Nail (cough) "art"

This morning while feeding the cattle, I managed to break two fingernails. How I managed to do this through two layers of gloves is rather amazing, but there you go. I came back into the house and used a nail clipper to trim down the ragged edges. Such is life on a farm.

But even before I had a farm, I confess I never had much patience with fancy fingernails. Once long long ago while trying to impress a beau, I had a manicure. I actually paid money for someone to buff my nails and push back my cuticles, as if somehow this would improve the looks of my square, short-fingered, practical hands. It made no difference that I could see (much less the beau), so I went back to ignoring my hands except to be grateful they both worked.

So this morning I saw a hilarious photo gallery on "nail art." Here's what the intro said:

Mainstream America is embracing wild forms of nail art like never before, thanks to the affordability and accessability of nail accessories. Click through the gallery to see samples from professionals and DIYers.

Ahem. Mainstream America? Tell me, how on earth do you wash your hair with fingernails like these?

Can you change a poopy diaper with these nails?

And can you fathom the damage that would occur to an udder if I tried to milk a cow with these?

Maybe all these women in "mainstream America" have maids and butlers who do all their housework, but for the rest of us, this "nail art" is stoopid to the point of lunacy.

Oh wait, I forget -- much of this nail art is associated with "celebrity clients" who do indeed have maids and butlers to do all their dirty work. Not one of them does dishes by hand, changes a diaper, or vacuums a floor... much less mucks out a stall or weeds a garden.

Okay, I'm done ranting.

Update on Riley

Some of you may remember the horrific accident our young neighbor, Riley, had in February during which he accidentally amputated his left thumb and forefinger on a table saw.  I posted an earlier update here.  He was over the other day and I took photos of his fingers.

He still doesn't have quite the full mobility in them yet, but he can curl his fingers and grasp items, though of course not with full strength. But he's continuing physical therapy and has confidence that within a few years he'll be pretty much back to normal.

Modern medicine is indeed a miracle.

Update on Riley

You may remember our 15-year-old neighbor boy Riley who suffered a hideous accident last month in which he accidentally amputated his left thumb and forefinger. I posted an earlier update here. He was over visiting yesterday evening and I told him I wanted a picture of his cast so I could put an update on my blog. Before I could stop him, he said "Here, I'll take it off." I hadn't realized he'd graduated to one of those removable braces.




He says he has feeling in both digits and can move them. Naturally he's undergoing physical therapy, but the doctors are confident he'll have a full recovery. He'll have scars, of course, but like any typical boy he's immensely proud of his battle wounds and doesn't hesitate to show anyone who cares to see, LOL. I have to admire his attitude, which doubtless contributed to his recovery.

Thank God for modern medicine!

Update on Riley

Many of you have been asking about our 15-year-old neighbor boy Riley and how he's doing after his horrific accident last Wednesday.

I'm pleased and thankful to report that he's home!! My kids took over a basket full of homemade goodies and cards and other stuff to welcome him back. They reported he was full of piss and vinegar (his usual state of affairs) and everyone couldn't be happier. He's joking and in good spirits, enough to mug at the camera.



He has a long road ahead of him, of course. The doctors say his chances of keeping his fingers now stand at 98% - I partially attribute those wonderful odds to all you terrific folks who kept him in your prayers - but needless to say he has at least a year of physical therapy to undergo as he re-learns how to use his left hand.



Again, a heart-felt "thank you" to everyone who uttered a petition to the Almighty that his fingers would "take" after being reattached. I'm grateful to the wonderful surgeons and other personnel who helped in his recovery. Modern medicine is indeed a marvel.

Bad accident next door

Yesterday we were all away from home until after dark, past 5 pm. We had to hustle and get the barn chores done by flashlight - feeding the cattle, the chickens, filling the water tank. We were all tired and a bit crotchety when the phone rang...

Funny how one's minor irritations fade when bad news happens. It seems one of our neighbor boys, 15 year old Riley, amputated his left thumb and index finger on a power tool about 3:45 pm. His younger brothers saw the result. Thankfully we have a medic in our neighborhood who did the initial work necessary to keep Riley from losing too much blood and going into shock.

He was rushed to our local clinic, then helicoptered into a Spokane hospital where they stabilized him. Then he was jetted to Seattle and underwent several hours of surgery to reattach his fingers.

Right now it seems the surgery was successful. His fingers are showing signs of "pinkening" (meaning circulation is occurring), but he's not out of the woods yet. We won't know for another week if the fingers will "take" or not. I'm informed he has an 80% chance of success which I'm sure you'll agree are pretty good odds, but it's damned scary to think Riley stands a 20% chance of being permanently maimed at 15.

Please pray that his fingers "take." He can use all the help he can get.