A Day On A Farm…

Like my Grandpa Delk  (who instilled in me as early as I can remember) we should be civic minded and do our part…He worked in the Election as a Judge or Assistant for many years. Back then it was all done by hand …the counting was especially difficult!

Today I worked the Election at Farmer School  Concord Township, Randolph County North Carolina. As did my Grandpa and his Daddy before him.

I left early like 5:15 AM! That is early! As I loaded my stuff into my pickup truck, I got into the fire ants and they ate my feet up! It hurt! Still does! Going to do some work on them tomorrow!!!

Worked all day and came home about dark thirty. Sheep, were out (They JUMP the FENCE!)
Horses needed feeding, and the dogs and puppies needed ME!

I called Abilene and she did not come up! That is strange She is always the first to greet me!!

Called and called and looked EVERYWHERE! NO ABILENE!!!!

Got on the Gator and into he fire ants AGAIN!!!

Looked for an hour, calling and then to the road and the ditches!
Knowing “Something” was bad wrong!

Praying to at least find her!

I walked and called and finally I heard a faint cry! But where?! Where? I called and walked and listened. Then I knew! She was on the bank behind the barn IN A HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hole was about 16 inches across and the dogs and animals had dug it in a C shape down into the bank about 7 feet or more deep!!!

This is bad! She is moving a bit but it is dark it is a deep hole and she will not lift her tail. But she is breathing! (Tail lifting is a good sign not NOT!)

I speak encouraging words and tell her I will be right back. (ALL this time the Maple Grove Farm Four) are on the back of the Gator in their crate! That is where they will be for a while… Quiet and still and good boys, watching and all most like they understand their Granny is in bad trouble!

Could I find the briar hook? Finally! Did I have a flash light ? NO! Where in the world was the shovel? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!   It was in the sand pile at the sheep pens!!! CLEARLY I am not prepared for a disaster like this!

I get started clearing the bank that is straight up and then, I have to dig foot holes to stand in! I start digging and I can’t! I CAN’T!!!!  So I call my brother it is 10:30PM he is in the shower! I tell his wife send Kenneth and Jay now I have a dog in a hole and I can’t get her out she is going to die! Hurry!

Five LONG minutes latter they arrive…I have a flash light borrowed from Momma! They look the situation over and cannot believe this one! How on earth? I don’t know!

So the digging by hand starts! They used the briar hook to cut the dirt, there was no way to do much but slowly and carefully. Chip, drag, dig, chip!

The plan was to get the hole wide enough and far enough down that I could go in and reach Abilene …

We were not sure what was attached to her …a ground hog maybe or a copperhead possibly! Kenneth said she might bite if she were hurt, I knew she was not going to bite, but I did remember that copperhead from earlier this spring!

I ended up waist deep in that hole and my head in the area not widened out. I don’t think I have mentioned my claustrophobia but yes I have it! That sickening feeling of being  not able to breath in a tight place …I just focused and thought she has to be all right! Now mind you I had been praying all along! (We don’t have because we don’t ask!)

I got hold of Abilene’s hind leg and it was stuck up under her. She was at the end of the hole and could not back up that foot was over a rock and stuck. The dirt was loose and I took my hand and dug. Soon as that foot came loose she backed right up and Walked Out ! UNHARMED!!!
Glory Be! What a scare and what a rescue!

Thank you Lord! and Thank you Kenneth and Jay!  Thank you Lord!

The Maple Grove Farm Four sat quietly in the crate as they had for 2 hours or more never barking or making a fuss. Good puppies!

All that is left is that Hole to cover over, and lots of dirt on Abilene !

Just another day on the farm!