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.