Firstly, thank you so much for your incredible outpouring of support yesterday. It means so much to me to hear such care from so many of you.
For the moment I will stay public and if I do take the blog private I will come back to yesterday’s comments and send a note to each one of you. Thank you all. 
And now to the normal chat of the day!
Jude the little rescue piglet is being a bit naughty- I have to be careful that his behavior now will be appropriate for a two hundred pound pig when he is grown so jumping on people and biting at dangling hands, etc has to stop. I think that most of the problem is lack of parental piggie company.
So I have created a little door that allows him to visit Tima and Tane and Wai but still return to his warm light whenever he chooses. I spent a good part of yesterday blocking holes from the field to the outside world to ensure he is safe while still allowing the ducks to come and go. It is taking a bit of sorting out. We don’t want Tima getting out either. But the more time Jude spends with the other pigs, who will discipline him, the better.
He is spoilt!
I go away to California for a Christmas in a week so I need to have it sorted by then. 
Tane’s back problem was very bad yesterday and I was in tears with the realization that he might not last the winter. He is so crippled. Not eating properly and he seemed unable to swallow. Then in the afternoon he chased me around the field, running on all four hooves like a trotter and ate a huge dinner. So, I don’t know.
I have got another batch of his pain medicine from the vet and we have nice mild temperatures ahead as far as I can see so that will help. His back problem comes and goes. Poor chap.
The three Grouchy pigs have a bed full of rags that they burrow under and Wai came out with this on his back yesterday. 
He is so overweight but only ever eats a small ration – my theory is that his burns went so deep that they have compromised his system. Some areas of his body have no fat at all but his jowls ( that were not as badly burned) seem to collect all the fatty deposits.
However he is happy and quick on his feet and such a friendly fellow with visitors and looks almost festive in his little girls dress up coat. 
Manu continues to improve which is good but time will tell if his penis is permanently damaged.
When I let the dogs out earlier it was still raining so this mornings chores will be pretty messy.
I hope you have a good day and once again – thank you for yesterday.
Celi
C
The Kitchen's Garden 
45 responses to “CHECKS AND BALANCES”
Tane’s situation is heart-breaking. One minute he seems crippled for life, then the next minute he’s up and running across a field and eating up a storm. Baffling! Absolutely baffling!
WaiWai has to be the most dramatic turn-around ever. Who would have believed after all he’s been through he is actually friendly to people and happily enjoys a head scratch. He has so much to teach us about forgiveness.
And that little exuberant Jude. I think he was whispering to Wai, “Don’t you just love her?” And WaiWai answered, “With all my heart! She’s the best thing since sliced bread.”
Then Jude said, “I’m going to try to be really really good from now on! You teach me how.”
“I will.”
Lovely!
Good mornin’ back atcha! Loved the photo of Jude and Wai! Seems Jude is now asking the right species ‘are you my momma?” Now we just need to get him to ask the right gender! Hee Hee! Let’s see, Christmastime you come out to California to see your family here, right? Don’t get stranded this time! If you need to be carried somewhere, give a holler and I’ll come pick you up and deliver you to where you need to be. Have a marvelous time packing! AND a huge thanks for hanging in there with the blog! It means the world to us all! How are the studies coming?
I agree with JMCHENEY also…. and I always want to read this email first. I didn’t know adult pigs disciplined their ‘kids’….. Do you think they could teach my nephew and nieces how to do that with their rambunctious (and sometimes destructful) kids???
That is such a funny picture of Wai with the pink coat!
I find it reprehensible that people were verbally abusing you and threatening you. I wouldn’t have expected that. But, be sure that if you take your blog private, all your loyal followers will go with you! xoxo
There may be something deep in Wai’s piggy psyche that says holding on to the weight is like armour to protect him. This happens with humans and maybe it is in the nature for animals who have had great trauma as well. He looks so dear in that little girly coat!
Hi Celi…….I have read your blog for quite a few years now, back when you used to post “the morning view” each day :)….I rarely comment but so enjoy following your farm life. I grew up on a farm in central Illinois many years ago. Just want to ask that you please include me if you decide to go private. Thank you.
Time passes. It’s a good thing that you are thinking ahead to when Jude isn’t a cute little baby. I wish more parents of fur and human babies shared that insight. I know it’s tough to plan for a friend(animal) passing but they rely on us. I know you will know when it is time. It is never easy. Do you and John ever travel together, or does one person have to stay back? It will be nice for you to get away. Meanwhile, work like heck to make it happen. All the best.
I hope Tane keeps managing, I know how uncomfortable it can be to not have your body behave itself. Wai looks so adorable in that coat. I think Uncle Wai, and Uncle Tane and Aunty Tima will get Jude straightened out about jumping and nipping, not acceptable in a piglet and even less acceptable in a large pig. I had to teach one of my dogs that he mustn’t do that and we both were much happier once he understood. I’m not at all surprised by the support for you in the Lounge of Comments. We all love you, the Farmy and all the inhabitants.
Wai all dressed up sure put a huge smile on this grandma’s face! It’s been over 55 years since Daddy sold our farm and we moved out west, he worked on road construction & never farmed again. We moved a lot and I was drawn to every stray animal everywhere we moved. Your farm pictures and comments always bring back sweet childhood memories.
Dear Celia, I have never commented, but felt I needed to after reading about what you’re experiencing. I have read your blog for years. Your gentle, compassionate, wise, funny, caring voice would be sorely missed, so please add my name to the list, should your heart need to make this beautiful life story go private. Much love to you. xxxooo