I sometimes worry that people assume I intentionally do silly (stupid) things or seek out the meanest animal to create artificial absurd situations. Unfortunately, the words you read about me on this blog are real. The circumstances are unintentional. Unfortunately.

Like this morning. I (aka: wannabe farmer) was out doing what farmers do on cold mornings — breaking ice and feeding animals. This particular morning, I was feeling extra farmer-y because of my furry hat and feed coat. Looking back on it, I was acting oh so cocky as I good morning-ed the animals and poured the feed. The chicken ice was not a problem. Broke easily. Done.

I moved on to the goats. After giving them some feed and a few extra pats while telling them how much I love them (because I really do love them), I turned my farmer attention to their water. It is in a different type of container than the chickens. And apparently this container was much colder last night because it was almost impossible to break.

Let me intersect and give you some background on my method of breaking water, which (Matt tells me) is so NOT like a real farmer. I, while wearing my Mucks, stand on top of the water (only one foot) and then stomp until the ice breaks through.

So, back to today. Like I said the goat water was very thick and stubborn so today I had to stand on it with all of my weight on the water (still only one foot because I’m not crazy). And then it happened. The ice (which apparently was NOT as thick as I had previously thought) broke free and GUSH, down I went. Water rushed into my boot and up my thigh. And as I struggled to remove my freezing water-logged boot and leg from the ice water, I was humbled (yet again).

I rushed through the rest of the chores singing (literally out loud) Christmas carols to keep my mind off of my soon-to-be hypothermic and then gangrene leg and then amputated leg.

Now I’m sitting at my computer next to my favorite guinea pigs thawing my leg (and my pride). No, all of this is not intentional. I dream of the day when I have nothing to write about because I have graduated to real farmer status and everything I do ends up being as easy and uneventful as when Matt does it. (I realize this will probably never happen, but a girl can dream!)

Categories: Life on the farm

Ginia

My name is Ginia Oehlschlager and I'm a small-town gal from Missouri. Join me as I document my crazy life on the farm with my husband and four kids. I'm always looking for frugal, simple ways to live the life God set before me. Where faith, family and fun come together on the farm.