Sunday Surprise
With a busy morning ahead there was no sleeping in today. My agenda was make coffee, feed the woodstove, get a haircut, finish my sermon, and get to choir practice by 10:00. I don’t know what the congregation felt about my “Treasurer’s Report” but coming after yesterday’s news, it was pretty emotional for me. That done, we got back home for lunch with Gretchen, interrupted by Dewey’s news that we had 5 new piglets (actually 6 as it turned out) running around in the pen. (I was reminded that a few days ago I had intended to tell Chris that one of the female pigs appeared to be developing swollen teats – “What did that mean?” but had forgotten to.) Well now I knew. OK, what now? Seriously try to raise them, or just let them run around and probably get eaten by the 2 unrelated adults, or freeze or starve to death? I decided that at least we could separate the sow and her litter from the other two. Since we had to be at the hospital soon, I quickly threw together a makeshift sow-house and fenced it off from the rest of the pen with hog-panel. The new family seemed safe enough and off the the hospital we went.
We were able to see both newborns up close today. Eli is in his mother’s room, and we watched while she and Tim took turns feeding him. Later, we got to visit Elayna in the NICU. She is so tiny, but perfectly formed. I touched her little foot and pronounced a grandpa’s blessing over her: I ask You, Lord, to continue the miracle of her life by letting her grow quickly, and develop normally, and let her become the delight of her father and the reward of her mother. Most of all, Lord, let her know you in the fullness of your love. I am still overwhelmed by all of this.
We were about to leave when Jaimie’s dad, Pete, called to see how soon we would be back, and casually reported that the little pigs seemed cold, and should he do anything about it. I would have written them off, but was overruled. Chris reminded me that if we could get these piglets to feeder size, the would be worth $40 apiece, but I think she just wants to raise baby pigs. Whatever, Pete and I kicked around ways to get heat out there and hit upon the temporary solution of moving my generator out there and plugging in a heat lamp.  With a project in hand, Pete was off and running. By the time we returned he had the litter quite toasty. We’ll have to think up something else tomorrow, but for the moment we are officially in the farrowing business!