It was another day of working cattle, this time, the young heifers were brought up from the field for their dose of wormer and scour prevention. It will be these girls that start off our calving season in a couple of months. For a bit, bringing them in to the corral, the wind picked up and blew and it tried to snow, and I just thought, well… this is going to be pleasant conditions to work in! Thankfully, it lasted about 15 minutes and that was it. Not that it was warm and sunny, but I was plenty warm hustling up and down the alley with all my various layers on!
Somehow, it was one of those days I didn’t even take a picture! Since it was the exact same as yesterday, I guess it’s not that important… but…
Before I get too far away from the happening… I want to tell you a story!
Remember when I told you Vernon bought me a wool hoodie from over at Mountain Meadow Wool Mill? Well, I absolutely love it! I’ve been wearing it a great deal, throwing an apron over it when I find myself cooking so that I don’t stain it. I also left my coat zipped all day yesterday so that no manure would land on it! It is washable, but grease and manure would stain it, I imagine.
So… a few days ago, it was cold and there was some boxes and wrapping paper left over from some presents and I decided I’d start a fire and burn them in my wood stove. There’s a comfy chair in front of the stove and I totally enjoy a campfire, so I’m sitting there slowly feeding in some paper and cardboard pieces…
All of a sudden, BANG! Something flew past my head and I jumped up and moved away from the open door of the stove off to the side. My first thought was a .22 shell went off, and while I was puzzling through that thought, another BANG! Holy cow! What the heck was in that wrapping paper????? I shoved the door to stove shut and cautiously waited a bit before venturing closer.
I glanced at my chair.
Notice the thing on the back… lower right.
It’s a spring… slightly melted into the back! It’s from the second explosion because I was sitting there for the first! Whoa. Baby.
I searched and didn’t find anything else really. I even waited for the next day and dug around in the cold ashes and only found small items that I have no idea what they belong to! I don’t have any clue what it was that exploded and you bet the rest of the wrapping paper went out to the trash. I just don’t feel like building a fire out of that wrapping paper any more…
When Vernon came in for lunch, I was explaining to him what happened. I happened to glance in the mirror above the mud room sink and what did I see?
My new hoodie is scorched in two spots along the sleeve. I didn’t even know anything hit me! I’m not very happy. Can you tell???? I told Vernon he needed to buy me another one since this one is “ruined”…
Find me here!
Oh no!!!!!! At least you are safe and unharmed and maybe your wonderful hoody, though damaged , saved you from injury. My daughters know me and crafting well, and I’d just stitch something over the damaged part and then the garment is unique. No one else will have one the same. Flowers and cowboy hats are my first choice!!!!
This is a great idea!!!
The thankful part is that you weren’t hurt. I can’t imagine what an experience like that would have been other than scary… as you were just enjoying a fire. How completely disappointing for you and the new hoodie.
Hope Santa visits you again, soon, with a new one!
Oh, shoot, what a bummer!
Wow, what a crazy unfolding, all while you were just trying to relax and get some paper disposed of. I am so glad you didn’t end up in the hospital with that hot spring imbedded in YOU! I vote that Vernon buys you a new hoodie!
That’s a shame. You just got that nice hoodie. Can it be mended ? Wonder what exploded. Did the wrapping paper have a metallic look to it ? When I used to have a wood stove, some times a piece of wood would pop and send embers flying.