BooBoo and Marmalade were both so determined to sleep right in front of the fire yesterday that they even agreed to share the mat, which meant touching. Even though Boo Nanny was Marmalade’s surrogate father in her very early days (here is there picture from that time just so we can sigh over it again) –
Nowadays it is very seldom that these two sleep together.
Let alone touch! Horrors.
It is so cold in the winter that the waters freeze in the animals troughs. The cows have heaters in their water but the little pigs would pull the heaters out and chew on them so they have to have their water renewed a couple of times a day. Tima got ahead of me yesterday morning and was smashing through the ice in her water bowl. With her feet!
Tane stood by hoping she would share. That spare gate has fallen and is frozen to the ground, I must remember to pick it up in the next thaw.
Roast pork.
Later in the evening Marmalade went back to her rocking chair, jumped onto her customary cushion and even later in the evening the green cushion, perched on the the back of the chair, fell on top of her. But she simply slept on under the cushion. Just too tired, as Victoria said. Cat tired.
My four middle sized piggies were all up and about yesterday – eating and shoving each other about. Not too boisterous yet but I think we are getting over the worst of it now. This morning will be the telling morning. I am also feeling better now. No pain in the night, so lets hope the ice pick has been withdrawn.
Everything is ready now to make the soap today. If all goes well we hope to get at least four batches made today and another four tomorrow. The house really will smell wonderful for a while as it cures.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
cc
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “Touching”
Tima is a smart pig, though it must be very cold drinking that water 🙂
I know! I would be getting an ice-cream headache! c
Exactly, but I suppose they would drink it in the wild. Tima, evidently, has nature’s survival skills.
Aww – that picture of Baby Marmalade snuggling with Boo!! Worth a million!! They were always so cute together!!! And Tima entertaining us making crushed ice!! Looks like you enjoyed a tasty pork roast and gravy!! Hope you are feeling better. Have a good day making soap.
Yes, Carol, the gravy was especially tasty! c
All mammals and birds seem to know what to do to get to water… but thank goodness for those water heaters! I have also read that squirrels are usually solitary about setting up digs, but in bitter cold temps they will huddle up together in groups of five or six in a small tree cavity to keep warm.
The first thing I do in the morning is smash all the waters with my iron rod. Do your two squirrels huddle up? c
Yes they do, and with several other squirrels! The cold is the ONLY time they all get along!
Stomping with her feet, her own built in ice picks. I hope Tane warmed up her feet for her after he had his drink. I did sigh over the Marmie baby shot. The green pillow just kept her warmer, just like Boo in the old days. I hope you have some sun today.
We had a glimpse but gone now – however tomorrow looks sunny! c
As you told your story about Boo and Marmalade, I was reminded of 2 little kids – “mom he’s touching me” – yesterday was a good day to curl up close to the fire — wind shill warning till noon today here in SE MN – Brr! Pork roast looks wonderful !
Yes a roast is perfect when it is cold – the oven helps to heat the house! c
Our pig waterers for winter had small kerosene lamps under the tank the pigs couldn’t reach. They were messy and unreliable.
The pigs and the water I bet! The risk of fires in those old barns must have been horrendous. c
Lovely! And good to hear your head has eased up.
Yes – thank goodness _ I could not have done another day – and there is no way to run away from your own head.
Marmalade is lucky someone didn’t SIT on her, camouflaged as she was.
It has been done before – do you remember when Ton got out of his outside pod and there underneath him was a flattened Marmalade. He had been sleeping on top of her. I guess she was his hottie. She seemed unperturbed. c
YES! Now that you mention it! Cat just likes heat more than comfort, I guess!
Thank goodness for tank heaters and heated buckets! I see the problem with the piggy water systems, they would definitely not cooperate with a heated setup. But Tima looks like she has got things well in hand!
They just have to wait for water twice a day. Though this system is flawed too because eventually I have three or four bowls with frozen water in the bottom waiting for the thaw.. c
Ah Bless, Tima helping with the chores 🙂 Glad you are on the mend, and that Pork roast looks mouth wateringly delicious. I would love to learn how to make soap, but have been put off by all the dire warnings that seem to come from everybody. Laura
If you are careful with the lye there is no need to be afraid. My helpers always wear glasses and gloves. And we organise things very well. We have never had a problem. c
Aw, Boo Nannie with his kitty. Sweet boy. Oh if only we had smell-a-blogs! That roast looks fantastic! Cat Tired! I have used “slept like a beagle” before – so that must be like cat tired.
Maybe it is!! c
That roast pork had me drooling.
It is – the best I have ever grown – c
And… you make soap… !!!!!!!!!!!!! You are just something else my friend. I have to catch up – I didn’t realize you’d hurt your back. I’m so glad it’s better today. You have lots to do, as always.
No it was my head – all better now though.. c
Two of our four cats snuggle up with Daphne, our German shorthair pointer when it’s really cold outside, and she absolutely loves their warmth. Dolly, our blue heeler, doesn’t really bother the cats, she only likes to be the one in charge, kind of herding them around and telling them what to do and not to do. The cats would love to cuddle with her, too, but she keeps a distance between herself, the boss, and them, the peons.
Those short haired dogs must get cold. – does he have a coat in the winter? c
Oh dear – mom says that roast looks heavenly. XOXO – Bacon
No-one you knew Bacon! ha ha ha !! made me laugh.. c