We had another busy exciting day at the field. The masons got the floor on the milk barn put in and the place is starting to come together. About 11 we decided to move the animals up to my father-in-laws field. Yesterday I introduced you to my two newest workers, Mr. Ed the mute horse, and Bonehead the mule. Did I mention I named Bonehead after the nickname I have for one of my neighhhhhhhbors? Julio and his cousin Milito decided to ride because it beats walking 2 miles uphill both ways looking at the backside of a cow.
The guys had our equine friends in the small corral and I could tell Bonehead wasn't feeling real cooperative (perhaps he didn't relish looking at the back of a cow either), but the guys seemed to know what they were doing. They hand tied the bridles and reigns out of lengths rope and put the saddle pad on the animals. The saddle pad is made out of what appears to be rolled and stitched palm leafs. While it is thick and comfortable, it doesn't exactly come with nice straps to hold it on like a real saddle (can you see where I am going with this?).
After some fun mounting the animals (no saddles, no stirrups, ever try to get your leg higher than your head), they two rode off to round up the cows. Well as you know, a mule is half an ass and this one is no exception. (when is the last time you got to use that word properly). Milito headed off on his uncooperative halfass excuse for a horse, and proceeded to ride up a rocky slope. Well the next thing I saw was the nice new saddle pad flying through the air, a rubber boot sticking up out of the grass and bonehead heading for the far corner of the field.
Initially you might think a good laugh is in order, but as "El Jefe", my first concern was injuries, and I started off at a run. By the time I got there, Milito was up and holding his thumb with a very worried look on his face. He seemed in a lot of pain, and we sent him off to the hospital on the back of a motorcycle (I was stuck with the little pasola today). I headed down a few minutes later and met them at the hospital.
Thankfully there was no wait because he was looking pretty worried and in pain. After checking him out, they gave him a stab with a needle, prescribed an antibiotic (I still don't know what for). Told me he needed and X-Ray and a cast etc, non of which could be done at the public (read as FREE) hospital and we had to go to the clinic.
At this point it was noon, and everything shuts down so we went back to the house for lunch. Sat Milito down in a comfortable chair, gave him a bag of ice, a couple of Advil, and a plate of food. Around 2 pm his hand was still looking pretty swollen. I had to get back to the field, so I told Felicita to take him to the pharmacy, get a pair of tongue depressors, some medical tape and an ace bandage. She took him back to the hospital first to see what if they had anything else to say. Again, another nonsense prescription of antibiotics. Off to the pharmacy then.
Meanwhile back at the field, I am busy working on a new harness for our old friend the mule (a picture later) and checking on the floor pour in the milking barn periodically. I hear the truck arrive and everyone stops work to see how Milito is doing. He has thumb taped up and I put the ace bandage on for him. Felicita drove him back to his place while on her way to check on a sick calf at the other farm. I finished up the new harness about 6:30 and went to check on Milito. He seemed better and was smiling but said his hand still hurt.
Today someone referred to me as a cowboy. It seemed like a joke, but finally sunk in that is exactly what I am. Who would have thought I would grow up to be a cowboy.
Just another day in the life of a farmer.