Hallowe'en Party on the Prairies!!!

Like guinea pigs everywhere, the Prairie Pigs have been busy getting ready for Hallowe'en.  Slave had told us we could go out trick or treating if the weather was good, but that hope was dashed a week ago when we had an early snowfall. Some of it has melted, but there is still too much for piggies to get through without ending up with very chilly toes.  

So we thought, maybe a virtual party instead?  We are modern piggies with a Zoom account and lots of long-distance party planning experience, so we began working on the guest list immediately.  Since the Prairie Pigs and Cindy's Three Amigos all live in North America, we decided that they should be our guests of honour and sent out invitations immediately.  Scottie, Coke and Fitz are party animals just like us, and they RSVPed right away.  Let the good times roll!

                                      

Scottie sent us this picture of the decorations he is working on at his end. all specially chosen to coordinate with his gleaming tuxedo coat.  Nice work, Scottie!

And here is Coke, with his traditional pumpkin-themed decor!  You can't go wrong with pumpkins for Hallowe'en, plus Coke does have a dash of orange in his coat so it all matches beautifully.  As you can see, Coke is all ready to go out with a large treat bag which should hold enough "loot" for him, and maybe Fitz and Scottie too if Coke is feeling generous. (Apparently Fitz is still out shopping for a costume and will get back to us a bit later...)

The Prairie Pigs are busy getting ready for the party, too --- here is Arthur Pendragon, trying on a new costume Slave just bought.  We are not sure who he is supposed to be but it's red and gold and has shiny bits, which is always a good start for a costume...

Hmmm --- what do you suppose is going on here?  Looks like a top secret Hallowe'en party planning video chat between Scottie and Ernie from the Prairie Pigs!  Oh well, sometimes it's better for a piggy slave not to know what's going on when we're not around to "supervise"... Have a good time, piggies; just don't leave your carrot beer bottles lying around afterwards!

Happy Hallowe'en from the Piggyfriends. Arachnophobes beware!

 

" I have lived here for a very long time," says Bella Piggyfriend, "and, although Slave tells us that Hallowe'en can be a scary time of the year, nothing has ever happened to frighten us Piggyfriends.

Look out Bella! What is that behind you?

"Help!" squeaks Bella. " There is a big monster and it is eating my chicory."

Along comes Oscar to save Bella and the chicory from the big scary spider.

 " Take that," says Oscar as he flattens the spider. " How dare you frighten my friend, Bella!"

" Thank you Oscar," says Bella as she goes back to devouring her chicory.

Have a happy and safe Hallowe'en readers say the Piggyfriends.

Coke Explores Water-Drinking Techniques

Hello, I am Coke, and I have been asked to give a seminar (webinar) in drinking from a water bottle.

 

Pardon? I wasn't asked to give a seminar? How embarrassing. Nevertheless, since I've already begun, I'll make a few brief remarks.

 

Here you will see me during floor time eating pellets and using a very relaxed posture as I drink from a water bottle. I like this photo because it shows the rosette on top of my head.

 

Oops, sorry, this isn't supposed to be about me.

In this second photo, you will see I am much closer to the bottle. We guinea pigs are lucky that we can turn our heads like this and still remain comfortable. Comfort is very important to us!

 

My mom says there's a joke in here somewhere: Coke talking about water. I don't get it. Would someone explain?

Scottie Saying Hello and Enjoying His Hay

Scottie here! I often run off when my mom tries to take my pigture, but on this day I stopped and posed for her. I think it is one of the best photos to show how my stripe goes all around me, and I wanted to show it off.

 

I love hay. Can you tell?

 

In the background you can see my blue cozy. My mom got it for me a few months ago, but I have resisted using it, just to keep her guessing! She realized it didn't weigh as much as some of the other cozies, so she has added some thin cardboard under its "seat." I still ignore it.

 

She saw Coke in it once when he was borrowing my house. When she went to get her camera, he jumped out.

 

This is a fun game!

Coke Makes Good Use of Floor Time

Hi, this is Coke reporting in!

 

You saw my brother, Fitz, in "camouflage" the other day, and I thought you might like to see me, too.

 

I'm not really in disguise, but here I am enjoying my Christmas cozy, which is also known as the Hollywood Bowl. I like to get into it when I have floor time. You can see my water bottle hanging near me. Sometimes I get all of the way into the cozy, and my mom can't find me, but on this day I thought I'd show her where I was.

 

Then I thought you might like to see my art project. Yes, I took my favorite sofa and set it on its end! My mom has no idea how I did that, but she grabbed a quick photo, thinking (probably correctly) she'll never see it that way again.

 

It was a one-time project, my assignment being to take a familiar object and display it in an unfamiliar way. Did I do a good job?

Why Fitz Is Mysterious

Fitz here.

 

My mom keeps saying she has trouble telling one end of me from the other, so she took a photo to show her perspective.

 

Personally I have no trouble knowing where my face is or where my butt is (Mom, is it all right if I say "butt"?). However, humans, you know, have to do their best.

 

I was eating when she took this photo. Is my mom the only one who is confused?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy and Healthy 4th. July from the Piggyville Girls,

Hello. We are the Piggyville Girls and today we are going to give you a history lesson. July 4th. is a special day in the United States of America. It is called Independence Day. On July 4th. 1776, the Declaration Of Independence was adopted. The Founding Fathers declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer under the thumb of Great Britain and were united, free and independent states. Needless to say, King George III was unhappy with the colonists for declaring their independence and not paying taxes to the British Crown. This resulted in the War of Independence that lasted until 1783.

General George Washington wrote that Great Britain would have won the war if the French had not come to the aid of the colonists. Over 90% of the muskets and gunpowder were provided by the French.

Most importantly, the French had developed a crude method to vaccinate against smallpox, a disease that killed over 30% of the people who contracted it and left many people blind. In crowded army camps up to 85% of American soldiers died from smallpox and other diseases rather than from combat wounds. Smallpox was so feared in armies that soldiers were known to "self vaccinate" by using the pus from an infected friend rubbed into a self inflicted wound. These soldiers were using themselves as "guinea pigs".

The great American statesman and scientist, Benjamin Franklin, had learned about vaccination when he was in Paris before the war. He blamed himself for the death of his four year old son from smallpox because he was afraid to have him vaccinated. He encouraged General George Washington to have everybody in the army vaccinated and the general ordered that all members of his ragtag and half starved army be vaccinated.

"With few surgeons, fewer medical supplies and no experience, General Washington conducted the first mass inoculation of an army at the height of a war that immeasurably transformed the international system."

So, today, let us celebrate our freedom by honouring the people who came before us who were willing to be "guinea pigs" for science in order to save their country.

Cheers! Tilley, Shannon and Ceilidh.

Happy Canada Day from the Prairie Pigs~

Hello everyone!  I am Arthur Pendragon, the newest, smallest, fastest and most handsome of the Prairie Pigs and I am here to wish everyone a Happy Canada Day.  It is our national holiday, and since the snow has finally all melted at long last, we are ready to have a party!!!

 

 

 

New Piggyville Girls!!

 

Hi! I am Tilley of the Piggyville Girls. I was lonely when my friends went to the Rainbow Bridge so my Mom and Dad searched far and wide for some piggy friends for me. They brought home two girly piggies, who are about six months old from the Brother Wolf Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina.

Here in the farmlands and mountains of Western North Carolina there are very few piggies at rescues but I got lucky because a very kind human brought in two piggies just for ME!!!

Here I am with my new friend Ceilidh ( pronounce it like Kaylee ). Just between you and me, I think that Ceilidh has wacky hair. She looks like a punk rocker but she is very loveable and likes to cuddle with me.

Hi. I am Shannon also known as Silverstone Shannon, Speedy Shannon and Greased Lightning Shannon. It has taken days for my Mommy to take a photo of me. I love cuddling in her lap with my new friend Tilley.

I have so much room to race around that I even jump over piggies that get in my way but, so far, I have not jumped out of our C&C home.

It is great to be a part of a big loving family that makes us the centre of their attention.

Introducing Coke and Fitz

It is certainly time we introduced ourselves! We are Coke and Fitz, and earlier this year we came to live with Scottie.
 
I, Coke, am the crested guinea pig. Here I am on the floor with one of my feet on the wood that borders the floor area our dad made. I've learned not to go outside that area, and my mom says sometimes I move sideways like a crab so I don't touch the actual wood floor. She thinks that's cute. I think it's great exercise!
 
I, Fitz, am the Peruvian, and as you see, my hair is rather curly. I love to be brushed and petted. Here I am about to drink some water. It is nice to have my A-frame nearby in case I need a quiet place to rest. My mom says I always have a happy look on my face. I like the floor, too!
 
We are about four and a half and four, respectively, so we are older than Scottie, who is two. So, well, I, Coke, thought I should be the dominant one. At first we got along in one cage (house), but my mom realized she had to have two houses for now. Fitz moves between us, so he stays in the cage at night with me and then visits Scottie in the other cage for a lot of the day.
 
Our mom lovingly calls our moving around "the stock exchange," and if she sees that I'm missing Fitz, he'll join me on the floor. When Scottie misses Fitz, she returns him to Scottie.
 
I, Fitz, apparently am very popular! Scottie and I also share floor time, too.
 
Mom still hopes one day we might all be together. If not, we will keep doing what we're doing. We listen well to our mom and know what a gentle "no" means. If we ever do become a trio, we will post it here!
 
We are glad to be here and to say hello.
 
 
 

New Piggyfriend!

Please welcome little baby Oberon, our newest Piggyfriend. He came to us at the end of March when he was only 5 weeks old.

He would not sit still for a photo so we waited until Slave's son came to visit and he held the little fellow for these pigtures.

Here he is from the other side. He is mostly Abby and is very loud. He likes to race around his pen and sit on top of his wooden house to see what is going on. Slave had to move the house to the centre of his pen just in case he decided to take a leap out of the pen into the room.

May Day at Piggyfriends

 It is May Day and one of our girls gets to be May Queen.

We have a lot of May ( hawthorn ) in our garden hedge but it has been cold here and the blossoms haven't opened so Slave walked along our road and found a few flowers in a hedgerow.

Caoimhe did not want to wear any flowers in her hair but was happy to sit with them.

" Can I eat them?" she asked. The leaves are actually edible. Slave said that they are also called bread and cheese trees as the leaves are supposed to taste of these. " Maybe not then." says Caoimhe. 

" I will just admire them from a distance," says Caoimhe." Slave says that the trees have sharp thorns."

Happy May Day everyone from all the Piggyfriends.

It's a White Easter on the Prairies

 Hi there!  I am Attila the Honey, the newest Prairie Pig, and I am here to wish everyone a Happy Easter!  Our snow had all melted but a few days ago, we caught the tail end of a late Prairie blizzard, so our tulips and crocuses will not be blooming for Easter after all.  We  know they are just sleeping under the blanket of snow, though, waiting for the next melt to make their entrance.

We hope Easter is warmer wherever you are, and that slaves and piggies are enjoying sunshine and spring flowers.  And if not, an extra chocolate egg or dandelion green does wonders to lift your spirits! 

Happy Easter Everyone!

 On behalf of all the Piggyfriends, Oscar would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy Easter.

Oscar sat very nicely for the pigtures and was rewarded with his favourite grapes.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Piggyville Girls

 

Cindy, our Irish neighbor, made this basket for us.  For some reason, Mum keeps it on her desk full of knickknacks.  She told us that, even though it is made of delicious dried reeds, we are still not supposed to eat it.  We are very good at eating cardboard, paper bags and lots of yummy timothy hay.

Mum and Dad are hoping to visit southern Ireland in May.  We hope they bring back lots of treats for us!  We wish all piggies and the humans who love them a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Bella Piggyfriend apologises on behalf of us all for being late with our St. Patrick's Day greetings.

Slave was out for most of the day and she was wearing her fleece so there was not much that we could do about it except wait for her to come home. We forgave her as she came in bearing vegetables.

The photo is not up to our usual standard as somepig should have moved the clutter in the background but we are late enough as it is.

So we say "Top of the morning to you all or maybe it should be top of the afternoon depending on where you live. It is evening here now."

Slave says better late than never. The wishes remain the same.

Candle Lighting at Piggyville.

 

Dear Peter. The greatest gift that you have given us is the gift of knowledge. It is a gift that goes on giving forever. Your students continue to share your knowledge with people all over the world.

Happy Birthday!!! Cheers from Tilley and Squirly of Piggyville, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA.

The Prairie Pigs Light a Candle

Hello there!  I am Eleanor from the Prairie Pigs, admiring the Peter Gurney Memorial Candle that we lit here in Saskatchewan.  Even if you have a pile of cilantro in front of you, it's nice to take a moment to contemplate and remember..

This year, we are particularly thinking about our piggy paterfamilias Sundance, who departed for the Rainbow Bridge not long ago.  He was a wonderful guinea pig, sweet and kind, but also stern when he needed to be.  Our slave will always carry a memento of him in a rather impressive scar on her index finger, from the time she decided to avert an impending battle between Sundance and Edvard Munch  (due to a faulty catch on a cage door) by putting her hand between them.  Sundance did apologize immediately and she forgave him long ago but she still has that little reminder.

Candle Lighting at Piggyfriends

Hello Readers.

Peaches drew the short hay and was chosen to light our candle this year.

Peaches: Don't think that you are going to bribe me with that lettuce Slave. I need you to light the candle for me. That device looks dangerous to me.

Peaches: Thank you Slave. That was much safer and I did not get my whiskers singed.

All the Piggyfriends are remembering many Piggyfriends past and a whole host of pets that have gone to the Rainbow Bridge down the years but especially Daddy Slave, who is looking after them all until we can meet up again.

The Peter Gurney Memorial Is Coming Up Soon --- March 9th!

This is Scottie, and I am with a friend who is helping me get ready for the Peter Gurney Candle Light Memorial. (Don't you think there is a resemblance?)
 
The Peter Gurney Memorial is an annual event to celebrate the late Mr. Gurney, who wrote books about guinea pigs and contributed greatly to the knowledge about them. He is a hero to us guinea pigs, as well as to our humans.
 
We hope you'll join us in our celebration. All you have to do is light a candle at 8 p.m. in your time zone on March 9th, Mr. Gurney's birthday, and leave it lit for an hour if possible. At 9 p.m. your time, candles in the next time zone will be lit, and in this way our lights will travel around the world.
 
This event has been observed since 2006 and serves not only as a remembrance of Mr. Gurney but also as a remembrance of our other friends who have passed on, be they furred, finned, or feathered.
 
Afterwards, we hope you'll send the location where you lit a candle to PG_Memorial@gpdd.org (mailto:PG_Memorial@gpdd.org). Locations, but no names, are compiled and later posted on the Guinea Pigs' Daily Digest homepage at gpdd.org. Please visit there to see photos and locations of past participants.
 
If you take a photo of the event, such as your guinea pig beside a candle, please also send it to PG_Memorial@gpdd.org (mailto:PG_Memorial@gpdd.org). Note: There is an underscore between PG and Memorial; the entire address is not underscored.
 
I have two new brothers, Coke and Fitzgerald, who were a bit too fidgety to be in the photo with me, but we are all excited about the big day and hope you can join us!