A little girl pig is a gilt until she has babies then she is a sow, a little boy pig starts out as a boar and becomes a barrow after his wee operation.
The Kitchens Garden Farmy officially has six barrows and 2 gilts. The barrows will sell for less than the gilts but are also used as show pigs. Though I will be keeping a few back for the freezer. Their ears are clipped with their registration numbers so when they sell they can be identified. 
We had more showers yesterday morning on my already soggy hay so I forked as much loose hay up into the truck as I could before my energy ran out and it (my energy and the hay) is on the barn floor and draped on the pen walls drying. I just could not bear to watch the rain hitting my precious hay and do nothing. Even four truckloads is a fair amount of feed saved. The rest we will bale loosely today of we get some drying time, store it outside under a tarp (in case of fire) and feed out straight away. Some we will haul up into the hayloft and I will cut the strings and let it spread out and dry up there also feeding out straight away.
The really good news is that after work John took all the information you gave him the other day about balers and scraped and cleaned and sprayed the string tie thingy, we took it out for a trial run and YAY! It worked. We baled 6 soggy unliftable bales and 5 of them knotted. Smiles all round. They were carried onto the concrete pad and I will probably use them as door stops and draft barriers! Hopefully today there will be some drying done and we can get to work. But there is rain coming in tomorrow for the week so today is the only day to clean up this field. It has to come off one way or the other.
The Lady Vet is visiting Queenie again today, with her bull in a straw. So if you have any fingers left to cross, please cross a couple for a successful outcome.
Boo was thrilled to discover that Minty and Meadow had escaped. Then was deeply disappointed when I called them and they followed me back into the field from whence they came with none of his wild herding skills required.
Sheila is on perpetual holiday now that she no longer hangs out with Charlotte. her chosen spot for yesterday was outside the chook house. She is hoping someone will lay her some breakfast!
I was watching the piglets play while the chickens scratched through their run doing some housekeeping and one of the little pigs made a cackling run at Son of Neanderthol Man from behind. The rooster shrieked and leapt into the air.
Of course Charlotte came roaring around the corner at the kerfuffle, 
scattering piglets in all directions, and saw the rooster off.
Good morning. As I was struggling with this wet hay yesterday, with the knowledge that I did not have enough gilts to sell, and the sheep got out, and the peahens eggs under the chickens had not hatched and I was facing the limitations of doing it alone, and how was I going to get these lambs to the abbatoir with John working all the time then a huge piece of wood fell on my wrist and it began to swell and pulse, blood running down onto the fork handle and I was losing two acres of hay to the bloody rain, and I should be weeding and mounding the potatoes – I felt like quitting. I threw down my pitching fork and put my hands to my face, blood running back up my arm and had a washing basket moment but instead of wet washing I sat in wet hay.
But you cannot just up sticks and quit. The food has to be brought in. The animals need a human. The human needs the animals. So. Whoever is in charge of the weather machine could you please turn the knobs to hot winds and open the valves shortly. And while you are at it turn OFF the thunderstorm warnings for the next six days. And withdraw the dense dark humid cloud cover that is above me. That would be nice. Thank you. I need some hay drying weather. The farmy needs sun.
And as I have said before. The wonderful thing about the morning is that we have a chance to do it over. The sun rises and we start anew. Every morning comes with a Good and a Chance. And I have been thinking in the night. A plan is coming to thwart the wet and save the hay. It must come. We have to get it in to dry it.
Have a lovely day.
Your soggy brained friend, celi.
The Kitchen's Garden 
74 responses to “Gilts and Barrows – Goods and Bads”
I hope it stays dry for you! take care of that wound… how’d you get the shot of the rooster? That’s amazing!
Hay what can I say apart from …. That rooster action shot is an award winning photo! Hope the sun comes out today and your day improves. Laura
Today will be better.
I hope that today is a much, much better day!
Way out here in East Texas I’ve been thinking and worrying about you and your hay and the rain…my hopes and worries aren’t doing much to help you either. Hang tough, Celi. As you know all too well, it’s the hard times that make us grow stronger. And you’re already a force to be reckoned with. Look out, world!!
I agree with melissa’s final comments. Hugs!
Mind that cut! I was feeling your frustration at the dominoes run of bad luck. My fingers, knees and toes are crossed for you and if it doesnae work, I’ll bring my hair dryer to dry the hay! Hugs, GM
so sorry to hear you are in the dregs celi! i would gladly take your rain. we have the weather you need and i have no hay to bale. hang in there and i hope your weather prayers are answered. joyce
Rain, rain everywhere Miss C.
My partner is just back from visiting the matriarch in NZ; floods and snow down to the sea in the South Island………an antartic blast!
I hope you get some relief form the rain soon.
My sons in Wellington were in that dreadful storm though their roof stayed on and another son is in canmore, Alberta in the floods, wild weather all around.. c
Canmore and Central Alberta have really bad flooding…….. hope your son is safe and didn’t have to evacuate. I hear they may have to shut down the Trans Canada Highway there too……
I am crying with and for you: you’re sure having a bellyfull of bad luck. I really do hope your luck turns. When is the tall teenager on holiday and able to give you a bit of a hand? The weather here is foul as well, so I can truly understand how you’re feeling. I hope you attended to that wrist, as it looks as though you’re going to need it.
Love’n’hugz,
ViV
The Tall Teenager is on holiday and came back later in the day, saw what I was up to and leapt in to help, but I am not sure I can save it. It is raining again now as I type. The hay drying in the barn is limp and hot, I will have to keep turning it. Many farmers have been caught out, I heard of a man with TEN acres on the ground. Others started to bale and had to give up.. so now we wait I suppose. c
I’d be right over to give you a hand Celi, if we’d lived closer. Hope it brings you some comfort to know that we are with you in spirit. Fingers crossed all around. XO
It is actually life (sanity) saving to have you all so supportive. I will be over my grizzle soon, there is so much to do and the gardens are surely shooting ahead. Lots to keep me busy.. c
More truth in the saying “make hay while the sun shines” than I realised C.
Here’s to you having a better day today – I shall commence with my rain, rain go away number right away!
You know we would all be over in a heartbeat to help out if we could. xo
🙂 Mandy xo
without clouds, silver linings are impossible
Sending you a big hug Celi, and keeping all my fingers crossed that dry weather and extra help is on it’s way. I just hate those washing basket moments!!! Way too sad! Sending love and positive energies!!! xoxoxo
Oh what a frustrating day! But it will get better. It will. (As Dory in Finding Nemo says and I repeat to myself all the time ‘Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming”) xo
Oh you are so right, i shall say that to myself today too.. I say to the kids sometimes just be like a chook, step peck, step peck, step peck.. scratch, step peck step peck.. well you get the picture.. c
Yes!
Despite it all, you have a wonderful attitude. Take care of that arm. 🙂