Sunday, September 9, 2007
Another weekend of building projects... and a really scary crash
The horse stable is taking shape. This weekend, we used virtually all the lumber we had left. Got the rest of the north and east walls up, as well as a "sag beam". That will allow the 12 foot span to have a resting point at about 8 1/2 foot.
It'll be after the first of the month before we can buy the joists... 13 2x6x12 footers and a truck load of 8 foot 2x4s for the cross pieces. Then we'll have our work cut out for us! We're covering with both "obs" plywood and roof tin.
While we were working on the stable, I heard a car coming east on the road bordering our south property line. I quickly determined things didn't sound quite right. My eyes confirmed what I heard as I saw an older Saturn approaching at a high rate of speed (close to 60 mph) and begin fish-tailing.
Within just a second, it had slid off the shoulder and rolled over sideways, then end over end three more times.
As it was airborne, I was hollering for Bev to head for the house and call 911. Cindy and I immediately jumped into our truck and headed for the accident scene about 1/2 mile away. Imagine our surprise to find the driver, a teenage girl scrambling out of the upside down car and very quickly running up onto the road.
We quickly checked her over. She was begging us to take her home... down the road about a mile to tell her folks what had happened. After a quick chat, we agreed, Cindy would run her home. I would stay at the scene.
About that time, Bev was trying to find out if we needed an ambulance... well that got canceled when the kid left the scene. Our neighbors all showed up within minutes, as did Cindy, the young girl and her parents.
Almost an hour later (told you we live in the middle of nowhere) the sheriffs got there to do their investigation. Mom took the young gal into the hospital, some 40 miles away, promising to let us know how she was when they got back home.
Poor kid, she totaled Mom's car, is getting a citation at least for speeding (almost 60 in a 40 mph zone), and also slightly separated her shoulder. That was a seat belt injury. Thankfully she was wearing it. She's also bruised and had a few small cuts and abrasions, and probably hurt like the dickens today.
Oh, we did get the horse stable finished as far as we can before getting chased into the house by the ever-present afternoon thunderstorms.
Today (Sunday) we re-located the chicken's nest boxes to the outside of the coop. With a nice slanted lid, Mom can reach in to get the eggs. Also, the chickens have a lot more room to play in the pine chips.
No more eggs today, as we really upset their routine... In and out, banging on stuff, running the saws and drills.
Our girls have cushy digs... their nest boxes are lined with sheep wool that has been saved from skirting several fleeces. Our Merino/Suffolk cross sheep really do triple duty.
We gave them a special ramp to get from the roost to their boxes. While they've had lots of parades, we've yet to see anyone go into the nest boxes. I was able to pick up a couple of hens and place them into the boxes, so we know they'll fit ok... they weren't ready to stay, though.
Labels: Around the farm, Chickens, Horses
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