After such a long time waiting to have piglets I am still waiting. Do you remember trying to breed Sheila to no avail (she does not like man pigs preferring her own company) in fact as you will remember she did serious damage to a very expensive prize boar and was quite cut up herself in the fight) then we got Poppy who was a runt, nursing her back to health. And now she is pregnant and I am creeping up to her pen like a commando to peek in and see if anything is haappening- more often than not she is snoring, or bashing up her water barrel, or eating like there is no tomorrow wondering why she could not have had these extra rations all along. After all this time we have finally arrived at the day. The day the little piglet calculator tells us Poppy’s piglets should appear.
While we waited yesterday Sheila and I went for a walk down by the creek. 
Through the asparagus patch.
I mean she really is a big pig and for the summer she lives on forage and kitchen scraps and a little grain on the lean days.
She spent some time hiding behind her tiny tree. Then steaming off in some random direction. Sheila is allowed to come for walks along the creek with me because when I call her she Always comes back. Trusting your pig is a wonderful thing. I love this pig.
Of course when she hides behind tiny trees I pretend I cannot see her. Life is more fun when you join in.
In the evenings now I open the chicken caravan doors and let them roam for a while. They come when I call them in for dinner. Though my sometimes my bad roosters try to steal my dinner away.
Poppy was dripping milk yesterday evening. I have been up and down checking her through the night – she slept- dawn is a popular birthing time so I will run across in my wild nightie right now, to check her, before I begin my early morning writing for the day.
I hope you have a lovely day. If anything happens I will report it in the Lounge of Comments and on my Facebook page. I am terrified. They will be such tiny babies and she is such an excite-able Mama. The plan is to keep well away and not cause any undue excitement.
I hope you have a lovely day.
love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
58 responses to “The last day before today”
How exciting and trust in your momma, I was so scared that my big girl would have trouble with those wee babies, but she would grunt and then ever so slowly lower herself, if a babe was under and sqeaked, she would freeze and then slowly start again. I did a piglet barrel with a little door for them and almost from day one, they would sneak under their little door, borrow in the fluffy straw and pile sleep, safe but so close to momma
I have a lovely little piglet doorway too, it is a very old clay tile fitted into the wall and from the piglet view she can see her warm light and deep hay bed on the other side. I have found pregnant poppy lying on the floor looking in on a number of occassions.. If they go in there they will be safe.
Sending good thoughts Poppy’s way! We can hardly wait as well!
Sheila better not ever have a temper tantrum: that huge lady could do serious damage to man and property . . . yes, yes, I know she is a good girl 🙂 ! Poppy: methinks tomorrow not today and five in number . . . let’s see! [Ignorant city gal that I am . . .]
Five! OK Eha you are down for Five on the 4th.
Next morning: our 4th: an early happy holiday to all reading in the US 🙂 ! Trust me – before I went to bed last night I actually Googled pig litter sizes: well, on commercial farms both in the US and UK they are looking at 14-16 with ‘proper’ breeding!!! So I may be way out – just guessed from the look of her belly 😀 !!
Ahhhh, you see? I don’t know how I thought that piggy litters were really large in number, but seems I must have read it somewhere at some point long ago… lol Imagine, 4th of July piggies; that must be a good omen. Come on piggies, it’s time! 🙂
I was on tenterhooks as I opened this, and now I still am! I sent you a FB picture of my new cool dress. It’s hot today but not unbearable, and I hope Poppy has a cool labour.
love,
ViV
anything happened yet..so excited
NO I just checked her. She does not have the eyes yet. You can see it in their eyes when they start
Can’t wait to see pics of the baby piggies.
Have a happy day C.
🙂 Mandy xo
I guess it’s a good thing we’re not all there. We would all be sneaking and peeking. Ever so quietly, of course!
Oh this is so exciting! And I have to go out and cant keep checking! I think we are all pacing like expectant Fathers at this stage. Good Luck Poppy, you have a lot of people routing for you!!
Oh, is that nice! We all ARE expectant fathers !
Poppy may surprise us, motherhood is a strong force.
I’m going for ‘Born on the 4th of July’, squared, so four of them. I’m hugely enjoying the image of you stealthing across the yard in gumboots and nightie, flattening yourself against the barn wall and then peeking round the corner, only to see Poppy nose down and bum up in a bowl of something, with never a care…
Out of hospital, sore, a little dopey, but otherwise fine. I just *had* to check in on the Farmy before I go to bed, and it looks as if I may miss all the action anyway…. Rats!
Big Gongs for the quilt, hope you are feeling much better very soon. Laura
Thanks Laura! And feeling much better already, the dopiness has worn off, just a bit sore but they’ve loaded me up with drugs, so no need for much pain! Now, where are those bloody piglets, before I die of frustration!
You and me both!!
Yeah, The Matriarch will be packing your 4 July lunch into Tupperware to be eaten discreetly on a nearby hay bale 🙂 Eight, at least, for me. Sending you both hugs from South Africa. Laura
I agree with Laura ^. Eight!
I’m thinking there will be six! Can’t wait to find out! Wow, that Sheila IS a big fat pig!!! She is just as big as our adult Gloucestershire Old Spots! And a good looking pig she is! xo
I peeped in earlier and went off to pace the floor. Now it is difficult to type with my nose sI am sitting on my crossed fingered hands! A safe delivery of healthy piglets is my wish no matter how many. Don’t forget to eat Miss Celi, you need your energy too.
Happy, safe and ‘lets move it along’ thoughts for Poppy this morning.
I hope it goes well.