06/12/2022
Hi all. Going to do some sharing, and hopefully you'll get some ideas of "how to" on your farm. Some background info is needed here: we have what would be classed as a small, livestock farm. I sell birds (live and freezer) and beef, crop land is leased, etc. We have a feed store, a couple of small farms (one is rented, but we keep horses there), and other "stuff" that keeps us busy. My husband is a pilot and is gone a lot (but don't worry, I played with guns in high school (drill team and rifle team) and am military trained with handguns and rifles). All relevant, I promise. So, I did a thing recently. I broke my ankle. During that process, also broke a rule that I had put in place...I did not have my phone on me.
I ALWAYS take my phone out, when Kevin is gone, when I go to drop hay out of the loft... just makes sense, you know? But, if I'm going to feed the birds, the horses, etc (NOT climbing a mountain, feet on the ground) often times I leave the phone in the house. THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLAN. Voice of experience here.
I was down hard. Dogs wiped me out, felt top of my foot bend up and touch my shin (my brain is matter-of-factly saying "oooh, that ain't right".... literally, college educated holding a BS in ENGLISH brain comes up with that😂... shows my roots). I was stuck, at 2345, 75 to 100 feet from the house. Tried to crawl, foot flopped down (right back to "ooooh, that ain't right") so had to scooch/ crab crawl to the house. Had to go up steps to the deck, then into the house (thank the Lord I had left the door open... cool night, quiet, chirping frogs, etc). Crying, cussing, angry cuz of stupid situation, angry cuz dogs were trying to figure out what was wrong with me and kept hitting my foot...UGGHH! Get into the house, call "framily" (love this word... says so much) and Jim Cooper came to my rescue. Ambulance trip to hospital, son comes to sit too, yadda yadda yadda. Fast forward a week. I'll have surgery tomorrow am to put and hold everything back where it goes. If the reset worked (which was not a good time) then just a plate on the outside, otherwise a screw and "tie" on the inside too. Then down for 6 weeks. Joy.
So, here's what I've learned.
If you're home alone, always have your phone with you, or your medical alert, or both. Please, do consider a medical alert device, especially if you're older. Even though we've all laughed at the commercial (help! I've fallen and can't get up) I know too many for whom this was a reality. If you're not alone, let whoever is with you know what your plan is so they can check on you periodically. If Kevin is home and I'm going outside, to the basement, to the barn, etc I let him know so he can check on me.
Have a plan. Know what you can let go, what can go on hold, and what needs to get done. Then ASK FOR HELP. I'm really bad about this, and most of the folks I know are like this. We're very independent, "I got this", "I'll get it done if I have to stay up all night and crawl through the desert" kind of people. Know your limitations, especially when dealing with an injury. My will says "you can do this", my mind is saying "welllll, if you're very very careful and do it this way then...." BUT my body is saying "not today, lady." I'm listening to my body. By asking for help, knowing what can be let go, etc, and ASKING FOR HELP (notice the emphasis???) things that need to get done, are. I have wonderful framily who are checking on me and helping. They are taking care of me.
Use down time to evaluate where you are and where you want to go and, if you're a believer, what God would have you do (I'm in this latter category; a believer, albeit ornery... like the sassy 5 year old that mic drops you cuz she doesn't want to hear what you have to say... love you Char-Bear). I've got a menagerie here, horses at south farm, busy with store and getting busier, I love gardening, landscape designing, crafting, farming, etc. I've got tremendous ideas on how to improve, grow, learn, market, and on and on and on. I LOVE my time with friends and family, but then feel guilty for not getting stuff done. I've often joked with people that I need 5 clones to do everything I want to do. It's probably more like 7. And hubs wants me to learn quickbooks as well, and some accounting, because the info we get from the accountant is not right. Did I mention he's a pilot? (Jk,I know I did😂). So, although he does a lot of the farm dama... uh, I mean work (yeah, work, that's it) when he's here, he's maxed out. And interestingly, he also hurt himself (what a dumb pair we are!😂).I think I'm maxed out too. 🤔 I, and we all, need to find the balance. I'm pushing 60, and I still am seeking balance. 😞 So, I encourage you younguns to find balance early. I don't know if I'll get there, balance I mean, but I'm going to try. It might be painful, but hopefully I'll enjoy life more instead of running around like a pack of dogs running into people, causing hate and discontent. Figure out what you have to do, what you really love to do, what you like to do, and start weaving. You may only get to do some of what you like and most of what you love until you pare down what you "have to do." Example: you gotta clean the house; but, if you can afford to hire someone to do even part of it, do it. Then you lose some of the "have to" and gain time for "love to." If you can't afford, try to some synergy! Get together with friends and help each other! We all know we get more done when we're talking and laughing together than the drudgery of doing it by ourselves (this also counts as a two-fer). Jessica, a DIL, taught me this... she told me a clean house is important to her, but so is her time. So, she hired a cleaning expert because her time is more valuable than the cost of a cleaner. Makes sense to me, but I'm still working on this personally because I have stupid trust issues.
Anyway, yeah. I'll have a solid 45 days or so to work on me... and quickbooks.I wish I'd done it differently. But sometimes, this is the "je**ed up by the short hairs" that we need. If you've made it this far, bless your heart! Please pray for me, that I survive the down time (if you know me, you know I'm REALLY struggling with "keep off your foot, keep it up, do nothing" aspect of the injury), that I'm better on the other side, that I'm okay letting go of have to's to make room for "love-to's" and mostly that I always remember to tell people I love them, thank them for the help they've so graciously given, and thank the Lord for blessing me with wonderful people in my life, both past and present.
