Monday, September 29, 2008
Amazing Grace
On Thursday evening, my daughter and I induced a hugely pregnant cream satin sow that we were worried about. We successfully delivered five nice sized pups. Often when you induce a sow the milk doesn't come in. I had to go to Ohio for the weekend and so decided to take mom and the babies along to supplement in case mom's milk came in late or not at all. So they got packed up and taken to Ohio. On the way home Sunday I stopped to feed them. The towel covering them had fallen into the cage on one side and one of the pups (the only sow baby in the litter) had managed to get out. At the gas station in Wytheville, Va., I am unpacking the car trying to find it. Can't. Called my folks in Ohio to see if maybe it had hopped out there and I just didn't notice since the towel was covering the cage to keep the babies warm from the cold air on Sunday. Wasn't back in Ohio. I was very upset- felt like a negligent Mom. I stopped again to feed the pups and look for the missing one. Still no joy. When I got home, I carefully unpacked a full car. Then I heard a squeek. The baby had crawled into the space between the backseat and the back compartment up where you couldn't see her. But you could feel her. Husband went on one side, scared her into shifting a bit and then I was able to get her out. Amazing Grace- once was lost, but now am found. This is a pig that will never be sold. But you all know I am a Sentimental.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Pain
About a month ago I had a basal cell carcinoma biopsied from the tragus of my ear That's that little triangular piece of tissue in the front of your ear. This morning I had a MOHS procedure done- tissue sparing. I said, just make sure I have enough left to hold in a hearing aid- that's probably next year's purchase. They had to reconstruct the dang thing anyhow with a flap they pulled over to cover the cartilage that was left. The numbing has worn off and it feels like someone is continuing to torch my ear- they did do a lot of cautery. They gave me a script for real drugs which is in the process of being filled right now. I will likely use them tonight when I go to bed. Suture removal in 7 days.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cannon
The editor of the Journal of the American Cavy Breeders Assoc put out a call for little short essays on the first cavy we ever owned. I can remember her distinctly and so wrote the following which was put in the journal several years ago. Hope you enjoy it.
I blame Jim XXXX. I was eight- he was an older man. How was I to know he would start a passionate lifelong affair- with cavies?
In the summer of 1962, my father brought home a pair of cavies he had purchased from a boy who lived in Caldwell, Ohio. Jim XXXX. Dad got the sexes mixed up and so we named the pig that eventually turned out to be a boar- Lady, and the pig that turned out to be a sow- Cannon. Cannon was a golden agouti American with a white snip and it soon became apparent that she was increasing. Imagine our delight one morning when she came out of the box in her cage with two little perfect babies! Lots of babies later, my mother forced us to give up Lady (boar). We found Lady a good home with our bus driver. He had watched us carry the pigs to school for show- and- tell and wanted one for his children. Cannon lived to be 8 years old- I was in High School when she died. She was buried with full Athenian honors in our backyard in a wooden coffin that my younger brother lovingly assembled. And I will unashamedly tell you we mourned her passing. Cannon was such a gentle creature-she would sit under your chin by the hour and hear your sorrows and joys. She was a wonderful ambassador for the species. I have had many pigs over the years who have been very special to me in some fashion or another, but no pig has ever been more special than Cannon. She was indeed some pig. Thanks, Jim.
I blame Jim XXXX. I was eight- he was an older man. How was I to know he would start a passionate lifelong affair- with cavies?
In the summer of 1962, my father brought home a pair of cavies he had purchased from a boy who lived in Caldwell, Ohio. Jim XXXX. Dad got the sexes mixed up and so we named the pig that eventually turned out to be a boar- Lady, and the pig that turned out to be a sow- Cannon. Cannon was a golden agouti American with a white snip and it soon became apparent that she was increasing. Imagine our delight one morning when she came out of the box in her cage with two little perfect babies! Lots of babies later, my mother forced us to give up Lady (boar). We found Lady a good home with our bus driver. He had watched us carry the pigs to school for show- and- tell and wanted one for his children. Cannon lived to be 8 years old- I was in High School when she died. She was buried with full Athenian honors in our backyard in a wooden coffin that my younger brother lovingly assembled. And I will unashamedly tell you we mourned her passing. Cannon was such a gentle creature-she would sit under your chin by the hour and hear your sorrows and joys. She was a wonderful ambassador for the species. I have had many pigs over the years who have been very special to me in some fashion or another, but no pig has ever been more special than Cannon. She was indeed some pig. Thanks, Jim.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Hey, Baby!
How's about a date? Not with a loser like YOU!
I had a very good TSF show. In this show, I won both the Best in Show and Reserve in Show. The BIS is on the right as you look at it- Julia a white American Sr Sow, and the RIS is Peter- a White American Satin Sr Boar. The other show, I had RIS with a White American Sr Boar- EttaPig.
Hanna hit while I was gone, we had five inches of rain, our basement got a little bit of water in it, not terrible, and I guess not surprising.
I am trying to unpack and clean pigs. More later.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
I hate days
when you wake up with a headache and it never really seems to go away. It just sits back there, mildly annoying after the drugs kick in, but waiting to roar back as soon as your blood levels of whatever therapeutic agent you took drop.
I have all the carriers set up and my show lineup for the TSF selected. Want to hear their names?
Patrick, Julia, Oboe Oboe Oboe, Magic Man, EttaPig, Etta Girl, Piccalo, Magpie, Garth, Emmylou, Nessie, Nellie, Peter, Reo Lobo, Take a Gander. Etta Girl and Etta Boy-yes, they were littermates- were the best in show winners. I need to check and make sure they don't need a bath.
Went and got pig groceries. On the road they get all sorts of treats to help them maintain condition. Some pigs say,, ROAD TRIP, and they LOVE it, and love to strut their stuff on the show table. Who could imagine. Others really don't do well travelling and I generally don't keep those guys on the show string. No need for misery. Lots of newbies on this trip. I retired several after the last show in Cashiers. Give someone else a chance to bring home the glory.
I have all the carriers set up and my show lineup for the TSF selected. Want to hear their names?
Patrick, Julia, Oboe Oboe Oboe, Magic Man, EttaPig, Etta Girl, Piccalo, Magpie, Garth, Emmylou, Nessie, Nellie, Peter, Reo Lobo, Take a Gander. Etta Girl and Etta Boy-yes, they were littermates- were the best in show winners. I need to check and make sure they don't need a bath.
Went and got pig groceries. On the road they get all sorts of treats to help them maintain condition. Some pigs say,, ROAD TRIP, and they LOVE it, and love to strut their stuff on the show table. Who could imagine. Others really don't do well travelling and I generally don't keep those guys on the show string. No need for misery. Lots of newbies on this trip. I retired several after the last show in Cashiers. Give someone else a chance to bring home the glory.
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