Yesterday was another day of pig wrangling. I needed to go to one of the big farm stores to buy that solar panel but the little pigs were still in disarray so I could not leave the property except for one fast local run for feed.
Somehow the little pigs had pushed through one of the big barn doors and once again they took over the yards.
Thankfully they did not mix with any other animals, the cows were out the back, and so I let them just run about out there, looking for trouble while I lowered the electric fence in the new garden and got everything ready for them to be released to the other side.
The gate way was barricaded so they cannot not get through the gate and into the driveway. Not being able to SEE a way out is a big deterrent for a pig. Smoke and mirrors. 
Pallets are very useful on the farm.
At one point in the afternoon they had all drifted into the barn so I shut the inner doors, congratulating myself on an easy capture, then realised I did not have the dogs and came back out to find they were guarding a hideaway.
Once he was escorted in, that side of the barn was locked up securely and I opened the gates to the field out to the East that the pigs are turning over for a mid summer garden. These pigs have work ahead of them we don’t want to get behind in our schedule!
With those pallets across the gates we are starting to look like my Pa’s junkyard.
Today I will get John to take the tractor to the West Side and clean those yards over there. The concrete, that the cows are on, does not drain too well and it needs scraping again. Hopefully we can bring in one big round bale of grass this weekend for the West Barn cows and place it on the clean concrete. Our tractor is too small to lift a big bale so we are hoping to have it placed on the dump truck then we will back in and literally dump it into the yards and hope it does not roll too far. Fingers crossed for that loosely planned manoeuvre.
I hate having the cows on the concrete but I must protect the fields at this time of year – we need that pasture to be in good condition and growing for the spring. We have quite a few beasts to feed this year.
The weather is still warm today. Three loads of washing dried on the clothes-line yesterday – that warm. This little spell will last a few more days so I am working as fast as I can to get everything up to date in the comfortable temperatures. Getting all the pigs outside is a relief. Once the big barn is cleaned up it will stay that way for a while.
It is so hard not to succumb to the relief of spring because this is NOT spring – just a breather. I even heard the song of a redwing blackbird yesterday – an optimist of a bird and a traveler. But winter will come back with one long flick of its deep sea whale tail and we need to stand ready.
Having said that our high today is: 64f/17c.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “More Piggy Moves”
Adored the hide away that is being watched and kept care over.. such good dogs! I hear you on the pallets.. so many uses, never have enough of them lol adore the photos on this post.. so amazing no snow, no white.. it does look like spring..
It LOOKS like spring and the birds think it is spring – but it is not – we are still in February as you know out there knee deep in snow
Such good dogs! I bet those pigs have reached the point that they are too heavy to pick up and carry now, making them all the more difficult to maneuver 🙂
very big now – they are growing fast but still fall down and sleep like babies at the end of the day
Looks very spring like there. We are still under a lot of snow …..almost 40 cm last week!
Can’t believe we have gotton through with so LITTLE snow here – maybe it is still coming.. c
Please, please come get some of ours 🙂
Shhhhh . . . don’t say that too loudlyl Maybe we can sneak right past winter this year, he seems to be sleeping!
I just posted pics of our winter. There is actually a link back to the farm in my post.
Hope you won’t have to run too fast to play catch-up after a second day of Fun With Pigs… That still looks like winter sunshine to me; the colours are so clear and pale. Spring has a little softness and humidity in its sunshine, or that’s how it always looks to me.
Yes – you are right – the sun is thin – brittle even.. c
Ehmm, the little pigs are looking quite robust, naughty buggers. What a wonderful ornithological reference page, the farmy seems to have perfect conditions for their habitat, and what pretty birds. Don’t know why, but I am almost jealous that I can’t construct pallet and baling twine gates 🙂 Laura
Baling twine is my most favourite.. c
And what about No. 8 wire – a kiwi farmer favoirite! 🙂
64 degrees, and it’s only February! Good heavens! Well, we are warming up today too, although not anywhere near your ‘heat’. It is forecasted to reach 10c here (50f.), which is quite extraordinary for mid-February, and hoping it will melt away last weekend’s dump of snow.
Your hideaway piggie looks almost afraid to move when she has both dogs on her case… heh heh And sounds as if you’re on the run with this good weather, so hope it turns into a good productive day . ~ Mame 🙂
It will get cold again – which will be a fright I am sure.. c
Goodness, what a crazy circus of pig antics, both yesterday and today! Never a dull moment on the farmy, that’s for sure!!! Yes, the warmer weather certainly makes it easier to ‘get with the program’ and get things done! I’ve got a very long list of to-dos that I want to do while the weather is warm! xo
I know it – today was a very busy day- and another one tomorrow – c
LOVE your final line today! “But winter will come back with one long flick of its deep sea whale tail and we need to stand ready.” We just finished watching four Robins land in the lilac tree out our kitchen window. There is still knee deep snow everywhere. When I went and looked back in our garden/bird journal this is the earliest we’ve seen them here – ever. We’re having a week long spell of above zero temperatures which is making me remember March holidays as a kid when the grass was green. Can’t help but be wondering if we’ll get the gift of an early spring!
We have not seen robins yet – but there is a lot of bird song which is lovely – c
Pigs in blankets (sausage covered with bacon) Pigs in Clover ( not sure what that is) but how about pigs in cement…(four bootees made of cement) That would keep them in one place…..
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:35 PM
I won’t tell them you said that!! ha ha ha
It feels like spring here also. Makes me concerned we will either have a very wet spring so it’s hard to work the ground and plant or a hot dry summer. So all we can do is stand by and see what happens.
Good Morning, Miss C.
Time to do the tilling now i think – good thought.. c
We will start the first full week in March, until then…BABIES!!!
So many uses for pallets, the world over! Gosh it was a mild day. Same here, I even got my washing almost dry hanging it out in the garden which makes me feel ridiculously happy. But you’re right…it’s not quite spring yet.
I love the smell of solar dried clothes.. today i put the towels out – oh joy… c
We definitely understand the power of the pallet. Also in our yards are old bed frames … antique roadshow worthy, but for us cattle worthy. … and don’t underestimate the power of steel wire.
Bed Frames! Hmm.. c
Pigs as hotel guests… hmmm we don’t like that room, we want ground floor, upgrade, view, access to the pool 🐖
Gloriously Sunday morning funny! Uuh!! If there is a lift, may I have second floor please 🙂 ! More of the view 🙂 !!
Sounds like Sheila actually.. c
You have such good dogs!! And such ornery piggies. 🙂 Your temps are unbelievable! Our high will be 48 today and more colder weather coming with more rain. It is very spring like but it’s a fooler spring. Good luck getting the solar panels up.
Tomorrow – I will shop for that one tomorrowc
Have you noticed whether any of your animals’ behaviour changes at full moon? The full moon certainly seems to have an effect on my cat — she turns from a mild-mannered house cat into a wild cat, racing around outside in the dark, climbing trees and staying out all night. It’s quite funny to watch!
What an excellent thought-i am going to have to think about that..c