The Maid's Gotta Get Some Sleep

Domestic servant, scullery maid, housekeeper, kitchen maid, chamber maid, parlor maid, laundry maid, cook….gosh, when you put it that way, my day-to-day life just lost its glamour.  If I owned an English manor house, I would be expected to have my manor staffed with these people.  But…since I don’t, I am all these people. And those are just the traditionally female positions.  I’m also the butler, footman, groundskeeper, hall boy, stable boy.  On top of all those duties, I have become a junior herdsman.  There are all these cows and calves and heifers and steers and bulls that I get to work with.  All this would be easier if I could get some sleep!!

For the past 2 nights all night long I’ve been hearing knocking and tapping and rustling and thumping and scampering.  I keep imagining an escaped convict or a lone marauder trying to bust in…then my story will be on Criminal Minds or CSI.  I tell myself, “Ok..get real!  There is a rifle in the corner by the door, the Cowboy isn’t bothered by these noises.  Go to sleep!”

Well, today I’m sitting on the back porch relaxing while talking to you…and guess what!!  Those same noises are still tickling my ears…in the daylight.  You know what it is?  I feel so stupid….there is an ancient oak that towers over the bedroom…and what drops off of oak trees in October????  ACORNS!!!  And what creatures gather acorns???  SQUIRRELS!!!  Jeesh, I’m dork.

Hopefully, I will sleep like a baby tonight (like an older baby..not a newborn up every 2 hours).  I’ve got pots and pans to scrub and grub to cook and laundry to do… and the tapestries and the draperies (Cinderella reference) and some bovine to look after (cattle).

ps.  I wish you could see the view from the back porch:  October sunlight sparkling on the pond and shining through the golden hickory leaves  ….glorious!!