We have not had an escape for ages. Everyone seems to be happy where they are. But when I went out to do the afternoon chores yesterday and saw this –
– in front of the barn, I knew that somewhere was an escaped pig. I looked first into the bedroom of the little pigs and found Tima and Tane. Something very wrong with that picture. Instead of seven little Hereford pigs there were two old kunekune pigs in there.
Looking further I found all seven of the little pigs, upon being set out on their adventure by Tima, had gone through the barn overturning everything and looking behind everything else then erupted out into the corridor paddock and were busy trying to make friends with Sheila through the fence.
And digging holes in the field. Which is why they do not live in this field! They have their own backyard to dig in.
It actually took some time to sort this out. Tima and Tane wander free in the winter – kunekune don’t dig holes in the soft grass so I don’t mind them wandering through the gardens doing winter house-keeping. Apparently Tima had found a way to open the little pigs door. Then threw all the little pigs out and she and Tane proceeded to eat all their food. Of course the little pigs were thrilled. And Sheila was glad there was a fence between her and a gaggle of screechy piglets.
I was not too worried – they all come when they are called – but I wanted them out of that little field as soon as I could before they dug it all up. At least they did not end up in the kitchen like Poppy that time.
The Cadet, wearing her grand-dad’s gloves and her own getting-too-small gumboots came for a visit and helped me get all the pigs back in order and then we shifted the little chickens in with the big chickens and we started to catch all the wild chickens, mostly Leghorns who lay big white eggs all over the place, so we can get them all into the Chook House together. The Chook House door has to be shut for a while now to teach the little chicks where their home is. So we may as well have all the chickens in there at the same time now that they have begin to lay. The space is pretty big and being so warm I have opened up their wall door so they will have plenty of natural light in the day.
Things get a bit loose in the winter, especially with gates and chickens and pigs apparently. But soon there will only be roosters roaming free eating pig food and getting fat for the first spring cull.
There is hope for a little sun today and if the sun does come out I will make the new electric fence for the Middle Sized Pigs. I need them to dig up one specific area that will be a new vegetable garden this coming summer. Of course I can do this job in endless cloudiness but I want sun. And I see no reason why I cannot have sun if I want it. So.
I hope you are going to have a lovely day or at least find some loveliness in your day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
78 responses to “Run-aways”
Sheila is not impressed! 😂
“We are not impressed,”she said into her double chin wobbling. c
Delightful tale!
I was interrupted when leaving my response. Hence, the one-word reply!
What I wanted to add was wondering how you find the time not only to run everything but also to publish such interesting posts every day!
I have a system – actually i am like a cow – I find the routine of posting every day easier than posting every now and then.. c
Now that I emphatise with. But taking and including all those photographs is still very impressive.
heh heh… you do use some great words. (i.e. after creating havoc in the barn they “erupted” outside — I can really picture it) Wow, the Cadet came for a visit! That’s lovely. Hope you told her we’ve all asked about her from time to time and so nice to hear of her again now. That was a funny story about Poppy in the kitchen but verging on even funnier is the thought of poor Manu hiding from her.. hahaha Well, hope the sun does come out and pour it’s brightness upon you. ~ Mame
That sure was a funny day – Poppy was quite dismayed at how her day was turning out
oh those little pigs are mischievous! Naughty naughty but oh so cleverly cute! I am sure Sheila was glad to be on the OTHER side of the fence!
Have a lovely day yourself- Cheers!
Sheila is not a girl who likes to be mobbed so it was lucky she was on the other side.. c
What a farm you have.
Yes – it keeps me on my toes!
Having been raised with all sorts of creatures, I am loving your blog. Reminds me of our pig who used to meet the school bus at the edge of our yard. Much to the dismay of my trying-to-be cool little sister.
That is the sweetest image – your poor sister having a grunting pig meet her.. c
Lots of excitement at the farmy this morning!! How wonderful that the little piggies come when called. I remember when one of our smaller pigs got out into the barn and we had a heck of a time getting him back in. it sure was an exciting morning and it seems the little piggies – who are CUTE AS HELL – had one hell of a good time!! ; o )
They are easier to move as a group too – one on its own would need different tactics.. c
Those piggies are just like bored children, eager for any excitement they can find. I’ve quite fallen in love with their antics.
They certainly take full advantage of a crack in the door! c
[D] This is what we’ve come to expect from the little piggies! BTW, is that a Belted Galloway I see on the right of photo 4?
That is the son of Lady Astor my big old milk cow- he is a Dutch Belted steer.
I just found a bit of loveliness by stopping in here, you always cheer my morning!
Miss C, those are some darling piglets, If I lived close enough to you, I would buy my growout piggies.. they look so healthy and happy.. love it.. wet muddy feet and all.
Bad wee barn pigs helping the hoard get out and play.. but I know what you mean.. here is the snow drifts.. I have some area’s that are three feet at least of drifts and when the fences are 5 and few inches high, suddenly that is only two feet worth of fence left.. Hubby had dreams of babies last night and I smiled as he got up and put on layers and boots and climbed though new drifts given to us overnight to check the big barn and the sheep flock to see if there was a wee lamb out there..
I know that the first are not due for a week or two year but many of the girls are due in Feb.. its coming soon.. I will like you.. hope for sunshine.. at the moment, another storm.. grey, cold and gritty snow..
A farmer once told me that there was a series of huge snow storms here one year and it banked up behind his shed, storm after storm, packing down and one day he realized that the cows were perilously close to be able to climb ONTO the shed. nothing to do about it – he had to shift the cows and wait for the melt! Imagine. Hope your lambs start soon and I hope it is a good season – c
I’ve been missing the Cadet!
She is a teenager now and busy with other things bless her.. hopefully she is on a roll and will come again.. c
What a delightful post today! Haven’t we all escaped at some time in our lives? Didn’t we all join in a little mischief? And haven’t we all been herded back to where we were supposed to be… only to delight in another escape when no one was looking? That fourth image is flat comical… piglets in the wrong place with Sheila on the other side of the fence and other obvious onlookers doing nothing but gawking! I LIKE IT!! ha ha!
gawking – i love that word! c
Your tales make my situation dim in comparison, Ceci! The kitchen faucet sprung a huge leak. Had to turn the water off yesterday to replace it, but needed to make a 100 miles R/T into the city to get parts. Have been washing dishes in the bathroom sink! Oh, a most interesting life we lead on our little place! At least the roof doesn’t leak any more. Please tell your Cadet it’s good to see her face again!
Oh how BORING! I hate plumbing problems! c
I’d like some sun too if you can spare a little!
None came – did you get any!? c