Bushel and a peck!

Starting the search for corn. The old timers suggest its the best to finish hogs on....hogs I all but fell asleep leaning on like a lounge chair in the barn tonight.

I can't think of slaughtering them on nights I sit in their stall listening to their deep peaceful warm happy well fed and loved slumber.

Chores?

I don't have farm chores, I partake in delightful efforts. The only chore is knowing hauling buckets of water from house to barn ends with a drive to the office.

Webinar: Organic Land Care

Upcoming Webinar: Organic Land Care – Resources for Making the Transition | Sustainable Places Information Network » Sustainable Places Information Network

Thank yous

Thank you Toby Small and family for giving me the push to go from reading and researching to getting pigs.

THANK YOU landlord for not only allowing and supporting my farming pursuits but taking an active interest.

Paul thank YOU for building the amazing pen with me, getting covered in fence paint, and driving to Romney, WV to pig up piglets...and most importantly knowing that an extra pair of helping hands is only a phone call and 2 miles up the road.

Thank you Mom for bring me scraps and thank you Aunt Debra for dozens of apples so generously saved for my pigs from your orchard.

I could not enjoy or even be raising pigs without the support, encouragement, and help provided by you all. This little farm on a farm is an asset in my life providing me endless joy and happiness.

I am grateful, thankful, and so very blessed. Or in blog talk....grateful, thankful, and blessed I am.

Thank you for supporting me and for supporting American agriculture!

foster

fos·ter (fôstr, fstr)

tr.v. fos·tered, fos·ter·ing, fos·ters

1. To bring up; nurture: bear and foster offspring.

2. To promote the growth and development of; cultivate: detect and foster artistic talent.

3. To nurse; cherish: foster a secret hope.

The word foster has many definitions.

I foster dogs.  I love adore appreciate and respect the species and it pains me to know the suffering which they are exposed to.  Many people turn a blind eye, some people don't care, some can't be bothered, others are too self rightious to look beyond themselves to see what good their time and energies would do in anothers life. 

Others have hearts that don't stop giving.  I luckily found a group of individuals with huge hearts and giving sensitive spirits and together we save dogs.  Most recently I fostered a border collie mix.  He went to a couple on a trial basis yesterday evening.  Oddly enough, i met the husband while creating a flyer for the collie at a local print shop.  Come to find out they live less than a mile down the gravel road from me.  They took him last night to be vetted by their personal vet prior to formally adopting him.  Hopefully this boy is one adoption fee and formal paperwork away from his FOREVER home!

A quick recap: 

Stray in WV in need of a foster home in a more populated adoptable area.

After the transport from WV to MD, hanging out before being loaded into my car for his ride to VA where he will be vetted, evaluated, and fostered in my home with my 4 personal dogs.

Foster destination Bluemont, VA...feeling cherished

on the farm, stunning in the sun

two peas in a pod

business in the front party in the back!

the whole crew

that's how its done folks.  in as little as 4 weeks a dog went from slated death to an adoptable (hopefully adopted) family pet.  altered, UTD on shots, housebroken, and happy!

best of luck my collie boy.

Ladies and gentleman

Today is the day. Shy my border collie foster dog goes to his forever home....a mere mile down the road! Thrilled to have him close by, cali will be requesting we invite him down for some wrestling action!

Hurray! Another dog rescued from rural WV, altered, and adopted.