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Pot-bellied Pigs…

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This 200 pound pot-bellied pig was found abandoned in Cullman County.

Well, I’ve got a new hero, Cullman County Animal Control Officer, Dwain Floyd. The headline of an article in the Cullman Times was ‘Alabama county faces an ‘epidemic’ of abandoned pot-bellied pigs’…

‘it is an epidemic around here it seems like…’ Floyd explained.

Epidemic might be an exaggeration, I think there were four in the last few months but..The article explained that pot-bellied pigs outgrow their homes. People can’t resist buying a cute little 20 lb. pig and aren’t prepared when they gain up to 200 pounds and quickly outgrow their pen. Okay, now this worries me. I’m an animal lover. I have never thought about pot-bellied pigs becoming so popular! I know on the show ‘HeeHaw’ years ago- they seemed affectionate with their pigs and on ‘Green Acres’, one of the ‘pets’ was a pig. Who doesn’t love- Wilbur in ‘Charlotte’s Web’ ?? Inform me here- is owning a potbellied pig fashionable these days? I read up about it- there are micro-pigs, teacup pigs, even mini-pigs. Someone said the breeders do what they can to keep them cute and small. One man responded that there isn’t much ‘wiggle room’ on hog breeding.  Listen to Cullman County Animal Control Director Tim McCoy:

“My experience is that people get what seems to be a fun animal for a little while, and (the pigs) start getting bigger and bigger,” Cullman County Animal Control Director Tim McKoy said. “Then they can’t keep them in a small pen anymore, and (homeowners) don’t know what to do with them.”

Over the last four months or so, Cullman County Animal Control has picked up about four abandoned potbellied pigs.  “It is not as unusual as you would think,” McKoy said.

When they get report of a loose pig, McKoy said officers attempt to find the owner. If a livestock animal isn’t claimed, his office has to go to court to seize the animal.

Cullman County Animal Control has a half-acre lot where they can temporarily house an abandoned or abused livestock animal.

.Okay, this is sad to me- but also bizarre. I may have grown up in the city of Birmingham but I married a man from a rural county. I have been to chicken farms, catfish farms, cattle farms, llama farms, horse farms, goat farms -even to an emu farm. A loose Emu caused a big stir in my hometown several months ago when it escaped and was walking calmly on the double yellow line up Highway 231, people were posting reports on it’s whereabouts minute by minute on Facebook and calling 911, traffic was backed up for a couple of miles- someone took a fantastic picture of the Emu ‘walking the line’- finally, they guided the Emu off to the side of the road and caught it- returned it home safely.

Anyway, I feel that I have observed a good many types of farms, yet my experience with pigs is limited to an elderly farmer who was vehemently opposed to a hog farm being installed on a neighboring farm. He took us outside and said ‘Cain’t you smell it?’ When I said I really couldn’t, he made me get in another wind direction- I still couldn’t smell anything too awful, but he said he wouldn’t be able to eat with that smell. I do think I would still be able to eat bacon, maybe not… I also recall one man told me that a hog was a better ‘guard dog’ than an actual dog! Somehow, I think it would be embarrassing to post a ‘Beware of Guard Hog’ sign.

One lady commented on the Cullman Times article by saying that ‘the good thing (about pigs) is that they always poop in the same place.’ – Well, that’s good to know… Now, let me get on with this incredible article-

Here’s Dwain Floyd again: ‘Last month, Floyd responded to a residence.. after a woman found a 100 pound pig in her garage. He said the homeowner tried to find the pig’s owner before calling animal control.’

(That’s One Brave Woman.. okay, say on Dwain..)

“Pigs are mischievous and curious creatures,’ Floyd said. ‘They like to dig. They get out and forage for themselves. It’s hard to believe a pig like this wanders off and no one misses it.’ But that’s what happened no one came forward to claim the female black and white pot-bellied pig. Despite it’s size, Floyd said this house-trained pig still makes a good pet. ‘It followed you around like a dog. It didn’t even squeal when I picked it up.” Floyd laughed though, admitting that picking up the large pig did hurt his back.’

(Hmm…I can’t believe nobody missed it either- sounds like hogwash to me.)

Apparently no court appearance was necessary – lucky for the animal control and the pig, the article stated- a neighbor decided to keep the pig after it made friends with the family’s pet duck. Take it away Dwain-

‘The family has a duck that has been raised from birth as part of the family.’ Floyd said – ‘It goes everywhere with them and loves to be held.’  (Now where does the duck go?) Anyway, this story has a happy ending because ‘another friendship has been formed’ – with the pot-bellied pig which has a happy start with her new family’. To read the whole story- go to Al.com .

Don’t you just love Dwain Floyd and this story? Well I do- it makes me smile. I have to admit I am laughing thinking about coming home and finding a 100 pound pig in my garage! What in the world?? How did she have the presence of mind to go inside and call around to see if she could find out who that pig belonged to? All before calling Dwain Floyd at Animal Control? And y’all…that pig just lives next door….the next time she comes home to find a pig in her garage- it might weigh 200 pounds and have a duck on it’s back!

 Now I have a confession to make- I have followed ‘pig’ stories since Otis was picked up by the police in my hometown- they responded to a call of a ‘pig wandering a neighborhood’. When the officer arrived at the scene, the pig was coming from around a corner. The officer called him (the pig) petted the pig- and put him in the patrol car. ‘The pig was compliant so the officer just put him in the car’.  Now you have to admit that is one cute pig! It turns out the owner had been posting on Facebook that her pig was missing! So this too had a happy ending….

 Otis the Pig
A pot-bellied pig was reunited with his owner Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 after a ride in a police car and 24 hours at the Pell City Animal Control Center. (Pell City Animal Control Facebook Page)
Ok, y’all- you have to go take a look at their Facebook page! And if you want to read the whole story- go to Al.com
 Who knows? I might even end up agreeing with Winston Churchill on this one…

 

Just had to have some sweet fun! I mean with all that’s goin’ on in the world…we all can use a little fun from time to time!

Love y’all, Camellia

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Liebster Award #2…

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Well, this has been a week for the books! Three awards…honestly unbelievable, but we are so thankful here at Camellia’s Cottage! Thank you so much to a precious blogger who also is a Southern girl! The Introvert Mom Blog – when she posted a photo of her little girl from behind stepping into a shallow creek- I fell in love! Her little girl’s hair was just like my grown daughter’s hair at that age! Now, I have to confess, that this is the second Liebster we’ve won since starting this blog about 4-5 months ago! But, the excitement of being recognized is wonderful! So, I am going to abbreviate the paying it forward portion of accepting this award- I love the number five, it represents ‘Grace’ to me- and getting the Liebster again- is like a ‘grace note’ in a song! Just makes life better! So, I am going to nominate 5 bloggers- all Southerners this time- for the Liebster Award- they are:

Now, wonderful bloggers- if you will: go to The Global Aussie and find the rules for grabbing your award! This blogger is a really cool Australian gentleman- you will love his blog!

I look forward to reading your responses to these 5 questions I have for you:

  • What is your favorite book?
  • What do you like best about blogging?
  • What is your favorite southern food?
  • Do you have a ‘day job’ and if so, what is it?
  • Are you right handed or left handed? (am asking because I’m a southpaw!)

Good luck and Congratulations y’all- I love your blogs! To those reading this post I hope you will visit them as well- I also would like to thank WordPress for their support, as a new blogger (even now!) the Blogging U Courses have been great! And I plan to continue taking them to read, discover and learn. Again, a big hug to The Introvert Mom Blog for this honor.

Love y’all, Camellia

 

 

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Lessons from My Garden…

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Whenever I read a quote about growth, I make a connection to gardening. The greatest lessons I have learned have come to me when I am gardening- doin’ yard work. A good garden is always changing, growing – a living thing.. Gardening is like dealing with the Devil and touching the Hem of God’s Garment.

When my garden and I started out, I had dreams for it; some have come true.

  • I wanted roses spilling over a white picket fence, I wanted my grandmother’s Spiderwort and her Hosta to thrive.
  • I wanted heirloom peonies to pass along to the next generation.
  • I wanted a couple of magnolia trees and a gardenia that knocked my socks off with it’s white blooms and heavy scent.
  • I wanted big blue Mop Head Hydrangeas by the dozens.
  • I wanted to look out of every window and see something growing.
  • I wanted an old gardener’s bulbs and irises to spring up every year and greet me.

I’ve gotten all of that and more. I still have to fight weeds- I still have to prune and vigorously cut back new growth. My best laid plans have been interrupted; I’ve even loved and lost-

My herb garden had to be torn up because of a structural issue. I mourned the loss, I resisted the change. Nature doesn’t seem to resist change– but eases gently, gracefully through the seasons. Plants do not seem to be alarmed or depressed when they are pruned- they just up and put on new growth. There is a quiet wisdom impressed upon me when I garden, nature is a patient teacher. She calmly points out the splendor of the sunshine, the peaceful necessity of a gentle rain and the blinking lights of  fireflies-then, quietly points her finger toward the stars without worry or anxiety about tomorrow..Gardening points me to my higher self-it brings out the dreamer in me. I love this quote by Harriet Tubman:

‘Every dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’

Gardening helps me believe that within the personality of God, there is an unruffled calm, a perennial pace to life, an order and higher purpose in my life. My doubts and anxieties about aging are overcome when I see a sunset. A Sunset is proof that Nature really does save the best for last. Before the curtains close -She waltzes out, shows off her most glorious colors- spreads her skirts and takes a graceful bow- then tosses out a handful of stars!

‘Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from the morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.’ Charles Dickens

It’s such a treat for me to share some lessons from my garden. I hope your gardens and your lives are abundant and changing ever so gently. I hope there are still stars in your eyes and dreams in your hearts.

Love y’all, Camellia

*image from http://www.quotesgram.com

quotes from ‘The Dictionary of Thoughts’ published in 1959 by Standard Book Company

Find more gardening inspiration on Amazon.com

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Blogger Recognition Awards…

I am very thankful to –The Recipe Hunter for nominating Camellia’s Cottage for the Blogger Recognition Award. This blog is beautiful, the story behind her blogs is wonderful- go check ’em out! And, to my surprise and dismay- Karina Pinella has made this a ‘double award! The Blogger Appreciation Award! The best part, I think, about these awards- is the opportunity to recognize 15 other bloggers who deserve recognition as well…

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Here are 15 blogs I have chosen for the ‘Blogger Recognition Award:

Congratulations! I think your blogs deserve recognition, praise and best wishes! Bless Your Hearts !  Now, Bloggers – should you choose to accept this award, here are the rules:

  • Write a post to show your award.
  • Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you.
  • Give a brief story of how you started your blog.
  • Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
  • Nominate 15 bloggers who deserve this award.

So, Camellia’s Cottage- it is a blog about the wit and wisdom, the graciousness and the generosity, artistry and beauty of the South and her people- particularly in our home state of Alabama. Camellia herself, is a composite character of all of the Southern women who have inspired me through the years. In 2012, my book ‘Four Days- the Lazarus Principle’ was published- during the editing process, I realized just how ‘tech-challenged’ I was! Out of the desire to continue writing and to update my knowledge of technology, I kept thinking about writing a blog- the book is a Bible Study, however, I love to share other things- funny stories and lifestyle of the South, that I knew as a child and know now. I’m still new at this but- for my two cents worth of advice to new bloggers- this is what I did-

  • I asked myself if I had 30 ideas for blog posts- if I didn’t ? then I probably didn’t need to be blogging.
  • And, I committed myself to blogging regularly for one year to see if I could just be myself, have fun and learn how to write a blog!

Now,  more than 4 months have gone by, and 60 posts written, I haven’t run out of ideas, I am still on a steep learning curve- but I truly enjoy blogging! And to those I have nominated? You could teach me a whole lot more than I could ever teach you about blogging! Thanks to all who have stopped by and for the sweet and funny comments you have made -it’s kept me plugging along! Again, thank you to the Recipe Hunter and Karina Pinella for nominating me for these awards and giving me the opportunity to inspire others!

Love y’all, Camellia

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Doors of Alabama…

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Doors of Alabama … Wood doors, painted doors, old doors, new- Fine doors, screened doors, glass doors or metal- Closed doors, open doors, vintage or serene. Vines twining, paint peeling, wreathed in cotton or magnolia – Country doors, city doors or something in between… This is our sweet home in Alabama, can you guess which one is ours ?

Each one is a snapshot of inspiration… We hope you agree!

A huge thank you to Jeremy Miniard for sharing his personal collection of ‘Backroads of Alabama Doors’ and to friends and family who shared their doors with grace and good humor!

Love y’all, Camellia

*All photographs are from private collections and cannot be reproduced or copied without permission .