Storybook Farm Primate Sanctuary....Peace Day

What a beautiful warm , sunny September day for a visit to "Storybook Farms".  

Storybook Farm is a sanctuary to primates who have been rescued from roadside zoos, private homes & research facilities. Yesterday was "Peace Day", a celebration & hope for peace for all primates...part of the Jane Goodall Institute.

Kristi, Marianne, Vanessa & I had a nice day & enjoyed seeing the primates & hearing their stories.

We came home to visit with our guys who always enjoy the attention & company! Vanessa had not been here before & loved seeing our big guys who nicely blew mud in their direction ...no manners!

We enjoyed dinner together & said our good-byes! A good day...

Our Trip to Farm Sanctuary and The Tusk & Bristle

Our long awaited trip to New York to visit our friend Carol at "The Tusk and Bristle" and then onto "Farm Sanctuary" has come & gone in a flash....but what a great time we had!!
Sherry, Kim & myself started out very early Friday morning & headed down to Carols (about a 5 hour drive). We visited with her many pigs of all types, breeds & sizes for several hours. The big hit was her new "babies"...a warthog named "Suzie" & a bearded pig named "Ellie" who are both about 4 months old. What friendly fascinating little girls they are! Another friend, Dawn, came with her Kune Kune pigs and we were able to cuddle with those babies as well. Mary came out to dinner with us after our fun filled "pig" day! With much regret we said out good byes for another year and headed down to Farm Sanctuary (2.5 hr drive). 

We arrived in the dark & rain to Farm Sanctuary but where like kids on Christmas eve! The B & B cabins were lovely & the bed welcoming after our long day! At sunrise I was up & looking out at the fields full of animals grazing in the misty rain...a beautiful sight!! We met 2 people who came to help volunteer with chores for the day. Steve, is from New Jersey & Eliza from Georgia.

We had just met but you would think we had been friends for years! Animal people seem to be like that...easy to be friends with.

We had a great tour of the farm & met with lots of wonderful animals. The sheep & goats were so friendly & would line up for their pats & hugs! The cows are so big, but such gentle souls.The chickens, roosters, geese & the big friendly turkey showing us his beautiful tail feathers! Then of course the PIGS!! What fun petting & watching all of them just "be pigs"....sleep, root, graze....simple things, but something most pigs cannot dream to do. 

We all went out to dinner in Watkins Glen.We talked & laughed about everything! Good vegan food , good wine & good company!

The next day was beautiful & sunny but our day to return home. After a last walk around to say goodbye we started on our journey home to see our own family of animals!

**All the pictures I took from both places are in the "Links of Interest" to the right of the page...please take a few minutes to "meet" everyone we did!**

A magical place that I will definitely be returning to....

any new comers...

Hi, I just wanted to tell any newcomers to our blog to scroll down & start at the bottom so you can meet all our gang here at Snooters !!!

Mighty Momma Mouse

We are doing some major clean outs & repairs of the big pigs houses the last few days...getting ready for winter. Our friend Ben (contractor) came out to help us !

Yesterday was Forrest & Earls house & what a mess to clean out! During the "clean out" this little mouse ran out the door ....I thought "oh no, I hope she doesn't have babies in here"....sure enough I found about 10 little new born babies in the straw. I carefully picked them up & took them out of the pig area & placed them under some hay & put a piece of wood over them like a lean-to.

I was hoping their Momma would find them, but I had my doubts because they were now a little ways from the original spot.

Sure enough this morning they were all gone (&  the wood piece was not moved) so I don't think anything else got to them.

She must have been watching us & went to them when we left...I think that is a very smart mouse & a good Momma!!

visitors at the farm....

This weekend we had some visitors come stay here at Snooters. These are friends of mine from public school....we have known each other for over 45 yrs...yikes!!

For the past several summers they come out to visit, eat, drink wine & see the animals...always a pleasant combo! 

This weekend was very hot and sunny, so we enjoyed a nice day. The pigs entertained everyone with their mud wallow diving & blowing bubbles in the water! Always good ambassadors!  It was Gracie's 4th birthday so Brian gave her 1/2 a beer (she loves beer!) 

We had an entirely vegan dinner & everyone enjoyed it (or said so anyway!) Visiting here has had an effect on them by seeing & learning about the pigs. No one eats pork anymore so that is a very positive step!

In honor of our "Trix"....

We had planned this dinner out with friends prior to our Trixie's passing. It was to be a "thank you" dinner for our dear friends who have gone above & beyond with their help for Trixie & her mobility issues. This dinner turned out to be a celebration of her life instead ! 

It is just so nice to be out with people who totally & completely understand your love & devotion for your animals! No having to explain WHY pigs are so special or WHY you don't eat meat or WHY you can't always get away.....they just know !

These are people who have come into our lives because of the pigs...we would never have had the pleasure of their friendship had it not been for our common "pig obsession " & situations throwing us together. These are people who we know can be called at a moments notice to help in a crisis & who, I hope, also know we would drop everything to help them out as well. It is comforting to know friendships like this exist.

We had a lovely dinner & a special toast to our girl, Trixie ! How many pigs have a dinner in their honor (& are not the main course  ;(  ...sorry, I just had to add that !)

Thanks Kim, Roy, Marianne & Ben for everything!

awww that feels nice.....

Yesterday I was trimming some grass & happened to notice that "Roy" had a little tag along friend on his back....one of those large black birds !

 Roy was standing VERY still out in the paddock with this bird walking up & down his back! I could see his mohawk going up & pretty well knew what was coming next....sure enough "bam" down he went on his side into "belly rub"position! Unfortunately the bird does not understand this silly pig behaviour & flew away! 

So there is Roy laying on the ground with no belly rubbing bird to be seen....he quickly gets up looking almost embarrassed & walks away...LOL!

the sound of silence...

I woke up to yet another rainy day ! The paddocks are so muddy...I hope it can dry up soon. The rain was so hard I waited to go out to feed until it let up a little. Of course by this time they were "hungry hippos" & very vocal about this delay! 

I quickly fed first the cats, bunny, then horses...the big pigs noses to the gate & loudly saying "feed us first!"

 After everyone was fed I sat down to listen to the silence....well , sort of silence...there is that hum of munching with the occasional satisfied "grunt"...quite the enjoyable sound I must say ;)

oh Earl.....

Just another morning doing the feeding.

 Flossy is in heat so tends to go off her food for a couple of days. She ate about 1/2 & then walked away. Her herd mate , Poppy, is a little on the chubby side so we do not let her finish the food.

 Instead Brian picked it up & took it over to Forrest (who is on the thinner side). Forrest was enjoying this "extra" treat when his bully brother, Earl, came over to ruin the fun!

 Earl pushes poor Forrest out of the way & starts to eat up the leftovers. Brian sees this & is coming over to "rescue" Forrest when Earl picks up the bowl (food & all) and RUNS into the forest area...not spilling a morsel . Brian yelling "Earl, drop the bowl !!" of course he does not obey this command & finishes the food before Brian could locate him & the bowl in the forest! Little (BIG) brat!...but smart !

they just don't understand....

We have been using the same Vet for many years. He does small animals as well as farm animals which is very helpful to us. He has come to our house 5 times over the years to help our dogs go to Rainbow bridge...we always get a lovely "Sympathy" card with a donation sent in the animals name to Guelph University/animal science department.

Today I received the bill for Trixie's euthanasia  ($277 for him being here all of 15 mins) but that is not the point....NO card saying sorry for your loss, NO donation in her name...only "PIG" euthanasia. He knows what our pigs mean to us & saw our overwhelming grief at the loss of Trixie but she is only a "PIG"...not worthy of sympathy like a dog or cat.

I called to pay the bill over the phone & so wanted to say something but knew I would be perceived as being the "crazy pig lady"...mostly we can't make an enemy of this vet as they are few & far between, the ones that will even treat pigs.

It just saddens me to know that so many other people do not find the specialness (is that a word?!) in these amazing animals!

 Trixie deserved a sympathy card & donation in her name...damn it , I will send one myself. Why am I crying again....

another day in the life of...

We had a storm here last night which knocked out the power for 6 hours...thank goodness for the generator to keep the sump pumps going! A couple of tree limbs down but no major damage.

Today was a sunny but cool, breezy day (my kind of weather!). All the pigs seemed to enjoy it too....as well as the horses who like the breeze keeping the flys away!

I watched the peafowl "playing" today...it was pretty funny as I am sure they were playing "tag"! One would run around a bush with the other in hot pursuit & then would stop & go the other direction stopping to "peek" around the bush looking for the other. This went on for about 10 mins...very funny to watch! It is past mating time so I really think it was a game!I believe birds are far more intelligent then we give them credit for! You just have to listen to those black birds "talk" to each other...even the peafowl will look "up" when they do a certain warning "call" & sure enough the hawk is flying over shortly after!

The geese are just starting to teach their young to fly....they were practicing on the front lawn today. They would run, flap, get a little "air" & then try again! There is one little guy/gal I call "Tiny Tim" who is 1/2 the size of the others but still tries everything they do!

Katie (potbellied pig) is our old gal (15 yrs)she amazes me everyday when she goes out for her walk-a-bout after supper. She is basically blind & deaf but finds her way out & back without a problem. Today she even found the pile of fresh hay I put out at the very back of the area! Such an amazing pig who I adore!

Final resting place....

It has been 2 weeks since we put our Trixie to rest. I cannot tell you how much she is missed here. Walking past her empty stall is agonizing.

All of our animal friends are laid to rest at a nice spot down the lane way by the apple tree. We post their name signs on the tree. 

Last year we purchased a swing seat & go down there to sit, relax & "visit" with the gang....very peaceful !

It never gets easier losing a dear friend...

cutting the grass ....laughing at the pigs!

Today was a nice day (or turned out to be) a little cool but breezy & sunny!

 I was doing the grass trimming around the paddocks & for some reason this gets Poppy & Flossy going wild! 

They run , spin & flop into the mud wallows over & over !! Next time I will have my camera with me....but today I just watched & laughed. By the time I finished trimming & came to get my camera they were sound asleep in their houses....all covered in mud!

So if I couldn't get some shots of Poppy & Flossy I headed into Forrest & Earls area....they get excited when I go in there & "oof...oof" at the top of their lungs when they see me!

They went into the mud pit area (which resembles the surface of the moon !) & flopped into one of the wallows...the mud there has a lot of clay so they come out grey(but happy!) at the end. 

All in all an enjoyable "working" day for all of us !

Avian facial & pedicure....

Today we took our Gonzo (yellow fronted Amazon parrot) to the specialty Vet for his 6 mth beak trim & nail trim. We have been going to the same place twice a year now for 17 years...you would think Gonzo would have grown accustom to this trip by now!! But NO it is a fight to get him in his carrier & the squawking while at the Vet is ridiculous!

He is home now & looks wonderful ....for another 6 mths!

Yesterday we power washed his cage outside while he watched through the window...all in all a stressful 2 days for the poor fella!

The sun has come out & according to the forecast will be staying with us for several days...yeah! Everything is so wet from all this rain.

** picture is pre-facial !! **

rain, sun, rain, sun....

The last few days have been so strange weather wise. Every morning is sunny & then out of nowhere it POURS & POURS....then the sun comes out for a half hour  & the rain starts all over again! Hard to get anything done & there is always lots to do !

I fed the piggies during one of these "sunny" times only it was shorter lived than normal & down came the rain while they where eating....some very wet but full bellies!

This evening after yet another downpour I saw this beautiful rainbow outside! I swear the end of the rainbow was right in our horse paddock. By the time I got out there someone had stolen the pot of gold....damn....could really have used that gold about now !!! LOL 

the tee-pee....

Our neighbours are Scottish but somehow have tracked their ancestry back to native Indian culture....strange, I know!

A couple of summers ago they began to have Pow-wows on their property along with a sweat lodge. During the summer almost every weekend we hear the soft sound of drums & chanting late into the  night and at sunrise. Very soothing...I love it ! They even host native weddings ! Very cool! My 3 yr old granddaughter always asks where the "pee-pee" is ...LOL!

the human family...

Thought I should say a little about my human family before they give me the gears about the animals getting all the "press"...LOL !

Brian, my husband of almost 20 yrs who is the co-caregiver here at "Snooters". Without his help it would be very difficult, if not impossible to run our place smoothly. Fortunately he loves the animals as much as I do !

Angela my oldest daughter is married to Dony & has a daughter (my Granddaughter !!) Alyssa, who is 3 1/2 yrs old. They also share their home with 2 Bulldogs...Rosie & Scooby.

Sarah is my youngest & lives out in BC with her "baby" Maisy, a 8 mth old Shar-pei!

the pond family....

We are lucky enough to have 2 rather large ponds on our property. One further away & one right behind our house. I love to sit & watch the pond creatures go about their daily tasks! 

We have a blue heron who fishes here almost every morning, a hawk who comes by for one of the large gold fish in the pond , many paint turtles & some weasel looking fella who drops in for a visit once in awhile, the Canada geese family & a duck family.

This morning I noticed this large turtle making its way across our lawn heading towards the pond ...I went out & it was the same old gal we took to the other pond last week! She is very old (about 2 feet in diameter) and covered in moss....she definitely wanted in the "house"pond. She is a snapper so I really didn't want her out here with the ducks , geese & our dogs swimming but there was no stopping her (without loosing a finger or two!)Hopefully the fish will keep her well fed & she leaves the others alone.

It has been very hot the last few days....fortunately the pigs have shade to keep them cool. We fill their wallows with cool water daily (doesn't stay cool long) but it is still hard on them...and us! I just can't take this heat anymore, it is so draining! I will be complaining about winter too when it comes..LOL!

Run like the wind, Baby Girl.....

Just 2 days ago I posted about hoping to not add to the "Rainbow bridge gang" anytime soon and here I am typing out this post about our dear girl "Trixie". 

Trixie was born with only 3 legs and it has been a struggle to keep her happy & healthy. 

With the help of our vet Trixie made the journey to Rainbow bridge yesterday (June 21 2009).

I cannot begin to express how much we will miss her...she has been such a huge part of our lives since she came here at 5 weeks of age. I would never have imagined she would live to be 3 yrs old!

I will miss going into the barn with the usual "morning baby girl" & her answering with a soft "grunt"....her daily sponge baths with her nub of a tail wagging a mile a minute....the apple treats only she got mid afternoon....and the goodnight kiss on her snout , "goodnight, I love you baby girl"....."grunt" she would say....that is what I will miss the most of all.

She was very special & our lives have been enriched by her living here.

Good night baby girl....I will see you again.....

the Rainbow bridge gang...

A friend of mine pointed out that I was missing a picture & bio on our "Pete" who passed away in 2006. Made me think I should write a little about the ones who filled our lives & hearts but are now gone.

"Pete" was a large hampshire pig who came here at the age of 10yrs. His previous owner had him from a baby but when she lost her farm he had to be placed. Pete came here in the spring of 2005. We were hoping he would get along with Forrest & Earl , share their house & space but it was not to be! I think the "youngsters" annoyed him & with his large , sharp tusks he let them know this, causing many nasty wounds!

 We ended up building him his own house & paddock area plus he shared the forest when the boys were not in there. 

Pete (like most big pigs his age) suffered from arthritis & had trouble getting to his feet most mornings. One day he got stuck in a mud hole during 30c weather & by the time I found him (I assumed he was in the cool forest as he usually would do) he had heat stroke. Somehow I managed to cool him down with cold , wet towels & got him back to his house. By the next day he was unable to even stand, had lost control of his bladder/bowels & would not eat. After much soul searching we knew it was time to call the vet. Pete went to rainbow bridge in July 2006 at the age of 11 yrs old. He is buried by the apple tree on our property. We only had Pete here for a little over a year but it hit us hard as we hoped we would have a good long time together.

Butch ( I talked about briefly in a previous post) came with his brother Sunny, shortly after we moved here. He was the tough guy of the 2 ! When he started not wanting food we knew something was wrong. Tests done in Guelph confirmed cancer (probably of the gallbladder & beyond) & the prognosis was grim....we opted to have him euthanized. Butch has his spot by the apple tree as well.

Last summer our Sheperd cross 10 yr dog Buddy stopped eating...lost a great amount of weight in a short period of time. The blood work from the vet showed leukemia. The vet came out to our house so Buddy could pass to Rainbow Bridge in our arms. 

Hopefully I will not have to add to this list anytime soon....