I hear them calling Tina, Tina, Tina as they walk around the property looking for little miss piggy. Enter a new animal to this funny farm, one I did not make effort to spend much time with. When she first arrived, she did not roam, I think she was tied to the make shift shelter so she could not run away. However when she did start exploring the neighbourhood, guess where she decided home should be? Correct, my doorstep became home base and the bed set up for the dogs was taken over by this stubborn little girl. This made me smile the first night she decided to sleep in Mali’s kennel, but when I woke up to the smelly deposits she left on my doorstep, I was not at all impressed. Although I did have a giggle when several were left in front of Patricks door as well. She arrived just prior (3-4 weeks) to his departure.
She would not be deterred though, insisting this was her new place of residence and kicking out the former occupants. Scott was not impressed, I have to tell you! I tried many things to stop her from taking over the dog bed including chasing her with the broom. I moved part of the bedding to a different location which seemed to be the best solution, but it only solved one of the problems. Her incredibly frequent deposits on the doorstep both mine and the room Patrick inhabited were not good for business. I kept my area clean but decided the owners needed to experience the clean-up for themselves to understand the bigger issue of customer appreciation. The smell was horrible and she seemed to prefer leaving it right where you would step on leaving your room. Truly I do not understand why anyone would want to raise pigs because of the smell alone. The movie Ned Devine came to mind. No amount of smelly soaps would work – whew!! This did the trick by the way, the pig was tied up for awhile and she learned (I think because Scrappy took pleasure in chasing her) to stay clear of my place, giving my area a wide birth.
I also learned why certain phrases are spoken such as “eats like a pig” or “what a pig” or “don’t be such a hog” as I watched her eat. It seemed to me that all she did was eat, poop and sleep. I was actually amazed at the continuous effort made for finding food, plus what she was given by the family. She loves guayaba (guava) and ate a truckload of those. You would think this would make her smell sweet wouldn’t you?
I saved her life one day. I was in my room, writing, I think when I heard the ungodly screams as she was being attacked by the bulldog next door. I ran outside trying to figure out where the cries were coming from and raced to assist her once I found her, screaming at the dog to stop. I was clapping my hands and yelling at him as he was biting into her neck. I had no idea how I would get him off her if my screaming didn’t do it, he is a big dog and in this state, I don’t know that he would not have just attacked me. But I had to try and luckily the screaming worked. She was tangled in the brush because they kept a rope on her which drags behind her as she forages. She couldn’t escape her attacker. Just as I got to her Abel also came running to help and together we freed her and he brought her back to her enclosure. Really, you just never know what will happen in a day. But that is true for any of us, and it is why I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I would be so angry if I missed the best day of my life (again) because I gave up…….
Another thing I found interesting, was how much the chickens followed her around. They became her constant companions, their visits with me dwindled down to nothing. After Foghorn died, I was in truth relieved by their sudden dependency on the pig for their diet. They still go past my room, but I don’t feel responsible for them anymore. Watching the pig dig in the soil, pushing her nose further and further into the dirt making a hole, was interesting. The chickens hover close by when she did this grabbing at the insects being disturbed by her digging. She had quite a following and I enjoyed the spectacle as 10-15 chicken chased her when she was on the move once more.
This song pops into my head several times a week :):
“Well life on the farm is kinda laid back
Ain’t much an old country boy like me can’t hack
It’s early to rise, early in the sack
Thank God I’m a country boy. Well a simple kinda life never did me no harm
A raisin’ me a family and workin’ on a farm
My days are all filled with an easy country charm
Thank God I’m a country boy. John Denver
Tina or miss piggy left the farm the other day. She was transported first thing in the morning to the pen at Nathaly’s house I believe because she is about to have babies. She was unceremoniously stuffed into a nylon feed sack head first, squealing her displeasure and I’m sure her fear. The poor girl must have been terrified, I know I would have been. But she had to be transported on the quad so there was not much else they could do. Javier drove, Maria held the sack on her lap between them as she rode behind Javier. Now this is just not something you see everyday. I would say “I’ve seen it all now”, but I am sure there will be more situations like this, so I will wait til I leave before I say it.
Poor Mali, she was quite disturbed by the squealing, sensing I’m sure how afraid miss piggy was. Animals would understand what was going on at a different level than us humans. I am sure they wonder at our methods and treatment towards them at times. Judging by how much Mali barks at this family, I am sure she sees their behaviour as cruel and inconsiderate. I can hardly blame her, it has crossed my mind also, but I can also see that they have to do what is necessary, the means not always easy for them. This does not make them awful or bad, it is just a different way of life, one you cannot understand until you are living among the people forced to live this way because of their lack of income. I make no judgement, rather I admire their ability to cope with anything put in front of them. They smile and laugh, as they keep going, not letting their pain and sorrow show too much. I have learned much from watching them in my silence, listening to their conversations without understanding what they are saying. Just absorbing the atmosphere as they discuss their issues in front of me. Everyone living here including me, is facing uncertainty and difficulty seeing the next step. They do it very gracefully in my opinion and I strive to be more like them each day.
I am still amazed how much one can learn about themselves as I watch the animals, birds and creatures great and small. There is something of us in everything, if we take the time to look for it. I think in doing so, we can appreciate more the right of all living things to have their place in the world.
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