them on burpy walks up and down the driveway.
Good times.
This morning everyone seems fine, thank goodness. Our house on the other hands looks like a tornado hit.
And I realized - that in homesteading or parenting or small business or simply existing - life is triage.
Every time we say yes to something we say no to something else.
Yes to goat research, no to housekeeping.
Earlier this week I said yes to strawberry picking and shortcake making and no to laundry and a proper dinner.
June berries won't last. And the laundry will never really be done (unless everyone is naked).
And despite waking to four baskets of laundry to fold, I'm certain I made the right choice.
Yesterday Pete returned home from a week away. It was a long week involving me dosing remedies to a sick goat when he left, a sick cat when he returned, and juggling earaches and tummy aches and sore throats of the human sort on and off throughout his absence.
So much triage.
The house and farm were disastrous, and there was a lot of catching up to do.
I could see his to-do list reflected in his eyes when Lupine ran to him and asked, "Will you jump with me on the trampoline?"
He paused, the put down his shovel and said a tentative yes. Yes to jumping, no to digging.
Just for a moment.
Triage.
And after they jumped for a few minutes her cup was full of Papa, his heart was full of laughter, and it was time to say yes to chores - and no to play - once more.
As for me, I'm gettting caught up on the laundry and on emails today. Tomorrow the kitchen may or may not get a scrubbing. But I'll also be putting down my work for a walk to the creek at dusk, to knit a row, to play a game, or simply listen to what my family has to say.
Triage.
This, not this.
One yes, one no.
What will you say yes to today?
