Sweet Halvah

Halvah is our new purebred Tamworth sow. She's named after a Middle Eastern dessert which is apt, because she is a sweet girl.
She's bred to one of Garcia's relatives and due with Tamworth/Gloucestershire Old Spot piglets any moment now.
Tamworths are an endangered breed in America. They're used especially for crossing with other breeds because of their ability to have a large weight without a lot of fat.
I think it's time for us to start keeping some of these designer piglets for our own culinary delights!

Tarkheena Piglets

When I saw Becky and Laura carrying girl piglets two at a time from the little pen in which they had captured them over to the bigger pen, my thoughts went to The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, when Aravis a Lasaraleen are being carried in a litter by slaves.
Which reminds me; now is a good time to reread the Chronicles of Narnia.

Brand New Piglet! or: Why I Should Try to be a Submissive Wife

There are two separate and distinct little piglets represented in these three photos.
When our new Gloucestershire Old Spot boar disembarked from the truck and ran to the center of Opal's ten piglets, Danny told me, "Be careful that you don't sell him by mistake this weekend."
I laughed and mocked him for a little while with the idea that I could never mix up the brand new purebred with my own, my precious, mixed breed piglets.
So, the top photo is one of the ten photos I snapped of one of Opal's piglets, thinking it was the new pig.
The bottom two are really and truly the new guy.
He's a "blue group" GOS. The breed is separated into four "color groups" to help keep inbreeding to a minimum.
FYI: it's hard to see well through a camera lens!

A Watched Pot Never... Has Kittens

Bonnie is due to deliver her kittens any time.
I'm obsessed with following her around hoping that now will be the moment.
Luckily for me she's extra friendly with all the hormones, otherwise I'd be driving her crazy.

Duckling Edition

Here are three sweet but noisy new babies.
We surprised Becky with them yesterday.
Last night they "slept" in Laura's room. Tonight I believe they'll sleep in the bathroom- with the door closed tightly behind them.
The kids made the indoor pool for them in hopes that they'll sleep well tonight.

Let's Play A Game

It's called: "Where do you think Bonnie Moppet will have her kittens?"

Big Dan thinks that she prefers the ambiance of the kitchen drawer.

We didn't get the Bon cat spayed because we thought that the dogs would kill any toms who came a courtin.' (They normally kill all stray kitties, and possibly even their own cat once.)

We were mistaken.

The blessed event is coming soon but we don't know for sure when.

Indoor Pigs

Here is one of Opal's sons heading into Laura's room.
We had brought the five boys indoors to castrate them so Opal wouldn't hear and also so Opal wouldn't (hopefully) be able to break through the walls and get us.
Last time, when we castrated her first litter, we had some reservations about the sturdiness of the horse trailer versus Opal's determination to rescue her little boys.
Fortunately for me, a good friend who's experienced in these matters came to do the deed. The little piggies are all doing fine after their operations.