Cuy

I follow the Portland Guinea Pig Rescue on Facebook. (I am very fond of All Things Guinea Pig, and organizations that look after neglected or needy piggies have a special place in my heart.) They recently posted some information about cuy guinea pigs, and it was especially touching, because it contains a good life lesson for everyone, including guinea pigs. I have reposted it below in its entirety; all credit should be to the Rescue.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Cuy Edition

We are giving you another opt-out/opt-in opt-ion for another long post today.

The long short: Cuy are a type of guinea pig that are bred for consumption. They are much larger than a regular pig, usually at least 4 pounds, but sometimes 7 or more pounds. Coloration and features vary, but mostly they're orange and white with smooth coats.

The long long: Poor cuy. People adopt these mostly-feral livestock pigs while they're young thinking they're mature guinea pigs and become dismayed when they (A) don't become tame and (B) grow to the size of small Tonka trucks. Who wants a pet that produces sooo much waste and triples your feeding costs, all while hiding and screaming when you are near?

Maybe some people, sure, but it takes a special breed to love a special breed, and most folks just want to share their home with a normal and even affectionate pet.

That's why when we take in cuy they're immediately granted sanctuary status. So few people are prepared to love and nurture a pet that, with a lot of patience on your part, might grow to come outside their pigloo and look blandly at you.

But if you lower your expectations and give them regular treats and lap time you will be rewarded with...not love exactly, but they'll be easier to catch and scoop up for hugs and kisses.

We cherish our cuy because it's an exercise in loving someone for all that they are and only what they are; for giving not what we want to give, but what they need to receive.

We think it's a good lesson overall.

Picture from Portland Guinea Pig Rescue on Facebook. 

No Freedom

We are listening to Miley Cyrus again. Today's earworm: No Freedom. It's a simple, quiet love song. (Our favorite kind.)

We hope you enjoy.

Neutral Party

Herself speaks.

When I was a wee little girl, I had two tiny ceramic farm animal figurines: a pig, and a duck. I loved to hold them in my hand. They were soothing, cool to the touch and so smooth. Once when my mother took me into the Big City to go to a symphony event, I took the tiny duck with me, in the pocket of my fancy dress. I remember that well.

That pig and duck -- like so many childhood toys -- have been lost to the sands of time. I was thinking of them the other day, when I recalled a book I read to my own Offspring when they were wee little. In Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, there is a disagreement between the farmer and the farm animals, and one creature was enlisted to serve as messenger between the sides. "Duck was a neutral party...." Ah, duck. Everyone needs a neutral party sometimes. Or to be a neutral party.

I have never seen a pig like that tiny figurine I remember. However, I recently found a tiny duck, just like that of years ago. Ah, duck. I am glad to have found you.

Blessing

For a New Position, by John O'Donohue, from To Bless The Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings

May your new work excite your heart,
Kindle in your mind a creativity
To journey beyond the old limits 
Of all that has become wearisome.

May this work challenge you toward
New frontiers that will emerge
As you begin to approach them,
Calling forth from you the full force
And depth of your undiscovered gifts.

May the work fit the rhythms of your soul,
Enabling you to draw from the invisible
New ideas and a vision that will inspire.

Remember to be kind
To those who work for you
Endeavor to remain aware
Of the quiet world
That lives behind each face.

Be fair in your expectations,
Compassionate in your criticism.
May you have the grace of encouragement
To awaken the gift in the other's heart,
Building in them the confidence
To follow the call of the gift.

May you come to know that work
Which emerges from the mind of love
Will have beauty and form.

May this new work be worthy
Of the energy of your heart
And the light of your thought.

May your work assume
A proper space in your life;
Instead of owning or using you,
May it challenge and refine you,
Bringing you every day further 
Into the wonder of your heart.

I See The Moon

Much as I find the new smartphone to be frustrating, I will note that it does, in fact, take photographs that are far more detailed than those of the previous phone. Behold, the moon this morning. Nice.

Cascarones

Even the tortoises that live in the yard were subjected to the cascarones. The cousins were very tender, though, crumbling the eggs carefully so that the confetti rained gently down upon the backs of the tortoises.

The cousins are all getting older. Where has the time gone? I am glad that they still enjoy spending time together.

Happy Easter.

That Seems In Questionable Taste

A chocolate cross.  

Hrm.