<< Back to main
NEW ADDITIONS!
Posted 3/15/2011 3:39pm by Sharon Kinsey .
It has been too long since my last update - sorry - I'm back in school and flailing about trying to get my schedule rearranged. Lots of excitement around here.
Jonah and Claire
I've always had a soft spot for pigs - especially little ones. It was time. Enter Jonah - an adorable pot bellied pig that will top out at around 50 pounds. You can't help but love him. I now understand where the expression "eats like a pig" comes from. When he eats he smacks his lips with such enjoyment! I think our son Sean used to make those same sounds :-)
Golda was a real trooper when I put Jonah in "her" pasture. Nothing phases her (except anything with wings on it). I guess she does not have a taste for pork chops. I originally thought I'd keep Jonah in with the sheep but he was a one pig excavation crew and my pasture started looking like - well - like a pig had been rooting up the grass and dirt! Plan B - fence off a large area around the chicken coop and get her a friend. I couldn't very well banish her to the back 40 alone - could I? Enter Claire. Claire is a rescue from North Carolina Pig Rescue (they have a rescue for everything these days - I think there is probably a rescue for abused toys...). Claire is about 3 and full grown. She is also a pot belly - and she has the belly to prove it. At first - she had little tolerance for Jonah - Lord knows he needed the snout of a strong female to whip him into shape - and Claire was just the woman to do it. They both now live comfortably in their new neighborhood. Oh yes - housing. Well - I started thinking I needed a lean to or something that they could get out of the weather under. But - things got a little out of hand - and this is what we ended up with - the Taj Mahal for pigs - they each have their own "apartment" with indoor plumbing and heat lamps soon to be replaced with fans. There may be some room if anyone thinks their house is nicer than yours :-)
Rebekah
After Samson left us I never really considered getting another dog. We were now down to 2 dogs in the house and that seemed about right. But sometimes God has other plans. I saw a plea for help on my Livestock Guardian Dog group email - an great pyr in Louisiana who desperately needed to be rehomed. Why I answered that email only God knows - but I did. Yes - that's right - she's here. The first picture is of Rebekah witih Jim when we picked her up in Roanoke (there is a transport service just for rescue dogs!). The last picture needs an explanation. Great pyrs are known for being collectors. They gather stuff and stash it in one place. This is some of Rebekah's stash. It changes daily depending on what shoes of mine she can pilfer or perhaps a dirty sock. What's really funny is that she will put one of her treasures on each of the 3 dog beds we have in the living room and if either Solomon or Bailey even look like they are approaching one of the beds she pounces on them. For her it is like putting a napkin on a chair to show it is occupied. She is a riot. She is very mellow - too mellow with no fear of people. Rebekah will soon become a certified therapy pet for Paws for Friendship Inc. and alternate with Bailey going to the nursing homes with me.
Cain and Abel
So for some reason I got this bug about fainting goats. They are very cute and yes they do faint when startled. So I started checking around and we now have two wethers (snipped boys) to join the herd. Right now they are in their own stall with a small play yard attached. They are both eating out of my hand and allowing me to scratch and rub them. In the next couple of days I will attempt to let them join the sheep. I say attempt because some of my ewes could whoop them pretty good! And for that matter the cows have a bit of an attitude as well. If it looks like it will be too dangerous for them in the sheep pasture I will move them in with the pigs. What - you think that's not fair? Let me tell you there is not a cleaner animal than the pot belly pig - they could teach everyone else a lesson or two! They don't poop where they eat or sleep! I don't want to put them with the other goats because of the donkeys who hate small furry things. The spotted one is Cain and the other Abel. The last picture is Shana trying to figure out what the two creatures in the next stall are....
Pepper and His Guardian
Pepper is the first ram I ever had. He has sired many beautiful babies. A year ago Pepper was injured in a "butting battle" with one of the other rams. They apparently nailed his hip and he has had a limp ever since. But lately it is getting worse and I fear that the time is drawing near when I will need to allow Pepper to go on to a pain free world. But he is well taken care of. Elka stays by his side constantly. I've seen her chase the other rams away if they seem to be annoying him. Sometimes she rests her head on him and sometimes he rests his head on her. I've seen her grooming him. It is very special. I know that it will be hard for Elka when he goes. 
Well I think that's it (isn't that enough?) I'll try to be better about keeping up with this. I also have a Facebook page for Follow Your Dream Farm if you want to chat. I leave you with a picture of sunrise and sunset on the farm this past fall. 
I am glad Miss Rebekah is getting along a bit better.