Pigs and goats and chickens, oh my!

In case you missed the update, the little potbellied piggy at left, our Moro's full brother, is coming to live with us sometime next month. His owners were told he would never grow bigger than a mid sized dog, and that owning a potbellied pig is like owning a dog. It wasn't mentioned that he'd need vaccines, tusk and hoof trimming, or the fact that a two year old potbellied pig will test its boundaries. Once they discovered this may well turn into a one hundred pound animal with a mind of his own, they decided to rehome him. They plan to have kids and are uncomfortable with the idea of a large animal around small children. If they feel that way they are correct, especially since they are having a great deal of trouble with the little one now. They're having him vaccinated and neutered before bringing him, as well as bringing a playpen, potbellied piggy moisturizers and shampoo, more potbellied pig food and harnesses. They love this little guy...how could I resist?

As for Moro, she's doing great. She uses her litter box faithfully, potties outside as soon as I bring her out there, and knows sit, beg, come, up, and spin. She's also a bit of a firebrand. Last night, she insisted on burrowing under Paul's armpit. When he wouldn't let her, she tried to bite him to put him in his place. He shoved her the way an older pig would, so she barked at him. I thought I'd fall over.

Oscar will provide Moro with potbellied piggy company and an outlet for her dominant personality. The current owners will be happier to know he is on a farm, with his sister, and they can come visit since they live in Atlanta.

Loose horses

Rural living can be interesting, in it's way. I was enjoying a hot bath and a book when my husband popped in to tell me the neighbor found loose horses on his property and he'd be going to see if they were ours. Either way, he'd help round them up and put any strays in our round pen.

 Needless to say, up I jumped to dry, dress and check for myself. All three horses were still in the paddock, Paul nowhere in sight.

I waited, and put hay in the back of the truck (just in case), and before long, I looked out again to see the sheriff's car and a pickup in the drive. I followed the bobbing lights to a brown and an appaloosa being put in the round pen, our own horses running around like nuts in the paddock.

There they sit, munching hay, safe from traffic and hunger. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Mini Farming With a Baby

Just found this, started a few YEARS ago, unfinished and unpublished. I think the subject matter itself might explain why...

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How hard is it to have a mini farm and a baby? That depends on the available help.

For me, it is becoming quite difficult.

I love the great outdoors and cleaning the poop of various animals just isn't a hardship for me. But how to do this with an infant?

When we decided to add another family member, I thought I had it all worked out. I could ride early in the am, as well as get some chores done, finishing up in the evening, when the hubby came home. The reality is quite different.

Khavien is as sweet as he can be, but as unpredictable in his moods and habits as any small child. I can't expect that he will be asleep early in the am. I can't expect him to nap when it is most convenient. I knew all this, but apparently wasn't as aware as I should have been. We're programmed to forget such things over time. Otherwise, we wouldn't do it but once. Maybe not a horrible idea...but I digress.

As for the hubby, he has a job. It's the same job he's had the past few years, but things seem to be stepping up. I'm grateful he's working for a growing company, especially in the current economy. But lately the job is keeping him from home quite a bit more than I expected. By the time he gets here, it's already too dark to do anything outside. He sleeps as late as possible in the mornings to make up for the rest he's losing at night. This does not make for easy critter care and enjoyment.

I could wear Khavien in a carrier, and I do, but that's tough when the ground's frozen. Also, it's difficult to work with a twelve pound child stuck to my front.

I could have his big sister watch him, and do, but only for brief periods. I'm a firm believer that a child should not be held responsible for another child. It isn't fair and it breeds resentment between siblings. I can't have that. Family First.

Where does that leave me? Scrambling to make use of the few available moments I have to feed and clean animals. It isn't enough. Rachel helps out a lot, albeit sometimes reluctantly. But she can't, for example, scoop the paddocks without supervision. Large animals are dangerous and I won't risk her being injured. We're not enjoying our mini farm nearly as much as we'd like, and I'm fighting to keep up the level of care for the critters.

I know it will get better. Before long, Khavien can ride on my back in the carrier. When the weather warms, he'll be able to sit and play in a playpen nearby while I care for animals and garden. Riding in the evening will be feasible with more daylight hours. But for now, I'm feeling hard pressed to keep up with the needs of our animals, not to mention the property.

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Perhaps it's time for an update.

He's now almost four. We have goats we milk morning and evening, pigs to feed and fatten, ducks and geese and guineas, oh my, and yes, we still have the horses, and of course the rabbitry.

The garden still hasn't materialized, but slow and steady wins the race, right? Fencing comes first, and eventually we'll manage some greenhouses and aquaponics tanks.

The boy is now old enough to use the TV as a babysitter - yes, we know, but educational shows are pretty good these days. We also have memberships in a few good sites such as ABCmouse.com and Mimio.com, which have him practically reading.

There's the Kindle Fire with Plants vs. Zombies and Fruit Ninja on it, which could keep him quiet for hours, if we let him have it that long. He's able to hang out in the goat yard and play with rocks, sticks and a wooden sword and shield while cleaning is finished. Likewise, his sister is old enough to be responsible now and then, and though raising him isn't her job, we do try to make it worth her time when we need to ask her to help. All in all, when he isn't bringing his mom a book to read or chasing bubbles in the yard, there's stuff to keep him busy and happy while we get on with the work required.

My job has gotten better, so I'm not out all hours of daylight any more. I handle the morning milkings, and loading the hay to the cart, and whatever the Boss asks when I can, but she's still Foreman of the Farm. I just keep us in insurance.

The adventure continues. :)

The Folly of Creating a Riding Arena Without Professional Help

Never, ever, attempt to create a riding arena without consulting professionals. On second thought, consult the pros, then have them come handle it. I failed to do this and am left with an area - I won't call it an arena - that is just ride-able, with care, and far from the all weather arena I'd hoped for.

I made the mistake of allowing someone experienced in clearing only to scrape out my spot and then dump what I was told would be adequate footing for riding.  Let me tell you, manufactured sand doesn't come close to some nice crushed granite, or M10. But it would have been serviceable, had this person graded the area correctly, and dumped the appropriate amount. Five inches is far too much. I knew this, and requested less, but the man decided I didn't really know what I wanted and did what he was told would be more appropriate. He was wrong.

My next failing was in not rushing to put in fencing, or at least edging. I was too busy trying to figure out how to scrape away some of the overly deep footing, since the idiot I had dump it in the first place wouldn't come back and do so. While waiting to get this done, much of it sloughed to the left. Fine, but it didn't do so evenly, of course.

Why didn't I drag it and salvage what I could, you might ask? I tried. I bought a decent drag, and my husband bought a tractor for me. A garden tractor. It isn't heavy enough to pull the drag through five inches of sand.

To make this long story a bit shorter, what we have now is an area that used to be filled with sand - which at least had the benefit of providing my daughter with a fun place to play - and which is now a grassy and uneven mess. I say mess because it is not at all the lovely arena I imagined. Can I ride on it? Sure. Is it anything like what I'd hoped and planned for? No.

I'm not going to gripe and complain (well, I will, but not too much). I'll just make the best of it, filling in those areas that need it and being glad I at least have the space in which to ride. It's more than I'd expected, really. And the area that was once too rocky and dangerous to ride on is now at least serviceable.

Lessons learned? First, when you find a contractor, find out what experience he really has in doing the job you expect. Get references. Call them. Create and sign a contract that details exactly what is expected. If this is too much for the contractor, find another. If your arena builder looks at your horses and behaves as if they're the first he's ever seen, that is a big clue.

Second, don't cut corners. Do not attempt to do it cheaply vs. doing it correctly. You won't get what you want and will end up spending more money to correct mistakes.