Did I have a day yesterday ! It was bitterly cold, and the ground was ice-covered. DH taught me how to walk in the snow, so I talk to myself heel-toe heel-toe as I move so that I don't go too fast and fall. Carefully move around the farm doing chores. Time to water the cows. Take the buggy out, back up to the tap at the back of the house, attach the hosepipe and fill both buckets. Throw the frizzbee for Anni holding on to the buggy so I don't fall. She falls over often, scrabbling against the ice and not getting purchase. But she's game and keeps bringing it back for more.
I broke the ice on the full water trough which didn't have the de-icer. About 2 inches thick ice. Used my heel carefully as I didn't want my foot to get wet. 1st load OK, the floor of the back is slick with ice, and jumping down carefully after tipping the buckets into the troughs. 2nd load, good. 3rd trip, I'm getting cocky. 4th trip - disaster ! The one trough was full to the brim, the second just with 1 1/2 buckets (about 20 gallons in the 100 gallon trough). Step up onto the side of the buggy. Crouch down one hand on the metal rollbar, the left on the lip I'm standing on. Crash landing. Right ankle gave way, fell on my still numb left knee which hurt like crazy, twisted my left arm. Yuck. Abandoned more watering of cows as there was no way I could get back down without a ladder. Went to water the sheep. Easier as have a heated hose directly to their trough, just have to lift the end into the trough, fill it, then lay the hose back on the ground to drain. Step up to where DH parks his car, whoops, both legs out from under me, on my ass ! That's it. I'm limping, nursing a rather sore arm, go back inside. Enough of the ice-rink.
Just around midnight, door opens and DH is home for the weekend. Strange, I usually see his lights when he drives up. 1st words from him ? Please tell me you didn't off-load the 2 hay bales from the back of the truck - we need the weight to pull my car out of the ditch by Jasons' house ! Where I'd kept the drive salted, it was just covered with a light layer of powder, but lower past Sues' and then Jasons' houses it was another ice-rink. Had to wait for Jasons' dinner guests to leave, DH attached his Honda to the truck with joined tow ropes to make it long enough, in 4-WD I slowly dragged him up the drive until he flashed his lights at me that he was on the solid part and could drive himself the rest of the way.
Had difficulty putting my boot back on, and once back inside took it off and examined my ankle. Swollen and very sore. Damn. Can't lift my arm either. So looks like I'm not going to be much use on the farm for the next couple of days :(.