Monday, July 29, 2013

~*~ Farm Work ~*~

Work on a dairy farm includes much more than milking cows and planting corn. For quite some time, there has been an area just outside the calf shed that always stays wet. Two weeks ago, Weldon decided it was time to dig through the mud to see if a broken water pipe was the culprit.

It was mighty hot that week, so the first step was to erect some sort of shade. He laid two irrigation pipes from the top of the calf shed to the top of the big yellow dump truck. Those pipes could then hold up pieces of tin roofing. Ingenious!
It took a lot of digging, but he found the broken pipe and then had to figure out how best to repair it.
In the middle of his planning, the clouds started rolling in for their typical afternoon rain. Weldon quickly got the pieces of tin down so that the wind wouldn't blow them to who-knows-where and damage who-knows-what in the process.
In the next day or two, he did a good job of replacing the broken pipe and covering up the hole.

Since I am retired from the cows, my farm work now consists mostly of cats. They keep me (and Pat) plenty busy. A few of them have had a problem with their ears getting all dry and crusty. A neighbor told me about a product that he says cures any and all cat or dog problems. Hmmm. Worth a try.

I went to the LTD store and the gentleman showed me the product. He agreed that it was like a magic potion, and when he was growing up his mother put it on all of his "owies." He also warned me: Be careful with this stuff. It doesn't wash off, it wears off.

The first time I used it, I thought I was being very careful. I held the cat by the scruff of its neck and then dabbed the stuff on the offending areas. What I realized, too late, was that the cat would immediately shake his head and the lovely blue stuff would fly everywhere. And I was right there in the middle of that "everywhere." But I had to finish what I had started. By the time I was done, my fingers were blue, and my ankles and shoes and pants were speckled blue, as well.

After a few weeks, I told myself that the cats' ears and miscellaneous lesions were looking better. Hence, it was time to give them a second dose. This time I was prepared. I wore gloves and long pants.
The first cat was very accommodating and, as I gently dabbed his ears, I reminded myself: remember the head shake. Well, I remembered ... but I wasn't fast enough. I could feel it splatting my face and neck. But, the show must go on.
 My ankles didn't get splattered this time. Next time, perhaps I'll wear long sleeves.
When I got to the house, I went to wash up (and take pictures). I thought, "Why don't I try my new facial towelettes?" So, I did. And they took all the blue stains away. It took some scrubbing, but I think I got them all. I'm definitely saying yes to cucumbers.
Then it was time to make some baked oatmeal, get breakfast on the table, wash dishes, go to Edith's to snap green beans, come home to freeze green beans, go to Aldi's and Sam's Club, put groceries away, get supper on the table, wash dishes, go feed kitties, wash a few kitty eyes, try to see Mrs. Mewer's SIX babies (no luck), and come home to write a blog.

I love my life :)