After our first gilt, Lucy, had only four live-birth piggies so we were very happy when our second gilt, Blondie, had eleven! Actually, she had fourteen, but three were still-born. Of course, we felt bad about that but eleven is a very good first litter for her to raise. Blondie is doing great and so are the kiddies. Lucy farrowed with mastitis, which is very difficult to treat in pigs as they are so hard to handle/give shots, etc. She ended up lacking in milk, even for four pigs, so I’ve been supplementing milk for the two smallest ones. I go down to the barn three times a day with a quart of milk and call “here skinny piggies” and the two come running and squealing and hop through the fence for lunch. They aren’t skinny anymore and are doing great.

I got fourteen pints of green beans canned up Monday and tomorrow I’ll be doing it again. The beans look great! And boy are they producing!

Will’s been both haying with me and building the barn with Eric’s help. They’ve been making trusses for the very top of the barn and when they have enough, they’ll all be stood up. Then the rafters begin to get nailed on the front end of the barn. (We don’t have enough cash for the whole works, but we’ll do what we can until we come up with more.)

I’m trying to get ready for our seminar August 17, 18, and 19th, a visit from the Cook area garden club, and a one day canning seminar on the 11th. Can you say a BUSY WEEK? It’ll be great but it’s hard to get the house cleaned up when you’re canning and haying! Oh well, it’ll happen. (If you haven’t checked out the August seminar, click the banner at the top of the page for more information. We’d love to have you come!)

3 COMMENTS

  1. Jackie, how do you do it? Wow. I’d be glad to have an energy level like yours. Next time you do a seminar, maybe a good topic would be How to Have and Maintain Jackie’s Energy Level.

  3. I’m sorry I will not be at your August Seminar. If it is like the one in May, everyone will have a good time.

Comments are closed.