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.
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Meet the boyfriend.”
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…
I bet the kids will love tomorrows exercise of candle making.
Love and best wishes back to the Old Codger.
🙂 Mandy xo
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! 🙂