There are many grandparents, especially grandmothers, who spend a good deal of their time bringing up their grandchildren. Our darling Marie in Rhode Island is one such grandmother though she has Two toddlers. The Matriarch is another. However energetic she is The Matriarch is not a young grandmother and will often bring her grandson out to The Coupe now.
He swims or plays or rests in the hammock after working with me on the farm, while his Nanny takes a break with a book in her own little space before taking him back to her house in town for dinner.
It got hot yesterday, much to my delight (I think hot sweaty weather is very good for the skin) and I put a fan across the top of the chick trailer, and another running its breeze onto the piglets. I shifted all the big animals back into the field with trees and as an experiment I left the gate without its pig panel in place.
While I was inside playing with decorative accents for The Coupe I heard a piggie woop.
And out the window I could see that they had discovered that I had taken down a pig gate, and they were off!
They are trained to come when I call already, so it was fun to watch them roam the Dairy Mistress Field, have a good clean run and a big munch on the grass. And then I called them back in. Someone has his mothers ears!
After I have been to visit The Old Codger I am going to open their gate again.
Good morning. Yesterday evening we dragged the stock trailer with its cargo of growing chickens away from the barn where it was very exposed to the sun and popped it in under the big tree so it has shade at least some of the day. It was getting way too hot in there in the daytimes. And they are not quite enough for their Ark yet. Their heat lamp has only been going on late at night since they went out there. Many of them are almost fully feathered. I am amazed at how fast these meat chickens grow and how different they are from layers.
OK off I go to work. We are going to have another lovely hot clear day. So far anyway.
You all have a lovely day too.
your friends on the farmy, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “Controlled Break Out”
They could be the happiest pigs in the world 😉
I think they know it too. This breed has a smile.. it is so cute! c
Wonderful post, C…it makes me SO sad when I hear or read about grandparents huffing and puffing about having ‘Raised their own, not raising yours’…everyone misses-out on so much. Often times, they’re only complaining about the occasional babysitting gig, not having to actually take the child into their homes. Can any daycare (or, as would have been our Angel’s fate, State Care) equal the love and attention a family member can give? Fabulous too, that you can give the Matriarch a break – I AM a young grandmom, and it’s exhausting!
Thanks for the shout-out! Have a wonderful day 🙂
I know that like you The Matriarch would fight like a tiger for the right to take care of her grandson. She even over-ruled ME!! As a young woman she was a working mother too and her mother helped raise her sons so for her it is a natural progression. And it is a wonderful tradition. You are a little more Full Time than most!! But like you I would not think twice about taking in a child and I bet there are many in The Fellowship who are the same. Though it is an eternal sadness that i am too far away from my own little families to be of any use in that department.. c
Me too! I have four wonderful grandchildren ranging from 14 to 5 and I only get to see them once every 3 to 4 years! I am known as “Nanny in America” LOL.I am hoping that as they get bigger they can come and stay with me for periods of time – however the airfare at the moment is outrageous! My daughter has been trying to find a cheapish fare now for quite a while.
Another thing we have in common.. but a sad thing.. I just save everything I can so i can get over once every 18 months, but 3 years is a long time.. c
Indeed, there are many people who would throw their grandchildren to the wolves IE. childcare . its sad that our country is so self serving even the bible say’s it will happen! that don’t mean we gotta take it lying down! I would jump at the chance to raise a grandchild my grandson xander
The hoekoes are growing fast I’m amazed… They piglets as well… all looking good on the farmy…
Hoekoes.. does that mean chick? I want this word. Can I have this word? c
I have been calling them that since my son on the farm couldn’t pronounce Hoender (afrikaans for Chicken) correctly… but you are welcome to it…
Thank you! Love those childhood names!! c
Such a lovely day, and how sweet to let your piggies out for a romp!
Have you got a pig at your place yet? Or the donkey? I must pop over and see how you are doing! c
No. We are not even there yet. Long story, but won’t be surprising… post later on my site. 😉
Love the planks and the butterflies. 🙂 Mr. N is happy you have the planks. He says they are fun and thinks the Matriarch’s grandson will love them. He also got a good chuckle at the picture of the pigs running. 🙂 Have a great day C. (You should hear all the wisdom Miss A is telling us on our farm stay…”at Miss C’s farm” is a regular phrase for her. And yesterday, the kids were playing with a toy farm set and that had three dogs – Ton, Boo and Big Dog. 😉 )
I LOVE that the kids feel such ownership with the little farm. Tell Mr N that Our John was eyeing up the planks last night, and paging through the book. We are hoping for a masterpiece. But it takes a lot of skill, Mr N must be pretty good. And I have got the next set to take out to California. i am thrilled that you are having a lovely farm stay, we look forward to those pictures! Do as much nothing as you can! c
Those little piggies running make my heart happy. It already was happy, but it got happier. I also love love the chickens; how sweet they are. I’m unclear on how “The Matriarch” links up with you…is she related to John? To you? Hmmm….And if she’s the Matriarch, what does that make you? Do you have a title other than Benevolent Queen of the Fellowship of the Farmy (BQFF)?
She is the Matriarch because she is John’s Mum and the elder in her family. For many years I was called The Handmaiden. As I often accompanied John’s Mum on her travels. This was way before I even thought of marrying John. Though he was thinking it way before I was!! Morning Charlotte. c
Oh good, I’m so glad she asked as now I feel I can ask about the Old Codger… Who is this that you go visit? Thank you again for sharing your days with us. I think you may never know how much joy and wisdom you spread.
The Old Codger is the father of an old American school friend of mine who is in his nineties and lives alone on his farm about 6 miles from here. I visit with him twice a week and help out where I can. His daughter who lives in California knows that someone is watching out for him and he gets a bit of companionship and help around the house. Everyone needs an old person. Don’t you think? c
And don’t forget Ton-Ton…He loves his old codger I see it in his eyes!
♬♬♬
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
He does, and he is the only one who can visit him. Boo has to lie at the door and wait. Ton is the Old Codger’s special dog. c
Oh, that is so nice of you and Ton. I completely agree. We all benefit from having elderly people in our lives, especially those who are able and willing to share their wisdom. I just love visiting with them.
You have truly been a blessing to many people haven’t you Celi? 🙂
Have a beautiful farmy day C.
🙂 Mandy xo
And you Mandy. I am looking forward to buying your cook book! What a treat! c
You are very kind C, thank you! I look forward to receiving your mailing address. xo
The moment I get the cheque in the mail. Just to be sure.. c
We are having plenty of hot sweaty weather here, and I dislike it, so I’m going to try and remind myself that it is good for the skin! I ought to be radiant by the time September rolls around…
You will have lovely open clean pores! Well, that is my story and I am sticking to it! c
Brown cows, piglets, chicks and not forgetting a kitten, Cecilia, I take it you like brown! 😉
with highlights of red! Those shots are looking a bit brown aren’t they! I will haev to look for brighter colours around here! . c
They are lovely tones of brown, all different!
C. Those are wonderful little building blocks…planks you call them? Did someone you know make them? I remember our boys loved playing with all the end pieces, etc. from 2 X 4’s and other small pieces of wood that were thrown into a pile, when we built our house. Another was all the odd bits and pieces of pvc pipe that the plumber couldn’t use…we did buy a few extra corner pieces, so they could fit them together to make little plastic structures…Children are so inventive and really don’t need expensive bought toys….Well, except maybe Legos! 🙂
http://www.kevaplanks.com/
Kristy and Mr N introduced us to them and they are not that cheap but they are stunning for young minds. You can build all kinds of amazing things and are perfect for visiting kids. c
Hooray for such grandparents. 🙂
Those piglets are beyond cute. 🙂
I had no idea there were layer chickens and Meat Chickens! wow, one more new thing for this City Mouse
I can practically hear the piglets giggling.
They are giggling right now too as they have broken into daisys field, I can hear them out there. Ton is running back and forth trying to get my attention.. off I go! c
Today here in east central Wisconsin my pores are so open I’m surprised all my hair didn’t fall out.
Oh dear! ..