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...

:-)

Wishing you and yours a JOYOUS Christmas!

Hug someone you love!

I'm Home



We're falling behind on the photo selections for the 2011 "Real Sheep Wear Shetland Wool" calendar but I know you are all anxious to know what I brought back from my road trip.

So, without further ado,

I present:

"Holly" & "Ivy"

I absolutely love them!

Tomorrow, we have GOT to get back to selecting photos...

DREAM say;s...

"Don't ask me!  I have no idea what they are.  But, I bet I'm not gonna Like it!"

Now, Dreamer!  Where's your Holiday Spirit???

A brief delay...

Please excuse a brief pause in the action while I take a road trip to pick up some new friends.  (it's a surprise!)

We will return to the selection process on Thursday night or Friday ~ depending on when I get back home...

Feel free to look over older posts and see if you find any photos that you think should be included in the 2011 "Real Sheep Wear Shetland Wool" Calendar.

DREAM says...



" (traitors!)  What's a girl got to do to get some votes around here?.  Clearly, the decisions are not being based on class, beauty, intelligence and good looks!  "

Don't worry Dreamer. 

They all love you.  They're just trying to give some of your friends a brief moment in the spotlight because you out-shined them all year long!  Surely you know that everyone loves you best!

;-)

If you thought that the last two were tough...

I  REALLY need your help in selecting the photograph to use for February!

#1

(Zaria and Sable)

#2

#3

#4

#5

(Sable and Zest)

#6

(Sable and Alice)

DREAM says...

(#7)

"Very cute ~ but I prefer a more dignified look."

Of course you do, Dreamer!

January, 2011

OK

I've selected the December photo,

now we need to pick the one for Jan. 2011.

Keep in mind, you can also chose one of the photographs from yesterday's posts, but if you do, be sure to leave the comment on this post.

Other photos taken in 2010 include:

J-1

J-2

J-3

J-4

J-5

J-6

J-7

J-8

J-9

DREAM says...

(J-10)

"Well, THIS one's obviously a No-Brainer!"

"Don't you wish they were all this easy?"

Um, er, ah ~ SURE Dreamer!

?

I REALLY shouldn't be doing this...

;-)

I'm supposed to be over at Doc's but I just couldn't resist posting these quickly...

Gotta run!



Shall we?

Shall we make a 2011 Calendar?

Will you help me choose which photographs to use?

I thought we could use the last days of December to select the photos for each month of the 2011 "Real Sheep Wear Shetland Wool" calendar.

At the risk of 'jumping the gun', let's start with December.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from December this year:

(in no particular order)

#1

I like the bare, isolated look of this photo.  It's quite common for us to get a major snow storm during the month of December.  On the other hand, this may be a better January photograph, as it sort of ties in with the "One-ness" of January

#2

Alice in the snow. 

I can't believe she's ten years old!

#3

Razz is actually lying down in this picture.  I like that it almost looks like he's standing, half-buried in the snow.  The little bit of background keeps the photo from being 'too' barren looking.

#4

Alice looking demure?

Two words not often used in the same sentence!

#5

Close up of Rass during the blizzard of Dec. 11th. 

#6

Snow covered Alice looking you right in the eyes.

#7

Ewe lambs (Kiss & Princess) in the shelter of their calf hut.

#8

I think Godiva looks SO sweet & innocent in this photograph.

Which do you like best?

Or is there a different one that you like more?

I can use one photo for each month or split the page into two, or as many as four photographs.  I tend to think that one, larger picture, is better.  Some months ~ such as when the lambs are little ~ it's hard to narrow it down to just one and then I sometimes use a montage.

Tomorrow we'll select the photo for the January 2011 page.

DREAM says...

"On, sure!  Pick the winner while I'm shut in the barn with the stupid CHICKENS!!!"

Now, Dreamer.  There are eleven more pages to select photos for. 

I'm sure we'll see your lovely face on at least one of them!

Crazy! Bad news and Good news...

I'm sorry for not announcing the winner of the Silent Auction yesterday.  I have been going absolutely crazy trying to get orders filled for  "Sheep Hugs & Soap Suds". 

 That darn "Bubbles" takes a LONG time to make!

I shipped six orders out by Priority Mail today.

Such a nice problem to have.

;-)

Thank you to everyone who has ordered!

The "Bad News":

I didn't win the Photo Contest.

I have to admit, the photo that won IS adorable!  If I hadn't been competing in the contest, I would have voted for it.  I was disappointed to not even get honorable mention, however. 

Ah, well.  Maybe next time!

The "Good News":

Congratulations to Donna Schoonover for her winning bid on the FIRST in the limited edition series of "DREAM" ~ the needle felted, soap/sheep that looks just like Dream! 

I want to thank everyone who bid but most especially Donna, who's one-hundred-dollars will be put to good use!  Yes, I made it through another month!

;-)

DREAM says...

"Ah-HUM!  Don't you think you should be thanking ME?

Donna bid that because she loves ME.

Give credit where credit is due, Mom..."

Of course, Dreamer!  I am ever so grateful to you.

Always!

(and I'll be letting you out of that barn SOON!)

  

Cat in the Snow and Last Chance!

I fell in love with this photo when I saw it on the blog of my  cyber-friend,  John Gray ofTrelawnyd, North Wales, United Kingdom.  John writes often humorous, sometimes deeply touching tales of his daily life caring for his many animals and living in rural, Northern Wales.  He is a delight!   The name of John's blog is "Going Gently"  Check it out  to see the purpose behind this adorable kitty photo.

DREAM says...

"Better that cat, than ME!"

"Don't forget ~ today at Noon, Mom's going to announce the winning bid on the One of a Kind,  very first one in a limited edition,  needle felted sheep/soap figurine of ME!" 

That's right, Dreamer.  we're down to the final hours of the Silent Auction for the first in my limited edition collection of "Dream" figurines.  There will only be ten made and sold and this figure is signed (by me) and numbered ~ #1.  Funds from this auction go to help support Bluff Country Shetlands (and Backyard Chickens) as I build my at home-business, in an attempt to earn a living ~ doing what I LOVE!

...The winning bid will be announced this afternoon...

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Princess and Kiss are in the paddock by my backyard. 

They have the calf hut for shelter.

 They seem to appreciate having the calf hut for shelter!

There are snow drifts four feet deep between me and these girls!

Fortunately, the wind cleared a little opening, right in front of the door to the hut.



Sable goes out to check on them when I go out to feed and water.

She so wants to play with her friends and doesn't understand why they won't leave their calf hut!

But Princess and Kiss are not about to brave those snow drifts.

I can't say that I blame them!

Yes, I DO crawl through the drifts to put hay and water in the calf hut for the poor babies...

DREAM says...

"Awwww!  Poor  Mom!  There aren't any snow drifts in HERE!"

       " te he he h e he..."