But first.. what is wrong with this picture. Yes! Do you see it, too? It is not often that we have a steer grazing in the drive. And a dog paying no attention AT ALL. 
He had broken out of his pen (well we all know who his mother is!) and eaten the afternoons hay.. that is everyones hay for the afternoon, then he tried to get the lids off the feed bins, then wandered out the door to see what he could see. 
He was gently escorted back, following his bucket, obeying his call (every animal has a different call for just these occasions) and popped into the field with the big fellas aka Queenie and Hairy. He has officially grown out of his own special enclosure and can live with hairy and Queenie now.
And now we need to have a talk about Charlotte. You know that I have two girl piggies. Purebred Herefords. They are called the Shush Sisters. They are very sweet and very noisy and always hungry. Their names are Charlotte and Sheila. It is time to breed Charlotte. She is the big and robust. And we are hoping she will throw lots of gilts (girls) so we can sell them. The males will be raised on milk and eggs and go into the freezers of all the families we are feeding. This is one of the reasons I am pleased that Daisy is milking so strongly. Hopefully we can earn enough cash to keep everyone in hay and organic grains next year. It is a sustainable farm after all.
My beautiful high school student, who has pigs of her own, came to visit the Shush Sisters and we discussed the pros and cons of AI (Artificial Insemination). The biggest Con is that in a small group it is harder to tell if they are in heat. We have to order the semen and it only has a two day shelf life plus the nearest source is a day away. Well, you see my problem. The usual thing to look for (other than some physical changes in the rear that does not always happen and pigs jumping on pigs that does not always happen, when there are only two) is that the pig will stand still while you press on her lower back. This means she is in standing heat. And ready to be bred. 
“Oh you mean like this?” I said, and sat on Charlotte’s back. Demonstrating that the Shush Sisters are so tame that they will stand anytime for anyone. Charlotte never moved an inch. She just stood looking at the girl, quite clearly saying, in pig speak, “I have to do this all the time, she has problems standing up by herself. She is a leaner. We think it is an affection thing. Humour her. Try to be nice.”
“Oh”, my alarmingly pretty high school student mentor said. ” Hmm.” she twitched her mouth sideways exactly like her mother does. “Maybe we should find her a boar. She thought for a minute. “But I don’t know where you can find a Hereford Boar.”
“I do” I said and so later I called the Swineherd . He was thrilled to bits. And we take Charlotte to his place on Tuesday afternoon. I don’t even want to think about it.
Charlotte, wipe your chin honey. No need to look quite so excited.
One of my homeschool children said to me the other day. Don’t you ever wipe their noses?
Good morning. I have three days to train Charlotte to get into the trailer. Then I have to work out how to get her into the trailer withOUT Sheila. I will have to have a think.
We found some windows at the junkyard yesterday but not the ones Our John wants. The recycled glasshouse will be attached to the house, like a lean-to, with a floor of piped hot water using the wood stove to heat it, eventually, though this is another project in itself. I have collected most of the materials but it is those roof panels of glass that are proving difficult.
But I chose the barn beam columns for the center of the Coupe (they are huge and wonderful) and found a lovely floor, in fact two beautiful old tongue and groove floors we will lay. There are huge pieces of oak for shelves and benches and piles of cedar for the trim. My next task is to find another man to make all the trim for the Kiwi Builder and finish all this timber I have found. This is why many people do not use recycled timbers, there is a lot of work involved in getting it ready. But thats OK. I like work. I can pull out nails and sand stuff.
Such excitement.
Have a lovely day.
celi
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
73 responses to “We need to talk about Charlotte”
I’m sure if there had been a problem with that bull that TonTon would have told you all about it! Good luck Charlotte!
Wow… taking the pig to the boar… she might hate you when you go to fetch her… I don’t even want to think what she is going to think of you afterwards…. mind you if every time you get in the vehicle and she comes running up wanting to go with… you might have a better idea…
OH NO, don’t say that! It would be awful if she hates me, i hope she will be glad to see me! c
My former step-father kept pigs, and the AI process never, EVER, went as smoothly has he hoped or planned. (Of course, he did have other limitations, but that’s a post for another day.) Anywhoo, you make me look forward so fondly to when I can have my own place in the country with some space. I can pull nails and sand stuff, too, and I’ve never been afraid of hard work!
then the kids can have a Hairy AND a Sheila and a Daisy! c
Yep. The kids are looking forward to it. Danica has a sketchbook-full of little farmy configurations and outbuildings. Shelton is in charge of the hay. =D
Remind him to pop over when we do the hay making, it is everyones favourite time on the farmy, well one of them anyway.. !
I cannot believe that Ton didn’t come get you when the Bobby got out! Napping on the job, there!
The pig will be just fine – she’ll just do What Pigs Do. Poor Shiela – I hope she doesn’t get too lonely!
I discussed this with my beautiful pig girl and she said because sheila is so tame she should be ok, She can come out every day with me .. and the others, it will only be night time that she will be alone and then she has sheep right through the gate.. so we will just have to spend extra time with her.. c
So funny – wipe their noses. I love that. Greetings to all for lovely day!
Send a candle with Charlotte too !! Romance….
It seems there is always something to keep you
on your toes and using your problem solving skills !!
Your brain will stay sharp and you will always have
such adventures on the farmy !!
Morning nanster! I certainly have to stay in gear! c
and you ROCK….
Watching and reading about life on The Farmy is better than any reality television show – better than Coronation Street. Will Celi find the perfect windows for her John? Will Charlotte fall in love next week and produce many girl babies? Will Queenie and Hairy accept their new pen-mate? V.
oh you have a way with words!! I have always said it was like a soap opera around here! c
So long as you don’t pull out your own nails…
Love the reading today – lots to visualize.
Excuse me, but does TonTon look like a working dog? Oh wait. Well, you know posing for photos is quite important.
apparently I was mistaken too!! c
Don’t nobody say a bad word about TonTon!
we all have our favourites!! c
Wipe their noses! Kids are so cute. I hope Charlotte enjoys her stay.
The building project sounds wonderful, nothing more heavenly than loitering in scrap yards finding gorgeous stuff that will make a gorgeous place even better.
I hope Charlotte will forgive you and doesn’t sulk when she comes home – like my dogs did if we ever dared put them in kennels……
Good news about all that beautiful recycled wood!
There is no way I can better Belocchio’s sentiments and words so shan’t even try! Just one thought from a very ignorant semi-urban gal: why do so many think Charlotte won’t enjoy her trip away: she may come home smug as anything 🙂 ?
Exactly as the matriarch says, she will only stand for him if she wants to.. pigs are slippery creatures after all! c
That Bobby! Bad enough he got loose but to eat everyone’s afternoon hay? Bad Bobby Blanc!!
I don’t think you have to talk so much ABOUT Charlotte as you may need to talk TO Charlotte. I certainly hope you’re not going to rely upon her to learn of these things out behind the barn. About the only difference I can think of between talking to Charlotte or to a daughter is that when you tell Charlotte, “Men are pigs,” you won’t be exaggerating. 🙂
You are hilarious.. we have been having a few chats .. but like all girls she think she knows it all.. c