May 22, 2010
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Drama in my little corner of Xanga.....that's quite enough for one weekend
Two days ago my husband got a call from a local Mennonite farmer needing someone to milk for him while his family goes to a wedding. Not being one to turn down a job, he's been unemployed for nine months now, Doug said yes. Yesterday afternoon a very rare thing happened, I actually had a vehicle available to me with no one else in line to use it. I packed up my books and computer and decided to go to Deansboro and visit with Doug while he milked and get a little writing done in relative peace and quiet.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into the barn and saw my husband's bloody face. He had gotten kicked in the nose by a cow. No pictures please!!! He finished milking and we went home, cleaned up, (the nurses in the ER can thank me later) then off to our local hospital to see if it was broken. An hour and a half later and three x-rays and we find that he does indeed have a broken nose, thankfully it is in line, and the dr. confirmed the poison ivy on his arms. We now have a script for steroids and a referral to an ENT for the nose and promises to the ER doc that he will go see the specialist.
Each morning that it isn't raining I take my coffee outside and stroll around the property drinking in the scenery and the peace and quiet while I wake up and prepare myself mentally to start the day. This morning I was greeted by my daughter's smiling face hanging over the pig pen and the announcement that there are piglets. Pearl has begun to have her litter this morning.
There were nine at last count. Mother and offspring are doing well. The last time I went over there to check I managed to catch number nine coming out.
Last night Ian brought home two new calves. They came with names he informed me, can't remember what they are but I like to call them Porterhouse and NY Strip.
That dog pen Matthew and I built is getting quite a bit of use. Those two look like they are making themselves right at home. I hate to tell them what is in their future.
Edit: Make that 11 piglets.
Second Edit: Pearl came in with an even dozen babies. That leaves Ruby to do her job instead of moping around wishing that those babies were hers.
Comments (11)
Oh my goodness! Poor Doug! What a man, too. To finish milking after getting kicked by the cow! I hope his recovery isn't too painful.
you had me laughing pretty good!
I love the names you gave the two cows.
@whteroses - Can you tell that I am not a bovine lover? Now with the pigs I come up with very nice, quite literary names. Our boar is named Claudius, friend of Julius Caesar. Our two sows are Pearl and Carolina Ruby.
I hope he kicked it back.
Or at least kicked the Mennonite guy.
@Bricker59 - That's what I would do. He's too much of a "quiet peace lovin' man" to quote the movie The Quiet Man. Actually I would have used my 20 gauge and put the cow in the freezer but that's just me.
Hahaha! The conversation between you and Bricker59 is stinkin' hilarious! I seriously laughed out loud when I got to the "20 gauge" part!
God is good to get you there when you were needed. I think putting the milking thingies in ice water before he milks might be a good idea (especially since it isn't his cow.) glad that he is okay and that you are so nice to the nurses. The little piggies are so cute. Hope that the rest of your weekend is quieter.
Yay piggies! How fun!
And fresh beef? Can't beat it! Tell those cows what they're in for and then tell them to get eating!
Hugs, my friend.
@JMHardens060703 - I like your attitude!!!! They are already being encouraged to eat their fill. Melissa keeps going out there to look at them and water them.
Congratulations on the new additions to your household. So glad you husband is going to be OK. We had a friend with a dairy farm in PA and he was badly kicked in the face once. Not fun! I like the names of your cattle. I usually call them all cows, but my husband was an animal husbandry major in college many years ago, and he always objects to that.
Aren't those Holstein calves? I didn't know you could use them for beef. Sure would like to have one of those pigs when they get up a couple of hundred lbs.
I am so sorry about your husband! Hope the farmer covers his medical bills.
@TheSunnyC - They are holsteins and they make fine beef if they are raised right. Piglets are going for about sixty dollars each in about six weeks but you have to come and get them. There aren't any bills from Doug's nose, the insurance covered it all. Besides its all in a days work as any farmer will tell you.