Oh Canada...forgive me I could not resist.

As another Wine (wino?) weekend descends upon the local community, a local pig nut prepares to share his beloved critters with folks around the world. That would be me... and the world is Canada. I have the remaining appointments arranged to get Grant at Ravenstone Farms his piggies. International affairs. Wohoo! I'm so cosmopolitan.

My old swather is about ready for hay season (did I mention I drove 9 hours to get a $300 swather built in the 1960's?) Its a Massey Ferguson 36 SP and came witht he conditioner. It runs like a clock, and I have fixed all of the minor things wrong with it and have just to complete the replacement of the sickle sections (cutting teeth) to get it 100% field ready.

Also came across a ground driven manure spreader. Great price (free) and works perfectly.

springtime on the farm

We've been putting up the last of the pasture fencing, 700' left to go. We'll get the critters out there and then get the hotwire installed. The fence is real sturdy, but hogs and highways just don't mix! Then we clean the breeding pens out, milk that dang cow, kid a few more goats (7 kids so far this spring) and get ready to hay.

On top of all that I am working with the good folks at raven stone farm in BC (yep, Canada) to feshen up the Canadian hers with some new blood. My vet is working with the USDA to make sure our side is good to go and Grant @ raven stone has his ducks lined up on his side of the border.


Should be exciting!

Forgot to update on Olivia

She actually farrowed 12 babies, and all of them are doing great.

Pop goes Olivia...

The big lady is dropping ppiglets today. Good thing I moved her 2 days ago. She's doing great and so are the baies. 4 so far, I'll bet she's got 8 or 9 total, maybe more.

Dave,

More news

Pigs are going to their new homes, cows are settling in and goats are starting to kid. Lily had triplets again. Two little red girls with frosty ears and one girl who looks just like her daddy, redbeard.

Picutres as promised

Had a great family reunion yesterday. And managed to get some pictures (of critters, not the reunion). Just some random snaps of Swinehildas babies, Bigmomma coming to check me out, Blossom and Raisin (Dexter Cattle) and some of our truly free ranging pigs (piglets regular journey into completely unfenced hay field.

Enjoy :--)

Pop! Goes the piggie

Swinehilda finally dropped her littler. 8 beautiful, big babies. I wnet down, shuflfled them under the heat lamp (they were dry and sleeping...cleaned and fed) instead of cuddling under momma.

Not  a bad way to start the day :)

Dave,

NOTE: She tricked me. One more piglet arrived between my early AM check and chores.

Total is 9 :)