We've got piggies!

A few days ago I found a happy Mum and a litter of nine piglets. For a first time Mum, not bad at all. Unfortunately she rolled on one a couple of nights after so we now have eight remaining but they are all in rude health and are doing well.

It is still a bit muddy after the rain. We have had a rather unseasonal bout of rain in the time of year when it should be drying off. A good thing the young feller and I shovelled a load of gravel into the pen recently or these piglets would be swimming. Oh I long for the opportunity to cement this pen!

 Sausage is eating like she means it! She has to produce a never ending flow of milk for the youngsters and this means she is always hungry. For a first time mother she is doing very well. She is very protective of her young and I have had to seriously watch my step if I try to enter the pen. Despite this I think it is a good trait for a mother to have.

 Today we have finally had clear weather and blue skies. I spotted this Grey Goshawk perched high up on a dead tree branch. They are usually a very shy bird and I was surprised I was able to get this close.

I also had a visit from a young King parrot. He perched in the elder over the pig pen and had a cackled conversation with us. There has been a great congregation of Kings about today. I counted eighteen of them in one tree over the orchard this afternoon. Odd as I was under the impression they were a very solitary bird and lived in small family groups only.
I am working at a great pace in the workshop, especially when the rain is sheeting down. I have been getting the cold room completely finished in preparation for killing a steer on Tuesday- installing meat hanging rails and general sealing. I repaired and sheathed a power cable against rats for the freezer. We found they had chewed through the last one and the freezer was undergoing a rat-defrost cycle. I have also made a brass dipstick for the milk bucket. We were tired of counting each milking out, one litre at a time, and so I measured the increments in the milking bucket and etched them onto a brass strip. I have also repaired six second hand chairs for use outdoors and cut new followers for the baskets in the cheese press.
It is good to be busy and I am enjoying my energy. Work has been very hard lately and I find keeping busy at home is an excellent way to banish the demons and regenerate before the next round.