Walking Again in Only Two Months!

Things don't always go this smoothly in life, BUT sometimes one discovers that . . . TIMETABLES ARE FOR MEN AND NOT FOR GOD. 

Most amputees walk within 3-6 months, but when you combine prayer, a faith-filled man, and add -

new padding and counsel from our great prosthetist, 

Robby Schiff (and staff) at Care Prosthetics and Orthotics +

good socks +

an adjustment to your "foot" while you wait +

a little tweaking of your "ankle" screws

='s success and big thanks to God!

It CAN happen.

Today's Lesson

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning. 

Great is Your faithfulness." 

~Lamentations 3:22-23

#BKA 

#belowthekneeamputee

#prosthesis

#Godisgood

Surrounded by History

Good article: Brief History of Barbed Wire

The ranch we work on is 3,500 acres and is surrounded by historical evidence that it is one of the oldest in the area. While mending fences, we came across this stretch of barbed wire:

Split Diamond barbed wire 

Patented by H.N. Fentress, December 14, 1875

Rattlesnake Dilemma

Spring is mating season for snakes, so it is no surprise that we often see them on the ranch this time of year - lots and lots of them. Plus, with its creeks and rocky terrain, Cedar Creek is known for being home to many types of rattlesnakes - as the one pictured here. Because we see snakes so often and because they serve a valuable purpose (mice control), "live and let live" is the usual policy. However, this evening, as I was driving home and humming some sweet tune I spied this giant thing cruising toward our resident deputy's house through the yard where his two young children play. From a distance, a snake is just a snake, so I sped forward to identify it. If it was a rat snake, then it would live - if not, well - you see the picture. As I sped closer, its tail and head, both suspended slightly, were a dead giveaway to me that it was likely a rattler (pun intended). If it were heading the opposite direction I would have ignored it, but all I could think of were the children that play in that same grassy stretch - and this type of rattler is aggressive; some aren't. 

With about one second to decide what to do to kill it before it was unreachable, I floored it and ran over it in my Nissan Sentra, not exactly a ranch vehicle, but it'll do. That only made it mad. It struck at my car as I wheeled around and ran over it a second time, with me now well into their front yard and doing donuts. Well, that only wounded it's mid-section, so it kept cruising toward the house-side bushes. 

Preparing for a third attempt, the resident deputy unknowingly came running outside and toward the angry rattler to see what I was doing. Motioning violently through my windshield and toward the snake to warn him to stop walking - he finally saw it and ran to grab a weapon.

 Meanwhile, I got out of the car so as not to lose sight of our prey. Being aggressive and protecting itself, it prepared to strike me - even after being run over TWICE. This is often the case with these, by the way. I hate to kill snakes, but when we do - you should know, rattlers die hard. If you ever come across one - be careful. We've had one strike with half its head severed. 

Anyway - the deputy shot it several times before it finally died. It was about 4 1/2 feet long and looks to me like a Diamondback Rattlesnake, one of the most common in these parts. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, please. 

Today's lessons: "There's a time to die" - "Don't mess with the children" AND "Never let your guard down." Happy spring. 

How to Make a Water Trough Garden

1. Fetch a couple of water troughs.

2. Make your husband wear your pink ear muffs before he shoots draining holes in the bottom of the troughs with his .22.

3. Rest the trough against a brush pile as a backstop.

4. Find a spot with full sunlight and position them by something for climbing plants. We found an old gate.

5. Fill the troughs with soil and position your plants with the climbers and tall ones at the back so you can tie them off - tomatoes, string beans, etc.

 6. Remove all plastic and add more soil to secure the plants.

 7. Add water. 

 8. Tie a foil pan to dangle in the wind and chase away hungry birds.

 9. Tie string around the old gate, or whatever you use, so plants can climb it.

10. Thank your sweet husband for putting together a compost bin that has 56 screws and bad directions.