Tom has class all day today so I am on my own taking care of the critters. And one thing I have learned about myself is that after surgery it is not the pain that is the issue but the debilitating fatigue. So it was a struggle for me to lug water and hay to the critters. And it is snowing still. So this means there is ice to break and knock out of tubs and snow to slog through. I was almost done with all my chores and had one more bucket of water to haul to the rabbit hutches, and I was done. I hauled the bucket, knocked the ice out of the bowls for the first 2 rabbits and refilled them. Then Mr. D, one of our Nigoras, decided to take a drink out of the bucket (despite the fact he had access to two freshly filled tubs of water) and hooked his horns on the handle and started running around with the bucket over his head, knocking all of the water out. I managed to catch him and get the bucket off his head.
But I am not a good enough writer to described how demoralized I was at this moment. I was faced with grabbing the bucket and walking back to the barn, through the barn, through a gate, to the faucet, refilling the bucket and hauling it all the way back. I stood there looking around and took this photo:
Then I stopped feeling sorry for myself and went and got the water for the rabbits.
You poor thing! I hope you went in and laid down when you were done with all those critters.
Thanks Nancy. Yes, I am back to holding the recliner down.
Nice work babe, I’ll cook dinner for ya and wait on you hand and foot! Cause thats what i do!!
Thanks hun!
It is so hard to be the caretaker when you just want someone to take care of you. At least you now have hope that the pain and fatigue will end and it will get better.
It is. I remember before I met Tom the loneliness of having to take care of animals when I was sick. But now I have a partner, and he is back home and taking care of me!
What a difference having someone else around makes!
I’m not sure how far the faucet is from the water buckets. Maybe when the weather is better, running a water line, protected from freezing, out further?
Thanks Karen Anne. We have talked about that. Unfortunately all of our “freeze proof” faucets freeze so we have electric tape on them. So we should get electricity out to the barn before putting in more faucets. I ran a hose to fill a lot of the tubs yesterday but had already put the hose away with emptying by gravity and then blowing it out. So I did not feel like running a hose again for one more bucket.
I have moments like that – I have a meltdown – Sobbing, crying, hiccoughing, and the JFDI and get it done. Back to the house to wallow for awhile, and then maybe take a nap.
Hang in there. It will be better…
Thanks Laura. It sounds like you know what I am talking about. I didn’t sob this time (although have in the past) but did wallow and nap.