The Pigs Go Where They Will, Not Where We Want

I pulled the rest of the peas while Phil did the chores, and he went to build fencing while I washed dishes in hot water. The heat index probably barely hit 100 today. While still scorching, it was definitely less scorching. Even still, I was happy to get the hot water chore done before 10, since the RV gets quite toasty by midday!

Phil spent much time stringing line and driving T-posts for perimeter fencing so we can get the pigs back down into the forest. While he was there and I was washing dishes, I heard a scraping sound and turned to see Charles push his way out of a new weak spot in the fence, then saunter over to the section of woods Phil wasn't working on. None of the other pigs made any move to join him, and I let him go. Phil kept working on fencing.

When it came time to move the pigs, we opened the fence up. Charles had returned, and the five pigs all headed down slope. Sort of. They found moist spots and wallowed for a time. And then returned to their pen in the sun. Phil said, "I can't believe how little control I have over these animals!" And it's true. A 300 pound (or 600 pound) animal, all muscle and covered in mud is pretty much impossible to force to your will.

As night fell, after several more escapes and attempts, all five pigs had returned to the pen they keep attempting to escape. Go figure. Perhaps they simply can't stand to leave their wallow, which is getting deep enough that I wonder if they will soon be able to escape under the fence.

Tomorrow morning, when they are hungry, we'll try to get them to their new and fabulous pen again. The lure of food is a great one, for a pig.

I wonder sometimes if the pigs are more trouble and expense than they are worth. Phil pointed out that the areas in the forest where they have been are doing well. The first section has the underbrush cleared out, and greens growing underneath. It's turning a bit to a savannah. The second section, they they came out of just a week or two ago, still looks like a moonscape, but the runoff gully is not as cut. The pigs have sloped the sides, which is desirable.

And, in one spot, where we put a hay bale for them to graze and shelter under, there is a green swath of grass in the woodland. And that is very nice.

In other news, we headed back downslope today to check on the rotating cows. Phil had given them a generous paddock, not expecting to move them today, and they were lying down, ruminating, which is such a restful sight. Some have entirely lost their furry winter coats, and are sleek and shiny. Cleo stayed put for Abraham's pat.

The boys continue to find creative ways to occupy their time indoors. Jadon wrote and illustrated a story (and he even used an apostrophe for possessive in the proper place! and all punctuation and capitalization!). Isaiah begged to do more science experiments with electricity. We made a "wire" out of aluminum foil and tape and managed to light a little bulb using that "wire" and a D-cell battery. This was very cool. And, as I mentioned, Abraham and Joe came with us. Abraham petted Cleo first, then Joe walked up and said, "Mommy, help me." So I held his hand and he patted her head. He mentioned several times after that that he had petted her, "All by myself." Just about.