Saturdays on the Farm

Saturdays on the Farm begin in the same nature and ways as the rest of the week. Only just a bit later. But before you go and get any ideas in your head of the animals searching or scratching for grain and the Farmer standing at the pot of coffee, wishing it were filled, let me assure you, later is a relative term.

Later is an I’m going to sleep in today and finding your eyes open and it’s still dark out. Later is looking at the clock, pulling the covers up to your chin and rolling onto your side for a little more snoozing. Later usually amounts to an extra thirty minutes, give or take. Oh! But what a wonder those thirty minutes are! And how sustaining! All week long as the Farmer’s Wife rises to get about her work, she thinks to herself…on Saturday I will sleep in. Yes. On Saturday.

The sleeping-in is followed by a quick check on the animals with a bit extra thrown in, in the way of an Apology. Chicken Little always turns her nose up a bit, refusing to be consoled, but in the end, she, like the others, is wooed by the scraps tossed on top of the grain. Although she does shake her head a bit and throws in a few side glances.

Next comes the coffee nuzzled in the hands and a Walk of the yard. This is as sustaining as the thirty minutes rest and takes almost as long. Deep breaths are had and quiet moments with the creek and the trees.

Another cup of coffee is poured and sipped as the Bible is read, with a journal of some sort alongside. Where this takes place depends on the time of year. Ideally, it’s outside, but inside on a couch with the faint morning’s light shining through is (almost) just as nice.

Once filled, the Work begins. And yes, but that I mean cleaning. It’s the only day* that dreaded word is done here on the Farm, and it’s done thoroughly and done well.

It starts with a third cup of coffee being poured and set in close reach. A candle is lit. Music is turned on. A window is opened (weather permitting), and now, the cleaning commences.

This usually begins with the daily dishes and the general wiping down of the kitchen. Thus far, it doesn’t look any different from any normal day, but just wait. Oh, yes. There she is. With the bucket. It’s filled to the brim with steaming-hot water and a drop or five of lavender and a splash of vinegar and pine and all is wiped down. And I mean all. The counters, the fridge, the cabinets, the stove. Yes, even the Windows and Walls. And that’s just the kitchen. The living room is next. The children have usually made an appearance by this point and are handed buckets of their own, one to each, for the bathrooms and the care of their own bedrooms. Once the Farmer’s Wife is done with the downstairs, she moves up, to where your will find the homeschooling room (Mikaela’s old room), and the bedroom that belongs to her and the Farmer. It is here where she spends the most time.

Because, as you see, this is not just a bedroom, but an office as well. And now, I don’t want to give you the idea that the Farmer’s Wife is a hoarder. No. She is a Keeper of Important Things. And each of these things must be dusted and set back into place, just as they were. But not before the space beneath them receives a good scrubbing. What sort of things, you may be asking? Books, mainly (of course!) and paintings. Candles and their sticks. A chocolate box. You know, all the things needed for one to sit at a desk and write. There may be a knitting needle or two as well. And several journals. Yes, all the needed things.

Once all this good work is done, the Farmer’s Wife makes another round through the yard, this time with the Farmer. And he shows her all his accomplishments of the morning. And she listens, sipping quietly on her (fourth) cup of coffee. Farm matters are discussed in the way of should we plant another tree here and I think it’s time we got another duck or ten.

If it’s Summer, the walk may be followed with some blanket sitting and cheese nibbling and book reading under the Grand Ol’ Maple, at least on the part of the Farmer’s Wife. If it’s the Winter, as it is now, the book reading will be moved indoors while the Farmer skates a round or two with the children on the pond, just frozen-over.

All in all, a very good way to spend a day.

*Yes, floors are swept each day and dishes washed. The daily duties are not what is being referenced here—I just didn’t want you go getting the wrong idea and thinking the Farm had a pig-sty inside as well as out.