Patients and Impatience

It's early evening... just before sunset.

It will be our last trip to the barn for the day.

Everyone will be fed one last time, waters refilled, and manure scooped.

The pigs eagerly await their supper.

It's impossible to forget to feed the pigs, as they create such a ruckus at feeding time.

It's their absolute favorite time of day. 

And if you ask a pig... they are always hungry!

(Pigs actually lack the gene for satiety...so they are literally always hungry.)

We've been giving the pigs extra carrot treats with their meals...

a little something special to help make the day interesting.

These poor pigs...

In the summer they are used to wandering at will around the front pasture -

spending their days slowly walking around in search of eats,

then running at top speed back to their house at the end of the day for their pellets.

In the winter, when there is snow on the ground, their movement is limited.

They act as snowplows after a snow...

pushing their way through the cold to get to the treat corner and the ever-present

supply of Ritz crackers.

Other than that, they spend their winter days in their stall...

munching on hay and napping...

and occasionally squabbling.

These girls are only ever aggressive at one particular time,

and only with each other.

Each mealtime, as they finish the chow in their bowls, they push each other around

a little bit, trying to get to the chow in each other's bowl.

A little fussing ensues, but it's quickly resolved when they both realize that the food is gone.

Otherwise, they are sweet as can be!

The three black kitties are recuperating from their hysterectomies,

with no problems.

I am happy to report that all three remain in their stall at the present time.

Sam's visits are welcomed (sadly, mine are not.)

Sissy even rolled over to show Sam the "owwie" on her belly.

He was, of course, quite sympathetic.

Tonight our two littlest "littles" are coming to spend the next four days.

They will be with us at the farm until Sunday night,

while their parents take a mini vacation.

We'll be quite busy, I am sure...so Friday's blog post may be a bit brief... we'll see.