That Just Won't Do

I guess I haven't been much help this week. We are in in-between times, swing season. Not much I can do with the weather behaving this badly. The weather man can't make up his mind, so they are calling for 2-12" of snow here. Either way the wind will be blowing so hard, that they are calling for white outs here. Just wonderful.

I think I managed to slink down into a slight depression. I can't do much with this ankle, no worries Hermit Jim, I am taking it easy even if it does bother me so. (the not doing anything part). The kids have fresh bedding to keep warm, my children have their heaviest coats, gloves and hats, and my husband is furry headed so he should stay warm.

I need to get into the routine of spring soon. I was going to go to the farmstead today, but can't because of the storm. So many things to do, no time to do it.

I think I will make today a good baking day. I need to make some more bread, which should have been done first thing this morning. I think a cake is called for, you know to get over some of the gloominess. The boys will like that. Noodles, I am almost out of noodles, so that needs to be on the list as well as house work, ugh, why couldn't I have broken my ankle then I could get out of household chores. ~wink~

Have a weekend everyone!

Community of Thoughts

What I really love about being here, something I never knew or probably never would have if I stayed in town, is that the people out here come together like I have never seen.

I am watching the wheat field at the end of the road grow. The thing that amazes me is that it wasn't leased out. when the farmer died, others in the area showed up to harvest and replant for the widow, expecting nothing in return. I am sure it will be leased out in the near future. But it is a nice, heart warming activity that is going on for the moment.

Sure, people in the town where I grew up would show up with food and offers to help with this or that, but never on the scale I have seen here. They don't take no for an answer.

My ankle still hurts, so I have been on light duty. I have a few things to do to get the goat kids ready for what sounds like a March blizzard headed our way.

Ok Boys and Girls, settle down

I was un-bandaging my ankle yesterday, and mentioned to my husband that I was tired of getting hurt. He then blurted out that Farmers were on the top ten list of America's deadliest jobs. That's nice to know.

Now that it is officially spring, many of us are getting itchy to get into the garden. Just hold your horses there kids. Make sure you know your local last frost date. But even that isn't always spot on. We had a late frost two years ago that destroyed all my peaches. Now is a good time for your cooler weather items.

I have, over the years, covered many different garden techniques and edibles. I will toss this out to you.

What do you want to learn about this week?

It was a bright and windy afternoon

My dogs began barking and howling as if murder was being committed on my property. I looked out and saw nothing, except for the dogs looking over at the horse neighbors drive. No one was there, so I assumed the dogs were wanting in the house and were attempting to get my attention by barking up a storm. A few minutes passed and the dogs took off, jumping, not using the stairs, off the front deck. Their barking alerting me to trouble. I quickly moved to the door and saw two blond dogs darting into the trees on the other side of our property fence. My neighbors dogs were loose.

I laced up my boots and went into the wild wind. As I opened the gate, I cried out "Auntie Em Auntie Em!" as the wind grabbed my gate and dragged me through the open with it. I struggled with the gates, to get them shut and tightly secured before walking over to the neighbors. I knew they were not home, as the husband has been sent off to Iraq again, and the wife works off property. I called to the two f the five residing dogs, and brought them back into there large pen. I struggled with this gate as well, the wind kicking up dust storms making it hard to see. The gritty taste of dust was overwhelming. A cable had fallen, and I stepped over it, only to scream in pain and fall to my butt. I sat in the gravel drive way cursing, and prodding my ankle gently. Was it broke?

I hobbled home, fighting with my gate again, and crying out in pain with every step. As soon as I stepped into the house, I quickly removed my boot, grabbed a bag of frozen cows peas, and called my husband. The parts guy answered the phone. I bit my bottom lip to stop the blubbering crying. I wasn't about to give this retired Naval officer/biker anything to tease me about later. I asked for my husband, but he was busy, he would have to call me back. I pushed the off button on my phone, a tittered a small sob. Pressing the talk button, I called my mother. I had to cry to some one. Of course this caused my mother distress. I told her I wold be fine. I just had to cry to someone. Hours passed, my foot swelled, my ankle looked like I had a gold ball under the skin, and I complained. Before my husband made it home. He hadn't received my message. He poked and prodded and in his highly educated reasoning, declared it severely sprained, not broken. He applied an ace bandage tightly, and my heart beat timed the small surged of pain.

That evening, the rains came. Everyone was sleeping but I. The lighting lit up the yard, tattling on the rain and the flooding it was causing. The hail came, knocking gently on the roof, and with a clash of thunder the hail beat on the windows, wanting to get inside. My youngest child sat up in a flash. I retrieved him a glass of water and sent him in to sleep with his father. The local news channel was on, and I waited, waited for a hole in the radar. And when it came, I was prepared. My right boot was easily pulled on, but my left. I once again bit my lip so that I wouldn't wake anyone with my personal turmoil.

The water came up mid calf. I sloshed through the water, and opened up gates. I hadn't known that the weather was going to be this bad, and only a few critters had access to the barn. I went and checked on the goats. Between my ankle and the height of the water, it took longer than I had wanted. The rain came back, and I found myself lifting the truck topper, holding two kids with one arm, and trying to get a hesitant mother goat to walk out into the rain. I couldn't let them stay, the goat pen was flooding. I propped the topper on my back, and grabbed the goats collar, allowing the topper to side off me as we walked. I took them into the barn, and grained them. There were still a few high places left in the barn that were dry. I shivered, and walked, limped back through the water and the pouring rain.

I was cold and tired. Bed beckoned me.

Weekend in Review

Winter puts you completely out of shape. One can not laze about all winter and then think they can go out and hoe mounds in a 1,200 square foot potato bed and not think they will be sore for the next week. Nor can one expect their hands to still be callused up and won't get broken blisters on just about every part of their soft hands.

I scrubbed out the cattle tank. I have stuff in it to prevent algae growth. Either it doesn't work or I didn't keep good track of how long it was in there, and when it needed to be replaced. The de-icer kept the water nice and warm and the build up was incredible.

Trying to work in 30+ MPH sustained winds is not any fun

Sable, the smallest of the triplets died this weekend. It looks like her mother laid down on her and didn't get up until I walked out there. I went out to milk, and heard this odd crying noise. I got my oldest to run and get me the flashlight. We found Sable laying under the truck topper, one of the many shelters we have out there for them. She reminded me, if any of you have cats you might now the look, of a kitten after it's mother has smother her. She was still alive, so I ran her in the house and tried to get her to drink something. She wasn't interested. I called my husband, but by the time he got home, it was too late. Yet another reason to get my truck running. That way if something like this happens again, I can get to the vet on my own. The other two kids are doing fine. They are playful and demanding.

On a happy note, Mama wanted to say hi!


Also, Small got to play with my camera this weekend.


Now you tell me what this is.



When I told Small what I thought it was, he giggled and told me no.