Vacation time for my Farmer

It’s been a long busy spring and summer with hardly any breaks here on the farm. And no breaks makes for a very grouchy Farmer. And I guess maybe a grouchy Farmer’s wife too. Ya, that would be me. Yes I will admit to being a tab bit on the grouchy side.  Not as bad as my Farmer though. So it’s vacation time for him. I sent him off to hunting camp. I have learned that if my Farmer does not get to go on his annual hunting trip each fall, it makes for a long winter. A very long winter. The kind where you wonder if your marriage is going to survive the winter. That’s what happens in the middle of winter, when cabin fever sets in, and my Farmer didn’t get his hunting trip. It has nothing to do with not getting to shoot anything. Cuz my Farmer does not take a weapon.  He hunts for peace and quiet.  No cell phone service.  He does a little soul searching, shall we say.  He hasn’t always hunted this way.  He use to bring home game.  But it’s a lot of work when you kill something in the back country.  You’ve got to drag it off the mountain, take care of it, pack it out home, and then get it processed.  And why go through all that work when you have yummy tasting beef standing in the pasture.  So yes, my Farmer must go hunting.  But not for big game, it’s for the fresh, crisp mountain air, the connecting with nature, and the comradery with the others in camp.  It’s the memories made while setting up camp, sitting around the campfire sharing stories, and reliving memories of times spent doing the same thing with loved ones that have passed.  I usually go with him to hunting camp, but this year I stayed home.  This way I am here to watch over things and my Farmer can relax without having to worry about the farm.  That’s what I tell him anyways.  My biggest reason for staying is…….I need a break……from him!  So I can make it through the winter.  And honestly, I love my alone time.  I can be in control of the remote, eat what I want when I want, go out to lunch and dinner with my girl friends, and I usually rearrange the furniture or something fun like that.  However, when he is away, that means I get to do his chores.  This is something that seems to slip my mind when I say…..don’t worry, I can handle everything here. Dang! He has too many chores!  The problem I’m having is finding the time to do my thing!  And the last words he said before he left was….oh by the way, those 10 cows we just put in the corral, one of them could calve while I’m gone so keep an eye out. Really!?! Well those girls better keep their tails tight between their legs until their Farmer returns! (So far so good though.)   I am getting some down time though.  Just like now.  I’ve checked on all the animals, fed what needed fed, (well except for the bulls, but they can wait) and now I am enjoying the sunshine with my book and a cup of tea.  Ah yes.  This is what I need before winter sets in.  I think we’ll be just fine this winter.  After all, we are…….. Livin the life, the Farm Life that is…..