Yesterday I was driving to the little store to buy some cheese and milk (I can’t wait until I don’t need to do that anymore) and my car stopped. Dead. Dead. Stopped. It would not start again. So the dogs and I turned around and walked home. The car had Run out of gas evidently. oops. Stupid but better than having REAL car trouble.
Then I was digging in the garden and jammed my spade into the ground to dig out a big clump of soil to plant a tomato and two pieces of toad flew to either side. I was horrified, had I chopped a poor fat toad in half? Then on closer inspection I saw that it was two whole toads who had sprung apart. Rudely awakened. They stood very still and glared so I placed them back in their house and gently put the lid back on. I chose another position for my tomato. I always plant a couple of cherry tomatoes by the back door for quick snacks.
My friend who knows about pigs came to see Poppy and said she was not bred, unless it was recently. I simply cannot believe it so I am going to ignore it. In fact I am going to put her out in the back paddock with Sheila and ignore her completely. They can fight over who gets the comfy side of the bed. She is definitely not having piglets anytime soon though. She was with the boar on and off for four cycles so it would be very surprising if she was not pregnant. Maybe as Mad says Sheila has been feeding her contraceptives. 
Ah well. Maybe I should just stick to cows. We seem to be doing alright with cows at the moment. Touch Wood. I am thinking I will get Aunty Del blood tested soon in case we need to breed her again next month. Though I have not seen her come back into heat and she has been hanging out with the Baby Bull the whole winter and he has shown no interest in her at all.
Lady Aster wandered into the barn in the evening.
Taking to her new routine without much trouble at all. It is a bit rainy. The others are out under the trees. I prefer Lady slept alone and out of the rain just in case though she has just over a week to go.
The rain was gentle and warm. The perfect rain to bring up seedlings and settle in new plants.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
28 responses to “In Toad Hall”
Not everybody can get pregnant , I couldn’t because of a hormone imbalance . Poppy could have a similar problem. Don’t give up
on raising pigs.
She has been pregnant once already so there is no reason why she can’t again – unless it is the boar.
Well… Poppy just may be what the Bible always called ‘barren’ – who knows… And don’t you just love a gentle rain spring.. giving, as you said, those seeds and seedlings just enough water for them to thrive and not be drowned..
Another lovely day at the farmy. Txiki is growing, isn’t she? Doesn’t she look a bit bigger? Lots of love, Gayle
I agree – yes – she is growing so fast!! c
Well Chickie and Mom at comfort and peace, rain or no rain . . . lovely . . . and I am glad those toads escaped the Grim Reaper . . . we have our ANZAC Day Long Weekend coming up – one quietly thinks of those who gave their lives so we could be free and of others who have crossed the river . . . peace and contemplation . . .
Oh I bet you were relieved that it was 2 toads!
I’m glad it was two toads, after all! Love the cute pic of Alex with eight legs! LOL Oh, dear. The Poppy and Sheila Show. That should provide good blog fodder.