Rural life

[Joy]

The horses have been just amazing lately too. I feel we have turned a corner as far as bonding goes. Both of them run to the gates when they see us now. Prior they were quite indifferent to the point of rude. Max, has been so nice that I think I am building some trust in him again. He follows me around like a dog and nips the other one so as to have full attention. The mare, Bonnie, too has been very sweet. She tries to communicate and is funny. In the winter the water got very low and she wanted some fresh...so she picked up snow in her mouth and threw it. She will open her mouth and move her lips and pull faces. She is just very funny. I am not sure what she is saying but I like that she is playing with me. We have been spending at least an hour a day taking ticks off them. Bonnie loves having her tail touched and groomed and corners me now, backing up so you will scratch her behind. It is pretty funny as if you didn't know better you would think she was lining up to kick you. I think they realize that they are being cared for and love the fussing. For the first time when I screamed NOOOO!!! at the horses, when they were chasing the pigs,...they listened and backed off. I realize that doesn't sound big but it is the relationship, and he is respecting it. That makes me very happy.


Spending energy makes energy and spending it out doors while it isn't too hot is lovely and revitalizing. The lilacs are out and fragrant. I am certainly feeling more at peace here now simply because I am feeling better. I am enjoying the warm sunny days, about 21C with a light wind to blow the mosquitoes away. I hope this feeling good lasts for awhile. I can see what it should feel like.

[Luc]

The pigs have been so much more fun than I ever imagined pigs would be. They have gotten out of the barn every day now so we have decided that we will allow them to free range. What a riot! The piggies come to the house and sleep under the deck out of the sun. They are up and moving quickly when they hear our voices happy to have company. When we go out to the coral, the pigs follow...so the dogs, both cats and 3 pigs...off we go. They all get along well and greet each other nose to nose.

I'm trying to imagine it all, especially this part in bold. :) Fantastic!

[Joy]

I know Luc, it is crazy funny. As we walk out of the house with the dogs, of course the cats come and within a min the pigs come out of the woods at the back of the house and join us. We all greet each other and I scratch each pig. My smaller one Babe, just leans into my leg while I pat her. We laugh and watch why the pigs go to each dog and sniff them. The dogs have their tails wagging happy. If a pig gets too close or bothersome there will be a little barking to get them to back off. Little kitty is in the mix, and my city kitty is usually about 10 feet away watching. He doesn't mind the pigs but when they come to greet him he scrams. In the evening now we simply walk back to the barn and the pigs follow. We shut them in and they let themselves out the next afternoon. I suppose shutting them in might keep other things out..but not sure there is a purpose to it at all. Ha,ha.

On our patio stones we have a small area for a garden flowers. I have planted lettuce and Swiss Chard in it and have a little wire fence around it. Just the kind that push in. I don't know why I thought the pigs would respect it. Within 2 hours of it going in..I see it in a tangled mess on the ground about 5 ft away.
So much for fencing. I expect they will see it as a buffet unless we can get another one up.

My City Kitty has become a great hunter. He catches mice and walks back to the house crying out. Time and time again the same thing happens...Little Kitty, runs over and takes the mouse and eats it immediately. And this happens throughout the day..I thought Little Kitty was stealing it from him but now I think my City Kitty is catching and bringing it for him as he doesn't eat them himself and when he is hungry comes back to the house looking for his special (very expensive) food given through the vet. If Little Kitty doesn't go to get it, Georgie (City Kitty) walks around with it crying out until he does come.

Pets are entertaining!

[Luc]

What is the current total number of them now? More boys or girls? Keep the photos coming, Joy. They are more than great.

[Joy]

This is a picture of the two horses coming in from the pasture and at the gate greeting us. Enjoy!
Luc, we got rid of 2 pigs and now have just the 3. The 2 cats, 2 dogs and 2 horses. For now until I feel better this is as much as I can cope with!! :O)

[Sheila]

Ha! I love your flexible, collaborative boundary system with the pigs. You all worked out an accord. Great animal stories. Keep ‘em coming. They’re healing for everyone to read. And healing for you to write. And probably will lead to the next step of what you want to do.

Citty Kitty is doing great hunting without claws! But he’s too civilized to want to eat that raw meat when he could have expensive, processed food.

Those were some great ideas for Bruno.

[Joy]

Hi Sheila,...LOL, "flexible, collaborative boundary system"...I love that sentence! It seems to be working although we had to put rings in the snouts of 2 pigs because of the rooting. They are doing fine with it..a little body piercing. I was more upset then they were about it!

I hope I get inkling about what do do in the future. We are struggling to come up with some ideas to get the farm to make money without to much investment. My partners health hasn't been good for the last couple of months so fencing and some of the heavier things have to wait this year. I think writing my updates are helping me appreciate what I have. I do so enjoy the animals. Today we were out driving and I realized that it is quite lovely around here. Just a different type of land than we had in Ontario. I have calmed down and feel more contented now. We bought a few more things for the garden and I hope to get some of that done tomorrow. Everything happens slowly here as both of us are a little worn down right now. But I have learned that if I can force myself to get out and do something even if it is a struggle, I benefit from it. Just seeing an accomplishment spurs me on to want to do more. Tomorrow I want to put together a planter and put a couple of things in the garden and just spend some times outdoors in the fresh air. Thank you for the encouragement Sheila. xox



Thank you Luc and Parox!

[Luc]

Beautiful!

[PAROX2010]

That beautiful horses!. I love

hugs

[Sheila]

Joy, you are going about this just right! Don’t push yourself too hard, but don’t give up and do nothing either. Keep noticing what you like, what you’re drawn to. That’s really important – really make note of what you enjoy. Then follow that trail of bread crumbs, and something will emerge – possibly slowly and step by step, possibly all of a sudden – that you want to do.