Have you every been really proud of someone and really mad at someone one at the same time? Those were pretty much my two major emotions today as Cordell and I help my husband with the farm chores.
First, let me set the tone for you… Its September here in Upper Middle Tennessee. Its a time of hot days, dewey mornings, cool nights, and moons that come in every color or orange hanging in a star laden sky. Its a time of skunks and grasshoppers. Its a time, when the leaves are starting to fade from the bright vivid green of summer to the darker more muted shades of fall. Its a time, of fall football, hayrides, trick or treat, and family gatherings.
So, in this a hot September Sunday, we (The McLerran’s) had to go to church, get family photos made (I love my sister-in-law, but give her a camera and she can put you in the most unnatural positions and demand you smile and stay still – and you should try to hold those positions while recovering from a back injury (my hubby) and getting three kids ages 8,6, and 3 to smile and sit still too…but I digress) help said sister-in-law decide where she and her hubby were going to build their hay barn, and then milk a cow that has set up mastitis, and feed the animals on the farm. But, the last two points is where I got proud and mad at the same time.
My Hubby has dealt with a back injury since before we were married. Most of the time you would never know he has problems, but some times he gets down and cannot hardly move. This week has been one of those times. He was just getting dressed on Wednesday morning and his back locked up. Well, after me not sleeping at all due to how much pain he was in that night, he went off to the doctor then next morning for a check up and medicine. (And by the way, i love it when he is on steroids) By, today, he is moving around a bit better. Moving enough to sit in those uncomfortable positions to get family pictures.
Anyway, back to chores…
Due to the lack of decent rainfall in Tennessee, (I know we are better off than our friends in Texas and I hope and pray they get some rain soon…) But, due to the weather, our fields are dry and we are feeding our cattle supplemental feed. Normally, this is no big deal, Brian picks up a 20-50# bucket or sack of feed and just feeds. But he cannot lift – or as the source of my anger – he is not suppose to lift. I was doing fine feeding the cows, lugging my little buckets of 10-15# feed at a time. I guess I was not going fast enough and he starts lifting buckets and helping me. Please, tell me why farmers are so stub headed at times…
Finally, we got over the feeding stock issue. It may take me more trips, with lighter buckets, but I too can take care of our animals. Then, we had the cow with mastitis to care for. Cats and dog to feed. A pony to catch that had somehow gotten out of a field. More horses to feed. Waters to check, and to top it off, we needed to get this done before time for church.
Watching my Husband try to do his routine every day chores was terribly hard for me. Seeing, our three year old son, tell his Daddy to let him carry that bucket, was a painful picture. But even in my misery over seeing him in pain, I know I am blessed to have him, our farm, and our family. His back will get better. Maybe this time, he will listen to me about stretching even after his back quits hurting. Maybe we will all get the weather that we need for our farms. And maybe it will rain dogs and cats for real tomorrow…
He makes me proud by keeping our farm going and working always to make it a better more productive farm. But I may shoot him somewhere non vital if I see him lifting again before he gets cleared by his doctor.
