Yesterday evening I went out to count the chickens and shut their door and check for minks and found a skunk in the nesting box. Sigh. Luckily Boo came away when called. We retreated, Said Skunk took her leisurely leave and back in we went to evict the cats and lock down the coop. On the way out we checked the mink trap, released Lulu (the cat) out of the mink trap, reset the mink trap and went to bed.
This is what I found on the wildlife camera yesterday. 
The date is not accurate (though I think you knew that already so maybe the time is not accurate either) .. but what are they watching? Are they doing a chicken dance for the camera? Today we are buying the chicken wire and finishing the chicken tractor and they can move in early. It is not ideal, but better than dead. This chook house has gone past its used by date.
I had visitors yesterday. My favourite kind. The children and their Mama kind. Tima was a huge hit. She slept under the outside table while we lounged about and had a long lunch. He crawled up close to everyone. Snuggled in to the childrens feet and entertained everyone by finally sleeping with Boo. Then we made butter. 
Have you met Miss A? Below is Miss A’s Mama with her new friend.
I have decided that a little pig like Tima would be a perfect pet for an invalid. All she really wants to do is eat and then cuddle up with a person and sleep. I can literally pick her up off the floor and place her on my lap and she will snuggle in and go to sleep. (Though this may be somewhat difficult when she is as big as Boo.) No special food needed. Easy to house train. Maybe we can sell her piglets to hospices and old folks homes. We will design little portable ramps that the pigs can carry around themselves in special wicker baskets. And they can sleep all day with the people who want to sleep all day too. I think that would be perfect arrangement. 
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
46 responses to “”
Sheila and Poppy will be so jealous!
Marcel is cute as ever! Is that a butter churn that the little girl is using? I love it. Hope you have a great day and glad none of you got skunk sprayed.
Did the skunk leave much of a stink behind? I like the idea of selling pet pigs to people of limited mobility. Why no caption o Queenie’s Bobby? He looks so sweet and docile. I have sent your link and a pic or two to an English friend in the next village. She is up to her eyes in baby lambs, including two gorgeous black ones and yesterday’s baby has a grin just like Marcel the Happy’s
Love,
ViV
I even forgot to put a title on this post! Must have lost my mind.. But No damage in the chook house this morning, all chooks present and accounted for.. so we have had two good nights in a row.. c
I have long wanted a teacup pig as a pet. I read they can be trained to use a litter box. Tima is just gorgeous!
You know, I have half been wondering why I’ve always had dogs as a pet – and not a cuddly pig 🙂 However I am not an invalid and the bit when she reaches 200 lbs might still be a bit daunting. You could also have some garden help – or is Tima not so keen on rooting around outside. Lulu has used up another of his 9 lives. Hope that skunk moves right along out before Ton finds him. Laura
Fingers crossed the chook house has been varmit proofed!!! No invaders for two nights is a good sign! But I’m still holding my breathe…. xo
This mama and her children look forward to a visit one day as well.
Skunk!!! It was a long winter for all creatures on two legs and on four. The four-legged kind want food and unfortunately they’ve now discovered your farmy provides them what they desire. Sure hope you can put an end to their visits soon.
I would love to have a little Tima on my lap, all cuddled up and snoring away. I have just the puppies at the moment and one cat who all want to sit on my lap so we have to try to give them fair share..keep them that chookies safe. I thought it hilarious that cat should be in minx trap xxxx
Yes, what are they looking at! Someone really had their attention.
Today our town is having a shredding event plus an electronics take back. I’ve got a trunkful of papers to be shredded, old telephones and a typewriter to get rid of.
Happy Easter, Celi and all.
Chicken karaoke…or maybe burlesque night in the hen house?
I recognize your visitors! How lucky they are to have met Marcel and Tima! It looks like today is going to be a lovely day.
I hope the chooks were auditioning for your version of Britain’s Got Talent and not watching the unwanted visitor. Glad everyone survived the night.
You know that chicken wire will not keep our a raccoon or skunk, right? Too flimsy. Been there, done that. During the day, no problem. It seems that Tima has already grown a bit.
I have to try and be optimistic about farming or I will just quit. I do the best i can. Nothing will ever be completely safe, not even me. If I cover it in galvanised steel I will not be able to pull it, and it is heavy enough as it is because the chicken wire is covering a cattle fence frame. c
The sun on the Bobby’s nose is such a welcome sight! I’d love to have a Tima siting in my lap…but curious, how big will she get?
She will ge to around 180, 200 pounds, so no lap sitting by then I think.
I like the idea of going for a walk with Tima. Does she follow closely, or would she need a lead? And perhaps a lead is rather hopeful given that quite soon she’s going to be quite a hefty girl and if she wants to go the other way, she’s going to go the other way! I wonder if she could be trained to fetch things, like assistance dogs.
She comes when she is called, but evidently you can harness like a service dog, so i should train her to wear it already.. c.
Good idea to do it now, I didn’t with Roosevelt and he shrieked like a banshee the whole time I was putting his harness on! He grew to be about 140 pounds and wasn’t easy to walk on a lead. As soon as I had the thing on and buckled he turned off the siren just like that.
Days like this make all the hard work worthwhile! Happy Easter to all on the farmy 🙂
Thank you tanya, it is a stunning day. I am not even wearing a jacket!.. c