In a Pig's Eye...

AudioEnglish.net  defines "in a pigs eye" as: 

very unlikely.

I suppose it is fair to say that the odds of a certain shepherdess driving a metal rod into her eye, while chasing a chicken, would be 'very unlikely'.

Yet, I managed to do it.

:-(

Please trust me when I tell you that a metal rod, through the eyelid and scraping the eye ball is excruciatingly painful!  I think I stood there, holding my head and screaming, for about five minutes, before I could even move.

The pain was so intense that I was nauseous.

I (selfishly) did not want to call an ambulance so I called my oldest daughter, Pam.

I knew that Pam ~ being a full-time working mother of three extremely active boys, with lessons here, there and everywhere on any given night ~ would have nothing better to do than leave work early and drive 45 miles out in the middle of nowhere to take her mutilated mother to the doctor.

Of course Pam, being my "Princess" insisted that it was "no trouble at all".  That she was sorry I was hurt but glad for the excuse to spend time with me! 

Do I have great kids or what:?

(I love you Princess)

The eye doctor 'numbed' the area and then proceeded to clean up the eye and lid.  I swear, it felt like he was poking glass INTO my eye!

Luckily for me, the iron rod had pierced my eye lid, just below the socket, but only scratched the surface of the eye ball itself.  Although, I'll never understand how the hole in my eye lid is above the eye but the scratches on the eye ball are on the bottom...?

A thorough cleaning, antibiotics and a tetanus shot later and Pam & I were free to leave!

We stopped at a local restaurant for a quick bite to eat and then hurried home, just in time to watch "The Bachelor".

P.S.

As you can see, Holly and Ivy are growing rapidly.  I am VERY much enjoying having pigs and think that they will be ready to move out into the barn soon.  It will be fun to see them interacting with the sheep.

DREAM says...

"In a Pig's Eye!!! "

OK ~ No more teasing!

Some of you did guess correctly.  I am now the proud owner of two, American Guinea Hog gilts (young females).  "Holly" and "Ivy" are about 9 weeks old and come from farms in Wisconsin and Indiana.

There are lots of reasons why I decided to see how I like raising a few hogs.    I have to confess that one of the main reasons is because I LOVE fresh, pasture raised pork!   Guinea Hogs are much smaller and require much less intense care & feeding than commercial hog breeds.  On average, they weigh between 150 and 250 (adult boars) pounds.  I like the idea of controlling what goes into my meat supply and pasture sounds better to me than chemically laden, processed, hormone enhanced growth stimulating feed. 

The American Guinea Hog  is listed as critically endangered  by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. 

 Because of their critically endangered ranking on the ALBC  List of endangered species, there is also a good market for quality breeding stock.

"Holly"

Similar to Shetland sheep, compared to 'commercial breeds,  Guinea Hogs are smaller (by about half!) than the typical hogs produced today ~   although Shetlands have recovered from their once, endangered listing, the American Guinea Hog is still at risk of extinction.  Guinea hogs are great foragers and need very little grain to supplement their diet of browse, pasture, table scraps, garden leftovers and hay.

   Guinea Hogs are ideal for small, homestead farming and make great 'backyard' pigs .  They are easily tamed and love having their bellies rubbed!  Holly and Ivy won't be living in my backyard, but I do intend to run them with my sheep.  They will 'free-range', in the pasture, with the Shetlands and have access to the barn, just like the sheep.  That is the plan, anyway!  I'll let you know how it works out...  ;-) 

"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."

Sir Winston Churchill

"Ivy"

I'm starting out with the two, young females to get an idea of how I like having pigs around!  If all goes well and they fit in with my lifestyle (do I even have a "Lifestyle"???), I will have them bred this summer and should have piglets available by the end of the summer or early fall!  .  American Guinea hogs can have two litters each year.  I will most likely lease a boar so that I can continue my policy of not keeping adult breeding males on the premises.   I have already spoken with a breeder who is interested in bartering the use of one of her (very nice quality) boars, in exchange for spinning/felting/knitting lessons.  Bartering is good!

A meaningful quote borrowed from the homepage of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy:  "...when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again." 

 -William Beebe

  For anyone interested in learning more about Guinea Hogs,  visit the ALBC website or check out the American Guinea Hog Association (AGHA) site and find a list of breeders near you!  I hope you'll follow along and share my adventure with American Guinea Hogs!

DREAM says...

CENSORED!!!

I'm thinkin' we better get back to the photo selection process...

:-)