I really should do this more often...

Yeah yeah... I say that everytime!

Is almost 4 months since my last post really that long?

Doesn't seem like it.

I actually seems like the summer flew by, despite the lousy weather, and the ruined hay (far more than my last post) we're well into fall, even had the first snowfall (10cm in some spots) but it's almost gone (small favour).

Lots has happened, but it seems like there's never enough time to accomplish every thing that needs to get done before the real winter hits (like the barn, firewood, fencing, etc... etc... etc...)

At least the hay's in.

and we've got...

PIGS!

We've been buying local grass feed organic beef since we moved here a few years ago...and it's truly the best thing ever! However, as good as it is, after a while, a little variety would be a good thing. I thought about chickens, but quality chicken isn't that hard to find, and it's not that expensive. Fate, and the Internet intervened, and I saw an ad for someone selling piglets locally. I figured that I'd get two and give one to my in-laws as a x-mas present (and yes, meat makes a great present!) I mentioned this to someone at work, and 2 turned to 3. On the way there, word had spread... and then there was 4 (good thing I'd brought the big dog cage).

Then my wife talked to her brother... and he told one sister... she told the other... so I was back to get a second load.

Since then they've gotten bigger and well... ravenous. They've lost most of their cuteness (I see them as bacon in waiting) and are about 2 months from heading to the big processor in the sky.

I actually think they're easier than horses, they don't smell any worse, are less trouble to clean (they designate 1 spot and that's it) and at least useful (if only to keep the number of bags that go to the curb down to one a week). Certainly something to consider for the future, as I'm treating this as an experiment for now and strictly break even. The great thing about livestock this way, is that if the cost of feed goes up, it get's passed on down. It doesn't have as much risk associated with it that crops do.

And well, they are a sight cuter than a hayfield.