Yesterday Sheila toddled happily into the tiny field by the clothes line. She has to leave the barn when farrowing is close. And Poppy is getting very close – her due date is Thursday.
I shifted Molly into the rat house and the moment she was gone the piglets turned into vandals tormenting the big birds. The danced and played unfettered behaving like little rascals. If they were little Victorian orphans they would be running through the streets knocking off hats, stomping in puddles and stealing fob chains with swinging shiny watches that they would toss to each other as they gamboled and laughed.
Of course by evening Molly had broken out of her field, gone into the barn through Sheila’s vacated pen, enlarged a hole in the back wall (that Sheila uses to stick her head through to see what is going on in the barn) then down the corridor, smashed through an outer door, hung out with the cows, digging holes for a while – with the barn door wide open behind her – then by the time I found her she was sleeping outside the piglets door. I closed the doors, then I let her back in with her babies. It was too late to do all those repairs. She promised to be quiet, then once in – threw herself onto the floor and called her piglets out for a feed. They were loud with exclamations of delight.
Poppy sighed big sighs and tried to ignore them.
We have repairs to do today.
The Little Piglet has discovered his food and grew while I watched yesterday – he is chowing down big time, which is really good and will be able to stay with his mates for a while longer. It is not in his best interests to be separated from his siblings and brought to the house, just to entertain me. I might advertise him through a different channel though as I think he will make a wonderful pet on some farm out there.
It looks like we have one calm day this week and it is today. Not warm – but not a howling gale – for a whole day. Joy.
We will all feel better about that. I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
Weather forecast:
Wednesday 05/03 20% / 0 in
A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 57F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night 05/03 100% / 0.67 in
Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 43F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Locally heavier rainfall possible.
What else are orphaned hungry urchins supposed to do, huh? What a wonderful set of pictures, but poor Mr Flowers 🙂 Laura
I had to giggle at the piglets running amuck. FREEDOM!!!! 🙂
What naughty pigs! You wouldn’t think they’d dare to bully a peacock. It looks like Sheila has some nice weeds and ground to dig up 🙂
I knew Molly’s unbroken run of responsible adult maternal behaviour couldn’t last. After all, she has a mother with a reputation to follow!
Look the mental picture of the piglets as little orphans.
Everyone is so busy when change comes! Time for a chat. Obviously Molly has a different idea of when to wean the piglets than you do. Sounds like you could make a temporary home for Molly and her piglets in a circus tent! Good luck.
Comment here.
(Love your title. Also love Molly’s determination to mother her babies.)
Piggie hooligans! Oh my. What a picture.
The piggies have a feather duster to play with, what fun!
I have never spent a great amount of time with the pigs on friends or families farms to see the different personalities at work. I am certainly enjoying your descriptions of them.
Victorian orphans – hysterical and perfect.
Love the Artful Dodger scene that you set 🙂
oh too hilariously funny- they are rather like naughty urchins!
Looks like the piggies are trying to lift a fine peacock feather or two which surely would get them a few coins… 🐽
As you said that little one is creeping under your arm and Boo is so longing for it and it on the other side is so longing for Boo – there is a very magical and stunning attraction between you all. Methinks that little one is a reincarnation of Lurchie… Anyone else? 🙂
Great photography as per usual:)
Running amuck I say, running amuck! Mr Flowers looks quite dismayed at the mayhem..hehe