Every evening before bed-time Sheila has a little routine. I am allowed to place her clean straw on top of the old straw and she carefully tears it apart and pushes it this way and that until he has a nice high soft bed. She spends some time getting it just right before she settles down to sleep.
If it spreads out too much she gently goes around the edges and pushes it back together with her snout. Tucking in and smoothing. She likes a nice deep bed. Some straw is pushed up along the wall and some pushed to cut any drafts from the gate. And a nice groove is created in the middle where she lines up lays her body so straw comes up around her. Everything is spick and span. No-one else is allowed on to jump on her bed. I have never even seen chickens in there.
Certainly not Daisy.
Or the cats.
The cats have to wait quietly on the wall until she is settled in the evening then they are invited to join her as long as they don’t wriggle. She was appalled to see a sheep going in her barn door on the way to his new paddock this morning and he had to be chased straight back out.
Then she had to set to work and tidy up again. This is her inside door which for obvious reasons is never left open. Her outside door, leading to her field, is almost never shut. If it is, Sheila will never, ever, ever go to the toilet in her bedroom. She will wait even if it takes all night and will go outside when her door is opened.
Sometimes if it is very cold I am allowed to go in and cover her with extra straw. Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh – she will say. You’re welcome my little petal, my honeysuckle, my sweet pig, I answer, turning out the lights.
This is the hole in the loft that I use to throw straw down into the cows sleeping area. I have to be careful not to throw myself down too. Look at Paisley Daisy’s perfect round belly. Do you have a baby in there Daisy?
I am still gathering old pumpkins off peoples porches for the cows and sheep and pigs .. wish you were close by I would collect yours too. 
Cold again yesterday, sitting just above freezing all day. But today will be better they say.
Have a lovely day.
your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
38 responses to “A perfect housekeeper is my pig.”
Sheila the Housekeeper! Just so funny. She needs to be called Felix Unger.
Everyone should have a Sheila pig 😉
BTW I just noticed that you seem be getting quite a collection of orange cats.
Oh reading your blog and the comments always makes me feel happy. Today is no exception.
Today we have had alternate sunshine and squally showers, but we managed to get the washing dry.
I WILL be reading these everyday. You have a wonderful story-telling style. Absolutely enchanting!! Please never stop posting.
It was such a delight to read the magical tale of Sheila and Housekeeping Pig. It started my day with a smile and thoughts filled with happiness and whimsy. Could one ask for anything more?
Just goes to show you that pigs really are very intelligent and clean. They love mud to keep flies off their skin, but not filth. Yes, Sheila is my favorite next to Boo and Marmalade, that is. Speaking of which,,,,where is the CUTENESS today?
Good Morning!!!! Cold here too…brrrr…I never know what to think of the weather report these days…
Loved the photos and insight into everybodies lives! Pigs are very intelligent and clean aren’t they dear Sheila!!! Very generous of you to let the kitties cuddle with you when the lights go out and you are all settled in. 🙂 Can’t wait til Daisy has her calf! When is she due?
Sun was out here for a little while…gone and gloomy once again…sigh…I don’t like it when it gets serioulsy cold. Fattening up my kitties for the long winter ahead. Everyone is getting heavier rations! I like to give them a rich broth everday along with their food!
My puppy will be arriving any hour now! Momma is huge!!!! LOL Will let you know!
(((hugs))) Mere
The wind howled and the rained against the window panes. A day for me to stay under cover with indoor pursuits. Sheila the Housekeeping Pig would make a great title for a children’s story!
Dear C.
Have been traveling and unable to comment for awhile but should have it
figured out
now. Of course miss Sheila is neat as a pig. We love her! I to gather pumpkins for my goats! Who doesn’t love a little orange goodness?
Stay warm Cinders!
XO
All seem fat and sassy and warm on the farmy!!! Love the barn and piggie pics! xo
I’m still working on Big Man for us to get a couple of pigs…one day, one day!
Sheila lives such a life, and your barn is beautiful with all that heavy wood. But right away I focused on that wee silver bolt that shuts the door to sheila’s pen. She must be a good piggie not to bash straight through that! Anyway I am off to clean up after my lot who are not clean inside their pen. This is the 1st time I have had pigs who wee inside. I think it came about when they were kept inside for a few days after they were desexed. They got in the habit! Now they are getting bigger it is a lot more work to clean and smelly if I dont keep it clean (also a 1st, I have never really had smelly pigs before) so I will have to find a way to break them of this habit.
Funny my husband was telling me the other day how clean pigs are and that they have certain areas they will go to the bathroom. He used to raise pigs when he was growing up.
Sheila’s fastidiousness about her bed makes it all the more tragic that some pigs have only concrete to sleep on, and no straw to snuffle into.
Oh, oh, oh – I’d almost rather give up my comfy bed for Sheila’s. funny – in our house, it is the person who wiggles least who gets most of the cats (me). I’m not a huge fan of pigs overall – like monkeys, they are too close to humans and hold grudges and take revenge when they feel slighted. But I am happy to see Ms S is a happy polite piggie.