I’m usually so happy when September rolls around. It’s a bit of “time to go back to school” excitement mixed with cooling temps and the return of fall food. With that happiness comes a relief that we “made it through another summer.” I know, with all the gardening and other summer activities on the ol’ homestead you might wonder why I’m glad to welcome fall.
It’s just always been that way. I joke it’s because I’m a December baby and prefer the cold and the snow. That’s sort of true. However you spin it, fall and winter are my faves.
This year the cooler (soon to be frigid) weather worries me a bit as we go through our first winter with the chickens. Our small coop does not have electricity and we will not be heating it. Everything I have read and heard states that heat is not required. Keeping the coop dry, ventilated, and free of drafts – now that is important. When we planned (by we, I mean Mr. Gordon) the size of the coop, he studied how many square feet per chicken (we have eight) was ideal and built to those specs. All walls are insulated – as well as the ceiling – and we have a metal roof. Mr. Gordon just added a strip of pliable, plastic trim (I honestly do not know what it’s called) along the outside of the windows to further prevent drafts. Gutters are up and we’re “getting there.”
I’ve heard that putting a heat source in a chicken coop in winter is more for the humans’ peace of mind than the chickens comfort. Hmm.
One item I have not yet resolved for myself (more accurately for the chickens) is keeping their water from freezing. I’ve read about different products, warmers, etc., but have not found what will work for us, yet. Again, we are not running electricity out to the coop, so that also limits us. If anyone would like to share what they do or what they have learned that works for others, leave me a comment. I’m all ears.
I guess I am sort of dragging a bit of a funk around, too. I don’t want to blame it on the pandemic – it seems like that’s too easy of a target. But it seems that I am struggling to be more grateful these days. I believe I should be a lot happier than I am. Mr. Gordon and I have our jobs; we both work 100% from home (I did before the pandemic, he has since March); and we don’t have to worry about young kids and how they are affected (his son is in his 30s – not that Gordon doesn’t worry, he does, but Kyle is a smart, capable man). We have plenty of good in our lives and live in the beautiful Finger Lakes. What’s not to be happy about?
But still, it’s there. I said to Mr. Gordon over breakfast: I am feeling melancholy today.Â
He asked why? Now, one definition of melancholy is feeling sad for no apparent reason, so his question was a bit ironic. But if I had to dig deep, I would have to say that not being able to do the things that we had hoped to do this summer; not seeing friends (Mr. Gordon is my best friend, but I am feeling a tad lonely these days); limiting public outings; the daily frustration of my job; less than ideal garden production; and learning that certain family members embrace an ideology that smacks of ignorance, hatred of others not like them (I’m so ashamed of this), and other disappointing qualities including a rejection of science – all that has definitely weighed me down.
I’m tired of it. And I’m worried. I’m reading over and over things like “2020 – Definitely would not recommend” or “I can’t wait until 2020 is OVER.”
Okay, but what if things are not much different in 2021? Is anyone thinking about that? I am. Turning the calendar to 2021 does not magically make everything better. We have a long way to go to making everything “better.”
So the calendar now reads September, and like I wrote at the beginning of this post, I’m always relieved when summer is over. And this year I wish I could leave behind all the tough feelings and fears that have filled spring and summer. But, the dust won’t shake off these shoes.
Still, like most people, I just plod on. We ordered our Thanksgiving turkey. We’re waiting on the freezer ordered in July to get here – now they are saying end of October. Mr. Gordon is going to put in a sink in the basement so I can wash the chicken dishes inside as the weather gets colder. We’ll pull what we can from the garden and put it up. We put up a greenhouse on the back porch in an effort to grow greens over the winter and start spring 2021 planting earlier (more on that later). We’ll keep doing our best to keep the chickens happy, healthy, and safe. We’ll appreciate their eggs and share with the neighbors. I’ll continue to end my days escaping into a good book (right now I’m reading P.D. James – nothing like good British mysteries). Mr. Gordon will keep researching ways to help him get more quickly to retirement. I’ll call my sister when I’m sad or mad. We’ll keep calm and carry on.
So, there you have it. Forgive me for my lack of usual cheeriness and please know that I truly am grateful for what we have – what I have. I am.
I’m just feeling funky.
Alrighty then. I hope you are all hanging in there. Drop me a message in a comment.
I hope you’ll also stop by Gutters Up! (And Beans. And Squash.) in case you missed it.
I get how you feel Tracy, I think when we are stripped of our normal routines and rituals for so many months, it just starts wear on us. Add to that the heightened emotions and controversy surrounding the COVID virus, the upcoming election, the protests and riots across our county, wildfires surrounding us on the West, the list goes on. I told my sister yesterday that this has been a year where you think you can catch a breather, but as soon as you start to inhale your first breath…something else happens. And yet in the midst of all of this, so much good has happened and continues to happen every day. I am not one to journal, but I know many would recommend a gratitude journal when one is feeling melancholy. A few minutes each day focusing on the good can change your outlook and focus. You begin to look for and anticipate the good that will happen that day. I do take this time each day to focus on what I am thankful for and the good I have noticed, but it is done during my prayer time. I suppose it would be interesting to write it all down and come back to it over time. I do hope you are able to step out of your funk and into your normal enjoyment of the fall and winter. But in the meantime, know that these feelings are normal and they pass.
You mention your chickens making it through the winter. I know your winters are colder than here in Washington, but our chickens have always done just fine. Their coop is 4′ by 4′ and there are four of them in there. The coop is not insulated, but we do close up their door at night and keep a thick layer of shavings on the floor. They come out each morning perky and content. I would imagine your insulated coop is sufficient! As far as their water, I bring it in each night. I know there are contraptions you can put together to keep it from freezing. But the simplest solution I came up with, was just to walk it inside with me each night after I close them up for the night. I don’t know if this would work for you, but maybe?
Enjoy your weekend friend!
I meant to say protests and riots across our country…not county 🙂 Sorry for the misspelling!
Bekah, thank you so very much for taking time to write such a kind, thoughtful, and encouraging post. It meant a lot to me. 🙂
I do know I’m not alone in how the events of this year (both in country and global) have affected… well, seemingly everything! I know I have much to be thankful for – and I am. I used to keep a gratitude journal. Maybe I’ll start to make an entry in my planner daily to list three things I am grateful for. Thanks for the reminder that it can be a good practice to boost one’s spirits.
Chicken advice – thanks so much for sharing it. It really is much appreciated! I think I will do as you suggest, and take the water in for the night. I think I read that elsewhere, too. And it makes sense. Today I’m heading out to rake / sweep out the coop and I am going to add extra pine shavings to the bedding on the floor of the coop. One thing I forgot to mention is that we also put the same thickness of insulation in the floor of the coop. The coop is off of the ground and when we were building it, I installed foam insulation sheets. Then we covered it up with another sheet(s) of wood.
Right now I’m focused on the couple of drafts I’m seeing and the one window. I am driving Mr. Gordon nuts, but I can’t seem to help myself. I just worry!
Well, I’m off. Time to scoop poop in the coop! 😉
I hope your moving is going well! I saw the photo on Instagram and can see you are in the process!
Dearest Tracy! You are not alone in your feelings of melancholy. I think we’ve all felt it. I was in such a panic (for much longer than I even realized) when all the shutdowns started happening and we realized they would be going on much longer than anticipated. I don’t think I stopped panicking until recently! I agree with everything Bekah said above. It’s okay to feel your feelings. And writing them down, or writing down what you are thankful, grateful for might be a good way to go. I just started a thing on my blog where I blog more often about daily life just to keep a kind of record of where I’m at, how things are going. I also went on a couple of short trips just because I needed to get out! But I’m glad to be back home and settling into my new routine. Give yourself some time.
As for the chickens, don’t stress over it. They are so resilient! I don’t heat my coop and it’s nowhere near as insulated as yours! You guys did a good job thinking of everything. I leave my waterer in the coop at night (because sometimes I’m lazy and don’t get up and out the coop early enough for the girls). Sometimes we have ice in the waterer but I just dump it out and give them fresh. I honestly can’t recall ever having a frozen waterer during the day. I will keep the girls locked in the coop if we have extreme cold temps. But we’re talking 10 degrees or below. We plastic sheet the run so they are protected from the winds. And they do just fine. We occasionally have frostbite on combs, but we catch it and treat it. If it gets to be too cold, just put some salve or petroleum jelly on their combs and they’ll be fine. You know I’m always happy to talk chickens!
hang in there. It’s been a tough, tough year. Take some time to feel the feels and then do some good things for yourself, whatever that may be.
xoxo
Hi Kristin,
Thanks so much for writing such a long and kind comment. That was incredibly nice and I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply. (I have been busy with a personal project and allowed myself to sink fully into it without “worrying” about GCER. I’ll share the details in an upcoming post!)
I know you have definitely faced challenges this past year – getting a business up and running is hard enough without a damn pandemic to deal with as well! You are doing it, though. I am so happy for you.
I owe a visit to your blog post. I truly have missed checking out to see what you are up to and learning about your adventures. Between your photos and your stories, my spirits are lifted. I love reading about the good things in good people’s lives. 🙂
Okay, I see you commented on another post, too! This was a treat – logging in and seeing that you had visited. Thank you!
Hugs,
Tracy
Well, as I just said in my reply to you over my blog, I now see what’s been keeping you so busy! And I hope that has helped you with the melancholy. Nothing like a good deadline, self-imposed or otherwise, to get your juices flowing and keep your mind occupied on other things. I hope to hear more about the book AND what you’ve been up to otherwise. Take good care.
xoxo
PS: And thanks for the chicken tips, Kristin! I am appreciative of your advice!