Back in Business
YAY – we’re back in business. The internet is up and running, well, sort of. No wifi, I think the one of the devices got zapped with the lightning strike. It’s been a bit of a crazy week, no down time with not internet. For starters, I’ve been having to run down to our local library to get on the internet, so I park outside and e-mail and get work done quickly. I’ve been taking two trips down there every day. Yesterday morning when I got home I noticed the pig fence was bowled over, then I realized the pigs were out – OH NO!!!
I fixed the fence and realized there was no charge. When I checked on the charger I realized it had blown up, literally – GREAT. So I quickly rerouted the pig fence so I could hook it into the charger in the chicken coop, thank goodness it was still working. Then I opened up a gate and called for the piggos. They came running and went right in, this is when training animals to a specific dinner call comes in handy! Back inside the fence I heard one of them get a few good zaps and then I went on to the chicken coop. Luckily they didn’t do much damage while they were out either, lots of walking and sniffing.
Then I found a weasel had made it inside the electric fence there and had killed my favorite hen – GRRRRR. This means WAR pesky weasel!!!! Then a few minutes later the internet service guy came up the drive and got my internet partly working – YAY. At least now I’m semi back in business, no laptop work, but that’s OK. I can now work and of course most importably BLOG! and of course research how to get rid of that pesky weasel! When it rains it pours it pours, because it’s pretty much been raining the entire time this has been happening.
How has your week been?
I am so sorry about your favorite hen. Hopefully you get that weasel quick! Glad the piggos came back wanting dinner :)and not straying to far from home.
to Jodiana's comment
Susy, yay. Welcome back. I’ve been missing my morning time catching up with the Susy Morris updates about homestead living in Maine. It is amazing how Internet connected we have become. In your case income is affected. It sounds like you have had one of those weeks that would be best forgotten. My wife would always say when we were in the middle of a week like yours, “and this too shall pass.” I found that during those times when everything seems to be falling apart around me just to keep plugging along and things would get better. It sounds like you are through the worst part and life will soon be back to normal. What ever that is. From facebook pictures and comments I get the feeling that Brian is gone some where. Are you having to battle through all this alone?
Pigs are always driven by food. They can always be predictably controlled by food. I still remember your first experience with moving pigs with the guy staying with you last year. It should be getting close to slaughter time again this year. Are you still going to slaughter your own like last year or are you having some one do it for you. Processing a hog is a big job as you found out last year. They are the most labor intensive animal on the homestead to process.
Have a great day on the Maine homestead.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
As I read your post this morning, the theme song to Welcome Back, Kotter runs through my head. :)
Our week here has been stressful. Lots of rain, record rainfall and it keeps falling in sheets. Be glad you did not move to Seattle. We’re all feeling under the weather, so I am thankfully for homeschooling and crafting. At the moment we are learning to draft clothing patterns for my daughter in order to recreate 1940’s women’s trousers like a Rosie would have worn in time for a Halloween school production called Festival of the Famous.
I am so sorry about your hen. And truly sorry you are going to have to hunt weasel. Ugh! Good luck!
to whit's comment
I’m west of you Susy, over in the Foothills, and the rain is really coming down now! I love reading your blog. I just started gardening this year and many of your tips have been super helpful! Good luck with the weasel hunting!
to Lorri@FarFromPerfect's comment
I’m so sorry about your favorite hen. We lost ours earlier this year to an owl and I still miss her. As for the pigs – we are hoping to get one in the spring. I will remember that food is a key component to pig behavior!
to Kristen's comment
Welcome back! So sorry about your hen.We lost one of ours to a raccoon, ripped part of the roof off the coop. Go get that weasel!
to Colleen's comment