Yesterday was the day to take Charlotte the Hereford gilt to visit The Swineherd’s Boar for breeding purposes. Charlotte loaded herself up and we hitched the trailer to the red truck and trundled away to his little farm for her Valentines Day Week date with destiny. And look who we found.
Meet the boyfriend. He cleaned up for her and everything. Apparently.
And here are his wives. 
Meet his kids,
There are piles of them and they are a happy squealy bunch friendly chew on your shoe laces kind of bunch.
I forgot to ask his name so we will call him Freddie. He does have a friendly face. 
If a little filthy. Which is nice. In a clean kind of way.
And look what else I found. A donkey.
And her baby.
The baby is a month old and came up to my hip. Alarmingly sweet. John told me to “back away from the donkey”.
The Swine herd is over eighty and knows what he is about. He loves his animals, works gently with them and has a delightful menagerie so we left Charlotte in good hands. Her room is in a heated shed with a lovely deep litter of straw and no draughts or nosey sheep. The Swineherd was going to bring Freddie in to visit later today, without the wives. 
If you need anything in the night Charlotte honey, just knock on the wall.
These guys are right next door.
The Swineherd will call when she is pregnant and we will go back to collect her. It may take a few weeks. We need to spend a lot of time with Sheila while Charlotte is away.
Back home.. The section of the Coupe that is going up now is the bathroom with a corridor
running down the South side. 
Good morning. The Daily View has not changed in a long time. The builder’s car comes and goes. The red truck comes and goes. Occasionally the cooking oil goes for a blat. But the weather seems to be in a gray cycle.
Today the Home-Schooled children come again. This week’s study is bees. It is seldom that anyone can see right inside a beehive without any bees. So we will study the hive and tomorrow make candles from the wax.
Have a lovely day. The Old Codger sends his love. I still visit with him twice a week. Even though this winter has been kind he is ready for spring to come now as well. I think we all are.
Morning Miss c…that baby donkey is adorable!
Nice family
I’ve met people with sad eyes like that boar. He may be happy as Larry but he doesn’t look it. Maybe Charlotte will raise his spirits.
I thought that pigs also like some dry ground, not just mud. Is that right?
You have to leaver her there!? Oh my goodness, I am not cut out for raising farm animals. I think I would have just grabbed one of the piglets that were already made and high tailed it out of there with Charlotte after seeing what Mr. Freddie looks like. He could have at least showered.
Great photos! All the animals are beautiful. I am sure that Charlotte will have a fun time!
Back away from that Boar, never mind- he is huge! I think I might have taken Charlotte back home for another year. those Donkeys are so cute.
Laura
Ps Does the Matriach know her bathroom is in the Glass Hous section?
:0 Laura
I was just sure that you had loaded up that sweet baby donkey…or made arrangements to pick her up later
Have a good day, C. We’re all right there with you and the Old Codger – spring can arrive any time now!
My, my, what a handsome fella that ‘Freddie’ is..Those doleful eyes and the puckered lips..Charlotte will not be able to resist….even I could take a real fancy to him…but having seen the donkey I am afraid Freddie would lose out….I had two donks and miss them so much…and your one even has a baby . Our Daisy was only a baby when we first got her..so long ago now.
Have fun Charlotte!
I have to say that I prefer the wee donkey to the boar, but I’m sure that Charlotte will think he’s wonderful! Think of all the news she’ll have for Sheila when she’s home!
Christine
Oh MIss C – ‘And look what else I found. A donkey.’
This made me snort out a laugh that Freddie could have been proud of.
You gotta have a donkey! Absolutely adorable!!! She’d be ready to wean in a few months.
Looks like Charlotte will be well cared for. Send me a baby pig. It’s for Hannah. (She says to say “Hi!”) She wants to start raising pigs this year. We haven’t found a breeder yet. Maybe you can use the time machine. Have a great day, Celi. (Or you could send that donkey. Just don’t tell Michael!)
John knows you well, telling you to back away from the donkey. But who can resist those sweet donkey faces.
i dated few guys that looked like freddie. thank god i never mated with them! if i were you, i would make that donkey baby yours! it is too cute for words!!!
The piglets are heart-melting!
you so need a donkey.
You know Celi, from what I’ve heard, donkeys are real assets to a farmy. They look after all the animals, and somehow bring a peacefulness to the farm. Now, don’t tell Our John I said this, as I do understand him not wanting the farmy to get ‘out of control’, so to speak. Looks like Charlotte is in very good hands, indeed, so not to worry at all! xo
Oh my goodness—the baby donkey is adorable!!!! Loved all the pictures and hope dear Charlotte has a nice honeymoon there.
Wow! He is handsome…
The babies are gorgeous, especially that donkey! I know what was John thinking when he told you to “step away from the donkey, Madam” Jejeje…
Charlotte is going to be in very company for the next weeks
Say hi to the Old Codger from Madrid.
Have a nice day
I’m very keen on the donkey. I’m currently trying to persuade my daughter to buy one as company for her pony. She feels they are too noisy. I don’t know about donkeys’ noise, but they seem to have very nice natures. The Ile de Re, which is a small, tres chic, island off the coast here ( very like the Hamptons in that it’s filled with rich folk in the summer and empty in the winter) is filled with donkeys, so there must be plenty available.
What a handsome boyfriend for Charlotte. He does look kind. Hopefully it won’t take too many weeks and she’ll be back home with Sheila. I wonder if pigs get homesick. And that baby donkey! I can see why John told you to back away. He is soooooo cute! Mike says the same thing to me whenever we’re near kittens or puppies…just back away.
What a lovely read C, thank you! I do hope Freddie’s wives aren’t the jealous type…
Mandy xo
I bet the kids will love tomorrows exercise of candle making.
Love and best wishes back to the Old Codger.
Please send my love to the Codger in return. I hope the Shushes aren’t pining for each other, I’m yearning for that baby donkey. Donkeys are very popular round here.
It almost sounded as though you were ready to add a donkey to the farmy…
Funny how I have developed feelings for your animals, almost as though I know them personally! Poor, dear Charlotte. I’m glad you had “the talk” with her. I’m sure she’ll be fine, and after all, it isn’t a long-term arrangement. You will miss her, though, and worry about her, I expect. I’m not sure I could have walked away from the donkey. I’m that way about kittens. Don’t let me near one!
I have no words for “Freddie”…….yikkees..
….
I have ALWAYS wanted a donkey…don’t you now? They are so sweet and could do things like pull stuff….I’m sure they are great protectors of the sheep and you can make Donkey milk soap….
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I have never had a donkey, do they eat much? Donkey milk soap!!! you are hilarious, I will tell john!! c
It is readily available at our whole food market. Don’t you think you would enjoy milking a donkey?
You are joking aren’t you? yes you are! I am sure you are.. you can’t milk a donkey… c
I don’t know…not like a horse at any rate. And they are very good protector of flocks and herds. They will kick and stomp predators to death.
I just googled it.. oh me of little faith! you CAN milk a donkey.. the milk of an ASS!! of course.. well i shall tell john! who knew! c
Hope everyone who loves donkeys knows about Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue. These dedicated people save the MANY donkeys people don’t love so much–who instead beat, starve and abandon them. Visit their website if you have a minute.
I would love to! I love that people are saving donkeys.. thank you for the idea Equus.. c
Freddie has the most incredible, expressive eyes! That totally took me by surprise, c. Love to Dale. And to the farmy, too.
Did the baby donkey have a home? You might need to take John back to have another look and work some woman charm to add a donkey to the farm…
Even more adorable than donkeys are mini donkeys….which I adore…but Dave says the same thing whenever we are around any….Back Away!
Hopefully all those poor piggies don’t have to stand out in that mud all the time…do they? What a difference in his piggies and Charlotte and Sheila!! I felt better when you said he treated them kindly!
Yes, we are all ready for Spring to get here and the sooner the better!! The coupe is looking amazing!
PS. How will the Swineherd know if she is pregnant? Never mind…maybe I don’t want to know!
I was curious, too, as to how The Swineherd will know Charlotte is pregnant. I’ve been telling my family about the Charlotte ordeal, and my daughter wants a piglet…in our tiny apartment! Yeah right! Those donkeys are so pretty. What would you do with one, though? It would have to earn its keep like everyone else.
Tell your daughter they do grow pretty big! Um the swine herd will know when Charlotte comes into heat and then he will watch for the changes that indicate that she has been um.. impregnated.. so.. yeah.. if he says it is done, i am all good! c
My love to the Old Codger too. We are on the verge of longing for Autumn here, so I can understand completely that you are all very ready for Spring.
Freddie looks very handsome to me… I suspect he knows all the words to all the Barry White songs. He looks like ‘that’ kind of boy.
everytime i read about charlotte, i think of the reba macintire song,”fancy”
I’m looking at Charlotte’s photographs and reading out loud to The Good Husband. When I finished we said in unison “that will do pig, that will do”. A happy Valentine’s day to Charlotte. V.
Poor Sheila. Maybe you need to explain some things to her while Charlotte is away. There are some good books in library about how piglets are made.
That is one handsome boar. And the donkeys are beautiful.
They’re all good looking animals – clearly loved and looked after!
Do you think the earth will move at that magic moment? there’s a song – Sweet charlotte, may she hear it or a Mozart Symphony if she wishes
Och! That must be very hard to leave her there…for weeks? ACK. You seem to be handling it very well. It just may be you have officially certified yourself a genuine Farmerette! Well done.
Well, I do hope the matchmaking all works out
Charlotte looks like a virgin bride in her little straw-lined chamber. I hope Freddie is gentle with her – or that they have good fun. Your introductions to the pigs were a delight – I laughed out loud, especially when it came to all this children! How exciting though, to think that Charlotte will come home pregnant and you will have lots of little piggies.
yup! the fun is just beginning! c
You’ve made my day.
So funny. You keep me smiling, and that’s a fact.
Give the Old Codger my love, even thought we’ve never met.
You’re one of my heroes, C!
“Back away from the donkey…” that’s hilarious…and I can see why it’s necessary, too, as that’s a mighty cute donkey. Hope Charlotte breeds quickly so she can come home soon.
Isn’t there a saying “as happy as a pig in mud”? Freddie should look ecstatic. I hope Charlotte can stay in her nice clean bridal suite.
she will, they are not putting MY piggie out in the mud! Those other wives will drown her! c
Well! I think we definitely know where Sheila got her ears. Good thing John was there or you’d surely have a donkey. I hope he goes with you to pick up Charlotte, too. If left to your own devices, you’d have your own Noah’s Ark.
It was a bit sunny up here today, though that will all change overnight, I’m afraid. Fingers crossed for Friday…
I know! what is that about snow in the forecast! c
I’ve seen it but we won’t know how much they’re calling for until tomorrow night, if then. I doubt it will amount to anything. Positive thinking 101.
Oh, my! Boyfriend pig is a polygamist! Or, should I say, “poly-pig-amist”!
YUMMY!! you are brilliant! c
Well, glad to see the mistress has much more comfortable quarters than the wives! Do think Freddie’s hygiene left a tad to be desired, but he does seem to make nice piglets
! And Charlotte did not look at all unhappy. And how could one not fall in love with the beautiful baby donkey who would fit in SO well on the farmy and lead SUCH a happy life 
! You better get Charlotte back sans John !!
I had to laugh about the wives quarters!!! funny! c
Freddy’s such a P~I~G!
And soon he’ll be in HOG HEAVEN.
I have a mini donk – Winston – and he keeps the two dwarf goats in line and watches out for raccoons and coyotes and even lets the chickens ride on his back and best yet – he makes us laugh! He’s also in love with my Kentucky Mtn. mare, I don’t think he realizes he no longer has the necessary “equipment” to win her over.
Also, my step daughter spent 3 yrs in Bolivia with the Peace Corps and they believe donkey’s milk will cure anything, they sell it on the street corners.
good morning sherry and I had absolutely no idea about donkey milk until today.. I am sure that the Swineherd will NOT sell this little donkey, he is absolutely bedotted with her!. c
Happy Valentines to all – in including the new boy friend!
Charlotte looked so groomed and elegant compared to the poor old wives… can they really be happy in all that mud and water…. Do hope they have some shelter at night and in the cold…
And so glad Charlotte has a decent honeymoon suite… I think it was very significant that you saw the baby donkey- surely she’ll be looking for a home in a few months… or does her mother want a bit of company?
The pigs have a great big house that they live in but they prefer to be outside in the daytime. These guys are old enough to come and go at will. The little ones are kept in heated sheds. Pigs do love to pig about in the mud .. c
I do love the donkeys! Your John knows you pretty well.
Freddie does have some nice looking kids, I’m sure his and Charlotte’s will be adorable!
I don’t know how you do it. I would bring a sleeping bag and stay over, though there are certain things I just don’t want to see!!! — And now, A NOTE: A while back, I received the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. While I acknowledged the award, I failed to notify the bloggers I selected to be the next recipients. Please accept my apology and the overdue award. You can find acceptance rules (if you choose to participate) at the bottom of the February 16 special edition of my Weekend Highlights (at Granny’s Parlour), which will feature the 15 award recipients I have selected. Thank you for being part of this blogosphere!
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