In my last post I had a picture of the kids jumping about in the rain....it kept going and going...and going. Over 3 days we had about 3 inches. In case this figure means nothing to you (as it wouldn't to me a year ago) I can tell you that it is a lot for us. Our driveway is starting to cave in for god's sake. It has been hanging in there for a while now but I think the 30 rotarians coming up the driveway and the torrential downpour were the last straw and it has given in to the temptation to have a little river in the middle of it. The plants look terribly happy about it all and we are having a planting flurry to take full advantage of it. In the middle of all this rain we took a long and wet trip 7 hours north to Inverell to add some more pigs to the herd. With the possibility of a farm shop we have decided that keeping the breeding herd on the smaller side (around 35ish) is a good aim and so rare/old breeds are on my list along with the white crosses to keep Maguire busy too. I had long had my eye on a saddleback and as luck would have it there was one up at the farm, along with a large black that is staying with us for a while before going off to another local winery with one of our berkies as breeders. From left to right we have Olive (James' new favourite), un-named large black and Winifred...already called "Winnie" (my new favourite). They have settled in well and are in their quarantine pen for a week before heading out to run about with the big herd. With no market this weekend James is busily building a brick pig run as initial attempts to vaccinate the sows by running them through the yards originally built for sheep (and perfectly good for weaners) ended with them picking up the panels and throwing them aside as though they were as light as a feather...and not bolted to the ground (which they were). "You win" we said as they looked at their handy work with obvious pleasure. James always gets the last laugh however..a concrete slab has been laid and a run will be built capable of holding a small elephant - I just hope they can't climb very well.