The Unexpected Guest

This Thanksgiving started out as any other year; sleeping in, prepping the house, getting the turkey started, spotting a huge five-point buck out of the kitchen window...wait, that last part doesn't happen every year.  Holy cow, there's a huge five-point buck out of the kitchen window!

I grabbed my camera and bounded for the door.  It was just above freezing outside, but there simply wasn't enough time for shoes!  I crept around our deck to the back and positioned myself for the shot...*click*

That was the best I could get until later that day.  His hind leg was wounded and bloody, which explained why he never bounded or jumped the fence.  A possible bullet wound?  Regardless, he looked lethargic and was walking slow.  I continued to click away, but the deer was moving further.  What's that tingling sensation?  Oh, my blue feet.  Time to get back inside.

Later that day I checked to see if the buck was still around.  Yup, there he was, laying down right next to my fence!  I snatched my camera (and shoes) and ran to our pasture.  Now it was time to see how close I could get to the beast.  I slowly made my way down the hill and sneaked up to the fence.  I was no further than four feet away when he noticed me.  Neither of us moved.  Slowly, he turned his gaze away, and I focused my camera.

This buck was sick alright.  He wasn't afraid of me, and the barking dog didn't even phase him.  He might not make it through the night.  Cougars are not unknown in this area.

However, the sun rose the next day onto a standing, walking buck who looked to be moving better than the previous day.  Perhaps our Thanksgiving guest would heal after all.

Eviction Notice

Out here in the country, it's the strong who prevail. Whether it's strength of body, mind, or numbers, each have their benefits. Here's a good example of strength in numbers.

Birds are stronger than bugs right? Right.
Birds eat all kinds of bugs right? Right.
Well this time, bugs win.

-=Click to enlarge=-

Bye bye birdie.

Of course, this could go deeper than we think. Perhaps there is a local slumlord monopolizing all of the birdhouses and this is just a day in the life of tyranny.

Word on the street is, Big Vinni Black Bird didn't like how Peeps would shirk rent each month. So Big Vinni sent some muscle to help Peeps pack...

New Post!

In the "Aidan" section. 
The Boy Feeds

The BIG Project (Part I)

Before Erin and I even signed the papers to lease our house, the landlord and I talked adamantly about one very specific, very important project. The animal shelter in the back pasture was more than just an eyesore, it was a hazard. If people were meant to live in it, there would be so much caution tape wrapped around the thing that it would look like a giant, life-threatening Christmas present.  After we noticed our horses exploring the inside, boards went up immediately to block access. One wrong move and they could have been seriously injured.

~Before~

In fact, while my dad pounded the first three nails in the back of the shelter, the header at the front...

This:

Went tumbling down without warning and almost hit my stepdad. It would have been a serious, possibly fatal blow. Those two boards, having been tied together, must have weighed at least 200 pounds. Thank goodness it was only a near miss!


Other injuries were not avoided, and every single one happened to my dad. He got a splinter, he was pestered and bit by flies, he was zapped by the electric fence, his jaw was dinged by a falling board, and he stepped on a nail. Lady luck gave him the stink eye that day.

Here's how the shelter progressed via slide show:

If you want it to restart, hit the "F5" key on your keyboard.

You may notice that the roof looks a little warped.  That's because the foundation isn't square,and the walls are a little off.  If the landlord and I had it our way, we'd redo every last inch, but there is a budget we must stick to.

So far, we are on track to having the shelter complete before the heavy winds and rains hit. Now our horses and goats have ample shade to fend off the heat.  Next task; installing the shingles.

More updates to come as we progress!

Mr. Forceps, Meet Mr. Toenail

And so, my beloved toenail comes to an end.
Or is it just the beginning?
When one nail falls, doth another regrow in it's stead?  Huzzah, I say unto ye exposed nailbed!  Grow anew, for the healing process has begun!

Have ye ample fortitude, photos have been provided below.  Not for the faint of heart.

Pic of exposed nailbed relieved of it's protection.

Pic of the doc checking for foreign objects.


Holey moley, the doc found nail shrapnel!


The podiatrist was excellent, and had a great sense of humor. Here he is fooling around with my toenail.


That being done, the visit came to a total of $150. Not terrible considering that work does not provide health insurance. Was it worth it? A resounding "YES!" is in order.  Had I avoided the procedure, and followed the internet's advice on just waiting for the nail to fall off, those three pieces of nail shrapnel would have caused untold pain and complications.

God, I'd like to thank you for the invention of anesthetic.

Injury Update

So I've finally decided to make an appointment with a podiatrist.  Tomorrow is the big day.  I say "big" because he will most likely...*gulp*...yank the toenail off.  I wanted to yank it at the time it lifted because my entire toe went numb, but the almighty internet said not to.  Now, after talking with several real people who've had fist or second hand experiences, they unanimously said that the doc will remove it.  Yippee.

Here is a picture of the damaged toenail. It won't give you nightmares, but it isn't pretty either.

Bye Bye Big Toenail

I just kicked the stairs while climbing up them about an hour ago.  My whole left big toenail is now detached and hanging by the cuticle.  I've cleaned it by pouring peroxide onto the nail bed.  One band aid has been filled, now the second is half full.

This is very concerning as tomorrow is the day family is coming over to help me build an animal shelter.  Over 30 pieces of lumber need to be moved, cut, lifted and attached.  What on earth am I going to do?

Not to mention, I'm a mailman.  I walk all day long.  How can I even put on a shoe???

No pain yet.  It's very numb for now.  All of the internet advice from people who've had the same injury say to clean it every day, wrap it with gauze, use neosporin, air it out when possible, and wait for the nail to turn black and fall off.  Uhg.

When all is said and done, it'll take about 45 days to heal.

I decided not to include a picture.  It isn't exactly photogenic.

...I hope it grows back.