Look at this beautiful but bitterly cold day. 
It honestly does not look as cold as it was. Though in a month we will look back on yesterday and think.. that was not That cold.
Guinea fowl for Deb and Equus.
And my fat piggies. Officially plonkers now. On Dec 10 two will go for their ride in the Black Mariah. The other two will be here until the end of January. Then Sheila will breathe a sigh of relief when she is allowed to move back into the proper pig sty, that has been set up for the cold.
I have sent away for some worming compound for Kupa (the peacock) . Tomorrow I will begin to train him and the girls back into the Peacock Penthouse so they can be treated up there.
The rest of the flock will have the pellets in their feed. But I need to quarantine Kupa and the girls to ensure that they get the proper amount. This will mean I climb the ladder up to the loft in the barn a couple of times a day, but I think I can do that now and the medicine won’t be here for a few days anyway. Needs must. 
I walked slowly around everyone yesterday and it seems we are ok. The cows are round, the sheep are frisky and noisy, Mama is up and about and Hairy is as miserable as ever. With the sudden freeze there are water problems so there were buckets of water to be carried but I had help with that. Sheila had taken things into her own hands, um hooves, and had knocked her frozen water over so she could chew on the ice. She does not like her new warm water bucket – it is too close to her bed. And too high. And too blue. I will try her with a heated dogs bowl tomorrow. It is lower and she has such a chin. She was never one to play in her water so it will be ok I think.
And the chickens are only laying four eggs a day, but they are very sensitive to changes in their feed and no-one mixes it like I do! So I am sure I can improve on that.
So spoiled they all are. My animals. My flocks. But I know all the ins and outs, all the tiniest of preferences, all the drafts and soft spots. The ones who come through the gates first, and exit last. The ones who are highly strung and the ones who will knock you down. The ones who like to eat from the feeder with the others or prefer their hay on the ground in a corner by themselves, thrown down when the others are not watching. That is my job. I study them. They are my responsibility. It is what I do best. I am one of them.
The Tall Teenager is going to do the feed run today and Our John is back to work. I shall move to light farm duties now.
A secret? Or a secret kiss. Maybe a secret and a kiss.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
69 responses to “A secret and a kiss”
Nice pictures and interesting blog.
Stay safe and arm, Cecilia.
What perfect timing for the Tall Teenager to arrive back on the farm. Glad to hear you continue to improve. But, please, do not push too hard too fast.
Ahhhh…..things are getting back to normal. 🙂 And let there be peace throughout the land!
I know exactly what you mean. Same here…no one knows like the momma on a farm! I am now heating up the kitties food because it is so cold out. They love my meals! LOL I take dry food and soften it up with hot chicken stock, then add canned cat food, mix it together and by the time I get it out to the barn to put in everyones dishes it is just the right temperature. They love a tish of my catnip that I dry just for them up in the loft in the straw! 😉 Makes a great tea too! For me! 🙂
My squirrel gets a mix that I add either red raspberries or black raspberries and dried strawberries, almonds, walnuts, raisins, dried cherries, and steel cut oats to it! He is back and will get his whole ear of corn in his bucket too! I built him a shelter so that the hawks can’t get him! I lost his mate two years ago….so I had to think of something! So far he has been safe.
Boo you are such a love! You and Marmalade fill my heart! Kupa I am so happy you will get something to make you feel better!!!! Said a prayer for you!
Goodbye plonkers! Will you be making sausages? Yummy!!!
p.s A secret and a kiss!!!! 😀 Where’s Scrapper…a plot thickening to keep him out of their bed? 😉
Take care and so very glad you are getting around better!
Love Always, Chatterbox Muah!!!!!
I love that you make such yummy goodness for your squirrel, Mere, and provide him a safe place, too.
He’s my pal! I just love him! There has been a cottontail that eats what he spills on the ground too! 🙂 In the spring he is on his own. But there is plenty to eat then so I don’t worry about him! Two of my neighbors have horses…one has rescues, the other cutting horses for cattle. They feed the deer when the weather is really harsh and food is tough to get to! Good people!
I appreciate your relationship with your animals, and they thrive on it. Love that Marmalade kitty (who is really growing!) whispering in Boo’s ear.
Sweet!
It’s good to hear that you are feeling better 🙂
A lovely post, Celi. I find it amazing how words and images can evoke feeling and emotion hundreds or thousands of miles away. Winter life can be hard and difficult, but your loving and appreciative words of day to day rural and farm life brings comfort and joy to people all over the world. These connections we have with nature and animals – be they domestic or wild, are truly a gift. A hard days work in sometimes bitter conditions… even with a hitch in your giddy-up, have a reward of their own. We would not choose life any other way!
Awwe….I’m guessing Marmalade whispered how much she loves her doggy mommy and then kissed him sweetly!
Thank you for the guinea pictures. : )
I’m not a cook, so for years, every Sunday was pork chops. Dressed in a slice of onion, catsup, and a slice of lemon. You could set your watch by it. Then one day, I was driving back from Champaign–Miss C, please note–and stopped at a gas station. Parked along the side was a semi chockful of small pigs. They weren’t plonkers and they weren’t piglets either. I had never seen livestock on the highway except in passing. I got out of the car and stood right next to the slatted truck up close and personal.. It’ll never forget it. They were crammed to the gunwales. The screaming. The climbing over one another. The absolute fear and panic and horror. Excrement spilling, splattered over the slats.One small pig and I locked eyes. I promised him or her right then I would never eat another pig again, and I haven’t. No bacon, no ham, no pork chops. No sausage pizza–. One exception:Maggianos ziti has sausage in it. I’ve eaten it twice.
I still eat beef though, and fish. Which puts the lie to my holier-than-thou attitude. It’s just that I vividly see in my mind’s eye, the little brown eyes of that poor little pig.
it makes a terrible impression doesn’t it. You were very brave and honest to go over there and really look at how livestock is treated and then make a decision. so many have never even looked. or conveniently forget. and there you have it, this is why i grow my own, my pigs have been known to lay down and go to sleep in their transports. we work gently and quietly. c
If everyine got a real look at how the animals in big commercial farms are treated …..or I should say mistreated, nobody would want to eat meat. It is horrible. Chickens, pigs, cattle…. Thanksgiving turkeys live lives of pain and horror. That is why I raise my own animals. They live their lives naturally, on fields and pastures. Happily doing what they are supposed to do. There is no fear or stress when they die. We have gotten too far away from living close to the land and thinking about where our food comes from. Thank you Celi, for showing us all how a farm should be run. With respect and affection for the animals.
Marmalade is whispering to Boo that he is so happy that you found him….and a kiss for good measure. He is getting roly poly,
We have heated chicken waterers and insulated chicken house. Our pullets are starting to lay eggs exactly 5 months from the day we got them. The roosters are strutting their stuff.
You are not really going to be climbing that ladder twice a day, are you?
Amen. My sentiment exactly. City folks can’t do what we do. It’s a dilemna…I don’t like to see animals mistreated either, but I do understand that people need to eat. I often wonder how to make it possible to feed the masses and be humane as well…hmmmm…a lot to think about…personally…I feel lucky to live like I do. There simply isn’t enough land for everyone to live this way.
Of course people need to eat. However, all animals should be treated humanely. The factory farms that really didn’t exist years ago are propelled by greed and not the need to feed people. Workers are callus and uncaring and cruel when handling these animals. Pigs in cages where they cannot turn around; chickens crammed into cages and cannot spread their wings. People are blythly buying meat in those nice packages without ever giving a though to what happened to that animal. Maybe more education and public outcry as to treatment of animals. Activicts are so darn concerned about a lizard or frog that is threatened. Better they turn their attention to domestic animals. Of course, our politicians making laws agains people knowing what goes on doesn’t help, either. Of course there is a way to feed the masses and be humane, too. How much meat is being wasted or recalled because of contamanation? Buy local and or organic whenever possible. Well, just had to rant…..sorry.
we don’t mind rants.. you just go right ahead.. c
A sweet kiss from one who loves to the one who is so loving! I’m glad you are much better. Would you tell me what you ordered to put in the feed for Kupa? I am interested for the turkey’s.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I think we all want it to be a kiss, but maybe the are discussing Celi, doing more than she should! Keep on the healing track and don’t go overdoing things.
Boo and the kitty’s relationship is astounding! hope you are healing
What a plethora or pretty animals and birds, and a feast of Boo and Marmalade. Water buckets? Half full small ones, unless it’s the tall teenager who’s carrying them.
I made some cakes today, in three instalments with rests in between. Sewing ladies coming tomorrow.
Love ViVx
Oh what a wonderful post. I especially love the photos of your dog and cat. Such cuties.
I also wanted to thank you for stopping by my blog and reading about my dear guinea pig, Anderson. It was wonderful hearing from you. Hope you’ll come back again soon!
Love your blog!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy