Patte's Pig

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner and our household is getting ready to move!

Constant packing and the surprise of things that have been lost and finally recovered has truly been amazing. For all that have moved, I am sure that you can fully understand what this concept means.

Hamlet and his partner in crime "Buddy" will be in day care moving day so that they do not get under the mover's feet or decide to take a stroll in the neighborhood. They will be shacking up together at the River Pet Spa in Edgewater, NJ. Dr. Z. and her staff can't wait for their arrival. In the meantime, they have both celebrated Valentine's Day in fashion as always but have not shared in the Valentine's Day chocolate but had a hand full of chopped celery instead!

Hamlet's lesson of the day: Love that is unconditional is the best kind of love no matter who or what you are!

Trying to keep warm!

2011-01-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that the days are actually getting longer???

I always start counting the minutes after the 1st of a New Year to see the progression towards Spring. This time it will actually be a important part of our family history since we are moving to another Bergen County town at the end of February. We have finally purchased a home that we have been working on since March of 2009. Hamlet and Buddy will finally have a back yard to play in and have fun! This makes us very, very happy since they deserve to have a yard in their lifetime and we deserve to have some quiet time too. Meanwhile, I am attaching a picture of both of them as they gear up just in case they need to go outside for a ride. As for me = I guess I will get my shovel ready again since good old winter will show his face again once more in the next couple of days. As for the "partners in crime" they will continue to do what they do best - sleep, snuggle and wait for Spring!

Hamlet's lesson: Patience and a "pig's pushiness" always gets the job done!

Still shoveling snow in NJ

2011-01-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

The winter so far in NJ has been a real shoveling challenge. Due to my New Year's and prior resolution and much insight from The Farmer's Almanac I have been gearing up and building muscle to lifts the mounds of snow that have been piling since Christmas!! Hamlet and I have many things in common, besides being skidish, we detest the cold weather. I should have been born in Florida along with him! This is obvious to me because every night he tries to snuggle under my nightshirt for body heat. He is a real warming blanket, until later on in the evening I feel the dead weight of him under my arm. With a simple push, I hear a grunt as if to say "I am comfortable and warm - bug off". Needless to say, for most of the time I win and he finds another body part to snuggle with. His "parnter in crime - Buddy" snuggles all day with him, but, as far as Buddy is concerned snuggling with him at night is off limits. So as I gear up for another winter storm, my two "partners in crime" decide to do whats best - To snooze and snuggle while Mom is outside shoveling!

"Hammy's lesson" - A winter's nap restores the soul and for Mom - her muscles!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

Totally thrilled to start a New Year since 2010 was completely stressful due to the poor economic environment and the challenge in finding a new job! Keeping me on my best course of action and always on my toes has been Hamlet and his side kick Buddy. They have continued to make me laugh and sometimes scream when one of them tries to be top dog or top pig in this household. Hamlet has made his final visit to his vet in Franklin Lakes, NJ for the last series of his vaccinations and is doing quite well in his weight. Currently at 8 months he is only 11.3 pounds. He does get plenty of exercise since he and the dog are constantly in movement until both retire after dinner for the evening. One is always worried he will miss a opportunity to snack since they both feel everytime you walk into the kitchen it is for food! Hammy and Buddy always keep you honest on your diet since I am convinced that Hamlet has put a alarm on the refrigerator door that he sleeps in front of every day!!! So as we start another year in being "honest" on our diets and to try to eat healthier we may have a better shot at keep our resolution since I now have the "Hammy" diet monitor in our household!!

Attached is my photo wearing my "party" hat and my red scarve gift from Santa in Florida!

Lesson learned for the start of 2011 - The kitchen in our household is animal heaven!!

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

October 31, 2010

We could not wait until Halloween came - truly a experience finding the appropriate costume for Hamlet. Initially, we thought a pumpkin would work, but, we are having trouble finding clothing that his hooves do not wiggle out of. I guess it is time for me to learn how to sew!

Ultimately, he became the sweet little angel that I call him. His wings have matched his little ears. Attached are his picture along with his best friend "Buddy" our Pug. Both were a instant success. Hamlet and his usual antics caught my husband and I off guard when he appeared from a patch of ivy with a orange "dum dum" lollipop hanging from his mouth. It was truly hysterical.

As his adopted mother, I arranged to remove it from his mouth promptly.

Hammy's Halloween lesson: Appearances can be deceiving - sometimes when people believe you are a angel the little devil in you comes out!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

October 19, 2010

Today is Hamlet's 6 month old Birthday. Believe it or not, he has survived in the household and our family has survived also! I was truly thankful that I did not have a job during this initial growing up stage since he is always inquisitive on a daily basis. He has taught me plenty about life and how important it is to go after what you want out of it. This lesson has been recently taught to me by Hamlet. Each of our pets has specific lounging areas in our home. Mylo (the cat) perches on top of the couch. Buddy our dog sleeps on the couch in my husband's office.

Hamlet has decided to become the "pushy pig" and has succeeded in obtaining a comfortable spot not only on the couch in my husband's office, but, also on my bed pillow while watching television at night.

Lesson learned: Go after what you want - you may just get it!

2010-09-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hamlet continues to grow and has truly become part of our family. Outsiders still do not undersand the concept of raising a mini pig in a domestic setting but has become a real hit at the New Jersey Shore Boardwalk. He possess the kindness and simplicity that mankind has lost and looks forward to all the simple things in life such as having a good meal and sleeping like a log.

After a visit to the New Jersey coast and arriving at home he decided that there is nothing more in life like a good night sleep! Unfortuantely, my husband and I were frantic trying to find our lost companion in our NJ apartment. Needless to say, after 8 hours of searching and notifying the local garbage collector of the possibility of our missing pig - he woke up from a long summer night sleep at 6 am - Appartently burying himself underneath several blankets on our living room couch!

Hammy's lesson taught: Undisturbed sleep is good for the soul

2010-07-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

Day 2 Lesson

Hamlet slept well thru his second night and has started to speak his mind with grunting as he walks.
Our pug, Buddy has now begun to realize that Hamlet is not one of his species and is not the species of his older friend Mylo (the cat). Neverless, he has become the keeper and now has a partner in crime.

Hamlet has his own special area in our apartment which was gated by a "baby" gate that was the slide kind.
This area was Hamlet's playground with his toys, water, bed and feeding area.
Each morning at 9:00 AM - we served Breakfast, but, this particular morning proved that Hamlet was becoming settled and somewhat bored with his surroundings. At 9 AM from behind my bedroom door, I heard louder than normal grunting sounds and proceeded to open up the door only to find my new adopted son and our dog and cat waiting for their feeding. Shocked, I blamed the dog for letting Hamlet out until I caught Hamlet moving the gate for myself! Using his nose on the bottom of the gate, slid the gate just enough for his little body to get out! I knew now there was not stopping him - his was on the move!

Hamlet's Lesson for the day: Never assume or blame without verifying the evidence!

My story

2010-07-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,

My name is Patte and this is a story and somewhat of a journey into raising a pet mini-pig in a suburban apartment in New Jersey. It will be somewhat interesting for those who would never think of a pig as a pet and funny for those who share in the shear bliss of complete lunacy! But for whatever reason this blog finds you interested, I can assure you that it will not be boring.

It all started with my curiosity of the mentality, challenge and intelligence of the pig in which I understand is that of a two year old child. Attached is the new arrival at eleven weeks old from the Mini Pig Farm in Florida on July 7th, 2010, owners Matt and Brenda raise pigs for the pork industry and also for pets. Hopefully, my little bundle of joy is from the correct stock - otherwise-my husband and I are in trouble!!!

For those interested in having a bundle of joy in their home you can contact Matt and Brenda at

http://www.minipigfarm.com/ to view their new arrivals.

His name is Hamlet and our first live introduction started when he arrived at Newark Airport Cargo at 12 Midnight on one of the hottest days in New Jersey. Already my husband Jeff and I were faced with our first challenge as new parents - to retrive Hamlet from a hostage situation!

Yes, you read that correctly - because the jet arrived after midnight - all Delta airline workers left for the evening and their computers generating the manifest for release were closed. Our little arrival would not be given over to us unless we paid $150.00 to the night worker or came back the next day during normal business hours. Can you imagine? Needless to say, my husband and I were able to come up with the funds to release Hamlet from prison!

Let the journey begin!

Hamlet's first lesson he has taught us: Always be prepared because if A fails back up Plan B and C should be in full operation!

Side Note: After detailing our story to Brenda and Matt - the were kind enough to promptly reimburse us for our funds and raised holy hell with Delta airlines.