our first litter of piglets

I know some of you are waiting to see this video of our first litter of piglets. So, without further ado, here it is.....

fancy schmancy new pig feeder

We found this brand new pig feeder on kijiji. It was one heck of a good deal and we just could not pass it up. It came with 2 more tiers to make into a mini silo, but not so easy to get feed into with the equipment we have. This configuration holds one 1100 lb bag of grain, which is perfect. Polly, the first little gilt in the video, knew right away how to work it and was lifting the flaps before there was even any food in it. The others didn't really appreciate her smart-i-toodiness and kept chasing her off, but eventually they grokked what she was doing.

In the middle of the video, Art is hugging up Peg, our 2 year old sow. She is a lovely, docile girl and this was 2 days before she farrowed with her first litter. I will put up a video of her and her new babies in my next post. It is in editing now. 

Don't fall down

We went to Vanderhoof yesterday to pick up a bag of grain for the pigs. It had snowed a little. Just enough to cover the skating rink that is our yard. When Art stepped out of the Jeep to unhook the trailer he went flying. I jumped out of the passenger side to see if he was OK and suddenly he broke into gales of laughter. Hurley and the pups wasted no time in coming to his rescue.....

let's just stay home

We were going to take a drive to Prince George today. Just for fun, but also to get some groceries that we can't buy in this ridiculous town. But, we woke up to an inch of new snow and it was coming down pretty good. Art still kind of wanted to go, but it didn't seem like fun to me. We watched it snow some more and decided to leave it for another day. So, I lit the woodstove and Art and Xena went for a nap.

a new year

Been a long time since I posted last, but it's a new year and let's see if I can get back into it. Today is an anniversary of several life events, so what better a day for a new beginning? Fourteen years ago I quit smoking (and stayed quit). I also started a fitness program which led to weight loss, a gym membership and training to be a runner. All those things were successful... for quite a long time, but the only one that has lasted was the quitting smoking. Today also happens to be the 20 year anniversary of my first day at BC Housing. I'm now retired, but my career there really was very gratifying. I made life long friends and there are many things I miss about it. Christmas and New Year's has just passed and both were very lovely. Quiet and low-key as it was just the two of us. And all the beasties, of course. Rather than chop down a perfectly good tree and prop it up in our house, I put up the ceramic tree my Mom made back in the 1970's. Here it is, with a few gifts around it, being closely guarded by Chickie.

I didn't get as many gifts made as I would have liked and wish I had made these, but instead I found them on Etsy and had them made. One for Sophie, one for Claire. Dying to see pictures of them on the girls.

I did get a little crochet done. Ewie thinks it's the best fun ever to help me with that.

Ewie, Kermit, Jack and Chickie watching a woodpecker outside, I believe. The only one missing is Blackie.

Boose has taken up residence in the greenhouse. She's got a pretty nice view overlooking the snow covered tire garden.

Last month, our big new dog, Hurley, had a bit of an accident and we had to keep him on house arrest for about 3 weeks. He had been out doing his job, patrolling the property and earlier in the day I could see him and Xena running along the treeline. Most likely chasing off a coyote, but later on we saw Hurley limping as he headed back to the house. There was blood dripping onto the snow, so we brought him inside to check him out. Under his front leg, along the side of his chest, there was a puncture and under his skin was a broken off piece of a stick! Long story short, the vet got it out, but it took two us to hold him down and we really needed at least one other person. Even though he was in great pain, he never once showed any aggression. What an extremely good boy he was! Here he is convalescing and Jack is giving him some sympathy.

And the offending shard of wood....

Speaking of white dogs.... can you spot the 3 of them in this picture?

Oh, there they are!

This is Xena and I. A friend gave me this coat and it is some kinda nice. Wore it while splitting wood one day and I was toasty warm. We use an electric wood splitter and I just stand there pushing the buttons, so it gets cold quickly not moving around.

Polka Dot is home. I know that's kind of a sissy name for a studly guy, but maybe you can guess how he got that name.

The "girls" are very interested who this new fellow is and can be found smooching him through the fence.

This is our newest addition. His destiny is to be a stud boar also, in about 6 months time. We call him "RT Burke-shire". He is a Birkshire and we named him after our good friend RT Burke. It might not seem like it, but it's an honour.

We are enjoying a really lovely winter so far. Art took this picture today, looking West from between the house and the shop.

day old piglets

This is a litter of 11 piglets that are only one day old. They were born on our friends' farm, to their sow, but they were sired by our boar.... Polka Dot.

so many white dogs

Back in April, we adopted Snow (a Marama) and her two pups.

Over the months, she has put on some weight and her long, coarse coat has changed to silky soft with a little bit of wave to it.

The pups, Daisy and Mae, are growing like mad and are now nearly 5 months old. Their father was a Blue Heeler, and slowly the blue spots are coming out on the pups. Kinda unique looking.

They are all lovely dogs and it's been hard to make the decision to let them go, but it's time to find homes for them. Especially now that we have adopted a young male Great Pyrenees. This was what we wanted from the beginning. We would have preferred a puppy, but they are not easy to come by unless you want to pay ridiculous amounts of money. No disrespect to dog breeders, but c'mon!

Our new boy is named Hurley. He might weigh 150 lbs and can rest his head on the kitchen table without even trying, but he is still just a pup at 1 1/2 years old. He's a handsome devil and has personality plus. I'm hoping the mindless barking is just a phase. I know the breed does that, but continously? Give me a break. I've been told he will calm down as he matures a bit. Snow, after all, only barks when she's patrolling, but she's a few years older.

This is Hurley on the left and Snow on the right

And Xena on the far left.

With the help of the Burns Lake Vet Clinic, we may have found a home for Snow. About 100 acre farm near Burns Lake. I talked to the prospective new owner on the phone for half an hour and I got a very good feeling that this may be a great home for Snow. We're going to meet on the weekend.

As for the pups, one person has expressed an interest, so here is a little video clip of Daisy and Mae taken over the last few days.

Here is another video of all the kritters hanging around together. In the middle of it, you will see Snow. She's more aloof and just observes activities from the perimeter. A very common trait for her breed. Hurley's a goof ball, but Xena doesn't take any of his guff, as you'll see in the clip.

And lastly, there's one little bit in there that is just for you, Bubba. It was a hot day when I took that video and Art is explaining to the dogs how later we'll get a refreshing cool drink and "take a Barb". That's in your honour. When we take a break in the shade and turn the tunes up, it is now officially called a "Barb".

the cows have arrived

This is looking from the veranda of our house, looking south over the valley. The cows have arrived for the summer. This pic even made it on the TV news a couple of Sundays ago.

springtime visitors

This cow moose and her new calf trotted right across our front yard, but by the time I got the camera they were almost gone. Because the power line is between me and them, that is what the dumb camera is focusing on, so sorry it is not clearer. I'm just glad the dogs didn't notice them or they would have been chased off for sure.

catch me if you can

Xena is so full of joy. I love to watch her having so much fun. The lambs seem to be enjoying getting in on the game, too. Once again... please ignore the soundtrack in the background.... Art was watching TV as I filmed through the kitchen window.

For Shane

This is mainly for Shane, former owner of Snow and her pups (whom we've named Daisy and Mae). It was taken on May 9, approx a month after we brought them home. We know you care about Snow very much, so we wanted you to see that she's well and happy. Don't mind the soundtrack in the background.... Art was watching TV as I filmed through the kitchen window.

Solar Storm

We are supposed to be in the middle of a massive sun storm today. You'd never know it.

Might not be seeing any Northern Lights tonight.

just another day at Savory Farm

This is our boar, getting ready for Art to give him an apple. He doesn't have a name, but I've always called him "polka-dot-boy".

4:00 am feeding

Xena

Attempting to feed the cats, but the lambs are very interested. The cats are getting used to them being around, though, so it's not a problem. You can't see Blackie very well against the black background, but he's in the middle, between Chickie and Kermit.

a lamb video

Baba and Louie.... 2 days old....

Baba and Louie

I'm gonna make this quick because I have homework to do, but also need to start boiling water on the stove so that I can wash the mountain of dishes that is taking over the kitchen. This is day 3 of having no water and it's just a terrible thing to deal with. We're buying drinking water in town and Art is bringing containers up from Tom's to give the animals. Art put a heater on the frozen pipes up at "gramma's", but the water has yet to flow. We may be past the worst of this cold weather, so in a couple of days when it's above zero again things will be melting and I'll be complaining about THAT. Why can't there just be a nice middle ground? Is that too much to ask?

Here's what it was like this morning. Thankfully, no wind.

Other news is that the Jeep has broken down.... yet AGAIN. This time it is the water pump and what seems to be gelatinous anti-freeze. I guess a 50/50 mix is not enough when it gets this cold.

Enough of all that griping.... onto FUNNER stuff! We are now the proud parents of twin lamb boys. They were born yesterday morning on a farm in Vanderhoof. Their momma is unable to care for them, so they need to be bottle fed for awhile. When we went to get them, there were 2 more... also brand new.... that we could have taken. We were so darned tempted, but felt it might be best to break ourselves in with two for now. We are interested in getting a couple more later, maybe. I really like the black ones. Anyways, we took these two brothers and named them Baba and Louie. Baba has a black nose, Louie's is pink. One of the first things we did was skype Sophie to show her the babies. I think she got quite a kick out of it. And then one bleeted and the look on her face was priceless. It was perfect!

Because it is so darned cold outside, we made them a temporary home in a big dog kennel and put it in our living room. Art slept on the floor beside them last night and we both got up every 2 hours to feed them. He was getting up to stoke fires anyways. Now, get ready for cute overload because here come a bunch of pictures.

cold enough for ya?

Things are a little nippy around here lately. This was our house this morning ....

Look at this crazy forecast! For those that don't speak celsius, minus 47 is minus 52.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

I don't know if it will actually get that cold, but at minus 30 our water has frozen up. Art put a heater on the pipes, so hopefully things will be flowing again soon. There are a lot of things I can do without, but running water is not one of them.

So, there are 3 fires burning right now....the house, the greenhouse and the barn. Art goes out and stokes them every 4 hours. Even during the night. The water has frozen in the greenhouse and the barn, too, so we really need to get the house water going so that we can get some to the animals. In the meantime, though, Xena and Cleo think it's all just fun and games.

Hey, where did everybody go? Who wants to play red ball?

The cats have different ideas.

Jack is such a clown

I have a question about chickens. What would make feathers curl like this? This pullet is a Rhode Island Red and looks like she's been using a curling iron. She's not sick or anything, just has this whacky "do".

Here's me plowing the yard. I'm in there, waving at you.

We went to Prince George awhile back and look what we found! I've become quite a maniac for this hot sauce, which up until now we've only been able to find in Chinese stores in Vancouver. That's one big YAHOO from me!

And Art found one of his favourite teas. Very thrilled to have found this store.

Time to hunker down and get warm.

Which way did they go?