This week has included several “funnies.”
As some of you know I am raising a couple of pigs, Henrietta and her un-named sister. The girls now average 90-125 pounds, much heftier than in the picture!
They really have been good pigs. I have had no problems with them escaping their pen…until this week.
Yesterday, my husband had taken the tractor further down the property, away from the barn. At the same time I took advantage of the quiet. I busied myself with wiping down the feed/milk room refrigerator. As I stepped out of the barn to get away from the bleach smell I heard my husband shout something.
Did I hear him correctly? Did he say something about the road?
I looked up at the road (above the steep barn driveway) and saw a couple of red blurs run past the guard rail.
There was Henrietta and her sister working their way down the road! They were high-tailing!
I am not a fast runner, but somehow I got up the driveway like a sprinter. All I could think of was, “Insurance, dead pigs.” The liability!
A pick up truck had come up the road. Thankfully it was a farmer. He knew to stop in the middle of the road and sit.
I circled around, clear to the other side of the road, and quickly coaxed the pigs back down the driveway.
One pig hurridly ran to the barn and found the gloriously large pan of cat food. She was content.
On the other hand, the huge rear-ended Henrietta had other plans. And the comedy began.
Up the embankment she went. Up I went as well. Back down we went. Up we returned. Down we returned. I am talking about some work here! And then I started giggling. It became funny. That darn pig!!!
I finally got the girls in the barn. Henrietta sat down on her rear end like a dog. She looked tired. No snorts. Every once in a while she would stand up and walk a few feet, and then plop back down again.
Who would have ever thought those short legs, and those fat rear ends could pick up such speed?
Truckin’ on down the road…there she goes!!!! All Henrietta needed was a knapsack. Ha ha ha!
By the way, completion to the barn work should happen by sun-down today. With running two businesses, and the farm, we get sidetracked easily…especially when…we chase pigs!
Have a beautiful day!
Okay, I’m imagining this as I read….funny, funny, funny!!
Do you think that God may have used that pig to get you outside for some exercise? tee hee
That would be my answer as I giggled my way back to the barn.
Becky, ha ha ha! I think I was getting my exercise, perhaps God wanted me to get more!!! Funny, funny!
Oh goodness – a non greased pig race! Animals seem to have a sense of when to make a break for it – always when there is a truck coming and nobody in their way. Keep laughing – the extra oxygen helps you recover more quickly!
Linda, you and becky seem to think it was good for me. It was. Ha. Afterwards I thought, “I did that very well. I should do it more often!” But, leave out the pig chasing part ot it!
I can only imagine the farmer’s version of this story!! 😉 I’m glad you were able to corral your escapees, naughty little pigs. hahahaha
You know how it is, Lynnanne. It happens, but normally with cows. I am one that watches the road for livestock. Thankfully, it isn’t frequent occurance. By the way, Henrietta is mad! We fixed that gate up very well after the mishap!
Oh, Mary! hahahaha What a laugh! Would you please name Henrietta’s sister Lillie Belle? My grandparents were Clarence Henry and Lillie Belle. Aren’t those great names? You guys are having too much fun living on that farm!
Lillie Belle it is! Yes, perfect names! My grandmother’s name was Minnie Bell!
Pigs do provide the funniest stories , don’t they? They are so smart and comical and once they are determined to do something it is hard to sway them. Too bad you weren’t running after them AND had your camera. Funny Mary, and I hope for all your sakes this doesn’t happen again.
The image of the pigs running down the road, in a smooth trot…past the guardrail, which is a run in itself was frightening, yet funny. We are STILL laughing! They were having a grand old time!
Update, we did not finish everything we wanted to yesterday. A lot of phone calls, interruptions (had to buy a tractor battery after it died, work calls came in for husband, etc…). But we did accomplish a lot! We are under a winter storm warning and have to gather panels and put up temporary kidding pens today. 3 of the boer girl’s udders are enlarging.
After the storm passes, back to work! A 1/2 day and we will have everything back in place.
This was hilarious! I can just see this all happening and you running all over the place laughing trying to catch that little porker! Wouldn’t it be funny to have it all on video!
I think you should call your other pig Harriet. They kinda go together…
Oh Never mind about the name! I just saw Debbie’s “Lillie Belle”! I like that, too!
Next time I need names for animals, I’ll post it here!
It was funny, Vickie. I am still laughing at it, and probably will for a while. Short, fat, and can really move along! Ha ha ha!
Sometimes the only thing we can do is laugh! And, that’s not a bad thing! Thanks for the post!
Thank you. I wish you luck! Blogs are a lot of work and oftentimes, enjoyable work! I have not written for days, for example, and need to get on the band-wagon today!
I agree, have a beautiful day!
Oh my God, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time. I’ve never met you but the visual I have is priceless. Thanks so much for sharing and making me laugh so hard I’ve got tears running down my face!! – MaLinda
Hey there, MaLinda, one of us here is always good for a giggle! I make the statement to my husband, “I need a good laugh.” His response normally is, “Just wait a while, one of us will do something goofy!” Life is good.
Your story is hilarious. The funny thing is, all my Rhode Island Reds look so similiar that sometimes I can’t tell them apart. Thus, when a hen is doing something good I call her Henrietta, and when she’s doing something bad I call her Merietta. That’s right, two names for 11 hens. Well, 9 hens because two are easily distinguishable.
Your story reminds me of another great pig escape story that is a must read! http://sallygardens.typepad.com/sallygardens/2008/08/pigs-make-a-gra.html
Danielle, good morning! When I get beyond the craziness I am experiencing this morning…I’ll hop over and read the great pig escape story!
Isn’t a sense of humor great? It is a necessity in life, truly.
Henrietta and Merietta for 11 hens. It sounds like a good You Tube video to me!