My little friend

My best bud Roxie died at the end of May. She had been ill with Ovarian Cysts, but had been still hungry and active up till the last weekend, when she went downhill rapidly. My friends helped me out as it was too hard for me to take her alone to her vets where I let her go. I would've preferred she would pass from this life at her home, but she was so sickly I couldn't bear to see her suffer another hour.

Roxie was a very special friend to me, and I miss her every day. Her little squeeks when I found her sauna-ing under her blankie, her squeeeps of excitement when the plastic bags rustled or the fridge door opened, her dancing on her hind legs begging for a strawberry, cucumber bit or carrot. The way she grabbed food from my hand and ran with it to her secret hiding place - her puffing up all her fur to look big and threatning while she ate, her relentless chasing of Gloria and trying to hump her (her hormones were whacked the last year), and her unescapable persnickety-ness, here nippy, hornery individuality. She was tough, and didn't let life go without a struggle- I think she would've liked to stay around but her life burned brightly and sometimes the brightest lights go out the fastest.

Gloria and I will always miss our boss, Roxie. Now it's hard to know what to do, but we'll carry on.

The enclosure

Here's a pic of Roxy and Gloria's big ol' home. This is about how much room they get when I'm tired of letting them out in the extend-o pen that I set up with cardboard barriers so they can run all over my rug, and eat and poop on it. Not too bad for the meantime. They get lots of run around time outside with the exend-o pen on weekday nights and some weekends.

Piggie Butt!

Here's a cute view of Gloria's butt. I'll post some new pictures this week, gota show y'all how plump they are now!

Roxy mysteriously injured!

Oh no, I'm not sure how it happened, but Roxy seems to have snagged one of her finger nails on something, and torn it out... ooh my no, sounds and looks painful. I don't know when or how that happened. She did have a spill the other day when she leapt out of my hands as I put her back in the enclosure, I thought she just bumped her nose, but she did squeeal out loud, so I think it happened then. She's not limping or seeming hurt now, but she could use your prayers or good vibes or whatever you feel comfy sending. If you want to send bags of money, I'll take her on to the vet to pamper her and get her checked up. But she seems fine, just less one claw. Poor baby.

Jet Set Pigs

The Girls have continued to accompany me back and forth up and down the state. The perks: Fresh fruit and veggies from California farms at roadside stands. The pitfalls, hot car, high gas prices, endless movement. 

Their place in the burbs is pretty sweet, more space down here, grass outside, but with trying to conserve electricity, on hot days no air conditioning, putting the fan on the pigs to cool them off. 

Pigs by the Bay, Again

Yea! Piggies are home sweet home after wintering down south in So. Cal. They liked their digs down there fine, actually got to experience the great outdoors for the first time, including GRASS growing right out of the ground!! Here you see them enjoying the grass. Also, birdsong, right outside their window at the Alhambra home. Lots of nice sub-urban sounds, and lots of quiet away from all the city noise. I'm glad were here again, and settling back into home life, but I'm still on the go and they are going to have to make a few more trips before the summer's over. They do quite well in the back of the car, though they don't like it, they are getting used to it. They got to meet their Grandma (my mom) before she died, which I am glad of. They also got to hang out with their aunt, and their uncle, Auntie likes them, Uncle is not very interested. They also got to meet Guy and Curly, the cats that live in the southern retreat.

Pigs on the road?

Gloria and Roxie may be on the road to LA for Christmas next week, as we pack up and do a trip to LA. Theire daddy has been looking after them while I've been on family business, but I may pick them up and bring them to the So Cal homestead. More pictures and piggie fun soon...

Getting by without me

Gloria and Roxie have been having to do without all the love, cuddles, backrubs, meticulous housecleaning and special treats that their piggie mom (slave) usually lavishes upon them. I've been off south taking care of their Grandma who has been sick. Lucky for them their devoted "Dad" LH has been filling in for me and staying at my place. He just doesn't do things the same though, and we've been having to eek out Quality time instead of Quantity time together. I wish I could take my piggies with me when I go away!

Piggies eating

The ladies had their current fave today and last night, Dandelion greens! They really like a variety of stuff, it's funny, they are picky. They don't like spinach much, will only eat it if I mix it with something they like. I put down the spinach, they look up at me like, is there anything else? So, I'm trying to edit some movies of them shlarfing up the dandelion greens.

Run Around Time

The ladies have had quite a long week of being able to stretch their gams every day.
They get to run around in what I call, the "Extend-o-pen". I open a door in thier house, add a ramp so they can run down it to the floor, and set up cardboard barriers so they can't get at my furnishings and cords. Then they can run around all day. Most of their exercise comes from running up and down the ramp. Not pictured here. Trying to get a movie clip of their climbing abilities.

The pig week.

With the working week here the girls haven't been getting much time with me to model. Don't worry, they've been fed. Here they are enjoying their piles of hay and a cleaned house. Seems like the Cantaloupe is getting old in their books. They got some nice red pepper yesterday. Tonight just red and green lettuce. I let them stretch their gams in the extend-o pen all day today.
I wonder are they happy living this bizarre life cooped up together in my house, with all their needs met but no herd and no predators to run from? So I chased them around a little today.
Then, I wondered if I am happy leading this bizarre life cooped up in my little apartment living this life - is this what god intended for them, for me? I guess so, because here we are.

Not that hungry today

They must've had too much to eat late last night with all that cantalope rind, because they just about ignored thier guinea pig salad this am. Roxie preferred to eat this block of wood, and gloria chose to nap instead. I woke her for this pic.

Cantalope Again!

The girls were running all over the place this morning popcorning and foraging. I was lazing in and didn't get up till 9:30 - knowing there was no lettuce to give them, or anything else for that matter. So I hotfooted it out for some limp lettuce - 89 cents a head - and an apple at Fanny's market. Then their friend and my neighbor LH donated some CANTALOPE RINDS!!! their new fav for a special treat. YUM!

Gloria and Roxie got a really nice ripe peach this morning. They didn't know what to make of it. I don't think they like soft fruit that doesn't crunch much. I thought it was perfect, as the rest of it was my breakfast too.
Then roxie wondered if the camera was edible.
They both investigate the new metallic food.

Gloria and Roxie are eating

Most of the time, this is what they are doing.

Tonight, what's on the menu? Cilantro, Green leaf lettuce and Watermelon. They are discovering summer fruits again, and went crazy for cantalope this week.