I have clearly lost my mind. My self diagnosis is based on the fact that I am about to tear up the brick sidewalk I nearly killed myself building five years ago, to seed grass there instead and relocate the bricks along the flower bed retaining walls to eliminate having to trim grass with the trimmer. I can just run the tire of my mower over the brick. Bliss ! But it means working on my knees for most of the summer, there is over a 1000 bricks to move. ugh.... insanity I know.
My dog portrait gift to Rbts cousin was a big hit. I had a few separation issues but not as bad as with my other paintings. The furniture pieces are turning out well, I enjoy the challenges.
Man am I feeling old.
Splendor
June 9, 2014
February 17, 2014
Superman Syndrome
What is Superman Syndrome you ask. It's thinking you can fly faster than a speeding bullet.
How do I know about it, why I performed that move today while we were moving cow calf pairs out to the field. I stepped on what I thought was a frozen cow pie stuck to the ground but it wasn't, it tipped I lost my balance and manage to save myself from rally sideways by twisting in mid air to fall forwards instead, my left knee took the brunt of my considerable weight hitting the ground then my left elbow and right wrist next, it happened so fast I don't remember much other than the burst of pain, stars and lightening all at once but rob was watching from a distance and says I actually skidded about three feet in the wet slushy snow and Half thawed manure, ugh. I was nearly running at the time to head off a calf that was trying to turn back on me. The eye witness to my downfall says I actually flew through the air a bit with my arms stretched out in front of me. Ha ha ha superman.
My knee is about three times it's normal size and black and blue very stiff and sharp pains whenever I move the joint.
How do I know about it, why I performed that move today while we were moving cow calf pairs out to the field. I stepped on what I thought was a frozen cow pie stuck to the ground but it wasn't, it tipped I lost my balance and manage to save myself from rally sideways by twisting in mid air to fall forwards instead, my left knee took the brunt of my considerable weight hitting the ground then my left elbow and right wrist next, it happened so fast I don't remember much other than the burst of pain, stars and lightening all at once but rob was watching from a distance and says I actually skidded about three feet in the wet slushy snow and Half thawed manure, ugh. I was nearly running at the time to head off a calf that was trying to turn back on me. The eye witness to my downfall says I actually flew through the air a bit with my arms stretched out in front of me. Ha ha ha superman.
My knee is about three times it's normal size and black and blue very stiff and sharp pains whenever I move the joint.
Something weird is going on
Calving is happening fast an furious this year. Two fatalities so far but six sets of twins to make up the losses and then some. In the first two weeks of calving we've had 75 % of our cows freshen. For those of you with COW knowledge will know that's pretty damned good. For those of you who aren't, we'll, it's like your general contractor saying it will be another three months to finish building your dream home but he finishes in two, WOOOHOOOO !!!
The only flies in the ointment are the problem births, an 8 year old cow, who, as a first time mom years ago gave birth to a still born, she licked her baby and mooed at it but it never got up to suck. Every year she calves a healthy calf, licks it, mooes at it, but kicks it if it tries to nurse. Every year we have to hobble her so that she can not lift her foot to hurt the calf, this year she accepted the nursing in record time and is hobble Free after only 7 days. Yay 59R, you go girl !
Another old cow has had twins for the very first time but only wants the first calf born,the other calf might as well be afterbirth for all the attention she pays it. Robert has had to wage psychological
Warfare on her. Our biggest worry was the 130 lb. calf born to another 8 yr old cow, the biggest calf she's ever had. Our average birth weight is 97 lb. so he did a bit too much growing. In fact he got so big that he couldn't move in the cows uterus. For quite sometime we think, given how bent and stiff his legs are. He's weak and can't straighten his legs out enough to stand so we bottle feed him and give physio therapy, bending his joints and stretching them out straight. He doesn't like it, but we got him straddling a square bale of straw and he liked that. His morale got a big boost once he was able to sort of stand. Now, I am happy to announce he can get to his feet with his own effort and is nursing from his mommy. Thankfully she is a very quiet and gentle soul, we think she knows we are only trying to help, I love it when these things have happy endings for us all. I cry for days when we can't save them and I have to shoot one.
The weather here this week has turned nice which gives us a breather and a chance to catch up on bedding and sorting. Other than that, I have been working on a new painting sporadically and doing Rbts laundry, it's a messy time of year.
The only flies in the ointment are the problem births, an 8 year old cow, who, as a first time mom years ago gave birth to a still born, she licked her baby and mooed at it but it never got up to suck. Every year she calves a healthy calf, licks it, mooes at it, but kicks it if it tries to nurse. Every year we have to hobble her so that she can not lift her foot to hurt the calf, this year she accepted the nursing in record time and is hobble Free after only 7 days. Yay 59R, you go girl !
Another old cow has had twins for the very first time but only wants the first calf born,the other calf might as well be afterbirth for all the attention she pays it. Robert has had to wage psychological
Warfare on her. Our biggest worry was the 130 lb. calf born to another 8 yr old cow, the biggest calf she's ever had. Our average birth weight is 97 lb. so he did a bit too much growing. In fact he got so big that he couldn't move in the cows uterus. For quite sometime we think, given how bent and stiff his legs are. He's weak and can't straighten his legs out enough to stand so we bottle feed him and give physio therapy, bending his joints and stretching them out straight. He doesn't like it, but we got him straddling a square bale of straw and he liked that. His morale got a big boost once he was able to sort of stand. Now, I am happy to announce he can get to his feet with his own effort and is nursing from his mommy. Thankfully she is a very quiet and gentle soul, we think she knows we are only trying to help, I love it when these things have happy endings for us all. I cry for days when we can't save them and I have to shoot one.
The weather here this week has turned nice which gives us a breather and a chance to catch up on bedding and sorting. Other than that, I have been working on a new painting sporadically and doing Rbts laundry, it's a messy time of year.
January 12, 2014
Oh The Dread
Another calving season is soon to begin and I am filled with apprehension. I am not able to just let the whole stressful procedure roll off my back like I did when I was younger. Rbt tries to take on more of the work with the cows but he can't do it all and I worry about him having an accident when he is so tired. We will manage I know but the five years until he is ready to retire wont come soon enough for me.
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