As I was admiring the flowers in my garden. 
I noticed Mama laying about in the sun, but not looking quite right. On closer inspection she has a lesion above her hoof. 
I needed to bring her into the barn for some attention. So after the milking I led them all in. It is easier to move the whole group. They followed me into the barn, I shut the gate, then they discovered a gate at the other end of the pen that I had not latched properly (what kind of farmeress am I) and out into another field they popped like a flock of cuckoos. Oops. 
This little field was the one adjacent to the pig sty and there were two dear sweet darling little fat piggies lolling about taking in the sun. I sighed as you do when you do something dumb and calling Ton, went out after the sheep to bring them back in.
I wish I had brought the camera out with me. TonTon is not much of a sheep dog as you know. He is very good at moving forward and going down, then left or right and going down. But unfortunately Mama takes no notice of his efforts to be a good sheep dog and just glares at him and stamps her foot or simply walks across the top of him. Our objective was to get the sheep to turn and go back through the door into the barn. Ton and I had them in a group and standing still. Soon we were at a stand OFF. We had collected them into a tight group. Mama was glaring, the others were milling. Then I realised that Mama and her flock were slowly backing up quite nicely. Weird they never went anywhere nicely. And how had we got them into a tight group so quickly. They will follow but they will not be herded.
I had been working on the sheep aware that the pigs were following me. Looking down I saw that two pigs were in fact on either side of me (they like me to be the tofu in their sandwich) and I realised that as I moved the dog about and moved myself forward they were moving up with us. And they were unusually focussed on the flock of sheep. Sheila’s head tipped up and sideways, trying to flick her ears out of her eyes like a teenage girl.
There is a farm dog called an eye dog. He will make eye contact with the animals he is herding. Did I have an eye pig? Or was she merely waiting for an opportunity to snuffle at them in case they were dinner.
So I began to slowly work the sheep moving the pigs up with me. It sounded like this: Ton Walk up. Down. Come on Shush. Here Sheila. Wait. (Sheila will stand still if you scratch behind her ears) Ton Go round, Go round. Down. Come on Sheila. Come on Charlotte.
Mama is a bolter she needs to think it is her idea to go through the gap or she will leap in the opposite direction taking the rest with her. The pigs like to have me close and were moving forward slowly too, but grunting softly like pigs. Well I mean they are pigs so it stands to reason doesn’t it. But it actually sounds like a low yap. More of a ruff, ruff, ruff. We all paused. Charlotte ruffed. Sheila froze watching Mama. Everyone stood quite still watching Mama the lead sheep. The dog and the pigs and I had created a perfect half circle. Walk up, I called and Ton walked forward a step then crouched down. Sheila, Charlotte and I took another step, the pigs leaning into my legs on either side. Scratch behind the ears. Ruff Ruff. Another pause. Then Mama, with a disgusted toss of her head, turned her flock and without further ado marched stompily back into the barn. 
Good piggies, I said. Well done, TonTon and I ran to shut the gate. The pigs grunted with satisfaction and went back to their sunny corner.
After I had applied some wound spray to her leg they were sent out the other side to have a chat with poor Hairy. They will stay in the yards for a few days until her wound is dry. Open wounds when there are flies around make me feel most unwell. 
Oh and by the way – I ordered Hairy’s breeding harness which cost $16.50 yesterday and within an hour the bank was calling me asking me if I had just donated $2000 to a charity called Soul to Soul with my visa card. Um No. No, I most certainly did not and thank you very much for asking. The card was cancelled and the bank got a big tick in the security column. I am fairly sure that I will have to reorder the harness with its pretty chalk. Maybe I will call them on the phone! There really is a lot to be said for cheques. Hairy MacLairy on receipt of the news that his harness was possibly delayed was less than impressed.
Good morning. It is almost dawn and a chilly morning again. Have my warm mornings gone? Just like that? Not even a good bye? I am sitting here writing to you in my big winter dressing gown. Time to get dressed, find my clown suit and go out into the dark morning to begin my day.
You all have a lovely day too. Now that I have the cooking oil car back I might have to go and get some supplies. Well maybe not. I might make a list for a few days, I do hate to have to shop!
celi
What were we doing on this day a year ago? I wrote a story. About a pioneer woman making sourdough. I have always been fascinated by the women who travelled with enormous courage across this vast land.
The Kitchen's Garden 
67 responses to “Herding Pigs. I mean the PIGS were doing the herding!”
this was such a cute story!!!
morning terry! c
Smart piggy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4eZeTOyDT0
Oh Alice, how clever of you to find that, I laughed at that pig herding cows! That was too funny! c
Babe- (the movie) , I wasn’t calling you Babe…
I love that movie, maybe you piggies could star in a sequel, “Babe’ Goes to the Prairies.”
I have to get that movie out again, i must have watched babe when I was busy with kids because there is very little of it i remember, i must have been getting up and down or only watching from the door .. I do need to get it out again! c
Not long ago I had a phone call from my bank…have you been to Mexico today…hummm no. Did you purchase $300 of stuff from something something in Curidid (sp) Mexican grocery? No. How about $600 from Juarez Pharmaceutical for some pills? No. Then there is the $600 charge for computer service in Mexico City.
Like you they stopped my card, in two days I got a new card…what a thankful gift to have the banks be so on top of our credit cards!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I am truly impressed by the bank.. and yours.. but how often do these people get away with it.. c
I am both amazed and then again, not entirely surprised at the cleverness of your piggies! I watch how our tortoise now follows my husband looking for a snack, sometimes hanging at the back door like a dog! Instinct or high-level functioning…I don’t care, it’s all incredible. I look forward to reading your story from last year. We went to the Eastern Sierras this past weekend because I am doing some research (just for me, not a specific project) on the history of growth in California along the California trail. I think we could have a very interesting conversation on the topic! 🙂 I find the pioneers beyond my ken! Debra
They were just so BRAVE! What were they thinking?. I drove from chicago to california once in a car and all the way I was saying.. How did they do this in a wagon with a horse! What a fantastic thing to research Debra. I would LOVE to sit down with a glass of wine and ask some of the million questions i have about that period.. c
It is so nice when credit cards call us about suspicious activities, isn’t it? Glad that worked out for you. And as for the animals…yes, they herd you, they control your schedule…but I know you love them so it’s all okay!
Early this morning, while I was waiting for my coffee and the Good Husband’s tea I strolled around the Farmy. There you were, in your cosy dressing gown click clicking away. The gown was a little worn around the sleeves. There’s a tiny tea spot on the front. It’s an old comforting friend. For some reason I think your dressing gown is either a dark wine or is it a rich brown. You’ve tucked your hair up out of the way and you have a pair of husband’s wool socks on your feet. Is it Celi or is it me? Good Husband said he would make Celi scones every day when you come our way. Hugs, Virginia
Tell you good darling husband that i am dying to eat his scones with whipped cream and strawberry jam unless of course they really are onion and cheese! It is you honey, my dressing gown is white and my husband has holes in his socks..i am teaching him how to darn them before i steal them!! c
Pigs are smart critters and can be bullheaded also
They are definitely clever I tell you that lol. And just look at Mama… I’ve missed seeing her so. I’ve also missed seeing my girl Daisy 🙂
What a team you make! I love the narration – no supplementary visual aids required, I was with you step by step, quietly laughing… those pigs!
Pigs: clever creatures 🙂 That purchase-gone-wrong was a bit scary, Celi! Good for the bank!
I think the choice of tofu in that sandwich was particularly tactful. And oh my days, those pigs are soooooooo clever! How amazing. I’m glad you weren’t scammed out of that awful lot of money. 🙂
They get a little upset when I call myself the meat in their sandwich! c
OMG, $2000? That is crazy.
Great story about the pigs, Celi.
You’re too funny, Celi! I wish you had a surveillance camera set up so that we could all see you and your security detail in formation, facing off with an angry sheep mob. That’ll do pigs, indeed!
As you can see, I’m way behind getting to yours an everyone’s blogs. I’ll be leaving at dawn for Zia’s and have been running around getting supplies. I can’t wait to show her this post. She’ll get a kick out it, I’m sure. Have a great week!