Why does everything take longer than we think?

When I use to work in the corporate world, requests would pop up on email asking me to do a flier “real quick.” What clients don’t realize is there is no such thing as real quick because of other projects in the works.

And as much as those requests would make my eyes roll, I’m in the habit of doing it to myself every day. I can do this chore real quick or make those muffins real quick, and it always puts me behind. That’s when I get stressed.

I can do it real quick! Insert eye roll. I always get behind!

We’ve learned on the farm, nothing happens quickly.

Remember we started the chicken coop in February. Although it’s fully functional now, it’s still not 100% done. Michael has used all his free time and worked relentlessly, but things happen – rain, more materials are needed, etc.

It's taken months!

Long hours

But the chickens have a coop!

We just need to paint it to match the outbuilding. We used a tin silver roof to match. 

Ta da!

The chickens come and go as they please.

They are very sweet.

And they make us laugh!

The chickens love all the room. They come and go as they please. And Michael built the coop like Fort Knox… we call it Fort Cluck. Although, Snoop Hoggy Hog decided he has a taste for chicken food and tried to root his way in. Not on our watch buddy. Michael chased him away and ended up ripping his shirt in the orchard. I am trying a different approach. We’ll see what way works better.

Snoop is a sneaky pig!

Another project that requires daily maintenance is the garden. Now, I don’t give it attention every day, but I was weeding it twice a week. Those weeds taunt me and grow faster and higher all the time. 

This was a few weeks ago. This random patch is where we planted the pumpkins a few days ago. A late start but hopefully we get a few.

Here is the garden now. 

I have one sunflower growing. 

At least we’re finally seeing a harvest. I am making all sorts of dishes out of zucchini and squash. But aren’t they really just vehicles for us to eat more parmesan cheese.

The side gardens need weeding once a week. 

All the berries are ripening. Enough for us and the birds!

Harvest!

We like fried green tomatoes.

This is our first year planting okra.

I'm adding these to every dish I make.

Yum!

It’s all worth it though. We enjoy getting out there and working. It sounds cliché but working with your hands does give you a level of satisfaction. I always think I’m so dirty and tired, I deserve an iced coffee or more cheesy zucchini.

So as I head into the school year, I do want to keep in mind my time. When I try to do too much I stress. When I mentally say, I can do it real quick. I want to pause and see if I really have time.

Love spending time with these girls...

and on this land.