Sunday, March 16, 2008

Sunday art and inspiration....


"Tending the Herd" by Julien Dupré
Picture from Rehs Gallery.

We're in mid-March and it feels cold like this picture. The skies are more gray than blue and the water goes from slush to ice over night. We get mere glimpses of spring with a day's warm wind and an afternoon of glowing sun, but as soon as the sun sets over the horizon, the deep chill comes on and it feels much more like winter than spring. Technically, by the calendar, it is still winter until March 20th when we can officially declare it Spring. However, I know very well after living on the northern prairie these 26 years, that the snow and cold are far, far from gone whether the calendar says it or not. Some of our biggest snowstorms of the year have come in April and May.

This time of year my mud room lives fully up to its name. Between thawing and freezing, the mud tracks in on overshoes and boots. Why is it that most boots today have that waffle pattern on the bottom? It's a homemaker's nemesis. How I wish for the smooth, crepe rubber sole that does not soak up the mud between the traction, only to dry and crumble out again . We all try very hard to stomp off our boots outdoors before entering the house, but it is inevitable that mud will come in. Not only mud, but manure and straw from the cow shed and the sheep shed. When you work with livestock, part of it follows you right into your own shed/home. My mud room smells like barn. My jeans have blobs of lamb manure on them. My hair stinks. I try and try to stay on top of things -- sweeping up dried bits of mud and straw, shaking the rugs out regularly, giving the floor tile and sink a good mopping-up between times, and taking a nightly bath or shower, but it's just that time of year. I accept it, but I will not relent. I will carry on sweeping dirt out as every good ranchwife should. I have found that if I stay on top of the sweeping, I have less mud. If wet boots come in on a dirty floor, the dried dirt turns into mud, and mud means an eventual mopping.

Many people are talking about spring cleaning this time of year, but I can't even begin to think of that. It will be a few months before I can focus my efforts on deep cleaning. For now, I must be content with shoveling out the "big chunks" and trying to stay on top of the regular chores of housekeeping. The focus is on the livestock right now.....and keeping everyone fed and in clean jeans and underwear. Happy Spring!

A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of a faraway place. A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse....and dreams of home.

~Carl Burns
The Drug Shop

6 comments:

  1. I love it when you post works of art and relate them to our lives. It's so wonderful and really hits home with me. Thank you!

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  2. Doesn't the quote by Carl Burns ring true?

    Have you always lived on a farm (ranch)?

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  3. Great art, Jody.
    I can identify with you as far as the mudroom, though our little farm is on a much smaller scale. I notice that same 'barn smell' and am constantly sweeping and mopping, thankful that our tile is so easy to clean.
    Wishing you an early spring,
    Deb

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  4. Great quote! I enjoyed this peek into your busy Springtime days.

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  5. Clarice,
    Don't bow too low, you might get a whiff of something stinky! XXOO

    Junie,
    Thank you for letting me know that you like the art. It's something I really enjoy.

    Shady,
    Yes, the quote really does ring true. I have lived on this ranch since marrying my Hubby when I was 19 years old -- 26 years ago. That's most of my life. It's where we've been raising our children too.

    Deb,
    Sometimes I feel like I must be the only woman alive who has a dirty, messy, smelly mud room. Thanks for making me feel better! Early spring wishes to you too!

    Dixymiss,
    I'm glad you stopped in and got a whiff of my springtime.

    ~Jody

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  6. You know how we selfishly want to be somewhere we aren't? Well, I do wish I could come get 'stinky' with you, truly! I won't get that kind of life at this point but I'd sure like a taste!

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