TIKI IS A GREAT POLE DANCER

Yes, this is Tiki.  Tiki came to us years ago after my beloved calico cat, Pip-squeak AKA Pippy, was killed.


One of the few nice things are neighbors have done for us is bring me Tiki a few days after the death.  They found her up north by their cabin when her mother went missing, all her kittens were following them around looking for a home.  So they thought that I would like a new cat since my kitty was killed by a car.  The neighbor said that she would keep her as a barn cat if I didn't want her, but of course, I can never refuse a cute face!  Only problem is I had just picked up two other kittens from down the road.

The ad said she had calicos, but all she had was orange tabbies.  So silly me, instead of just taking one tabby or none (I really wanted a calico again), I took two.

There is logic behind this.  When I was a little girl we had taken in a couple kittens that were litter mates, and all their lives they were the best of freinds, grooming each other and always playing together.  The love was so beautiful to watch!  So I always believe that when you get one cat you better get two and they better be siblings.

We've had a lot of cats over the years.

So I took Tiki home and I set her on the bed next to me that night.  She curled up into a ball and never moved, she was so grateful to have a bed and a home with love she just purred and purred all night long!

Now this was the thing about Tiki, she never was a very brave cat. She never would have made it as a barn cat. She never went outside and was just happy to be with you.  Then we got Happy.

Happy chased Tiki immediately accross the living room and Tiki ran downstairs never to appear on the main level ever again.  Maddie once said that the song, "Because of you"  is what Tiki is thinking to herself everyday down there. She hid in the basement for two years, until that fateful day when Happy was hit by a car and died.  I miss Happy, he was such an awesome dog!  He was sooo Happy all the time!  He had a reason to be: he was a in a cage for 9 months at the shelter. But that's a story for another day.

It took about three weeks before Tiki realized that Happy was no longer around, and she slowly started appearing at the top opf the stairs.  Then into the living room, then into the kitchen.

It took another year after that until she peeked her head out the doggie door.

Then about 6 months after that - I noticed her outside running around with the pig!  I also noticed that she would never venture out alone, she attached herself to the pig and the pig became her guardian. They've been friends for a long time.

Brave Tiki.  Now she is very brave and we tease her all the time about it.  Brave, brave Tiki! 

I'm not sure I like the brave Tiki.  She's kinda annoying sometimes.  I preferred the timid Tiki.

But how can you dislike inter-species love???

THE SUN IS SHINING, THE SUN IS SHINING!!!

It's been about two weeks now since the sun was shining.  Or maybe it has been 6 months? At least thats what it feels like.

So when I spotted the large sunbeam laying across the office floor I got super excited and had a small moment of avarice take over me: I stole the sunbeam from the pig.  She wasn't too happy, there were a few grunts and snorts followed by a big sigh. But as resilient that that Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig is, she decided that making me her pillow was a better idea for her anyway. Ya gotta love a positive thinking pig!

And by the way - It's not very pleasant snuggling with a pig.  They have bristles.  Sharp bristles.  This is good information for everyone to know prior to having one as a pet.

But I felt bad for stealing her sunshine so I let her lay by me.

Come to think of it, pot-bellied pigs really shouldn't be living in Minnesota anyway.  They come from Vietnam!  Do you know what it's like weather wise in Vietnam?  Hot, and muggy, all the time.  I'm sure the pig wonders daily whose brilliant idea it was to bring them here to America?

Did you know there are only 18 days left until SPRING???

gotta love the Life is Good t-shirt!

PIG, ROASTING BY AN OPEN FIRE

THE STRANGER IN THE MOTH EATEN PONCHO ARRIVED

The stranger

 in the moth-eaten poncho

Strolling into town

Imagine hearing Clint Eastwood music:

oh no, its not a stranger - its just Harley.

She sometimes forgets to remove her blanket when she wakes up.

Pig outsmarted!

According to our pig, Harley, she will not be defeated!  When she has made up her mind about something she will continue to do it, will not have anyone change her mind.  maybe this is why they say pigs are smart.  Relentless is my choice. Annoying would be another word.

We have owned Harley since May of 2007.  This was my daughter Madison's idea, a pig would be really cool and something everyone should have living on a farm.  So she saved her pennies and we looked for a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig in which to join our clan.  Well, low and behold we found one for sale in the back of a local horse magazine.  This breeder was a 2 hour drive, way north of the Twin Cities, but I am guilty, I didn't mind because I think a child should have as many pets as they are willing to take care of. Myself included.  So we drove the long haul up to the town of Isanti to the Rainbow's End Ranch to look at baby pot-bellied pigs. We found Harley.  She was the cutest of the new batch but definitely not been held enough, for the entire ride home she squealed.  And if you are not familiar with pigs, their squeals are as loud as a jet airplane - 125 decibels.  She was cute, though. That's all she had going for her at this point. And all she ever really had although Madison says "She is cute!  She looks like a large piece of bacon!"

So its years later now (i will share more stories of Harley as they are quite abundant!) but back to the 'Outsmarted Pig.'
Harley has decided lately that the dog waterer that she also drinks from should not be upright or the 5 gallon container should not sit within the bowl.  So she will walk over to get a drink and immediately bump it with her incredibly powerful snout, knocking the 5 gallon container, and subsequently the 5 gallons of water contained within it, on the floor.  This continued for approximately one week.  And knowing her relentless nature we knew this would continue indefinitely, there is no stopping a determined pig. So Bob is standing there quietly, looking down at the spilled container, contemplating. When he speaks up, interrupts me at my work and tells me to come and look at this.  As I walk over and inspect the latest spill, he says, "I have an idea in which to stop her from knocking this over again.  I will build an encasement for the bottle in which she would have no ability to do so."  I said sure, as my immediate thought was, 'wow, another contraption.'

So this is what it looks like.  And if you have been to my house you have seen many of these 'contraptions.' I do really enjoy the natural look of plywood. So far it has worked, three days after the defeat of Harley's indescretion.  And Bob had to annouce his victory!

Pig Outsmarted!

But ya gotta admit - she is kinda cute.