Yesterday was a beautiful day. After all the storms and tornadoes, that were kept well clear of my gardens but wreaked havoc in other towns close by, the day dawned fine and clear if a little drippy. Allison was the 1940’s Kitchen Mama. Kim was the chicken lady and gardener (plus seamstress but we will get into that another day).
The crops are growing as we watch them. Fast. But the walking is marvellous.
The turkeys are growing just as fast as the crops. Yesterday they were moved into the turkey house, built by Fede. For the longest time they stood still in the corner, wondering where their boundaries were, then ever so slowly they have moved out into their new world.
Also yesterday while Kim was sorting wool Allison and The Cadet and I went Across The Way. While searching for wild kittens we all climbed into a grain bin. I love these bins.
This is my favourite shot from that series.
It was a good day.
Later in the afternoon, yesterday, Lady Astor walked straight into the milking shed and John was not around so I decided to be an opportunist and milk her by myself. I reached down to clean her udder and she up and kicked my right in the face. I have a very stupid cut right down the side of my nose. And a bit of bruising. I was deeply hurt – emotionally of course – plus a little bit physically. I milked her anyway with blood from my nose dripping onto the floor with the occasional sleeve wipe. Mumbling to myself about ungrateful cows. After a bit Lady began to kick up a fuss again (Pun Intended – I think the expression Kicking Up a Fuss was coined by a dairywoman who had had quite enough of her bloody kicking cow) so I gave her back to her calf.
Soon we will begin the process towards breeding her – maybe she will settle a bit after that. Fingers crossed of course.
Allison made Shakshuka with kale for dinner – DIVINE!
I hope you have a lovely day.
My head hurts.
Lots of love from your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
63 responses to “A Good Kick in the Face”
Oh, no! Sending positive healing vibes your way! (As always, your shots are gorgeous. Daily inspiration!)
~Theadora
Oh my sweet dear friend. If I was there, I would give your sweet head hogs and snout kisses! XOXO – Bacon
Oh dear, I bet that hurt! I hope it feels better soon 😉
Your silo pictures reminded me of a murder in Hannibal – I’m not a big fan of the show itself, but the murders are like works of art. It was as if Spencer Tunick had made a sunflower out of naked bodies.
Head/face injury is no joke, especially with a headache. Suggestion: I encourage you to just get checked out. As a person who has had several blows to the head from sports and accidents, I can tell you from experience it’s not something to ignore.
I know the emotional hurt of being kicked, hoofed, or head butted (Daisy deer whacked me in the eye socket twice as a youngster – quickly jerking her head up when I was bent over her). I’m not sure it’s intentional but when you have a relationship with an animal, it does hurt deeply, emotionally. You may have a bit of a concussion. Follow your gut and maybe take it a bit easy the next days/week. I’m sure swelling in the face makes for part of the discomfort. Get a cool gel pack to ease the inflammation.
I love photography in agricultural buildings – especially old barns where shafts of light filter through cracks and slats. Your eye for interesting shots really gives your readers a “feel” for your place… what you live and breathe.
Ouch! I hope your face heals quickly. Arnica cream is amazing for bruises.
Oh, how adventurous your day was, yesterday. How nice to see you walking the dogs…
Your “The turkeys are growing just as fast as the crops” made me smile. The one on the photo looks nice and it can be seen very well how nice it has developed. Kim checking wool – what a job!
I enjoyed your visit into that bin, thanks for sharing, I love adventures like that – and I like that gorgeous photo of that roof best, too. Just beautiful. – But your adventure with Lady Astor beats everything. And it’s worrysome. Poor Celi. Still hurting. I’m so sorry for you. Not a good cow at all, so evil she is.
I hope you have been reconciled with the world at the end of that day by that wonderful Shakshuka. It’s an oriental dish, isn’t it? What a carefully prepared and pretty laid table!
Have a nice and lovely day!
So very sorry to hear that Lady Astor was behaving badly and that you got kicked. Do take care of your poor face and nose. The shakshuka sounds so good I’m going to look at the recipe right now. Maybe dinner tonight as I have some kale I need to use up.
Oh what a terrible pain to endure. That cow is not to be trusted. Just terrible. why isn’t she grateful you are milking her and keeping her nice and clean…and healthy…that’s what I want to know.I hope you heal quickly, Celi.
Your grain bin photos are so special. And the one of you with Boo and Ton walking so close to you when they could choose to be off by themselves is priceless. They adore you!
Ouch and triple ouch! Celi do not neglect your face. I was not kicked in the face but blacked out and fell like a tree in a storm. I came to in time to realise my face was bouncing off the ground! A passer-by insisted she call an ambulance. At the hospital an X-Ray was taken and read, grazes were cleaned up, and I was given a booster Tetanus shot. Two days later half my face was numb so I went back and had more X-Rays and a scan, which proved there were four breaks to the bones in my cheek and close to my eye. That was 2011 and my face still goes numb. Please do not neglect yourself, John, the animals ans we the Fellowship need you! Healing hugs from across the pond.
Oh, my dear! That sounds horrible… – I wish you all the best, Grannymar! Never shall happen again!
Irmi
Thank you irmi. After five blackout falls My cardiologist was brought in to see what was going on inside. he immediately stopped my BP meds, banned me from driving until he had an answer and began a long trawl through cardiac tests. After eight monthes with no more blackouts it was decided the meds were at fault and I happily driving again.
BP meds means blood pressure med, doesn’t it? So you have had a very good and watchful cardiologist. Thank goodness…
You got it in one, irmi. Blood pressure meds. Alas, I have terrible problems with all meds. I carry a printed list of current meds and all those I have problems with, at all times. it makes visits to Drs and hospital easier.
Please do listen to the fellowship, and to Littlesundog and Grannymar in regards to concussions and such, as often you don’t know you have one. I was once kicked in the mouth by a cow, made my way to my neighbors, and she put me to bed as I couldn’t answer many of the simple questions she asked me! Do be careful with Lady Astor! So wonderful to see you in the photos! xo
Lots of good tips already for your poor face, so I’ll just add that, if it were myself, I’d go to my chiropractor to have my neck checked out. I’m hugging you from here…
Love the pop of colour pics of you, Ton and Boo in the fields… but bloody Lady A, she’s bugger of a cow and it’s not that cows are dumb -the opposite that makes it worse… she has a willful streak that one. Looking for wild kittens sounds fun!
Damn. I’m so glad she didn’t get your eye, or break a bone in your face. As patient and gentle as you’ve been…maybe time for milking hobbles? Not painful or unkind, just restricts the movement of hind legs during milking.
Take care of yourself – so many critters (the ones who are NOT trying to knock you out) depend on you 🙂
OUCH!!! Cow kicks can’t feel good at all. I hope you are okay.
The girls and I are still taking horseback riding lessons and other than being thrown from the horse, my biggest fear is getting kicked by a horse. So far the only thing that has happened is having my foot stepped on by my horse. That was nothing compared to a cow kick in the face though.
There is a place in Bloomington/Normal called Rader Family farms. They have grain bins with just enough corn in them that the kids can climb in a play in the corn with buckets, shovels, trucks, etc. Very fun!!!!!