Villhauer's Farm Blessings: The Simple Things

Fall leaves among the flowers.

I have missed being able to do the simple things like zip up my coat, unscrew a lid, turn a door knob while holding something in my left hand, etc. I could go on and on with all the feelings of handicapness I have had while my right wrist has been immobilized in a cast. The heavy weight bearing tasks have also been impossible. No pouring water into stall buckets, lifting and moving bales of hay, or pouring feed from bags into bins. I have not been able to operate anything with a handle (rake, shovel, pitch fork, broom, or tractor, etc.) because I can't get any leverage with one hand. And precision, accuracy, and fine motor movements have been non existent. Try grading papers, trimming a hang nail, pulling out a splinter, and plucking an unwanted facial hair with your non-writing hand.
A stroll through the leaves with a good friend.

I am getting better with my left hand, but everything takes so much longer.... buttoning my shirt, combing my hair, putting in a pony tail or jaw clip, and tying my shoes. I have given up on some tasks like changing ear rings, flossing my teeth, and chopping up carrots. The horses are getting little attention... no grooming, hoof picking, ground work or riding by me. Thankfully Courtney has come out a few times to take care of those basic needs. Betty and Hercules in the picture above can usually be found together, and often it is following me around. As simple as it may be, I always enjoy their company and antics.

Feeding clover to Roni.

The days this past week passed without fanfare... or accident, injury, or other problems. A couple of days I looked out at the beautiful weather and thought how great it would be to go for a ride. And then wondered when I would be able to get back in the saddle again. I worry about how Roni is going to respond when I next hop back on him... since his last riding experience was so scary for him. I plan to start back with a lot of ground work to begin with.

A salute to Old Glory

      There is not much to report on this week, but these were the highlights:
     Uncle John and Aunt Miriam came down from Chicago for about a four hour visit Saturday. We had a great time seeing and talking with them. They toured the farm, chatted over coffee, and took us out for a wonderful late lunch. Courtney and Mike joined us as well. I had a fantastic salad... something I miss because slicing and dicing have been very difficult to do with one left hand.

                                Looking at the amber waves of grain (corn).

The dip in the corn in this picture is where the water way runs through our neighbors field, then goes under U.S. 150 and into our side pasture.
When I got home from school Monday, the house felt freezing. It was 61 degrees inside, but with the lack of sun and the cold gloomy feeling, I just ached to the bone, especially my broken ones. But I was able to sweet talk Joe into turning on the furnace. He wasn't feeling so well himself, so thought it would help. Aww... the simple things that bring pleasure, a warm house and a nice nap.

Napping with my warm snugly kitty.

On Tuesday it was cold, rainy and gloomy, and I was glad that I didn't feel like I had to get out and work with Roni and Amiga. It is nice to have an excuse to stay put in the warm, dry house. I did bring in all my potted plants because it was predicted to get down into the 30's over night.

Pigeons in a row.

   The wood pigeons have been flocking in preparation for migration. They like to congregate atop the corn crib roof. While the Christmas star waits from last year to be lit again, it hangs as a reminder of a winter to come.

     Wednesday was a miserable day weather wise. It had rained much of the night and was still coming down along with being quite windy in the morning. Joe and I decided to put Roni in the paddock with the cows and Amiga and Zorro in a little pen attached to the south stall. Immediately Roni started racing around, sliding to a halt when needed. Amiga and Zorro were running in and out of the barn stall. The cows ran away and tried to stay clear of Roni. Everybody was revved up and once they got started, it was impossible to stop. After several minutes though, they did all settled down, and tend to more important business... eating. By mid-afternoon the
                                                                                   wind was up to
Recliner, blanket, kitty, hot tea and fire.                32 mph with the

rain blowing sideways as it came down. Joe put the horses in each of their stalls, gave them water and hay, and shut the barn doors most of the way. It was another day for me to stay put in the comfort of the house. In the evening I watched Survivor with Joe, sitting in front of the fire with my hot tea and kitty.
Thursday I got my cast off, staples out, and a new X-ray. You can see the 15 staples in the X-ray. Also notice the plate and 7 screws holding it all together. It was

so good to be able to move my wrist... aww the simple things. But, the range of motion in my hand and wrist are limited and there is some numbness in several areas. There is also a little bit of swelling still.

They put on some butterfly strips, I think to make it look better, and gave me a temporary splint which I can remove when resting and to take a shower.

I am not to lift more than 3 to 5 pounds using my wrist. I will continue exercises to work on movement in all directions. The Dr. said that what I have been doing has helped and that if I continue, I won't need physical therapy. (Good, I don't have the time or money for that anyway) But, he said no strength work for 4 more weeks. The bone has a long ways to go to heal. I swiped Roni's vitamin E oil from the barn. I have been putting it on his scar and will be using that for my superficial scar. As for my mental healing... it will take time too. I am still aggravated with myself for causing this accident to happen. It would have been so simple to get down off the picnic table, reposition Roni, and carefully get on him.

A scrub + Vitamin E Oil

The frigid windy air with no sunshine, was all it took Thursday to keep me confined to the house after school. I worked on this Blog and graded some papers. I was feeling sorry for Joe and curious as to what he was up to, so wrapped up and headed out to the barn. I was really cold to begin with, but once I started helping with chores I warmed up. We are trying to winterize the corn crib and figure a way to keep the three groups separated (cows, Roni, and Amiga + Zorro) We want to be able to keep them outside but for each group to be able to get into shelter on cold winter days.

Coming in and taking a hot shower (first one since my mishap) was simply wonderful. I could wash my hair with both hands and give my buggered up arm a good scrubbing. No holding one arm in a plastic bag on the edge of the bathtub! Although the arm has some strange bumps, the scar looks much better. You can see the vitamin E oil shinning on it above.

Duck in the dark.

We had parent/teacher conferences today, so it was a longer than normal work day. I really enjoyed meeting the caring parents of so many of my students, but boy was I tired by the end of it. When I got home at 4pm, I saw Roni grazing in the yard near the well head. The gate to the field was wide open. So I walked over towards him, carrying his halter. He walked right up to me, I slipped on his halter and led him back into the pasture. From the looks of hoof prints, he hadn't been out long or gone too far. I'll have to have a talk with my "stable boy". Joe was still at work at sun down, so I moved each horse into the barn and did all the evening chores except fill water buckets and hay feeders. The ducks are always the last to go into the coop and I always have to wait till after dark for them. Now that it is getting darker earlier, I can do this at the end of the evening chores.

Some good advice.

I saw this posted on face book and thought it was fitting for me and my circumstances right now. This is an idea I have tried to apply to my life every time the going gets rough.

Candy! And festive fall table decor.

Sometimes when God allows us to get knocked off our feet, and we are forced to sit and rest, we have a chance to see how out of balance our life was. I have actually felt a little more relaxed about life now. Before I felt an urgent need to ride Roni to keep him moving forward in his training. There were times when I would have preferred to sit on my front porch and read... but I made myself get out and work with him. I usually enjoy all my time with the horses.... unless they or the weather are being particularly uncooperative. But the need to work with the horses and ride daily had kind of become obsessive. I think I need to slow down on the riding some, and tend to other things in my life that are equally important. There definitely needs to be a healthy balance.

A walk with the dog down a country road.

Now with my free time I read more, brush and walk the dog, sit and watch TV with Joe, and putter around doing little things to help out around here. I also have more time for my daily devotional. I still can't lift much weight, clean stalls, or do things like dig and rake. This too has given me more free time.... which is actually good because some things like washing my hair, writing and typing had taken twice as long. Those tasks are getting easier though.

Arriving home again.

I still hope and dream to have two rid-able horses and be able to take family and friends on little rides with them. I have always wanted to be able to share the fortunate blessing I have of owning horses. I sometimes wonder though, if this is in conflict with God's will. I guess time will tell. The more my line of communication is open and in tune to Him, the better I will be able to know.

The words to a good song

I want to share this song (click on the picture) that thanks God for so much more than our daily blessings. Rhema is probably currently my favorite Christian singer. So much talent for such a young girl who has experienced so much pain when losing her Mom to cancer. And such wise words for her to share.