So, I am sure you have seen that Mya and I have 2 children’s books out. I just want everyone to know that we appreciate all of the support that has been shown for these books. Mya is the artist of these books. I have been writing the stories from things around the farm that actually have happened. I am trying to incorporate a lesson for children in each of these books. That is my goal. The next one is about a stubborn donkey and the one after that is about Carlos the goat. It is keeping us busy. I really do have an adult book coming out sometime this year from a publishing company. I am so excited about that. If you have not seen the children’s books, they are on amazon in paperback and ebook. One is called The Wayward Pig Kidstyle and the other one is called Russ The Unloved Pig. I did have a hard time with the title of that last one because I know he was loved before I got him but it was the story line. Anyway. Please check them out!!

I came home yesterday and Mya tells me to come over and look at Carlos’ eye. Oh goodness. I went over and his eye was about twice the size it should be and very pink looking. Looks like pink eye. I was so tired I barely had the energy to feed the animals, much less than having to look after a sick one. I get back in the car and go to the store to get meds for a goat with pink eye. I hate to admit this, but I’m really weird about eye stuff. Mya has been doctoring his eye and it is already looking so much better.

I have a 10 year old and overweight cat. He has been that way since he was neutered as a kitten. When we got started here on the farm, he started urinating in unusual places. I thought he might have a UTI. I was worried and bought some natural spray you spray in the mouth. It was a safe method. Well, I only had to use it a few days and he stopped doing it. It’s started up again and I started to use the spray again. I just caught him. I mean I have cleaned and cleaned because that is the worst smell ever. I cannot stand that this is happening again. I don’t know if it’s the new cat. Oreo has been here for months and this just started. I’m so frustrated and will be taking him to the vet. I feel bad for being so mad at him especially if he really is sick. I hope it’s nothing too serious also. I just hate that animals can’t tell us when they are sick so we know what to do. I do keep the litter box clean and I have already done that today so I know it’s not that.

Have you ever had a pet that wants so badly to be apart of the group but just isn’t part of the group?? Daisy has never really been good friends with Pepper and Maggie. Daisy is young and Maggie and pepper are up in years. I really didn’t realize how lonely Daisy was until Bella came to the farm. Daisy just wanted to play all the time but they didn’t. Now Bella wants to play also. I was a little worried about getting a 4th big dog, but Bella has really done well here. Her and Daisy are the best of friends. They run around in the woods and down to the creek and back. They even sleep in Bella’s small crate together. They don’t have to do that. The door is unlocked and opened. There are blankets down for them. There is even another bigger crate in there, but they stay in Bella’s Small crate. It is really funny. I’m so glad they are friends now. It took a bit to get them there but they are there.

Today has been a bad one. Not a little bad, the kind where your so stressed you can barely breathe. I had stress from about 5 different angles and they all kind of intersected at once. I still have a headache. Came home and all I wanted to do was feed and water the animals. That’s exactly what I did. All of the pigs were wanting attention. I gave belly rubs and patted them on the back. I know they love me and the attention. I also know they are emotional animals and they can feel when I’m stressed. I then went over and jumped the gate to the vet in the pen with the goats and the donkey. I’m pretty sure they know how I’m feeling also. Carlos was trying to give me kisses. Cracker Jack tried to knock me over to get my attention. Lucky didn’t want anything to do with me, but that’s normal. Hercules took lots of selfies with me. He is definitely the most out going goat I have ever seen. Romeo is so sweet and he just sat there and let me pet him. They followed me when I got up to go inside. Loving on all of them made me feel better, not great, but better. Life is stressful at some points in our lives and today was that for me.

I have to tell you, with the weather getting so hot during the day now here in Arkansas, I am grateful for where the pig pens sit. Back before we bought this place, behind the house was a dog kennel set up for breeding. I’m not a fan of that. I rescue dogs instead of paying big bucks for a dog coming from a breeder. For me, there are too many dogs out there that don’t have homes already. It’s just sad. Anyway. I used to hate going that far from the house because I wasn’t sure what would be down there. It was over grown and looked a little scary. We cleaned them all out once we got our first 2 pigs. It was most definitely in the best spot on the property. There is so much shad there for the pigs. It’s perfect. Of course whatever was growing there has been rooted up but they still get grass to eat and all of that. When I walked down there now, it’s like it’s 10 degrees cooler because of all of the shade. It really helps keep the pigs cool. Of course they get fresh water to drink daily and they get fresh water in their pools also daily to keep them cool. I used to hate it there because it just reminded me of sadness, but now it’s one of my favorite places on the property.

I can finally say after a very long time that all of the pigs will let me pet them. Some of them took a year to warm up and be able to let me give them a belly rub. They have all decided they are okay with me and know they are home. When a pig lays down for a belly rub, they are saying they trust you. That is a vulnerable position for them to be in. They don’t do it if they don’t trust you. Warms my heart that I have finally done it. It’s been work for sure!!