Pendulums & Pigs

July 1, 2008– Pendulums & Pigs

     After alot of death and bad news, the pendulum had swung as far as it could, and is now coming back with mostly goodness.  The raccoon seems to have moved on.  No more death.  Willow  the pig is looking quite healty. We still don’t know if it was the antiobiotics, the fact that the abscess ruptured, or the expensive homeopathic remedies administered twice daily that have cured her, but I suppose in the end it doesn’t really matter which worked. She’s doing well, and that is all that counts.

     On Saturday we had a large group of volunteers build an outdoor run for the pigs.  An ecclectic group worked together, ranging from a fashion photographer to a lawyer from Washington, to local animal rights activists, to my own family.   My son and I had sunk large cedar posts the day before, and so our crew had the task of measuring and sawing 2 X 4s and planks and screwing them all into a lovely (and sturdy) board fence.  Another friend remained in the kitchen with my other son, and cooked up a wonderful vegan summer chili to serve the hungry masses at noon.  My extraordinary neighbour donated almost all of the wood for the build, and I truly hope this good karma comes back to him!

     By supper time Wilma and Willow were out digging around in their new yard, over-turning sod, their snouts turned to black.  They now take long naps in the shade together, resting peacfully.  When they go back inside to their stall in late afternoon, the brown lay hens then have use of the yard to run and scratch about.  My mother-in-law helped me clean out the chicken coop yesterday, but it was hard to keep up the shovelling and not be watching the hens having so much fun.

      I also took a long road trip on Sunday, along with another friend, adopting out two of the barn cats to a really great rural home where they will be well loved.  Arriving home,  I received an email from a woman in teacher’s college that adopted a young cat from me, named Dale. Dale was so named, after a wonderful woman that had sponsored his neutering.  Now, Dale the cat is living with a young woman that had the patience to allow Dale to get over his fears of living in a home.  Working with him, she now has him out being pet by children, purring up a storm.   What a fresh start he gets!

     After all the grief I’ve endured rescuing this group of cats, it is most rewarding to know most of them are living decent lives at this point.  Between that, the dwindling numbers of cats I’m actually still caring for, Willow’s recovery, the new pig yard built by kind volunteers– everything is starting to make a big turn towards peace around here!  Just in time for summer.   After several months of hardship I can finally say I’ve enjoyed my last few evenings spent in the country.