Less stormy, more mommy and the first foal

Still not getting great photos of Stormy Daniels and her 2 remaining piglets.

The Husband and 3 cousins were able to get inside yesterday morning to inspect Chez Stormy D. They wanted to determine how many piglets were actually born and remove any dead ones. They found the one black one that we knew was not going to live, but could not find the third white one that I had seen alive outside on Monday. I found her little body outside the shed in the mud today.

The Peters Pig Posse was also able to hang the red heat lamp in the shed, which is why the 2 little ones look so pink in the second picture. This happened just in time for the freezing weather and snow predicted for this weekend.

Really?

And, even with this crazy weather, we know spring is here: The grass is green, the birds are nesting, AND the first foal was born across the street at Susan's farm. Coca Cola has a new little palomino boy. He was born just a few hours before I took this photo.

Notre Dame

Inspired by the recent fire at Notre Dame in Paris, I finally got around to scanning some of the photos from our honeymoon in May 1998, and second trip just to Paris in January 1999. Pre-digital camera days, for me at least. You just didn't know if you got a good photo or not until you got home and got the film developed.

What a concept. No instant gratification.

The first large photo of the statues at the front entrance, shows St. Denis, patron saint of Paris, holding his severed head.

This and all the inside shots were taken on our second trip, because I didn't think to do it the first time. I am happy to have these interior shots now that I know it will probably never look the same.

Easter piggies and some chicks too!

Happy Easter!

Woke up this morning to Stormy giving birth to piglets. We had no idea when she was due, but we knew they were coming. Husband saw 3 little white ones who appear to be healthy, and 1 black one who was struggling.

By the time I got out there to see her, Stormy was outside eating, not in with her babies. I poked my head in the shed to see what was going on, and she forcefully pushed me out. She could easily kill me, so I took her warning and left.

Thus, not great photos.

I think there are only the 4 of them, which is a very small litter for a pig. They can have up to 12. And they came when it is still chilly out there. We had hoped to get inside and hook up a heat lamp, but if she won't let us in, she will just have to keep them as warm as she can.

I fear this is not going well, but there's not much we can do.

So we will concentrate on the happy. I ordered 10 chicks online this week. They are "Colored Egg Layers" is all I know, probably a mixture of whatever breeds the hatchery couldn't sell before they got too old to sell as chicks. They usually ship them when they are 1 or 2 days old, so I guess there is a very small window for selling them at full price.

It will be fun to watch them grow up and try to figure out what breeds they are.

Notre Dame

The day that Notre Dame burned. So sad.

I will some day scan my other pics from our honeymoon in 1998 (in Paris and elsewhere) and add to this post. For now this is the only digital version. A keeper. From the entrance to Notre Dame cathedral, Paris.

No snow

You could think they were happy to see me, or happy to pose for their portrait, but the reality is that they thought I had food. Big Daddy Ray Davies is on top of Poop Mountain with 3 of his kids. They have plenty of clean ground on which to roam, but I think they like the warmth of the mountaintop. And the kids have been ever so entertaining leaping and crashing off the top.

At least you can't see any snow in this pic. Cold as ever today, but the grass is still getting greener, and the birds are still singing.

Peepers say it's spring. So it is.

Little dirty Rachel and her brother, now called Little Jack

Rosie with her 2 boys

Little Tara approves of the new toy

Monday night coming home from work I heard the spring peepers for the first time this year. A true sign that spring is here even if it doesn't seem like it. Monday and Tuesday (of course my work days) were warm and sunny. Today we are back to cold and windy, but we are making progress—less cold, more sun, more green grass, more birds singing.

There is still 1 remaining female goat who could be pregnant, but she has shown no signs of giving up a kid. Time will tell.

And we currently have 10 kids and 11 adults, for a grand total of 21. I've been meaning to talk to The Husband (again) about these ever increasing numbers, but so far have only convinced him to put Rosie's little black buckling up for sale for a high price (so that they don't buy him for meat).

I took advantage of one of the warm days over the weekend to inspect our baby trees in the backyard. I was happy to find a tiny bird nest in one of the maples.

The white tubes you see behind it are all of the young trees thriving on that side. In the middle and on the other side they aren't doing so well. Don't know why.

Pics only. More tomorrow.

Sharon and daughter Sarah Paige. Little one and mom set free today because they are doing so well. 

Sarah Paige loving Abigail. Abigail's sister Paige named her Sarah, but on second thought...Paige was a good name too.

In the front: Susan and her son Ray (stud man)...still family. On the left, red head, Lizzie who we think is still pregnant. Middle back: Bella with kid Tara. Right: Red head Rita with her 2 hungry boys.

Winter's story

April 4 we were back to all grass, except for a few little snow piles here and there. (1 in this picture) Then, just as I finished working on the computer this morning, I look out the window and see it is snowing again.

The story of this winter (and now spring) is snow...melt...grass...and snow again. The grass only lasts about 24 hours. A tease.

We were waiting on 2 more pregnant yearlings, and then Sharon gave birth to a very little girl late Wednesday afternoon. Another confused mom, like Bella, who wasn't exactly sure what to do with her kid. She did clean her off, but wasn't giving up the afterbirth, and therefore not concerned about feeding the little one until she did, about 10:30 pm.

2 days later: a few bottle feedings, some special attention and confinement for mom, and I think we are out of the woods. Baby girl won't take a bottle anymore, so I am guessing she is feeding from mom. Only time will tell if she will make it through.

All of the other little ones are doing very well. Lots of baby goat visitors to entertain and cuddle them.