Saturday, April 4, 2009

The Color Purple



Oh my!! This is by far the nicest day we've had in a long, long time. The sky is an amazing shade of blue and there's only an occasional puffy, white cloud. A gentle breeze stirs the blossom-heavy tree branches, and it's nearly 70 degrees. Wow!! Just a heavenly day for sure.

And...I managed to get my toe stepped on by Kadie this morning.

I'll start at the beginning. For the last week, I've been watching Harley closely. He's been showing signs of "offness" and favoring his left front. Each night I carefully pick his feet, and I've noticed some heat the last couple of evenings. Hmmhhuu, abscess brewing. So, this morning hubby retains Harley and Kadie and feeds them their breakfast in the roundpen, and lets the other horses go out to pasture. Harley's pissed - big time!! Sometimes he can act just like a spoiled brat throwing his little temper tantrum. He reportedly goes charging all around bucking and snorting and farting and generally pitching a hissy fit. It gets him nowhere and eventually he and Kadie settle in and grudgingly eat their breakfast.

Couple of hours later, Hubby and I head on out to the barn with the soaking supplies with intentions of beginning the foot soakings. Grudgingly, Harley acquiesses and stands quietly for his torture. Must be rough getting your foot massaged in a tub of warm water huh? Poor little guy! So, anyway we finish up, towel dry his foot and put some salts in his medicine boot and prepare to let him and Kadie out into the pasture with their buddies. No problems right?

Well, Harley follows me to the gate - all antsed up and rearing to go. Note to self: when he acts like this again, do not remove the halter until after you and the horse have safely maneuvered through the gate. Hindsight always 20/20. Meanwhile, the little chargette, aka Kadie is revving her motor behind and slightly inside of Harley. I am against the barn wall near the hinge side of the gate. I open the gate and give it a shove. Harley hunkers down and prepares to fly...problem is, so does Kadie. The little female beast tries to pass through the gate at the same time as Harley and manages to (for a moment in time) pin me against the wall and herself between me and Harley and the roundpen wall on the other side...this is definitely not gonna work. Extreme pressure for a few, brief seconds - no big deal, but then Kadie has to go and grind her hoof on top of my freaking big toe!!! Ouch!!! Now, it's been at least 10 years since I've been stepped on by a horse. And you know what!? It freaking hurts!!!!!

You can bet your butt that I would have kicked Kadie's if I hadn't been so preoccupied with the intense throbbing sensation in my toe. So, instead I hobble inside and soak my toe in cold water and then sit on the deck for a half hour or so with the frozen bag of peas on my toe. Well just great!! My fortune last night after our chinese dinner said that the color purple would bring me good luck today...yeah right.

However, my left big toe is a lovely shade of purple, and it has this swollen, tight appearance, and the nail itself looks totally gross. It already looks yellowed and icky - like it's going to fall off and die. Just ducky!! Well, there's always the silver lining right?? I guess I should be counting my blessings that my toe wasn't broken or something...guess it will help me remember and be a little more cautious about just where I am placing my feet when around the horses.

Another one of life's little lessons. Gee - thanks life.

At least I was wearing shoes with covered toes. I am notorious for wearing my flip-flops around the horses in the summer. I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon.

I will live to be hurt yet again another time.

Day 9 (I think) of the 37 Day Challenge and we're still hanging in there. Annie and I had our 30-40 minute walk today in the glorious sunshine around the perimeter of the next door neighbor's grass field. Just a little bit slower than usual...and I took my cane - I mean walking stick along.

Hope you are enjoying the weekend, and hoping it's sunny wherever you call home.
Happy Sabbath!!



Blessings from cingspots...

17 comments:

Pony Girl said...

Oh goodness, looks like two of you got foot soakins' today! Are you sure it isn't broken? I haven't been "stepped-on-stepped on" since I was a kid. I've had close calls but was able to get my foot away before the full weight of the horse was on.
Glad it was such a nice day and that you were able to enjoy it! ;)

Dusty Devoe said...

Isn't it amazing how alittle bit of sunshine makes you feel! It is a sunny 60 degrees here today. Sorry about the toe. Hope it doesn't get to bad.

Kathleen Coy said...

Aaakkk! I'm so jealous of your weather - We're supposed to have a blizzard tomorrow. That's just not right...

Carolynn Anctil said...

Sorry to hear about your mishap. I hope you don't lose your toenail, unless it helps to relieve some of the pain and heals faster, of course.

Glad to hear you got a good walk in anyway. You're a trooper!

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Oh no, hopefully your toe isn't broken. Once I had my big toe stepped on and it wouldn't bend for a month. I swear it was fractured.

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Those are such vibrant flowers. I hope your toe doesn't get that purple. Owwwwwwwie!

Train Wreck said...

Oh Girl I feel your pain, I too am notorious for wearing flip flops, or just going barefooted. I am sorry about your toe. I am however so happy it wasn't your foot,that was broke. Your pictures are great! Nice and cheery, it was terribly windy here today. Get better.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Owww! Hope that doesn't bother you for too long.
I'm jealous of your weather. Mine looks nothing like this.

Meant to tell you, I am not sure why green tea is beneficial for weight loss. It sure works for me though, even though it was unintentional at the time. My Honey was buying the bottled kind and didn't have the same luck. I brew my own. I like the taste better than regular tea is how I got started doing it.

Leah Fry said...

I'm sorry, but you made me laugh -- the color purple will bring you luck. Hahaha! I have been lucky so far, in that I have only has a hoof come down partially on my boot and kind of slide off. It hurt, but not bad. I've been fully tromped on by foals and weanlings that actually hurt worse.

Aren't you loving spring?!

Having just gotten thru and abcess with Jaz, I hope you are both soon over it.

Gail said...

Ouch! Did you hurt so bad you could not say dirty words? That is when I know I am badly injured, I can't say them.
I once blogged about things not to do while wearing fip flops, I think this was on my list.
At least you got to sit awhile and enjoy the view.

Molly said...

Friends out at my little barn always wear flip flops but not me. I saw a big toe nail totally pulled off inside a jogging shoe after a scared mare danced around a girl. Made the girl faint when we looked. The whole scene reminded me to always wear shoes, even on hot days, even when I don't think I'll be entering stalls.
I hope your toe is not too sore today.

Melanie said...

Ouch!!!! Damn horses...lol!!! I hope your toe is feeling much better???

And look at all of your spring-like pictures!!! Do you live in the Wilamette Valley??? Your surroundings and scenery are just gorgeous!!!

Grey Horse Matters said...

Great spring pictures. Hope the toe is okay soon.

Michelle said...

Well, big kudos to you for keeping up with the challenge in spite of the injury! That's commitment!

C-ingspots said...

Thanks for all the well wishes everybody. I guess I'm gonna make it...I'll just be cranky for a while.

gtyyup said...

I'm sure glad it was only your toe...could have been a real crusher with you, two horses and a wall...

As far as changing the bandage...I'd have to have My Man do that for me!! I'd probably faint...ha! I can do animal guts...not people!

Hugs~~

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

YIKES! It could have been so much worse, like Karen said...two horses and a wall...and you in between! Eeeek!
I'm glad it was just a toe and that it didn't get broken. Yes, you are very lucky!

But come on now, you said: "I will live to be hurt yet again another time."....plese don't say THAT!

Ya know I could easily say that, too, but I won't! I don't want to jinx myself.
lol!

~Lisa