A Day in the Life of a Modern Farmhouse

Well, I may not be making my own soap or cheese, but I did write them down on my shopping list. Yes, things have changed drastically since those days, but like I said before some things are still the same. I'm still busy, just busy doing other things. A day in the life of this modern farmhouse goes something like this:

6:30 A.M.: The woman awakes in the dim glow of dawn to the sound of the cat pawing and scratching at the bedroom door. She feels the space beside her, barely warm in the place where her husband had slept. She knows he's making his commute to the city for a day of computer work in the office. She dresses and pins up her hair and goes to the kitchen. The cat rubs her legs and bites her ankles until she gets her breakfast of gourmet canned food. The woman starts her coffee and heads to the back porch to feed and let the dogs out. She sips her coffee waiting for their return. Today is Thursday, the main day for housekeeping and errands. The woman starts in the kitchen cleaning up the remains of the late night snacks, then heads upstairs for a shower.

7:30 A.M.: The son awakes and makes his way to join her in the kitchen for breakfast. They eat quickly and discuss the day ahead. There is lot to be done in the first part of the morning and the kitchen is the hub of activity.

8:00 A.M.: Breakfast is over. Left alone, the woman sips her coffee, and then methodically begins to work through the morning. She starts with the dishes and the beds. Then gathers a load of laundry. In the mean time she's let the dogs in and out twice and the cat three times.

9:00 A.M: Time for school to start. She calls for the boy to join her in the study. They always start with math, then grammar, history, literature and geography. While he works independently she grades the papers from the day before, plans the next weeks lessons and checks in online with other homeschooling families in the area. She gathers the mail to be posted and finishes writing out the shopping list. Brings the cat in and lets the dogs out one more time.

11:30 A.M.: Time for lunch. While the son is eating she heads back to the laundry and then sweeps both sets of stairs. The cat wants out with the dogs.

12:30 P.M.: Typing, Chemistry and Reading. The son works independently for the most part while the mother starts with the housecleaning. The floors need swept, the furniture dusted, the bathrooms cleaned.

2:00 P.M.: The dogs have spotted a squirrel in the back yard. They will not rest until released to pursue the invader. She tends to one more load of laundry. Then it's time to make the 10 minute drive to town, squeezing in more education via The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on audiobook. The post office, library, pet food and grocery stores are all on the tour of the day.

4:00 P.M.: Back at the house the son helps carry in the groceries, she packs them away, lets the dogs out and heads back to fold and put away the laundry. She takes a break, checks her e-mail, checks over the son's assignments to make sure they were completed. Dogs want fed again.

4:20 P.M.: There is just enough time before dinner to add one more coat of tung oil on the chimney cupboard her husband built for the kitchen.

5:30 P.M.: Time to start dinner. Nothing fancy just pork chops tonight.

6:15 P.M.: The husband arrives home, hauls the trash to the curb and checks the mail. The family gathers in the dining room for the meal. They talk about the day and the work they will do the next day. They clear away their plates and glasses. Everyone is tired and takes their place in the family room. The son watches Myth Busters, the husband surfs the web and the wife adds a few more stitches to a quilt. One by one they go to bed. The woman is the last to go...after she updates her blog.