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One of those weeks…

It’s really been one of those weeks, this week.

You know, when things start to tip sideways, your mojo flies right out the window and all of a sudden you are under a pile of laundry and other assorted drama?  Yep. That.

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Some of the stuff involves people – unexpected losses in our community, and other things I can’t really write about here.  Suffice to know that it has hit home that I really don’t have the ability to keep everyone happy all the time. And I know I need to be okay with that.  But I do struggle a bit with it – people being sad is never okay with me.

Other stuff involves animals.

Some of you may remember Milly.  She is a little black cattle dog (kelpie origins) who was given to us by a friend some years ago.

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A very sweet-natured dog who loved her work, Milly could always been seen dancing around whatever horse my husband rode mustering, keen to be sent on a task.

She also adored a bit of a swim, and rarely waited for the trough to be clear before leaping in for a refreshing dip…

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Although she liked to keep other dogs between her and the thirsty cattle who were never that keen to share their drinking spot with pesky, bathing dogs!

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Milly got injured recently – an injury which seems initially to be soft tissue (which might heal with rest).  Dash had offered to take care of her while she wasn’t up to going working with the other dogs (she hated being left behind).  Milly enjoyed the extra attention and I thought he might be able to have some fun with her even if she wasn’t up to working.  However but she gradually became lamer and lamer and lost weight. A vet visit on Monday brought news that we had several options – all of which required big surgeries to try to ensure she was pain-free.

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After great debate (and a few tears) we made the toughest of calls.

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It’s a bit of a subdued household at the moment.  Dash is in mourning as he had considered Milly ‘his’, and we know that our mate Harves will be hurting a little too – the circle of life (especially when you have to intervene) sucks sometimes.  It all seems so surreal when we had only recently lost (then found) Cruel.  Animals sure do bring with them an emotional rollercoaster, don’t they?

We have another Big Decision looming over us too.  For the longest time we have been putting off the inevitable with our old darlin’ mare Lacey.

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Every winter gets harder for her, despite being molly-coddled in paddocks near the house and river.  She is in her mid-30s now which is ancient for a horse.  Especially one that has been a rodeo pick-up horse, a campdrafter, musterer and irreplacable kids’ horse for many members of our family (she was Dash and Violet’s first horse).

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I stocked up on gum nuts and Copra meal today… we will bring her in, rug her and try and get her through just a little while longer.

None of us need any more heartache this week.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to dig myself out from under the laundry.

 

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