First we need a lesson in topping. I hate topping. Topping is when you mow the tops off the pasture in the fields. We have more grass than stock this year which is good. And was in the sustainable plan. We are not at full strength as far as stock goes. Not yet. I still hate mowing pasture, it just feels all wrong. But sometimes the grass gets too long because the animals only choose their favourite forage, the weeds get out of hand, the grass goes to seed losing its protein richness and the clover underneath gets shadowed. Even with the electric fences to help with the rotation sometimes we have to top. 
Last year we kept Daisy’s field well controlled so there are really almost no weeds in here this year. So yesterday we only topped four big swathes in Daisy’s Paddock. About a quarter this time, so she still has grazing while we wait for the trimmed plants to grow back a bit then cut some more. This field is heaving with bees, the clover is flowering beautifully for them. That honey is going to be good. 
Daisy thought that maybe this was a yellow brick road and she and Hairy walked the walk. The she had to lie down and have a wee sleep for the rest of the afternoon!
10 days to go until the Northern Cardinal chicks are hatched and 11 after that until they leave the nest, well maybe a few more. This Cardinal is bonkers building a nest and laying her eggs on a busy thoroughfare, and so low to the ground. 
But we will do the best we can to keep her safe. 
We finished the small outside pen for Sheila and Charlotte. The Shush Sisters. Much better for them to be outside. They think so too, though Diane will remind me that this pen will probably last a week, they grow so fast! Once the Pig Palace is built we will shift the Plonkers outside, easier said than done and The Shush Sisters will take over the old barn pig sty until they are a bit bigger, after it has a spring clean.
And who is that caught on camera with her head in the pig trough? Pania! You are a pea hen! Beautiful and delicate and sweet, what are you doing in there with the pigs? And Kupa! Where is Tui? Probably in the pig run eating their old vegetables, maybe wallowing with the other Plonker! sigh . Everyone is into sustainable diversification!
Good morning.
We have a sprinkling of rain again this morning. Which is not good for the cut hay but fantastic for everything else. This was opportunist grass hay anyway. So once it is turned again and is dry and baled, if the baler works, it will go in the bedding stack. Straw costs as much as hay to buy anyway.
The pig palace is almost done, I will show you tomorrow.
Lots to do today, I will be sticking close to home. Daisy is leaking milk from her poor overfilled udder. You know when you blow up a plastic glove and the fingers get really short, her udder looks like that. Her teats sticking out at odd angles, getting shorter by the hour as the udder swells. Not long now.
Have an excellent day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
64 responses to “Caught on film with her head in a Pig Trough!”
You always amaze me with your ability to come up with new images of the farm animals and farmy. And you do seem to catch them sometimes in their naughtiest moments.
I am always amazed at the million faces the farm has.. there is always a new shot. c
I am loving the farmy and all your tenants appear so happy and content! Have a wonderful day and looking forward to the pig palace. Oh! and how wonderful your critters including Miss Mary’s cat can read!
Morning Chris i hope you are well! Have a lovely day!! c
Last night in bedI found myself praying for Daisy.
Don’t stop! c
Clover honey is my favorite, with thistle honey and wildflower honey after that — I like mild-tasting honey, finding it more versatile. Funny that you singled out Mary’s Cat, my favorite of the bunch, for the bird notice. We had rain here, too, this morning: it smelled like rain when I went out on my long walk and visible rain was falling when I reached the halfway point. Now it is just gray but there are drops on the windows.
Isn’t it kind of brilliant but logical that honey tastes like the flowers! and Mary’s Cat is a baby rabbit killer.. very much a hunter.. not a lazy lay about cat like White Cat.. c
Fabulous pix: I particularly like Daisy and Hairy together. Do you think it would be a good idea to date your 21-day side-steps notice? Bon Courage to Daisy!
mm, that is probably a sensible idea! c
The temporary (maybe 2 or 3 week home or more!) 😉 for the Shush Sisters looks so cozy!!! No doubt they will stay in there as long as they possibly can! I sure would!!!
The goat milking is going very well! I’m getting faster at it, thank goodness!!! At first it took me 40 minutes to milk the two. Now I’m down to 20 minutes for both, and getting faster. How about that?
You are the Milk Maid Star.. now honey, do you wear a frilly wee cap? you are fast! c
I’m looking forward to seeing the foisted pig pen – in sure it will be perfect (for Kupa and the newest additions to your family :D)
Cheers
CCU
It makes me uncomfortable just to look at Daisy’s poor udder so I can only imagine how she must feel! Is it my imagination, or has Shelia grown in the few short days since you brought her home? She looks bigger, but maybe it’s just the camera angle…not her move star side/position perhaps? 🙂
I’m looking forward to the pig palace! How grand! 🙂 And my goodness but your work really is NEVER done! Topping! I wouldn’t have even understood the necessity for this, but I can see it must be a very big chore. I hope Mary’s Cat can read! Of course birds would come to your place to nest! You hang out the welcome sign! I love it all, Celi! Debra
I do particularly love your sign 😀
Your notice to the cats and other interlopers is a sign that you take time to make the chores fun for you to do and for us to follow. Treat the jobs with humor: that’s wonderful.
My latest post has some real life humor I’d love to share. It’s about my brother and his Africa adventure.
Can I please come and stay on the farmy? I can bake bread and be useful around the house and barn and everywhere…
absolutely. just name then date.. bread, kitchen, barn.. you’re in! c
Love the photo of the pasture being topped. Have a lovely day, pretty lady.
I like that shot too, so much foliage! c
Such abundance! Grass – bees, birds nesting, calf imminent. I can understand your reluctance to do the topping (I’m learning so much from your blog – had never heard of that one), but it’s another sign of abundance. Love the pig in the pen shot.
My next blog will start with a mention of you – will probably go up tomorrow.
Well thank you.. i shall pop over. If you can bear it, leave the link in the comments tomorrow so other people can pop over too! Your work is so lovely. c
Hi Celi!
Is good to know that you have everything under control (but I really don’t know how do you do it though 😉 ) Thanks for the update, good night! 🙂
morning giovanna, under control! I hope so, but sometimes i am not so sure! c