Broken leg........

No --- as you can see it wasn't Gary or I that had the broken leg....but one of Dwight's heifers. She fell on the slippery ice and broke her back leg. Dwight says that sometimes a cow just doesn't want to live and there is nothing you can do about it (when something like this happens)........but this one didn't have that mind set -- thank goodness.

It was another new experience for us. We've never witnessed a cow getting her leg set ----- The vet came with his tools.....a battery powered drill and his little black box. ?!?! full of drill bits..... Never know about these vets :) :)

First thing was to set her leg ----- using some chain and a calf puller........ you might just have to figure it out for yourself. My technical terms would not doubt prove all wrong so I won't even attempt it.

Actually the first thing was to get the cow down and hold her there. Gary was very happy with his spot -- the cow kept him nice and warm....it was about 7 degrees at the time. I was at the other end of the rope - probably the least important spot ....but that was OK with me. It allowed me the opportunity to take the photos.
Here you have the finished product and a perky looking heifer. Duct tape is an amazing product. This will hopefully stay on for at least 4 weeks if all goes well. Dwight's hope now was that the heifer would be able to get up and feed her little calf.

And so goes life on the ranch. Every day a new adventure - if you can look at it that way --- it is for us anyway.

We had a good time with the JDC kids last night. Lots of questions from one young man. He told us he really wasn't interested in reading the Bible but boy do the questions come on Thursday night. Julie had a good lesson prepared and it sparked a lot of thought. It was on the passage of the rich young ruler - "What must I do to get to heaven".

Some of the girls weren't allowed to come --- they had been "acting up" last week and not paying attention - so it is up to the guards who can come. Singing isn't going as nicely --- but at the same time they want us to sing. Could be it's just so that they don't have to go back to their pods.....but that's OK --- the songs have good meaning too.

Winter is still with us....this whole week has been very cold with light snow. We can still call it a mild winter.....and we know that spring is on the way..... Seed packets are out in the stores and that is a cheery thought.

God Bless!
Gary and Barb