Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Shoveling Peace

Yes. Ahem. I'm the world famous author and lecturer, Rory Miller. Yes. (Insert snotty noise and read this in a fake, wannabe New England/Princeton accent).
So guess what I did yesterday?

Shoveled shit. Thirty or so wheel-barrel loads of goat shit and straw. It's called "mucking out the barn." It was fun, in a "This is hard work and it really stinks and I will have to burn these shoes" sort of way. Only some of it in the rain.

My lovely wife was right there the whole time. Digging, mucking, pulling down the old hay feeder and building a new one. She is ecstatic about the high-quality fertilizer.

That's life now. Writing. Designing classes and teaching. Spending time with the kids. The occasional forays into flooding laundry rooms and rat nests in the walls and goat barns. Constant warfare with our acres of blackberries.

It is the most peaceful time that I can remember in my entire life.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That sounds wonderful. I remember you waxing poetic about the joys of bucking hay...

This sounds like great compost.

Rob

Toby said...

Sounds idilic.

I miss the farm I used to live on...

International travel and training is fun, but you can't beat time at home with the family!

Unknown said...

Metaphorically, you're always shoveling something, buddy.

Justthisguy said...

Awww! You old fuddy-duddy, you! You do realize I can not take a chance on getting arrested and jailed in Multnomah County, If I'm ever there, as I won't be guarded by you?

Rory said...

There are easier ways to meet somebody than to get arrested. Basically, though, follow the rules, don't go out of your way to be an ass and the officers will make sure nothing bad happens.

Velocir said...

Why is it that blackberries bushes are such a problem? Don't they give you fruit?