Untah's Farm: A Day in the Life...

It has been another busy week at Untah’s Farm. Work, softball games, confirmation class, tending seedlings and more car trouble. Yep, I hit a deer this week. I was on my way home from a hospice call around 8:30 at night. Coming around a curve I saw four deer crossing the road. I was already under the speed limit so I applied the brakes. Two deer crossed the road, one trotted back into the woods and the last zigged and zagged and zigged again right into the side of my car. The damage was not horrible but enough that the car wasn’t drivable. Rick pointed out that it was almost a month to the day he hit a deer. He joked that the best way to avoid a deer is to dress in camouflage and carry a rifle.

Today was especially busy. Up early to get some cleaning done. A load of laundry in the washer, and Caliber loaded into the car. We drove 20 miles into town and Caliber had his annual check up and nails trimmed. He gets a little nervous going to the vet office but he really likes several of the staff members. I am glad to report Cal is free from Lyme disease and heart worm. We live in a hot bed of Lymes for pets and humans so monthly medication is very important. Trish, the groomer, always makes me feel as if Caliber is her favorite client. She greets Cal like an old friend and gives him a kiss on the head when she’s done. I have heard she makes all her pet owners feel this way. Trish will always have a special place in our heart. She was working the afternoon almost two years ago when Cal was brought in after being run over by a truck. She comforted both dog and owner. Trish helped stabilize Cal so I could bring him home while we decided if we were going to pursue orthopedic surgery repair of his pelvic fractures. When we returned for the surgery I was emotional and told Trish I felt funny because many people were praying for Cal. I mean, there are people with far more trouble then a hurt dog that need prayers. Without taking a pause, Trish looked me in the eye and said, “Lisa, God is all powerful. God created Caliber. What makes you think He couldn’t help Cal heal?”

After the vet, we headed over to The Salon. I was early so Caliber and I went for a walk. At least I won’t have to do my exercises later. I got my hair trimmed and we were off -again. Next we headed about 30 miles northwest to the Chaseberg Farmer’s Co-op.

25 chicks eating, drinking and staying warm

I picked up a small box with 25 of the loudest peeping chicks I have ever heard. Little beaks and eyes peaked through the air holes in the delivery box. I grabbed a bag of starter chick food and we were on the road again. Caliber, sitting in the back seat, was very curious about the noisy box on the front seat.

Last night I had set up the bottom half of the dog crate with a heat lamp, shavings and water. I gently placed the box into the crate, picked out one chick and gently put the tip of it’s beak in the water. She drank without difficulty. Cal continued to be curious and watched carefully as I repeated the process 25 times. I spoke softly to Caliber, explaining that these chicks are very precious and I used the word gentle over and over. He sniffed them and watched them. I wonder if he feels responsible for these little ones like he does the cats.