Hairy MacLairy the Dorset ram is a gentle old soul. He is huge for a sheep but always approaches the smallest members of the farm tipping from his toes with nose outstretched. This shot was taken with the camera swinging from my finger tips, (I can not thank you often enough for this camera Bill ), trying to quickly capture Hairy finally meeting the new pup.
It all began when we took Sheila and Charlotte for a walk. And Blue the Mouth decided to be brave and came into the Daisy Mistress paddock with us.
The pigs were thrilled to be out and thanked me with their mouths full of good green clover.
Five weeks to go Char.
“I know honey, the long grass is making you look fatter. Its OK we all know that is not your best side.”
Then over came Hairy who has a special friendship with Sheila.
They had a little korero.
Ton attempted to eavesdrop but learnt nothing useful.
Until Hairy felt little tickle on his belly.
He stood very still while Blue took a tentative sniff.
Then the magic moment. If I had been able to capture Hairy’s eye in this frame it would have been a perfect shot. Sometimes I would love to have a photographer follow me around because Sheila was just out of the shot to the right and Ton to the left. Blue tucked into my legs for safety. Hairy was saying “I have heard about you and your little friend. The cuddlers. You both should be back on the porch, you are both way too little to be gadding about with the big animals.”
“Now, off you go, little ones, back to the verandah. The pair of you. I hope your kittens are hidden somewhere safe too little miss. No-one can find them at all today. Miss C is worried but I think you have just hidden them.”
Later I had this idea that if I let the pea fowl out of the Peacock Penthouse in the late evening maybe they would not go too far and at dusk they would go back into their penthouse and all would be well. We just could not bear having them locked up any longer.
OK, I was wrong. Pania and Tui (who like their tea black and strong by the way) took off, their naughty little beak noses aimed straight for the vegetable gardens.
The Duke of Kupa headed for the chook house to visit the old girls.
and everybody was shocked, except for Kupa.
All I could manage was shutting them into the barn last night.
John, who is head gardener is not impressed and today I need to entice them back into the penthouse again. Surrounded in green to nibble on, they headed straight for the lettuce patch which is almost ready to harvest. Sigh. Birdbrains.
Good morning. The weeping mulberries are planted and will be labelled today. (Arthur’s is bottom left Equus. Sam, the Bug tree is top right by Sophie’s garden.). And I have to say that Blue looks like a frog in that shot! Which reminds me the first frog has appeared in the Frog Garden. There was something else I was meaning to tell you but it has gone straight out of my airy head. I will tell you in the comments lounge when I remember.
Have a lovely day. We have another beautiful gardening day here. Overcast and cool.
your filthy finger-nailed friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
59 responses to “Greetings between farm animals. A precious shot.”
Look at all that grass! It has been too long since I’ve had a chance to visit you and what a difference a few days make! Beautiful moments, captured beautifully….
Don’t know whether to keep staring at those beautiful strong weeping mulberries or just pretend I am on the farmy witnessing Hairy’s gentleness to ‘naughty’ Blue sniffing at his backside and to Author who seems to feel totally safe 🙂 ! About Charlotte: does the number of developing nipples indicate how many piglets she might have? [Yup, a city gals’ query!!]
No, I am fairly sure they all have the same nipple numbers and Charlotte is well endowed, I hope she does not have too many piglets this time so i can slowly learn my way through the process.. c
With your sharp learning curve I don’t think there will be a problem! Well, Charlotte may consider she has one 😀 !
Little Blue and his friend daring to have an encounter with Hairy is just enchanting…Animal Farm was never like this !!!
I was weeding today, spur of the moment without regard to gloves, and had the same fingernails you described. Hairy has a great disposition. I guess those peahens like their lettuce–or should I say, John’s lettuce.
good morning micc c.
charlotte does not look too big. but then i have no idea how a pregnant pig is supposed to look like… hope it will all work out fine =)
unless the meaning of bird brain has changed in my lifetime I don’t think you can accuse them of that – they found freedom, excitment and some fresh lucious food -whats with the burd brain?: clever creatures I’d say:) – great start to morning thanks
Spring has sprung and it is so nice to the animals showing off doing their thing. Does Kupa spread her wings when she is mad or happy? Happy Monday to you! Take Care, BAM
I just OD’d on cuteness!
I love your happy little farm. I have to resist say thing to people like “Did you see how much bigger Blue has gotten?” because I realize they have no idea what I am talking about. I love that you make all your readers feel like family.
Funny how animals seem to work it out – cute shot with Hairy and Blue.
That is the most precious shot ever! I love it C!
Delightful pictures and wonderful dialogue – the makings of a very good post:)
All your farmy family are beautiful and each as their own individual character…wonderful!
morning tanya! c
Beautiful beautiful
I had to take a picture of one of our two mulberries for you. They came from the big box store with the orange sign. We bought them almost 4 years ago.