It has been a long time since we’ve been on vacation and I was spurred to take it easy this weekend this afternoon when I was wrestling Susie, one of her sheep, so we could hold her still to change her coat to keep it clean for yarn. I was by the manure pile, and it was slippery and muddy and my feet went out from under me and I fell backwards into the large and muddy and stinky manure pile while holding the sheep with my crook. Susie jumped on me while Maria jumped on her to try and get her off of me, Maria was afraid she would walk on my head or face.

She slid off of me and I sunk keeper into the pile of very wet and soggy manure we shovel out of the barn every night. Quite the smelly mess. Had to get all of my clothes off and into the washer and dryer but I will be smelling that manure for awhile, and my back was feeling the fall. Maria was quite heroic leaping onto the sheep. This is the sort of thing that happens on a farm from time to time, although it is a humbling reminder to take a short breather. I did not get hurt, other than a sore back and it could have been worse – the manure pile was quite soft. I’m going to wind it for a day or so, unplug devices, read, go to movies, meditate and Sunday, Maria and I are going to our hideaway inn in Vermont for one night. Hopefully I’ll smell better. This is not my first fall into a manure pile, perhaps my third or fourth. As the go, a good one.