Priorities are a Must

It is very easy to become overwhelmed by all of the things there are to do. I have a full time job other than the farm that requires two hours of commute time three days a week. I'm very fortunate to be able to work from home two days a week.


Besides my non-farm job I have a long list of things that need to be done around here:

• Install a section of fence


• Mow the pastures


• Wash fleece I just removed from five goats


• Feed little Rosie


• Tag and vaccinate kids


• Move the chicken trailer out of the backyard into the pasture


• Finish the new dog pen

On top of these there are the things that I want to do to be a good daughter.

• Teach Mom how to balance the check book


• Help her sort through the documents that are piling up in relation to Dad's failing health


• Visit and cook a meal once in a while just to take a load off Mom

Sometimes I feel like I can't possibly get it all done. Sometimes I'm not sure what to work on in the current minute.

At those times I take a few minutes and sit with a pen and paper. I list the things that I want to do. Then I decide which are most important. Those are the things I do first. I don't let those other things that are really the nice-to-have things, get in the way.

So for me right now it's build fence, mow pasture, wash fleece, visit Mom and Dad at least once a month.