Friday, July 18, 2008

Wilbur?

Each Saturday, we drive out in the country to buy our fresh eggs. For ages, we never noticed a tiny patch of garden put aside for a pig. One rainy day, I noticed this beauty out in the mud. Oh, glorious mud! This year, she has given birth to her family of piglets which we see grow each time we drive by.


Not only the family has grown but also the pig's space. In the left corner of this photo, you can see the old and much smaller fenced area for mother pig. When I jumped out of the car to take the photo, one pig who looks to be the runt was looking up at me from a little hole dug behind Mother Pig. In the first photo, he is standing beside Mother.


It brings to mind my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Greer. Do you ever wonder what happened to your teachers all these years later? She was so wonderful and loved reading books aloud to us each day. She read things like Charlotte's Web, The Trumpet of the Swan and James and the Giant Peach. She brought Charlotte and Wilbur, Louis the swan and James with his wicked aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, along with his fantastical insect friends to life for me.

Each year, she would take a handful of her best students to go on a camping trip with she and her husband. I got to go and can still remember things from that trip. We had to create our own little stove top from an empty coffee can. On it, we were supposed to fry our only egg and a piece of bacon. She only had enough eggs for one each and mine slipped off the can as I, very silly child that I was, placed mine too much on a sloop. The bacon was tasty though! *grins*


Do you ever see something that sparks off deeper memories like I have had with these pigs?

13 comments:

Teresa said...

Heidi,
What a sweet memory! I also will have memories from seeing things or hearing of something that reminds me of something else. Those are very cute pigs! That reminded me of some sweet pig buttons that I had years ago. I know they must still be here, somewhere! Have a great weekend!

Nancy said...

Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about you going to camp with that teacher. You were teachers pet every year though. You were a model student. I cannot say I like pigs, but these are pretty cute I have to say. I bought brown eggs yesterday in Amish Country in a store you would love. Baltic Mills in Baltic Ohio.
I already told Eric I am taking him there when he gets into town next week. Bill is on vacation and it is Hall of Fame week.
Love you, Mom

Kristen said...

Every time i see a pig I think of Mom. AThey are adorable little animals!! She so loved them!!

Mary said...

Aunt Sponge & Aunt Spiker - what a fabulous story that is (J&TGP), just as all of Roald Dahl's stories. I have to say The BFG is my favorite - especially the part at Buckingham Palace - listening to these stories on tape is wonderful with the great British actors who do the voices.

Meanwhile pigs are cute when little, especially the curly tails - but you see me scoffing bacon, altho' I admit cooking it now and then for dh and Jasmin at breakfast.....and it still smells delicious!

Have a great weekend Heidi - know you will have fun things to share on your return - if you guys are off to the country again.

Mary said...

Sorry - I meant of course that you'll NEVER see me eating the bacon, lol!!!

Mary X

Suzann said...

No memories for me except Charlotte's Web.
Such cute photos though.

Christine said...

ADORABLE!!! I love pigs! I have a small pig collection. I will be doing the farm quilt you saw on my blog. Like you it was the pigs that grabbed me.

Oh yes James and The Giant Peach! That is my favourite musical movie. I must have watched it 50 times now.

Terri said...

First of all, let me tell you, Heidi, from personal experience, pigs are only cute when someone else has to take care of them!!!! LOL

I'll give them credit, though, next year that plot they are living on will be weed free and good for a garden!

Love you!

angelasweby said...

Heidi,
What a lovely family of piggies and a wonderful story too about your camping expedition. We love Charlotte's Web and have cried many a tear when reading it with Rula :>) What a delight thinking back to teacher's who made a difference in your childhood.
Hugs, Angela

Amy Marie said...

How cute are those piglets! I bet that was a sight to see!

Melissa said...

Heidi,

We definitely were on the same thinking page, weren't we? How funny! We both had blogs about piggies..

My laundry room is so very tiny, but I did manage to fit my antique hoosier cabinet in that room. It serves as a pantry.

Good luck with re-doing your laundry room. I know it will be beautiful.

Melissa

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

What great pig pictures!! Oh MY they are terrific and PINK :o)

Yes, my mind often wanders down childhood lane about memories that I can touch and want to hold on to close and dear. I had favorite teachers and yes, wonder where they are now - imagine. My 4th grade teacher wore sandals in the spring that had thick straps so we called them her sausage shoes. I wonder where she is - she was a wonderful lady - a young teacher at that time - just in her 20s, Miss Kahn. Ah and my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Schtick (yes, that was her name) who said my friend Sarah and I prayed like old ladies during chapel because we went all the way down on our knees. Imagine.

I love the past and keep it alive - the present is pretty good too! Heck, I won a coloring book on ebay which was my favorite Disney one from 1976 that my Dad gave me. That's silly I know but it was my favorite and now I have it again - it's in mint, uncolored condition too. Paid $7 - says $.69 on it. LOL

Tanya

Melissa said...

Heidi,

I can't wait to start filling up the hutch and to post pictures of it. Your blog inspires me to find the perfect things.

Have a great day.

Melissa