Though the wind made it feel cooler, yesterday we were above freezing and everyone had a lovely day. 
This may sound inane and ordinary but on a farm it is always a relief when we encounter ordinary especially when it is above freezing!
Above freezing temperatures mean I can get the hoses out and fill all the waters. And get the tractor out and scoop the poop around the cows feeders.
Very satisfying days.
I am also shifting the large rain barrel close to an outside electrical outlet beside the house so I can fill this with water on warm days and put a submersible heater in it. This will give me a water reservoir for refilling my bucket on days when the faucet outside is frozen shut. Tramping in and out to fill buckets from the kitchen sink is getting ‘old’.
Though giving the pigs warm water does encourage them to drink more. there are always more than one way to look at a solution.
Manu the boar is doing OK and when I entered the barn yesterday it smelled like he had been breeding Molly. I will give her six weeks then take her to the vet for an ultrasound. To make sure he is still viable.
I hope his injury is not permanent- if it is we would have to make some hard decisions. I prefer to avoid those decisions for as long as I can. But my breeding animals are getting older. And this is a farm not a zoo.
(Now, I hope this paragraph does not scare up more hate comments. I am getting these kinds of comments more and more lately. I am being attacked for my farming practices – generally I just delete these hate comments but if it gets too much you and I might talk about the blog going private. This would feel like a weak move but maybe it would be easier on my beleaguered immigrants heart. Being told I am a murderer, to go back where I came from, that I will be hunted down and wiped out… these kinds of things. All from Americans. They are easy to trace. And the fear of being abused is disabling my ability to be honest. I know this is a capitulation, to take the blog private, but the public arena is changing. There is a pack mentality developing. There is an old saying ‘if you can’t take the heat – get out of the kitchen.’ Do you see – do you understand?
We have to roll with the punches, they say. So, I will roll. If this continues I will do some research on how to disappear. They can have the stage. We all believe in free speech. I know that. It is in your constitution but I am getting tired of being on the arse end of it.)
Anyway – I will do some research into bringing you with me into a private kitchens garden. Sad aye. But maybe better?
C
The Kitchen's Garden 
118 responses to “A WARM SPOT”
As Taylor Swift sings ‘haters gonna hate’. There is a louder and less tolerant element appearing about everything. So many seem to not understand there are a multitude of ways to live life. Living with integrity does not seem to get considered in many cases. People are frustrated, fear filled and unhappy and they just strike out, when considering the integrity with which they live their own lives could be much more fulfilling for them. I’m so sorry the ‘haters’ have decided to target you. We are with you.
‘if you can’t take the heat – get out of the kitchen.’ might also be said for those who don’t like the fact that you’re a Farmer. A real, honest-to-goodness, growing plants AND ANIMALS to eat (what a concept:/). I just want to know why these people think that their opinion is more important than anyone else’s. Or why they think they have the right the treat others like shite.
Do unto to others, is and has always been the golden rule.
You’re one of my first go to every morning and I so look forward to hearing about you and the different characters you’ve made so real for us. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with vileness and hatred. Your blog is nothing but full of respect and love for the earth and it’s inhabitants.
I’m down under, a little closer to your homeland. It’s hot and muggy here in Queensland, but all this will end when I return on Monday to Canada.
In the meantime stay strong. I wish you lots of peace and well being dear friend.
Diana from Canada
I am sorry you are having to deal hateful remarks. The farm is your livelihood, and you alone must make the decisions as to how it is run.
Miss C, I am sorry that you are having to deal with the hateful comments. It hurts my heart that our country has decided it is free speech to call names, make threats, and hate talk. I love your blog and am disappointed on the days you don’t post. As a fellow female farmer and not a zoo keeper, I understand the need to cull out animals that can no longer provide the food or service for which they are kept. I understand your reluctance to be honest, I have lost readers and have quit posting certain farm necessities to avoid similar comments and to retain readers. My animals are ethically kept, organically fed, free ranged, but when they are no longer producers, they must be culled, usually for meat. Keep up the good work, hold your head high, and know that most of us love you and what you do. If a reader doesn’t like what you write, they don’t have to read it.
Coming on late on a stormy Down Under morning I have been absolutely shocked that you, you of all people, have been found and trolled by the mentally unstable on social media: the only way to describe such despicable people. I have read each and every comment above and feel strengthened for you as the result of what the ‘Lounge’ of friends and followers has had to say . . . naturally I add my voice in full support. I do not know how really badly this is affecting you mentally but I would feel like standing proud, not giving in and going private . . . I would guess this is the ‘work’ of a relatively small group of sick people who feel important if they can threaten and frighten people. If you are being told to ‘go back home’ more than farming practices may be involved as you believe most of the comments come from the United States.. Rather than going private (where the IT wise may crash in anyways!) can these people simply not be blocked as has been suggested and I would prefer the ‘I’m not a robot’ box also . . . otherwise can you bear just to delete for another while and hope the sickos get tired and find another target . . . .
I echo everyone’s sentiments here C. And I too am astounded at some of the behavior I see on social media nowadays…It really seems to bring out the “trolls” as they can hide behind their anonymity! Do what you have to do to eliminate the comments, etc. of these morons but please don’t think this is just typical of most Americans. It is not! There are bad apples everywhere…unfortunately! 😦
If you go private, the haters will have won. I know that your back is made of steel but your heart is tender. I don’t comment often, but read your words every day and you have a small army supporting you. We can never allow bullies to win, they will just get bolder and meaner. Spam them out…hold your head up and keep doing everything the way you are. The haters mean nothing and throw their verbal sticks and stones at anyone who don’t agree with their skewed views. Keep going, Miss C. If you do go private, though, please take me with you.
I visit your blog frequently and am saddened people have written hateful messages to you. I would also wager few if any of them have actually read your blog for any length of time. Your compassion and care for all your animals including those destined for the table shines brightly. From searchING for the best and tastiest variety of food for them to eat to your going far out of your way to rescue some animals due to their sorry circumstances you daily make their well being one of your highest priorities. Be well and be of good heart, I will support your choices while raging against the hateful ignorant crowd.
unless one is standing in the same environment they need to stand back and just admire all the hard work you do……honesty some people! t
Lovely pictures. You have a good eye. I know other bloggers have dealt with vipers. There has to be a way to report and block these black holes that suck energy. Best of luck and forge ahead. We back you in your enterprise. Thank you for sharing.
This blog is the high point of my day. The spot of sanity, goodness and, yes, love that radiates through my day. I would give a great deal to be able to spend the rest of my life with a farmy like yours, not that it’s possible physically, but it would be a joy. You have to do what you think and feel is right for you, I fully support your decision. It would be sad to see you go private, but I do understand. I’ve had the haters too on both my blogs and all my comments are moderated. I do not suffer fools or the stupid very well. If they chose not to eat meat, that is all they need to do. Coming to the Lounge and spewing their foul hate is not acceptable. You have shown for as long as I’ve followed you, that you are deeply compassionate about how your animals are treated, that they are given good food, comfortable conditions and a respectful end. There are enough huge operations that warehouse animals in conditions I find disturbing that the haters have some small point about the treatment the animals are given. Most of those do not have blogs, and if they do they do not highlight the way they operate. You are open, honest, and forthright about your farming practices. I would love to be able to purchase from you because I know how you treat your animals. You run a business, there are decisions and necessities in that process, raising animals for food is part of that. I know you know these things.
I would definitely see about strengthening my spam filters, it certainly did make a difference with my comment lines. If someone was willing to moderate for you that is something you might consider, especially as you are involved with your studies. The lack of respect is rampant in our society and culture, sadly. Part if it stems from telling people that everying is “okay” as long as they feel good. Part of it is how children are educated here in schools and at home. It is the failures of being taught respect that spew their hatred for every little thing they have decided is “bad” without bothering to investigate the truth of the situation. There doesn’t seem to be any effective cure for these people.
This is your blog, your Lounge of Comments, your call on how things go here. It doesn’t matter if you’re from New Zealand or here. You live here, in the heartland of America, and I’d bet there are more of us who want you here, want to read your words and see your images than there are foul little vermin that want to spew hatred.
Miss C, I love your blog – its the first thing I read every morning.
Your inclusion of the wonderful phrase “arse end of it” gave me a glimmer of a smile amongst my disappointment that your blog has been targetted… by trolls, haters, opportunists with a keyboard & internet access… who will accomplish nothing via their efforts. I don’t understand them but I get where you’re coming from, as I am very careful where and what I comment on social media or irl as I don’t want to deal with it. Happy to follow privately because I truly admire what you do as a farmer, blogger and human being. Take care ♡
Please Please don’t dissapear… Your farm photos are my daily dose of LOVE for animals! Find a way by hook or crook to block the trolls….
Don’t let them win the war!