No Harm Just "Fowl".........

As I took a gander, (get it, gander, goose, male goosee) around the east end of the buildings, I noticed these two parked across from the P-Pond soaking up the bright sunshine and obviously scoping out a spot to nest and believe me there are plenty to choose from. I believe the one sitting is the female (imagine that, like it took hours of study to figure that out) and the male is keeping an eye on me in case I am a threat or maybe just the sun reflecting off of my head startled him and made him jump up, go figure. They really are great to watch and I have a lot in common with them as we pick a mate and we are together for life, big poofy tail, and oh, I like eggs too, and given the number of gooseez I see daily, there is going to be a lot of little gooseez (goslings to you non-goosee people) around the P-Pond this year so don't hesitate to take a "gander" at them a little later on in the spring.....

Well, the week ended on a positive note with another very well executed Thursday weaning, washing, moving and fixing, and no mommies doing well, you know, in the Gestation barn. Lucky for us they all were longers (long gestation lengths) so they made it till their suites were ready and all settled in before they, you know, all over the place.

4-H pigs are still going outa here like flys to a candy apple and I can't wait to see the fair results this year, going to be interesting to say the least!!!

Well, it is time for some B&B (bananas and burritos, talk about a magnesium burn) so I will take my leave of ya'll.....for now the weather is crappy, freeze to thunderstorms, but all are home and tucked in for the day and all is well on the farm once again.....:)

Spring what,when,now.......

I can almost smell the phlox in the photo and according to the calendar Spring started Thursday morning but according to the weatherman it is still winter with snow forecast for Saturday and Easter Sunday, go figure.
Thursday was not only the first day of Spring but also another weaning day so we "Sprang" into action and moved all the little piggies into their new homes and got the old one washed and freshened up for the new pigs in town and all went extremely well for a Thursday even though we were sweating bullets (more like milk duds, we had been into the chocolate) over the sows even having Dustin doing a routine run to gestation to make sure there were no sows doing, well you know, in the barn, we got all moved into their nice clean rooms and all caught up for another few days!!!!
GOOD FRIDAY turned out to be a rather pleasant day work wise, with Andy, Lori and I taking care of things and the Gremlins failed to rear their ugly little heads and kick us in the, well you know, like last year so it was a two day in a row good deal kinda thing and we can only hope it is a trend or something like that or a sign of things to be or just a coincidence kinda thing but it was very welcome in case I didn't make that plain enough or clear or something like that......
This is another year that I will dawn my Easter long johns and Bunny snow boots instead of an Easter bonnet (I really could use one, cause I bent down in some tall grass last year to tie my shoe and one of the kids thought they had found the worlds biggest Easter egg (with ears) or something) I can't win, but despite the weather everyone will have a most excellent Easter Sunday with family.........
It is getting late in the day and all my little critter friends are snoozing away comfortably with their little tummy's full, everyone is home preparing for Sunday and all is well on the farm once again............:)

Sunset on the Farm.......

Thursday was another very well planned day (all thanks to Lori and I if we must say so and we must) and despite the odds being against us we came out victorious (as usual) once again!!! We have been using a 4 cart system at weaning which makes things go a lot faster and I mean fast, I swear I saw my own butt more than once and I know some of you say that is easy to do from a mile away but no kidding aside I passed myself coming and going in the same alley, Lori just went at a dead run with a syringe in one hand and a cart in the other and break time was when we got the washers going......

As you can see, Friday ended on a rather gorgeous note with fair Skye's and moderately nice temperatures giving way to today with cooler temps and drizzle all day it turned out rather gloomy. Did have to help Lori this morning with a task that was most definitely better accomplished with two sets of hands (it was one of those we hate to do and thank goodness we don't do very often) than one and had little problems gettin it done.

Well, I have a movie and some popcorn awaiting me so I will take my leave (I love that)....but for now, a lot of 4-h pigs have been sold, everyone is home and tucked in for the day and all is well on the farm once again..........:)

Things You Find In The Snow.....

No, it isn't a beaver, it is Baby J finding out what depth perception is all about (not really, that is the last thing on his mind) and applying the results of his findings in a real time environmental situation (having a blast in English)........:)

Sunset.......

This is a neat photo of almost sunset Saturday after the snow had ended and the wind subsided a little bit. Just missed Randy moving snow down road and luckily it didn't get as bad as they predicted. NOW, it is 6 degrees but no wind, and looks at this point in time like it may be a great day,weather wise that is.....:)

It's Later.......

Well, I don't much like this weather but what can you do.....and here I thought spring was just around the corner yesterday when I saw Randy outside with his hood down.....

unbelievable, he never takes it down....I thought for the longest time that he was studying to be a "Boooist", you know, one of those guys that wears the long thingies with the hood up all the time that tap you on the shoulder when you don't know they are there and when you turn they go "Booo", a Boooist.....

Well, Thursday is over and it ended very well for a Thursday. All the sows that were due were not exactly due for immediate accommodations so we had a little breathing room for a change. Spent most of the last three days repairing water lines and feed systems but those are coming along okee dokee so far....got the piggies weaned in record time again and no employees were harmed in the making of the record.......got the room washed and all the mommies moved in and awaiting, well you know, and the day ended as smoothly as it began so all that's left to do is await the snow storm.

It is getting dark and cold but all are home and tucked in for the day, and all is well on the farm once again.........:)

ICEEEEEEEEEEEE........HAWK.......

This is really neeeeeeet.......in the bottom picture you can see him top left in the tree and the next one is zooooooooomed in. There was another one in the tree in the garden also and I am sure dinner was as scarce as sun and warmth. There is hundreds of trees broke down from the ice, a real mess, and now we have another winter storm watch in effect for the weekend with a lot of snow but worst of all wind which is going to be bad for the trees cause the ice has not melted off and they are still very heavy so wind is the last thing they need..........later...........

Mom & Baby J......

Just got this (Debbie) and had to share. I think he is almost ready to take on chores with Dad, he is already "whoopin Mom" pretty good....

Grow Baby J...........

Just Yappin........

Yes it is still winter but this photo just makes my old heart go pooter pat (as you get older you will understand this) to see all the warmth and sunshine in this photo and it is just around the corner, or so they tell me. This weather going from 50 one day to zero the next is taking it's toll on everyone and everything. I went to the office to return Kim's phone last week, (that's right Susan, he lost it at the unit) and there was Randy wearing two sweatshirts with a heat tape raped around him plugged into the wall and he was still cold, "bring the heat"!!!!!

The week ended rather well as far as well can end and well can end well when things go rather well for you, oh well. Thursday was a breathable day and the 9 sows waiting to, well you know, gave me a break by all having rather long gestation lengths (for you city folk that means their gestation is longer than normal) so I didn't start the day till 4 that morning. We were without an employee once again, the power washer melted some wires and slowed us down a wee bit, but we had some things done far enough ahead that it all ended rather well, as I think I have already mentioned, and Thursday ended on a upbeat rather than us being beat up.......

Today is rather sunny and in the 40's for a change and tomorrow is forecast to be even more sunny and more warmer and then rain (HEAVY) just before it turns to snow and an Arctic front moves in with some more much below normal temps for us to enjoy at the end of the week, same ole same ole......

But for now all are home or out enjoying the sun and all is well on the farm once again......:)