They brought the mini bike Herbie gave to his grandson, so they could ride around the farm. We all went apple picking, some on the buggy, and 2 on the mini bike. We were a bit late picking, but there were still a few apples. I walked across the hayfield with Sheila on the leash, giving us a bit of exercise. Young Chad was following behind me. Found a big tree fallen on the electric fence in the far back pasture. Need to go cut it up because it’s grounding the electricity.
While I made pizzas for lunch, they put the apples through the apple chipper and then pressed them into juice. Nearly 2 gallons, kids drank the juice with their lunch. Was surprised that they ate such a little of the pizza, I made a meat one with salami and sweet Italian sausage, a chicken ranch one and a vegetarian one which I added some anchovies to part for me. Herbie gave them his newly bought Coke cooler. Seems he needs to give them something big every time they visit. I can’t say I understand why, he Jones'd for the longest time for that mini bike, and the Coke cooler, then just gives them away. Started with our elliptical machine, and next time they’ll take the bikes we bought for Nanette and Elizabeth 9 years ago.
Manda came over on Friday and we processed 12 chickens. Mine are still on ice in the garage. The trip to the other side of the State on Monday, then Herbie getting hurt scuppered my processing, have to do it tomorrow.
Our 30 new chickies arrived at the post office today. So I ended up going to Family Home & Farm to get some supplies and feed. It’s amazing what I can fit into Noddy. 4 bags of feed, 2 bags of quick set cement, a heated water bowl for the dogs, 2 heat lamps, 2 red bulbs, 4 electric fence handles and 4 electric fence posts and 2 chickie feeders / waterers. They didn’t have the bags of pure, bulk salt or lamb bottle nipples.
I’m still coughing. Have a wonderful, thick, immovable river of phlegm down the back of my throat. Thought the fasting would break it, but no. Need to mix up a salt water gargle, maybe that will work.
Herbie fell at work on Monday. He was sent to a new depot which hadn’t been vetted before. It was raining, and he had to go up a ladder without side railings to a landing, then another few steps to stick the tank. He’s very careful, and thought it wasn’t safe to bend over as his Fire Retardent jeans were wet and sticking to him. As it was raining, he couldn’t see the fuel level on the stick, so was going back down the rungs to get a rag from his truck to wipe it down before re-sticking the tank, when his foot slipped between the ladder and the wall, and he fell backwards, hitting his head and shoulders on the cement and a metal edge. His leg was wedged tightly and he couldn’t get it out while hanging upside down. There was a worker on a forklift earlier, but no one responded to his shouts for help. He tried to do an upwards crunch to grab the rungs, but wasn’t successful. He regrouped, and put all his effort into the next try, which worked. He said if he hadn’t broken the leg in the fall, he surely did major damage in that uprighting. He then proceeded back to his truck for the rag, reclimbed the ladder, stuck the tank, climbed back down and filled it. Discovered he’d hurt his head as blood was pouring down the side of his face. He had 2 more part deliveries, which he did, then advised his dispatcher that he was hurting really badly after the fall, and was going home. But what about the delivery for the bulk plant where he parks his truck ? OK, he’ll go to the terminal and reload for that delivery as it was on his way back. He called me around 3pm asking about the Emergency hospital, saying that he’d fallen and cut his head and banged his leg and needed to go there once he got home, which would not be for another 2 hours.
I was on the other side of the State at his sisters’ muffler shop, where they were manufacturing a new muffler for our big tractor as John Deere wanted $500 for only a part of one. I then popped over to visit with his mum for a little when he called. It was a hairy trip there and back for me as it was pouring with rain and visibility was low. He didn’t tell me how badly he’d been hurt, but agreed for me to take him to the Emergency. I arrived home shortly after he did, he was still sitting in Noddy, and transferred to the truck while I rushed in to pee. We went to the Emergency at the Tony Balice Clinic where our Dr is based, as I’d called them to make an appointment for Herbie. When we got there, they took him through, but when they discovered he had a head injury, advised we had to go to the new Ionia hospital as they didn’t have a CAT scanner. So I ran through the rain again the fetch the truck and drove back to the door where Herbie was waiting, and we retraced back to the hospital. Dropped him off at the door, and went to park the truck. Ran through the rain again, to discover him coming back out as those doors were being locked in an hour, we had to go around to the Emergency side at the back. Would have been nice if it was sign posts. For the 3rd time, I dropped him at the door under the canopy, went and parked the truck and then ran through the rain again. I was nearly as soaked as he was. He had to put that open backed gown on, and I took his wet sock off his hurt leg. He was shivering, so I covered him with the light covering. The nurse, Tim, said he’d give Herbie a pair of scrubs pants to leave so that he didn’t have to put his wet jeans back on. That was really nice of him. We even made it to WalMart to fill the script for the painkillers before they closed. Another 4 runs through the rain for me.
Had to give him some food so that he could take the pills, so we had a late dinner of cold, leftover pizza before going up to bed. He fell asleep nearly immediately so I went and did evening chores. Too late to get the cows up to the lower barn. Oh well, had fortunately also poured milk for the Tuesday herdshare owners after milking on Monday before crossing the State.
So Herbie didn’t work on Tuesday, but went in today for the one GM delivery - he’s the only one who doesn’t stuff up their deliveries, and then went to the drivers meeting at their head office. He has to go to another Dr tomorrow, one for Workers’ Compensation as this injury happened while he was at work. We didn’t get any discharge paperwork from the hospital with instructions on when he could return to work. He thought it a moot point as he went back to work today. But there are procedures that need to be followed. Herbie told his bosses today that he wasn’t going to make that delivery again, and showed the photos of his leg, which looks even worse today.
My batch of venison biltong turned out rather well. It’s yummy. Brad went out hunting again tonight, thought I heard a shot, so maybe he bagged one.
Sheila has learnt to run next to the buggy on a leash. So she gets some exercise and can’t do her disappearing act. Picked another tick off Lisa today. Thought it was too late in the season for ticks, but that’s 2 off Lisa and 1 off Sheila in the last week. Haven’t found any on Anni recently, and haven’t been able to check Rosco thoroughly. Need to buy another round of tick and flea meds for them. Tuxs’ face is healing, I’ve been rubbing coconut oil with lavender on her.
Sold Little Red, Immanuelle and Gabriel at auction last week, and 5 female sheep. All for a miserly $2,000 !! Got 39c/lb for the cows !! Paid $900 for Little Red 6 years ago, sold her for $420 :(. They were worth so much more. Grass fed Scottish Highland been sells for $8/lb at the grocery store, and I got 39 cents, less commission, transport, insurance and tags. Still have to sell 2 calves, and I’ve booked Taxes for butchering early January. I’m hoping for more venison. Maybe I need to expand to fishing. Maybe a well paying job for me will will appear. Maybe pigs will fly !!