Poor Daisy. Ronnie went back to work today and she is depressed. He is her human. She goes everywhere with him when he is home. Daisy loves him so much. This morning when he left she stood on her hind feet crying as he left. This evening when I got home, Daisy ran outside and went looking for his truck. She has been on the front porch waiting for him to come back. I have tried to tell her he will be back in a few days. Now she just wants to come in and check the house herself. Poor girl. He would take her with him but then Bella would be upset. They are buddies, too. They sleep in the same crate even though they do not have to. They run all over the place together. Daisy will be okay tomorrow. It’s just the first day that is really rough on her.

This new cat, Oreo is such a mess. He is a feisty little mess. He has been through a lot in the last few months so it’s taking him a long time to warm up except to Mya since it is her cat. He loves her. As far as me and ronnie go, he runs for the most part. He is finally coming downstairs to see what’s happening. He finally wanted some attention from me today. He is still not friendly with Persia but him and Bubba are starting to be friends. It’s just a slow process. This cat is like an acrobat. Or maybe an acrocat. I find him in the weirdest spots like up on top of the stair railing. It’s so funny but scares me to death sometimes. He definitely hit the jackpot here and he doesn’t even know it.

I had a friend out today for a bit to see the animals. She had heard stories about them all but had not met them. This girl has the biggest heart I have ever seen. She cares deeply about people. I have seen that firsthand. I saw something absolutely amazing today. Most of the time when people come over, the animals have to warm up to a person before they fully engage with them. Not this girl, they went in full force. The goats loved her so much they had her on the ground trying to love on her. The donkey was even friendly. The pigs even let her close to them. Once again, I see the effect people can have on animals and animals on people. These animals just take all of the stress you have away, even for a minute. They love people and they really loved Abbie. It’s a blessing for me to see. This was an experience in itself. They just knew she had a kind heart and wanted to be all over her!! Thank you, Abbie for coming by!!

I have to brag on my husband a minute. He isn’t home much and when he is, the poor guy always has to work on something here on this farm. He built a new shelter for the pigs the last time he was home. I was so appreciative and still am. We had so much rain when he was gone, the house had a puddle of water in it. The house wasn’t leaking, the placement of the house was where the water sat. So, when he got home this time, he put in a nice floor in it so the pigs would be off the ground. It worked really well. It came a down pour the night he built it and there was no water. All of the straw was dry so I knew the pigs had been also. We were out of straw also so he went and got me straw. I cleaned out all of the old straw in all of the shelters and replaced it with new. Those pigs were so happy. Warms my heart knowing how tired he is but does it anyway. He even said he would build Darla her own pen if the others didn’t stop bullying her. It’s just normal stuff all pigs do but he doesn’t want her picked on. She is too sweet for that.

Let’s talk about Darla. This pig is such a sweet girl. I got her from a rescue here in Arkansas. Thank goodness for them. This sweet pig came to the rescue from a breeder that wouldn’t get enough money for the babies she was carrying because they were not full blooded breed. She is about a year old and has already had a litter of piglets. Bless her heart. The rescue was amazing with her and her babies. The babies were all adopted and she was spayed so she wouldn’t have to go through that again. When I saw the first pictures of her, I just could not stop thinking about this poor baby. I had gotten to know the lady who had the rescue just through messages about rescuing pigs. We talked about me taking Darla. I just wasn’t sure since I had 8 already, but eventually I caved. She had just had surgery a week before I got her. She looked to be a little depressed and a little skinny, from nursing and depression. She was terrified when she got here. Her incision has healed and is looking good. I had no idea what her disposition would be when she got here. I had been told she was super sweet and that’s what she looked like. That wasn’t wrong. She is warming up to me in the two weeks I have had her. Pigs don’t let you give them belly rubs unless they trust you because that is a vulnerable place for them. I have been able to give belly rubs daily for about a week now. She shows me her Mohawk when I pet her and I got a piggy kiss today. I’m so thrilled with her progress here. Now, if I could just get the other pigs to love her. Out of 5 other pigs in that pen, there are still two that have not fully excepted her, but I know they will. She is also putting on some weight and she is looking really good. I’m thankful the adoption of Darla went so well and I’m grateful to the rescue that had her for everything they have done for this to happen. They were patient with me to hold her until I finished school and they brought her to me. It was meant for her to come here. I needed her and she needed me.

Russ is mad at me again. I have no idea why. He just gets so moody sometimes. Since I brought Darla home, he is getting better around me again. He is more friendly with me. He is letting me pet him, slowly. I’m not sure if he is afraid to get attached or what. Poor guy. He will warm up and then the next thing I know he is mad again and won’t let me near him. He still refuses to sleep in one of the shelters with the other pigs, he sleeps in the dog house, alone. He gets along with the other pigs and is top hog so I’m not sure what is going on with him. I won’t give up on him, I’m still working on it. I do have to remind myself it’s only been a few months. We have had set backs with surgery and then an infection, etc. I’m determined to get him to warm up. I know I have to be patient. I’ve had Patsy almost a year and she is just now warming up. 

The goats haven’t gotten out again. That’s a win in my book. I know now they love to be out. Today been rain storms, I decided to let them out again. They are just so cute. They ran out of there and of course started eating everything in sight which is why I let them out in the first place. They were out a couple of hours. Hercules decided to try to eat my apple tree, Carlos was climbing on the trailers, and they all rounded the corner and got close to the garden. Mya ran out behind them and I see a stampede of the herd running away from that side of the house. It really is so comical to watch them. They are all they could before they went back in the pen. When they got back in the pen, they all looked like they were going to take a nap. I really do love to watch them.