We own a pig. We live out in the sticks so for the same reason that we own an above ground pool, we own a pig. Like shooting guns on the weekend or listening to country music, it is an "I-live-out-in-the-sticks" requirement. Anyway, with the cost of groceries going up we also thought it would be economical to raise our own food. The garden idea was a fabulous one! We were buying expensive vegetables that were often going to waste in our fridge. Now we have a great big garden that we planted for very cheap and nothing goes to waste. If we don't eat it the animals do. At first thought, the pig idea was a good one too. We got him for free from my sister in law. We planned to give him rotted veggies and table scrapes. So my husband built him a pen next to the goats and we brought the cute little pink guy home. He looked exactly like Babe. And that is where the similarities ended. Unlike Babe, who is extremely well trained, astonishingly clean, and somehow manages to stay small throughout that oddly endearing film, Pig, as we choose to call him since it is never good to name an animal you plan to eat, is overwhelmingly smelly, excrutiatingly stubborn, completely filthy, and growing at quite a quick pace. He also somehow manages to escape from his pen on a daily basis. Oh yes, if we ever had any reservations about eating him in the beginning we certainly have none now. This little fellow is going to make some fine ribs, bacon and pork butt for my family of meat eaters.
I admit that the little man was a bit upset at first when he learned of Pig's ultimate fate. And yes I had to tell him. I didn't want him forming an attachment to the thing like he does with every other living creature that he sees. And it just so happens that little man's two favorite meats are bacon and ham. And really, this is not some soft kid here. He understands the circle of life. He's seen his dad shoot snakes. He knows his rabbit died of heat stroke and that a coyote killed some of his smallest pygmy goats. He has collected the eggs from the chickens and gleefully whipped them up into a breakfast burrito. But the pig. Well, this was a little different. I think it has to do with that Babe movie. But do not despair because he finally turned a corner the day that Pig ate Lenny's food. Lenny is the little man's dog. Little man loves Lenny. While he watched Pig tear into the garbage can containing Lenny's precious kibble he caught a glimpse of something he had never quite taken notice of before. His ears. Pig's ears were the same shape as the "pig" ears that the man down at the feed store gave to him whenever he went to buy goat food. The little man finally put it together that the man had been giving him these animal's ears to give to Lenny! Now he keeps asking when we are going to kill Pig so he can give Lenny his ears. Ah yes. The circle of life.
I too am wondering when my husband is going to get around to doing the deed. I sometimes feel like I am living on Green Acres, the TV show. You know the one where the pig, Arnold, ran amuck through the town?
I admit that the little man was a bit upset at first when he learned of Pig's ultimate fate. And yes I had to tell him. I didn't want him forming an attachment to the thing like he does with every other living creature that he sees. And it just so happens that little man's two favorite meats are bacon and ham. And really, this is not some soft kid here. He understands the circle of life. He's seen his dad shoot snakes. He knows his rabbit died of heat stroke and that a coyote killed some of his smallest pygmy goats. He has collected the eggs from the chickens and gleefully whipped them up into a breakfast burrito. But the pig. Well, this was a little different. I think it has to do with that Babe movie. But do not despair because he finally turned a corner the day that Pig ate Lenny's food. Lenny is the little man's dog. Little man loves Lenny. While he watched Pig tear into the garbage can containing Lenny's precious kibble he caught a glimpse of something he had never quite taken notice of before. His ears. Pig's ears were the same shape as the "pig" ears that the man down at the feed store gave to him whenever he went to buy goat food. The little man finally put it together that the man had been giving him these animal's ears to give to Lenny! Now he keeps asking when we are going to kill Pig so he can give Lenny his ears. Ah yes. The circle of life.
I too am wondering when my husband is going to get around to doing the deed. I sometimes feel like I am living on Green Acres, the TV show. You know the one where the pig, Arnold, ran amuck through the town?
I'll look out my window to see my goats grazing on the hill behind our home. Aw. Aren't they cute. Look at them running and making those cute little jumps in the air. I love it when they....wait. What is that? Is that....Is that Pig? Oh no. Sweetheart, heeeeeeeelp!!! Pig is out of his pen again!!!!!
At this point Pig has eaten his way through approximately 25 large bags of dog food. At this rate, this pork is going to end up costing us around $15 a pound. Now what was our reason for getting this pig again?
At this point Pig has eaten his way through approximately 25 large bags of dog food. At this rate, this pork is going to end up costing us around $15 a pound. Now what was our reason for getting this pig again?
10/16/2008
R.I.P. Pig
Thanks for the delicious ribs buddy!
No comments:
Post a Comment