Life has really been a roller coaster ride as of late. Mostly it is emotional ups and downs which in a way are related to my physical ups and downs. I have been fighting depression. I hate getting up in the morning and would prefer to sleep all day. This is not good!!!!! Mostly it is the result of the slow healing of my back.

I know my back is gradually improving, but the key word is "gradually." It is going much too too slowly for me. I would like to be out doing the things I used to do and that still isn't possible. I am doing a few more things that I could do a few weeks ago, but I would like to be herding cows, riding my ATV, fishing, and even housework. Hopefully those activities will all come in time.

My stepson moved the rest of our cows to summer pasture. In the process, we were missing one cow. I went looking for that cow and to my big surprise, I found her hanging around the front ponds. Now that is weird behavior for a lone cow to be hanging out by herself unless she has a newborn calf. Well.... to my surprise... she did have a new calf with her. I thought we were through calving so this was a surprise to find a baby calf. But... it was a pleasant surprise. Of course, momma was in the protective mode and wouldn't let me near her baby. Also, the fact that I'm not moving very fast these days, made me decide to stay a far distance from her. My stepson moved her and the baby into the meadow and all is well with both of them. I'm still keeping my distance. lol

JR is off trucking, trying to catch us up financially after taking so much time off to take care of me. Today he is really frustrated as he is broken down in Fontana, CA and waiting for a truck part. He had hoped to be in Texas by tomorrow, but that is not going to happen now. He still has Buddy, our Border Collie, with him. Buddy has healed nicely from being gouged by the longhorn cow. I know he would like to be back home and not riding with JR in the truck, but JR hasn't had any loads coming this way, so Buddy is stuck riding in the truck.

This morning Buddy had a new experience for a country cow dog. He was tied up outside the truck shop in Fontana and one of those city gangs of stray dogs came through. He was really barking and growling. If JR hadn't come to his rescue, that gang of dogs would have killed Buddy. I'm sure that Cowdog Buddy now hates the city and is looking forward to being back with the cows, coyotes, and all the other local critters.

Well, I'm going to try to do some dusting today and then my caregiver can vacuum when she arrives later today.

Talk with ya later - Annie :o)