An afternoon in the life of a chicken farmer

Yesterday afternoon:

At my barn to do chores and see water coming in the barn. I had built part of a gravel dam at the front of the barn after I first placed because water was starting to seep in. Things dried up and it seemed okay. So, I decide it would be best to finish building a gravel dam in the barn so I can pump out the water.

Use my Ford farm truck to get gravel and it keeps quitting on me. Like KEEPS quitting on me. It usually quits on me at least once every time I drive it but not this often. And, yes, the tank had fuel in it. =P And, no, I don't like my Ford; we've had a disagreeable relationship from the first time we met. =P

Start up the pumps - all three of them. Pump 1 pumps into the same hole where Pump 2 is placed. Pump 2 pumps out Pump 1's water and also water that is seeping in from underneath the barn shop floor. Pump 3 is outside and pumps water away from the W side of the barn, across the road, and away...hopefully. Sound confusing enough?? Pump 2  gets plugged but I catch it before it over heats too much.

As I'm walking out the door to get more gravel, the red battery light starts flashing on my alarm system. It is almost 4:00 PM...Friday afternoon, need I add. =P I call my neighbour who went to Saskatoon but he has already left. I call Yorkton and the place closes at 5 and isn't open on weekends. I call my brother who thankfully has time and lives closer to Yorkton and he is able to get the battery before closing. While on the phone I hear my truck quit again and remember that I still have Pump 3 running outside and that it probably should be unplugged by now.

After getting things sort of under control and doing chores, I have to go to Yorkton, which is about an hour away, to pick up the battery. Enjoy a quick meal with my brother and his family, grab a few groceries, get a Tim's and head back home again just in time to pump more water and do evening chores.

 I believe that the F in Farming stands for Flexibility. =D Thus ends my exciting day and I get ready for another one to begin bright and early tomorrow.

I'm back and the adventures continue...

Since the last post time has flown by and yesterday it was already time to place chicks again! After about a week of barn clean-up, I headed back to AB to work at the dairy for a week and sell trees. I stopped at the Davidson farm on the way there and way back since it is about half way between my place and the AB place. Then it was back home here to do a bit of barn repair and get the barn ready for chicks again. Now yard work has begun so the days are even getting busier. I enjoy being outdoors and am loving how early it gets light out and stays late into the evening.

I'll be uploading some pics of the past few weeks in following posts but leave you with a few from today's adventure. I was watering my flowerbeds and then stepped into the house to see my office carpet and entryway floor soaked with water. The spigot where I was watering from is on the outside of the house right behind the office wall. There must be a leak (maybe the line froze though I did keep it heated under the house during the winter) and for how it was installed the line can't really be accessed to work on so I'll have to put another line in if I want to be able to water the garden and flowers. Right now I'm hoping and praying it will rain. :)