Well, I certainly do not get bored!
Quick update to catch you up:
I received a diagnosis of a massive health issue (resolved, more on that later) which forced/encouraged a total shift in our mind-set and plans for retirement. We retired early and have made a new life in a new country, a new house, with (obviously) new neighbours, community, lifestyle etc.
Our new home (back in the summer)
I wake at 08:20 when my alarm reminds me: Chickens
Downstairs to the utility room where the feedstuff is stored and I take the chickens their breakfast - which I mix myself. I also pre-mix my own wild bird seed and they have their feeders filled each day too.
My chickens were hatched from eggs given to us by a neighbour earlier in the year for the specific purpose of rearing our own.
Point-of-lay chicks
After the warm greeting from the chickens (if their automatic door has worked), I fill the wild bird feeders at the back of the house and go to see the horses. They live outdoors but have access to shelter 100% of the time.
The horses have their breakfast and I clear the floor of the stable of their debris - most mornings it's not bad at all, but if there's been bad weather overnight, it can look like they had a party in there. It's not a single stable - one stall per horse - it's a communal space and works better for us for the moment. The barn had a new concrete floor poured last year but we've not put stalls in there yet (it's full).
My horses - the reason we're here
By this time, I'm usually starting to flag a little and go back indoors for breakfast. I used to get frustrated because my energy no longer lasts like it did, but I keep reminding myself that my body has been through such a lot over the past few years and I really do have to be patient with myself (it's difficult).
After regathering my energy and stamina, it's time to collect wood for the fire. We have a lovely new addition to the machinery around the place - a brand new log splitter! The split logs are stored on a temporary frame we made. It's taken down each spring, after the last fire has died down and gone out. If we get a cold snap, it's no great hardship to bring in enough wood for a fire to take the chill off the evening, but once the weather warms up, there's no need to store wood close to the house any more.
We always planned to be as self-sufficient as possible in our new home and that includes heating. Our woodlands are managed by ourselves and we take down dead trees (we have never cut down a live tree) for fuel, fencing and support posts on projects around the property. @s0u1 also has a variety of chainsaws and a contraption (sled) that will help him slice larger dead trees into planks.
The trees that are killed by wood-borers are taken down before the insects have time to hatch and destroy more trees
We have a new fire waiting to be installed after this winter. It will be more efficient than the old one we inherited with the house as it is a central-heating system as well as a fireplace. Also, the back-boiler is supported by an integral system which uses electricity, gas (not in our case) and solar to heat water in the tank for use in the house.
In case you've not guessed, we have LOADS of projects either started or planned.
By lunchtime, I'm usually feeling worn-out which is one of the main reasons I've not been back on Hive.blog - writing hasn't been on the list of priorities lately and neither my head nor my heart has been in it.
Work no longer dictates how we use our time and the only thing we have to keep an eye on is Sunday - the shops close early and if we need anything, we usually plan a visit on any other day.
At 17:00 my alarm goes off again Chickens because they need to be back in their house before it gets dark. I feed them again and collect the eggs - mostly two, but sometimes only one. The eggs are definitely superior to the shop-bought ones - @s0u1 has admitted that fact at last.
Fried eggs from our own chickens - perfect!
I feed the horses twice a day during the cold weather and they are impatient for their supper, but they have settled into a routine and arrive in the correct order for feeding time. @s0u1 helps with the hay-nets and he usually feeds the dogs at the same time as I'm feeding the horses.
Well, that's a simplified write-up of my winter routine. My days are filled with various activities - hobbies, crafts, and walking, but there's also a lot of laughter, hard work and love.
We lead an idyllic new life and I can't think of a better lifestyle for us.
I'll do more write-ups of various tasks and projects now I'm back on Hive.blog - I have missed writing and I hope this is my path back to it.