I started my midwifery apprenticeship at the beginning of May, which has been awesome and wonderful, but kind of exhausting, and it leaves me a lot less time for things I used to enjoy, like reading in the bathtub and navelgazing on the internets. I'm so glad I didn't get more chickens or rabbits like I was thinking about a couple of weeks ago!
The animals are getting basic care, no coop upgrades or fancy stuff, and I'm glad that rabbit breeding time is still a month off so I can try to get used to this new schedule first. I mean, I haven't been a total slacker - since I posted here last, I have attended three births, bottled five gallons of beer, canned 20 pounds of loquats, put up a batch of Bärenfang, two quarts of experimental loquat liquer, attended a professional conference, done yoga twice, and rebuilt some more of our deck.
However, there is one project that needs to get done fast, and that is getting automatic water hooked up for the rabbits. They go through a water bottle a day each, so if I'm at a long birth or running late for work, it isn't enough. I'm thinking that with a few tweaks and a few new parts, I can reinvent the chickens' auto-waterer to water them all...because that would be frugal and awesome all at the same time.
Wow, you have been one busy, busy woman! If anyone can figure how to extend the automatic watering from the chickens to the rabbits, you are the girl!
ReplyDeleteMidwifery - What a fascinating profession! How much time do you spend with the mothers-to-be before labor and delivery? How do your clients contact you? Do you do just home deliveries, or do the hospitals welcome your services?
I think it's gonna work...just gotta find a day to work on it!
ReplyDeleteThe group I'm working with has several midwives, a birth center and also does homebirths...over the last 24 hours we have had five women in labor! The midwives invest a lot of time with each client, so it feels really warm and personal.
I think I've told you before that my ex was a midwife - we were together through her apprenticeship and then the first few years of practice. And I remember the crazy hours and the exhaustion, but also the incredible satisfaction and joy she got from her work. So I hope it all goes really well for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miriam! I'm very lucky to have a supportive partner through all of the madness, and I get a ton of satisfaction out of it. I wonder if I've ever met your ex at one of our conferences...hmmm...
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