Yesterday I called the farm a disaster zone (after 2 and a 1/2 MORE inches of rain) and the animals must be evacuated to higher ground. Except the pigs who are as happy as .. well.. Pigs. 
Thoroughly disillusioned we moved the two Bobbys (steers) across the way onto the concrete pad there (they were literally splashing through the fields) and Aunty Del onto concrete with Lady Astor here. I hope Aunty behaves.
The calf Naomi is still sitting quietly in her pen waiting for her time to join the throng. Weaning time is never fun. And we are slowly sinking into the mire.
Even the well is flooded and the pump periodically pours water out onto the drive.
I saw a muskrat steaming up a ditch yesterday and there are Herons fishing in the fields. I have no idea if they are getting any fish but they are stood on one leg watching for fish. So something must be moving about in there.
The sun came out later in the day and we began to steam and slowly dry a little.
So I let the piglets out for a wee run about.
They fell to turning over the last of the mud and puddles. It was exhausting work.
Dinner time.
There are five, they are just hard to catch all at one time. Because their mother is so trusting of me they are also very friendly and spend a lot of time gnawing on my boots. I am keeping one little gilt, I will show her to you as soon as I can get a shot. Her name is Bubba Ann. Whitney, one of the woofers who came earlier in the summer, named her. 
The Lady on the Ridge who has the Billy Goats that go with my two La Mancha girls has offered to have them up there for a while until we decide what to do. So Brenda and Freya went for a ride in the back seat of her truck and are now living with a small flock of Boar Goats. Happy as clams.
There is more rain in the forecast but maybe it will go around?
I hope you have a lovely day,
Love your friend
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
49 responses to “The disaster zone”
The rain is almost unbelievable – you really do have a paddy field now. On the bright side, those piglets are completely adorable 🙂
Dear Celi, I went & called up Sister Rosetta Tharpe to sing her Magic Rain song for you all at The Farmy—she will drive your clouds away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR2gR6SZC2M
Well I hope jmcheney is right and those rain clouds get chased away..how awful this is for you and its not very fair that God should let this happen.. I shall have a very severe word with Him.. There is only so much water that a land can hold and when california is parched it does not seem right that so much should fall where it is not needed… Have patience dear friend and try to keep smiling,,,,it is impossible for it to last forever
just watched the vid on You Tube…if we can get you a guitar you could sing that around the Farmy…Didn’t It Rain….
The girls are happy as clams this morning. All is well on higher ground, so far.
Take care, my friend, as it sounds like life is tossing you around a bit. (hugs) xx
Oh my, Ceili. That is one disaster, not yet a catastrophe but Desaster, yes. . Poor you, poor animals. What a heavy work aligned with that, too. Thanks God that there is help around. Your house is still safe? Hope so. It must stop raining soon, otherwise you will be evacuated too. I remember some bad floodings the past years here in Germany. Terrible for the persons and farmers concerned. I wish you all the best from my heart and that you can stay calmly as well as possible… Hope that there will be times to rest coming soon.
The piglets have grown quickly! But they’re still tiny compared to their mother. Poppy is a huge thing. – The sunflowers seem to have such a humble and devote look towards the sun. – And a nice solution came out for the goats…
And we have gotten not a drop. Despite all of the warnings and watches last night not a drop fell here. But I suspect it is coming. Sure wish there was a way to channel rain to the areas of the country that really need it, don’t you? Glad the goats found a temporary place and the piggies look happy as they can be in their muddy home. :-0
Happy piggies but for the rest of us here in the Midwest…enough!!! Morning miss c…t
Morning Miss T!!
Waaay too muh rain…what a summer you are having 😦 Can’t believe how much the piglets have grown in just a few days!
Sad about the goats, but they are pesky little creatures and can be hard to live with when you have so many moving pieces to consider. Hay is going to be a problem for many I think. I saw many fields that were cut and we had rain 2 days last week. However, our 100+ degree days this week may save them! Drowning to boiling here. Praying for some sun for all of you up north.
Hope that rain goes round you. Don’t those piglets grow apace?
Oh my word…. I can see how even your patience and endurance might be getting a bit frayed. The pigs, of course, are perfectly contented. And we have had snow in Queensland. Just over the border from northern NSW, it’s true, but still within our fine state, and almost unheard of… Up here, it’s still pretty pleasant, we’re sleeping with windows wide open and the ceiling fan going, but last night was distinctly chilly and I had to hustle into something warm when the alarm went off at 5.30am.
And the graziers west of here are having a really hard time with their livestock, after days of snow and sleet and – temps. These inland areas of Oz aren’t used to near- Antarctic conditions, and aren’t set up for snow, no big cosy barns to winter thousands of head of cattle in. Farmers are losing their animals and there’s nothing they can do. Stock feed and crops will be lost too, and those western hay fields were already supplying feed to cattle in drought stricken western Qland where nothing can grow. It’s sad and tragic and devastating for the farmers and graziers. I hope the rain stops for you soon, and there’s warm sun and drying winds on the way.
Best wishes to you two!! Be happy you are not 100 km south of Sydney on the Highlands! Have three heaters going and that blasted wind has played ‘nessun dorma’ with all of us the last two nights and more to come . . . .I have actually seen the term ‘Antarctic vortex’ here a couple of times!! Have a couple of letters from Chicago friends in the box this morning talking of fine summer days to come . . . so hope that true some way south also . . .
I’m so sorry for all your rain. The weather gods must have things reversed because we’ve had nothing but hot, hot, hot and dry days. Finally last night we got a sprinkling of rain-cause for rejoicing, here. Isn’t it strange how things are reversed? (But even in our rainy winters, we get a nice gentle, steady rain, nothing like what you are getting.) Hope it clears up soon.
Rain, rain go away, come again another day…..
Take care and hugs