Cows Don’t Need Lip Gloss

No, this is not some political rhetoric about lipstick and pigs…it is about lips.  My poor lips out in the cold, biting wind.  I was preparing to perform my morning chores out at the barn today – but first I checked the weather to make certain I was properly layered for the temperature.  The wind was a bit wicked this morning and, as a last second thought, I figured I had better put something on my lips to keep them from getting dry and cracking.

Years ago, when my children were newborns, my pediatrician told me to get udder creams to use on the baby’s bottom.  My favorite was Bag Balm.  I had green little cans all over the house because I used it on more than irritated little bottoms.  I used it hands, lips, and even the dog’s nose when he had rubbed it raw from digging outside.  What ever is mixed in with that petroleum jelly was awesome.

Speaking of petroleum jelly, just over the hill in the next town is a company that makes petrolatums.  Sonneborn makes all sorts of super white mineral oils, petrolatums and many more products that I can’t even state what they are used for.  I am not sure if their petrolatums ever made it into Bag Balm, but it is an interesting site to visit and see what all is produced at the company.

Back to my lips….I did not have more Bag Balm but I did have my purse handy and there was a tube of “Pomegranate Bubbly” lip gloss / lip shine.  I figured it would do the trick so I applied a liberal amount for protection and headed out to the cows.  Heck, they may even enjoy the smell of Pomegranate.

The wind was pretty gusty, so much so that the dog’s ears looked like the hat the flying nun always wore (remember that TV show from years ago?).  I pushed around the silage and started on the hay bale.  The bale was small enough that I could rock it and topple it onto its side – Bonus!  This meant I could unroll the hay bale like a piece of carpet all the way down the barn floor in front of the headlocks and the hungry cows.  I unrolled, and unrolled, and unrolled.  The hay bale was coming apart nicely – yet messy.  There were chunks, pieces, flecks and powder.

Take those pieces and powders  +  the wicked wind  +  the pomegranate bubbly … and the lip effect result is…..

Anyone Want A KISS ??

Buffet Line

Every day it is the same thing.  Get up, prepare the meal, feed the crew, clean up after the crew.  Day after day I ask the other members of the family to help me by being certain that the food is ready for me to feed to the group.  This morning they neglected to listen to my request.

To feed the group I had to climb all the way to the top of the barn, over round bales of hay and pieces of farm equipment to reach the square bales of hay.  (Did I mention that the crew I was feeding everyday were Steers?).  To most farmers this would seem mundane, almost silly to write about.  To someone afraid of heights, it was a challenge to shout out to others.

I assessed my options, planned my approach and checked my nerves.  I attempted my first route and realized early into it that I didn’t have good footing and there was a high risk of falling.  Back on the floor of the barn I attempted option #2.  The climb went well, however, once at the top, I became somewhat paralyzed and couldn’t bring myself to stand up to toss the square bales down.  So I paused and checked out the view.

I watched the birds.  I saw the cat on her morning hunt.  I noticed the dog pacing back and forth below me.  I gathered up my nerves and suddenly – my cell phone rang.  A friend of mine was calling.  I sat and enjoyed the sights a little longer while I talked on the phone.  Yes, I did manage to toss down the bales.  Yes, I did manage to crawl back down without riding down on my butt.

Triumphant, I loaded the bales onto a wagon and rolled it out to the other barn to feed the steers.  I walked tall and proud – after all, I successfully climbed up and back down and I was all in one piece.  I conquered my fear of climbing up, of falling back down, of breaking bones, of being trapped in between round bales.

The steers were not impressed with my accomplishment.  I carried out the rest of my duty – fed the crew and cleaned up after them.  I stood and observed the buffet line for a short time, even patting some of the steers that the boys were going to show in 4H.

The buffet line was different today.  It occurred with a feeling of accomplishment and pride – pride in overcoming a fear.  Perhaps it sounds so minor to some, but to others, personal accomplishments are huge.  Here’s to those who overcame something today!