I've been working on the farmstead, all the live-long day!

Shane's with Nana and Pop, so you'd think I'd have more spare time. I'm back in school, though. That adds a 40 minute commute and requires more hygiene. Carrie's still recuperating, so I have to do horse chores first thing in the morning and then when I get home, too!

The sunrises can be pretty.

I still wear a coat most mornings, but I normally shed it after the work warms me.

The week started off easy with the horses out to pasture (Much less work!). Spring showers hit hard later on and the workload and working conditions took a lot more effort to finish it off.

Most of the work was routine, but there's always a new bit that shows up somewhere. This week, Ernie lost a shoe. He got put in a boot to protect him until the farrier could fix it (he's de-nerved), but he managed to kick the boot off, too!

Then Eowyn was hangry enough to break a carabiner. 

The big project on Sunday had been to set up towable sprayer. It would've cost $1200 to pay someone to spray pre-emergents on our pastures, but Carrie found the chemicals and a 31 gallon sprayer for a little under $600.

Assembly required.

The hope is we'll use the sprayer for several years. I hope to use the torque wrench I bought to assemble the sprayer for many years, as well....only I need to find a converter or sockets that work with it.

I ended up guess-timating what was tight enough. 

Loki helped.

Carrie wanted to spray over the weekend, but we didn't get around to it.

I got it hooked up to the mower battery and it sounded like it worked when I turned it on.

Only I smelled gasoline, so I replaced a rotted grommet on a tank.

I've been busy, but I'm not burned out. The blog fell by the wayside, but that's not necessary for every day survival around here. Without Shane around, Carrie's been jealous for my time when I do get done for the day so my downtime has been filled by things other than writing.

Next week, Shane will be back. That's going to be the real test of hybrid school. Does he help with all the chores, or does he drive Carrie over the edge while I'm at work?