Sheila my Big Fat Pig is being VERY NAUGHTY.
I could not work out why the calves were spending so much time out of their nice big shelter in the Rat House, so this afternoon I went in to see what was going on.
I pushed through the mob to see what had caught their attention. Sheila has taken over their very large pen. She has her own shed in the corner of the field but she has decamped to the calf house. And not only has she set up housekeeping in the back corner of their house but she has stolen their beds, she has shifted every scrap of straw from the calves floor to her corner and created the biggest pig bed known to mankind.
It is like a top bunk but with the bottom bunk filled with straw. If she were the princess she would not feel the pea.
Merciful heavens – That Pig.
So, because she had stolen all the straw off the floor of the calves shelter leaving them to sleep on wood chips, I took out another bale of straw to the calf shed to make beds for the calves. My poor little black and white herd followed me and the bale of straw into the Rat House, they looked so hopeful as I broke the bale and laid it out making them a warm space far from Sheilas Queen sized double bunk bed.
But oh no – up this enormous pig rose from her bed and tottered over saying thank you very much Miss C it looks like it is going to get colder and these young things don’t need all this bedding, and as fast as I could spread it out she was grabbing big mouthfuls and carrying them up onto the top of her bed placing the bedding strategically as though filling cracks in a wall.
The little cows just shuffled their feet, disconsolate, bewildered, completely out of their depth. Minions in Sheila’s little kingdom.
I will have to take more straw out there today.
That PIG.
Boo put all four feet on the ground when he was walking with me to the barn today. A definite improvement. But we are still taking it Slow, Slow.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
PS Don’t tell Sheila I told you but some of the red hair on her back is turning white. I never knew that could happen to a pig.
The Kitchen's Garden 
43 responses to “Sheila the Thief”
All hail Queen Sheila! Ha ha. 🐷👑🙇♀️👏
Poor calves, they’re just outclassed. Sheila is sure a character. “I’ll take all the straw, Miss C. Thank you, so very much. Don’t mind those calves, they really don’t need any straw, you know.” Going gray, well, that’s got to be because she’s such a wise girl. Never a dull moment.
Smoky is fine, no more swelling. He just slept plastered against the baseboard radiator and that seemed to take care of it. He had fun trying to hide the poop when the spouse walked him too. Not the best surprise after the snow melts. Silly dog. I’m glad to hear that Boo put weight on his sore knee, you’re right to keep him quiet and let that joint rest and heal.
Dear old Smoky – like Boo he is taking it slow.. c
Very relieved Boo’s using his leg a bit. Slowly. Slowly! As you say. Sheila: Pig Extraordinaire. I think we’d all love a shot of her bunk bed–or at least the shot of her with a mouthful of stolen goods. How does she climb into it?
What she does is make a huge pile then walks into it and her body creates an open tunnel. She is heavy so the tunnel goes right to the ground with high walls. No drafts. Happy pig!
That Sheila’s a meteorologist! Cold weather is on its way with snow coming Saturday to Sunday. It looks like you folks may get around 2 – 3 inches and that we may get anywhere from 5 – 9 inches of the white stuff. Good to read Boo is doing better. Cannot imagine what it must be like to work around the farmy without him at your side. I hope he continues to improve. Have a good night and warm tomorrow. 🙂
Powers Above must have whispered into Sheila’s ear that, as far as the farmy goes, she is absolutely and utterly invincible: how does one ‘punish’ this ‘naughty gal’ as she lords her seniority amongst all the latecomers? [You can hear my laughter right across the Pacific, I bet!]
Nothing that Sheila does surprises me any more! It’s funny, just before I came here, I was reading an article about scientists who reckon they can tell whether a pig is an optimist or a pessimist. I wonder what Sheila would be – an optimist taking advantage of extra hay, or a pessimist preparing for a cold winter? 🙂
She is an optimist i think – she is always optimistic about the possibility of food anyway.. c
I remember some of the photos you have posted of Sheila’s bed making. I am always so amazed. Does this mean no hut for the winter for her? So nice to hear that Boo is doing better.
Sheila obviously knows that age and cunning will beat out youth and strength every time!
The Redoubtable Miss Sheila! A smarty pig 🙂 Very good news for Boo Boo.
Your last comment made me smile .. great news about Boo! Wonderful pics Celi 😄