A Special Kind of Mothers Day Gift

Mother's Day is always a bit different here at the farm and ususally ends in Grace being hurt.  Now I do not plan on this being the case but you know this farm - anything but a plan and never a dull moment.

It all started about 15 years ago when my mother came out to spend the night and to have Mother's Day here.... Long before the sun came up I hear horrible sounds coming from the big barn.  My dogs where barking and animals where screaming and whirling.  I jumped from my bed and without thinking ran outside in my PJ's and slippers.  As I arrived at the barn the ewes where running and swirling around inside.  I managed to push my way into the middle of the mess and found in the bottle baby pen the most horrifying sight.  My first Badger.  It was in the pen and had killed one of the sweet little lambs and going after another.  My big Pry's were trying to get to it and with all my strength I was trying to grab them and get them out of the barn.  In all the chaos one of the huge ewe's Marilyn stepped on my right foot.  I had no idea it happened.  After chasing the Badger out and dealing with the aftermath I returned to the house after hours of caring for the injuries and bring out the dead bodies.  I Know, what a Mother's Day... Well when I returned inside it was then I found out that my right big toe was crushed.  In order not to add more frightening events to the day I said nothing, got cleaned up, taped my toes and went on with the planned day.  By the following morning is was evident that I was going to require a trip to the ER.. Yep, broke three toes and the Big Toe Toenail was going to be a lost cause.  Two weeks later no Toenail and the Doc advised me that he had several fake toenails to offer.  After I stopped laughing I told him that I was not one of those kind of gals.  So over the years I have learned the art of painting the skin to look like I have a nail but honestly I only think of it when leaving the farm in the summer.

Fast foreword to this year and after having my left Big Toe crushed with a huge metal scale, having a scared Llama run me down while stepping on my left foot and the final issue was the other weekend having a very large, heavy metal gate come crashing down while trying to fix it by myself I think the universe was telling me something.... "NO TOENAIL FOR YOU"

I spent the last two weeks taking care of that toe and it was starting to heal and I had hope.  Mother's Day was coming up and I admit I did not make the connection.  That was until I went outside after the animals were scared Friday night because we have a mother bear and her cub roaming about.  I went outside with shoes on and in the dark Dot came running out of nowhere and smacked right into me.  Yep, stepped on the foot and gave me also a bloody nose.  Took sometime to calm him down and then checked everyone else.  When I went over to the other side of the barn Maria (the other young llama) came around the corner and I could not believe it - she also stepped on my foot.  Either are very heavy but seriously get off my feet.

After getting everyone checked and quite I returned to the house.  I took off my chores clothes and went to clean up.  The nightly routine of soak my foot was about to start.  Off came the heavy work socks, drew the warm water and added the salt. Sat in my chair and went to take off the bandage and YEP, toenail stuck to the bandage.  In my usual fashion - went to find my glasses because I was not sure what I saw.  Yes in deed - toenail stuck to the bandage.  So soaked and re bandaged the toe and all the while giggling....

So I know this is a long story for such a small issue but this is how Grace is use to Mother's Day.  It is not only crushed toes but also two broken ring fingers three years apart, one broken crown and let's not forget a smashed knee cap.  Yep, Mother's Day for this gal means something completely different.  So no breakfast in bed, no special luncheon or evening a dinner party.  For this gal I start to wrap myself in bubble wrap and stay away from sharp objects.  Well, at least now I am not the freak with a missing big toe toenail but I am the freak with TWO BIG TOE TOENAILS MISSING!!!!

Happy Mother's Day