Ok. Sad news first.
I feel terribly bad about this. But John has decided that FreeBee cannot live on the farm anymore. Tye bog boars frequent daily escapes have left the fences wrecked and then he leaves a trail of destruction through the farm yard. Wai will not come out anymore. Tima is restricted to the barn. The ducklings are still in the brooder. The gardens cannot be planted.
Lately John has just stopped locking him in anymore.
FreeBee is a very big animal with very sharp teeth and tusks and until he is gone the grandchildren’s visits are curtailed.
Mainly he is going after other animals food and of course the big field. But appears up in the front garden and the pond at any time.
He will be put down on Thursday. It will be quick. I am so sorry. We have run out of good options. His sponsor and I have looked all over for another home for him, in vain. His only other option is to be locked into a small pig pen which is no life for a hog. Also in the periods john did try to lock him in FreeBee would rip out mouthfuls of wooden gate and literally chew his way out. So being locked into a pen does not really work either. And I could not condone it.
The guilt I feel about this is wretched. I know this is not about me. But I hate not being able to fix this. But pets rarely have a simple end. Often we have to make decisions for them that break our hearts.
Maybe it is some kind of old age dementia. Domestic pigs rarely get to be this old. And Sheila got scratchy in her old age too. But Sheila could not be bothered breaking out anywhere – she was not walking so well in the end.
So there you are. I can’t talk about it anymore. I really can’t. It is miserable.
Jude is still calmy wandering about in the spring sun in the field waiting for food, without any plans to break out when there is a perfectly good gate to go through. And miserably the farm will heave a sigh of relief when FreeBee is gone.
That is all for today. I can’t bear it.
Don’t forget to pop in for the TKG Sunday newsletter.
The meringue recipe is there too.
Doctors day today for my pregnant daughter. I go with her to the appointments now as her person. Her doula and nanny in waiting. She and her unborn son are the reason I am not on the farm anymore. It is a very busy time filled with good work. I cannot express how grateful I am for her choosing me to help her with bring up this baby.
Solo Mums need a network of support. So if you have a solo mum in your community I hope you are able to give her a hand. Long term.
Maybe ask your doctor if she knows of any young mums who might need help and support.
It is the first of April here in Australia. A new month.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
61 responses to “Sad news about FreeBee”
C, preparing for one life at arrive as one prepares for another to leave. It is a cycle. You have my heart this week.
this a cycle. And babies before pigs! You know how it feels having kids far away – no matter where a person is one wishes they could be in both places.
Aye. Truth.
I’m so very sorry. A very hard loss.
Your daughter is beautiful and lucky to have you there. And what a lucky baby to enter the world with two strong women by his side.
I am dying to meet the wee fella. I hope all continues to go well.
Last night I was reading letters written by Jane Kenyon. In one she includes a bit from a poem that describes her beloved cat, being accidently run over, and ends “I bury the thing I love.” In spite of the inevitable pain, we love anyway. May your heart be soothed.
I bury the thing I love – that means so many things – thank you.
Sigh! I so understand Hugs to you
hugs for you as well!!
Thank you
I’m so sorry but it sounds like there isn’t any other option. Your daughter is glowing!
hi Margaret, it is true. Without me on site there are very few options for them. I am horribly sorry about it all.
I’m so sorry about Free Bee. It’s never easy when an animal becomes questionable to heave around and forces a decision no one wants.
Your daughter is a beautiful girl and radiant with life. A miracle to watch come to fruition.
My step-great-grandson is quite a handful at two and a half, growing strong and healthy.
The terrible twos – how delightful!
Not so much terrible twos as he’s got so much energy everyone has trouble keeping up with him. He’s really very well behaved.
How sad about Freebee. It’s difficult for the human in the equation to have to make the decision about a longtime animal’s demise. It’s not as if you are choosing the easy way out as it does sound as though the alternatives just weren’t there to be utilized. However you can feel positive about the fact that Freebee had an exceptionally long and happy life with you on the farm which counts for a great deal in the whole scheme of things.
Yes. He did have a long life..for a pig!
Sending aroha and hugs x
Thank you.
Farm life can be sad but necessary. So wonderful you will play such a big part in the birth of your grandson!
it is going to be an exciting smelly noisy time.
Sorry to hear about your hog and having to leave John too 😦 enjoy life back in your homeland with your daughter and grandchild. Take care Celi
John pushed me to go and help my daughter. He said I had been looking after his family much too long – time I tended my own. And I was not to feel guilty – at all. I still feel guilty though.
I am so sorry but look forward to your joy filled life from this point on. Best of luck to you and your family. xo
Console yourself with the knowledge that you made his last years a miracle of freedom and happiness for a pig. Animals that will not tolerate boundaries are dangerous, though; I’m not sure the outcome would have changed greatly had you been there. And now you are where you are very much needed. You and that beautiful daughter have a job to do together!
I can only say ditto to the other comments on your post. I am sorry for the loss but joyful of what you will soon (maybe already) gain. What a joy to be a part of the new life.
Hey Celi .. I too am sorry about Freebee, never an easy decision. Thinking of you … Yes, your daughter looks just like you 😊