Little Pig Big Problems- Life with a smart little curmudgeon

Pablo came to me as a tiny little pig 3 lbs and nearly frozen to death in an unheated barn.  He was literally the cutest thing I have ever seen.  His first night he would cry if I put him down so he had to sleep in bed with me. Mike wasn't the slightest bit happy about a pig in bed even a just bathed tiny guy. We tried a pack and play but there was no soothing him. Pablo made a fuss,  his tiny nose curl up as he squealed. This was the beginning of Pablo getting things his way.

He was supposed to be less than 50lbs when he was full grown,  so far he's over 100 lbs and keeps on growing.  He knows all sorts of cute tricks including a tap dance with a big finish. He will do tricks only if he sees and smells a treat. Pablo has to make sure what ever he is being bribed with , is worth the effort. He makes me laugh nearly every morning. I say Good Morning Mr Pab he responds with a low pig grunt. I say are you hungry ? He squeals until food is placed before him. If he doesn't like his breakfast he flips his bowl over and demands something different. Pig chow is low on his list of good foods. In his defense a tiny adorable pig gets lots of handouts. By the time he moved to the barn he had already tasted all sorts of people food.  He won't take pig vitamins but gulps down Flintstone gummies. He will do almost anything for cheese.  Sharp cheddar is a sure way, to get him to go back into his stall, when he refuses.

At just under 24 inches tall he is a Sherman tank. capable of knocking down fences and uprooting walls. As a baby he completely tore up the entire bathroom floor while I was out.  He's been adorable and a handful always. He used to nip as a baby whenever he was challenged to do anything he didn't want. He's fabulous to me, loves children but doesn't like my partner Mike. He rams the fence and growls whenever Mike is over.   At 6 months old a police car showed up because I was trying to put a harness on him. His screams rival any good horror movie. He loves taking bath and lets me clean his ears and brush his teeth. He will not however,  allow any foot trimming. I get the nail clippers he shows me his considerable teeth.

 Earlier this year,  he went out of the back of the barn. He actually head butted his way out,  then came to the front door after upsetting a few neighbors and knocking over some plants. I heard a huge thud at the door and found Pablo waiting to come in. In hot pursuit  behind him , was a new neighbor , holding broken pot, yelling bad, bad , bad. He knows what the word bad is , he's heard it lots of times. I guess he figured it was time to come home. Once I calmed  down my distraught neighbor , introduced myself, reminded her farm animals are actually allowed here and no Pablo  couldn't be arrested for coming into her yard, all was well.  I paid for the damages and later brought over a bottle of wine and a new plant.  She still doesn't like me or Pablo for that matter . That's ok I'm not particularly thrilled with developments replacing farms or people moving to farm country and trying to regulate animals out, so they won't have to look at barns from their McMansions.   I added the pot to Pablo's tab , wines on me. I once again remind him that he seriously needs to get some kind of employment, if he is going to continue to damage things at this rate.

Keeping everyone warm is a challenge as the temperature dips into the 20's.  There are lots of heat lamps, heated water holders and heat mats.  Pablo has decided to complicate things by constantly opening his door. I lock it,  he breaks the lock.  I added a carpet to cover the door way so he could see out but keep things warm. He immediately tore it down. His pig apartment shares a wire wall with the chickens .When Pablo's wants air the girls get it too. I find them all huddled under heat lamps because Pablo wants to watch the neighbors. He just gazes out the door. His head swaying as people go about their lives. Every couple of weeks someone stops on my busy road to ask about Pablo. I am surprised by the number of people that think I am raising him for the table. I am greeted by Pab every time I come home. No matter how late he opens his door and pops his head out to say hi. Its nice to have a pig friend. It's nice to know someone waits up.

This spring he's moving to his own straw bale house complete with front porch and plenty of viewing

windows. My son Dave and I are building the pig mansion once the weather gets warmer. I have wanted to build a straw bale structure for a years. This seems like perfect opportunity . I am really looking forward to seeing Pablo in his own pig house.  Hopefully I can find a sow to rescue , he is quite lonely. I think he would fight with a male pig.  He loves it when I sit in his stall and read or just rub him. He's affectionate he likes a good cuddle. Pigs need company like dogs. He is good friends with my horse but can't be trusted to stay in the barn with him. He eats everyones food and hits on the sheep. Andy the miniature horse kicks, if you go near his food. Pablo can't really defend himself against Andy's rapid fire hooves. So visits have to be regulated. I let them talk throughout he fence. Pablo complains loudly when I put him back. it makes me sad to see him lonely. His new house will border the pasture so he can chat with his buddy.  Pablo isn't an easy pet but he's well worth it. I am thrilled I was able to give him a home. I can't imagine a day without seeing that cute pig face.

Sometimes all you need is a little Faith - The healing power of animals

It was sad winter my oldest son died *. I had just moved into a 100 year old farmhouse that needed lots of work. It seemed like fun project at first. Once we started it was daunting.  My boys and I were all feeling lost and overwhelmed.

A friend of mine called about a Craigs list post titled Please SAVE Faith Lily. I'm a sucker for a sad story, I had a barn and no animals. I worked from home and shared the house with my middle son Dave.   Faith was a 4H lamb destined for slaughter. Faith's first mom,  a sweet teenager named Melanie , begged for someone to adopt Faith and pay 4H for the milk she had consumed

No one called and Faith was destined to become Easter dinner.  The universe knew we needed each other but I was a little skeptical. I had never even been close to a lamb. At My friends urging Faith came home.

A reporter from  The Philadelphia Inquirer  saw the Craig's list post and followed the story.  Faith  was featured in a full page section of the Easter addition.  It came as  a big surprise. I didn't even bother to put on make-up. I was pretty sure it would be a tiny article with Faiths photo. Thats when everything started to get a little bit hectic.  All sorts of people wanted to find homes for all sorts of critters.  

No wallowing in bed crying,  a baby needed to be fed.  Faith need to be fed every 2 hours just like  any newborn . She was kept in the house and wore diapers. She often hung out on the sofa with the boys. She slept in playpen in my room.  I made her a little robe for the chilliest nights in our drafty home.  She looked like a live stuffed animal. It made me smile just watching her. 

Faith loved to play and entertained us with her antics. She got into lots of trouble.  Her favorite food was dog food. She would sneak around trying to get it.  Faith gave us something bigger than sadness to focus on.  It was amazing , who knew lambs had such personality.  Dave and I  shared Faiths care , working our schedules around her endless bottles and diaper changes.  He even took her on  a few dates when I couldn't be home. I was transported back to the early mom years it was magical.  

Faith grew and eventually moved to the barn but she never stopped trying to come into the house.  Faith was a blessing in so many ways. Every animal that has found a home here since is because of Faith.  She helped carve out a new life for me as a farmer and my home as a sanctuary for the unwanted. I don't eat my animals but my chickens  do produce some pretty delicious eggs , so I guess we are actually a real farm.  

The newspaper article gave our address. That spring we were inundated with rabbits, kittens Easter chicks and ducklings. It seemed nearly everyday someone would call about another homeless animal. 

My time was taken up building pens, finding homes and learning to care for each new addition. It felt good to have a purpose. Luckily my local feed store had classes on animal husbandry.  I got the book Barnyard in the Back Yard  at their recommendation.   It's well worn now along with a Merck Vet manual , experience and the internet taught me the rest. I'm still learning something new everyday.

My son grew up married and had children of his own.  He still comes by to help every now and again. He talks about getting a little farm of his own. The grandchildren love to visit Nazzys farm. I used to run a preschool here, my students  still stop by to see the animals.  I now  have a family of chickens, ducks, 2 ornery geese, turkeys, a peacock, rabbits,  a 3 legged chihuahua and his 4 dog friends, 2 hilarious goats,  the world famous Pablo the pig ,
1 miniature horse and one lovely sheep.  In addition to my furry feathered family, all sorts of animals come through here for rehabilitation  and move back to the wild  or to a good home.  It gets a little crazy sometimes but I wouldn't change it for the world.

* This isn't my forum for  talking about my two boys death . This is my happy farm blog.  If your grieving or just interested in hearing the story vist my grief blog Agoodmourning@blogspot.com .