RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

SOME DAYS, IT'S JUST DOESN'T SEEMS WORTH GETTING OUT OF BED


This morning was one of those days. I've been getting up at 5:30 am every morning since the daylight time changed and I was getting short on sleep so this morning I stayed in bed till 6:00 am and went to work. When I got to the barn I checked on my sick calf and he was still alive but not strong and he hadn't moved since his blanket was still in place. Despite all my efforts to keep him alive he was failing more and more since his birth. The vet was coming this morning to put him to sleep.

I then fed the cats, and put hay and bedding in the calves pens, grain in their pails and when I went to hose down the narrow alleyway floor as I usually do twice a day, I found out that I had no water. Just great, one of the young calf that had started eating his feed decided to spray the floor with his black paint. Just what I needed, but at least I could console myself that she hadn't sprayed her feed pail.

  My first thought was that maybe my husband had turned the water off for some reason. There were no cows in the holding area and I thought that my husband had gotten to work much earlier and was finished milking the cows.

When I found him, he told me that he thought that the water pump had failed. It's a deep well submergible water pump and was 7 years old. Pumping water for about 120 some head of cattle  day and night can take it toll on the poor water pump. My son was called to come milk the cow while my husband tries to get someone to come take the pump out and replace it. There's an emergency number to call  but the guy was already gone on another emergency in another town.
He has to go to plan two and find another source to get the pump removed and another one put in.

I got my flash light and went looking for long hoses to connect water from my husband's sister's house all the way to the barn and into the cow's big water through.  During the night they had totally emptied all three water throughs. I had a 200 foot long hose attached at my house, and I found another one at the farm.

Then I had to go back home and fill all my big pots with hot water and I carried them with my van and my husband carried big buckets of cold water to the farm. After two trips I got enough hot water to mix the calf milk replacer to finish feeding 10 calves and my husband feed the little ones.

In the mean time my son had a dentist appointment for a root canal which he had to cancel and my husband also had some appointment for something too that he had to cancel too.

I did all what I could do at the farm and went home and made a nice chicken stew with dumplings for lunch and the repair man is at the farm replacing the pump and now I have to go was my bottles and pails and equipment.

Not all my week was as bad as this morning, my brother and his wife came to visit while they were on their way back home from visiting a sick friend in a neighbouring city and I invited them to stay the night. My sister in law was a real jewel and she came to help me feed and care for the calves and also she came early the next morning to help. I can tell you, she's a fast learner.We talk and laugh and had a good time. My house was in the worst possible mess but I knew she understood so I didn't get stressed.



My sister in law, Juliette and my brother Jacques

When the vet arrived with his usual good nature, he said "Good Morning" and my response, It's NOT a  good morning. He laughed but when he went to check a cow, the cow wouldn't get her head in the lock and he had a wicked time, I tried but she refused  and my son had to help rope tie her and the first thing she did is shit all over the front of his clean coverall. Poor guy, I had to laugh.

I told him that I had a lot of farm laundry to wash  I could include his coverall in the wash since I had to wash the calf warmer jacket and his blanket and lots of rags that I used to keep the sick calf clean yesterday. He had to laugh too. He had to change into his plastic coverall.

My little bull calf was gently put to sleep this morning and is now roaming in the greener pastures. Although he was sick, he never had a fever. The vet thought that it must have had a weak heart. I no longer get attached to them as I did before. I'm getting tougher.

Oh... and the previous post about my new farm boots must have appeared unusual to most of my followers but I can explain. I was showing Juliette how to navigate Blogger and how to post a picture and since the last picture I put in the file folder came up when I went to upload a picture , that's what I used. Thanks to all my most faithful followers who bothered to comment. You are the greatest to humour me under such conditions. I love you all.

Sorry this post is so long.... a good thing that I don't blog often lol...

There are many little stories that happened during the week but these were chosen as the headlines. Thanks for dropping by and I appreciate even the smallest comment. ( sorry, no time time to proof read this afternoon, the pump should be in by now.)
JB

34 comments:

  1. Sorry you lost your little bull. Tough day! Your son would probably have preferred the root canal if he had known what was in store for his overalls! You are a wonder, Julia! Hope the rest of your week is a bit lighter.
    Robyn

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  2. first, sorry about your calf, but glad you are hardening up to know it is part of the farm world. second, carrying all that water must have been tough! glad the pump is fixed now! your brother and sister-in-law's visit must have been great. i can see juliette has a great humor and warmth about her. a bright spot for you to share laughs and chores. :)

    i saw that post about new boots but it was already pulled down when i went to comment. glad it was a test and i didn't miss something in your world! :)

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  3. What a day! I know a woman has to do what a woman has to do but you still amaze me. I hop you have a peaceful evening.

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  4. Oh my goodness Julia, what a day...i dont think it could get much worst! i bet the soup made it a bit better tho. i hope it is the worst of the days this week! so sorry about the little calf but yes it is roaming green fields now and glad you had a visit with your brother and sil. enjoy your day Julia!

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  5. You are an amazing lady Julia...what a day!!...when it rains it pours...so sorry about your little calf...I know death is part of farm life, but it still is difficult...Glad to read you had a nice visit with your brother and sister in-law...may your work load lighten...hugs...

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  6. This sounds like one of those days indeed. I am so sorry about the calf :(

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  7. I think I need a nap after reading all of this. How do you do it. You are amazing. Anyone that thinks farming is easy should read this. So sorry about the little calf. Sounds like he had no strength at all. Hope you get a little rest sometime soon. ((((HUS))))

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  8. I'm sorry you had such a rotten day, Julia. I truly can understand what you were going through. We've had days like that here too, and it sure makes tomorrow look better when it comes! I hope the water pump is fixed...can't do without that, for sure!

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  9. All I can say is you are one amazing woman...I am so sorry about the calf and the pump and your son's being sh...t on....so glad you could both laugh.....
    I know your brother and sister in law's visit was a bright spot and so glad she is a good sport and helped you with your chores.....
    I am praying for you girlfriend....

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  10. Wow! This city girl is impressed! How do you do it all?

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  11. I would be crying over those cows all the time. I am not tough good thing you are so you are able to care for them.
    cathy

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  12. Oh Julia,
    I feel drained after reading all you've been through these last few days! Gosh you are one tough lady and I admire your strength! Farming is not for the faint of heart! I hope things simmer down a bit and you get a break from all the things going wrong! You deserve a break!!
    Your brother and SIL look like wonderful people! Give them a hug from me for coming to your aid!!
    And give your self a hug too Julia! Better days ahead!!
    Cathy G

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  13. I think I always read your posts with my mouth open in amazement! Nobody could accuse you of having a dull life! I'm sorry about the calf but I live in a rural area and know that farm animals are not pets and sometimes it's survival of the fittest. I'm glad your family came to visit. They look like fun folks!

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  14. Well? some things never change! haven't been able to read blogs in almost a week ... and here you are in the cold with buckets of water and poor calves and well. you have a very handsome brother! and his wife looks lovely .... nice smiles on both!

    What a week... ! and I agree with yaya above... "Nobody could accuse you of having a dull life! "

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  15. What a day you had! Yes, some days it probably would just be best to stay in bed.:-)

    I'm sorry to hear about the calf.:-(

    Great news that the pump is repaired - hopefully! I do know that it is definitely very hard work to keep a farm operating.

    I really appreciate your comments on my blog, Julia. Thank you so much for stopping by.

    xo

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  16. hugs, some days are just plain hard.

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  17. So sorry to hear about the little sick calf.
    What a stressful morning you had! I'm glad you were able to get the pump fixed.
    Your sister-in-law sounds like a wonderful person. Glad you had the chance to enjoy having the company of your family.
    HUGS to you and hopes that the coming days will not be filled with any more emergencies.

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  18. It wore me out just reading this post. Most of us don't know the meaning of real work.
    R

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  19. It wore me out just reading this post. Most of us don't know the meaning of real work.
    R

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  20. You are working so hard all the day. Sad to hear about the sick calf. At last found a great way to get water from your sister's house. Can't imagine a day without water. Hope you had a wonderful day with you brother and sister-in-law.

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  21. What a week! I am glad you had some help. I'm sorry about the baby bull. I hope things settle down now.

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  22. It sounds like a trying and exhausting day. Ya, if going back to bed would have made it better that would have been the smart thing to do.

    Hopefully the rest of the week is better and you are able to finish on top!

    Hugs.

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  23. Ok, now I feel ashamed of complaining about how tired I am at the end of a week sitting in an office. Julia, you always amaze me and that day you described was brutal. I hope you get to rest some today. Sorry about your poor baby but those kinds of decisions need to be made sometimes

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  24. Julia you are such a treasure to your family! What a ordeal.Hugs and blessings Cheri

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  25. Hauling water no fun but when the pump goes down the cows gotta have water. I can remember having to haul water a few times and it was tiring and I did not like it all. You still just amaze me sweet Julia at your energy and all you accomplish. What a great sister-in-law. Work is a lot more fun when you have someone like that to help and share with. Happy for you that you had a nice visit with her and your brother. Hope the pump got fixed quickly and no more water hauling. I couldn't help but giggle about the vets coverall although I felt bad for doing so. : ) So sorry about your little bull calf. Hugs

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    1. I should have said your son's coverall. I guess I was still thinking about the vet.

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    2. Actually it was the vet's coverall that the cow messed up. I was in a real rush when I typed my post and didn't had time to proof read it before publishing. You were right all along Mag.

      JB

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  26. Farmers are heros, pure and simple.
    The work you do is so valuable and rich and needed and under-appreciated. You are beautiful and I'm honored to know you.
    Hope your sleep is sweet and deep and refreshing.
    Peace, sweet Julia:)
    -Jennifer

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  27. I don't know anyone who works as hard as you do, Julia! I hope you don't have too many more days like this. Sarah

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  28. Wow Julia, I think I would have wanted to go back to bed too. I am sure by this time you have your pump in. So sorry about the calf, that is still to me one of the hardest things to do. Putting any animal down is hard and I do wish I was tougher. Your sister in law and brother looks like wonderful people. It must run in your family. :)
    I hope this week is much better though I hear it is cold.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning too.

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  29. Oh Julia, what a time you have had. I do hope that this week has gona a lot better. As always company comes when things go crazy but you so nice for you to have a visit with your brother and sister - in -law. Hope all is well and take care!
    Granny Bob

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  30. Good Lord one should read before they hit the publish button,that should read gone instead of gona and but so nice for you to have a visit,not but you so nice for you. Lol!
    Granny Bob

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  31. Julia- that's one of the most incredible stories ever-- and you tell it SO well. There's no lack of adventure at your house for sure!! Holy cow!!

    Vicki

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  32. You never to cease to amaze me, dear Julia!! And always with such good cheer!!! I hope your family values you as much as your blog readers do!! Here's to a good day -; and UNEVENTFUL!!

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