Our days are framed by chores, bounded by them. Morning chores are right after sun-up or 7 a.m., whichever comes first. Animals eat first. Animals to be fed:

First, the barn cats, Minnie and Flo, fed some dry food by the back door, or in the barn, depending on weather and where they are. They need fresh water.

Then, the donkeys get one third of a bale of second cut hay, taken from bales stored in the barn.

Then, the sheep get one-third of a bale.

The hose is pulled out to fill the water buckets.

The coop is opened, the chickens given some feed.

The manure is swept out of the barn, shoveled out into the field.

The barn is swept out. Often, the buckets are dirty, filled with hay and dirt, and need to be rinsed out.

Then, the gates are checked and double-check,  the dogs are let in from the yard (Red is with us doing the chores, he keeps the sheep in place and in line. The dogs are fed. We take a few minutes and scan the animals to check for limps or wounds or aberrant behavior.

Then, Maria and I go back into the house. I scan e-mail to see if there is anything I have to attend to, I cannot scan all of it. I have breakfast, sit and talk, usually meditate together. Then Maria goes to her studio, I go to my office. I blog and work on my books all morning and through the early afternoon. I take photos intermittently throughout the day. My camera is always with me. We have lunch together if we can. I cook and shop.

Then, afternoon chores at 3, eggs are collected if there are any and all of the animals have to be fed and watered again. Chores take about 30 minutes in the winter, less now. Soon the animals will not need hay. We have added garden chores to the mix. Maria and I split the chores up wordlessly, we just each start and the other picks up with the rest. These chores are dynamic and inflexible. They cannot be put off, they embody commitment and focus. Dependent animals are always a responsibility that does not end.