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Truth in Advertising: A Novel
by: John Kenney • view -
Flight Behavior: A Novel
by: Barbara Kingsolver • view -
Rabbit, Run
by: John Updike • view -
The Happiness Project
by: Gretchen Rubin • view -
Mamas Bank Account
by: Kathryn Forbes • view -
If It's A Choice, My Zygote Chose Balls
by: Jeremy Hooper • view -
The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
by: Deb Perelman • view -
Baked Elements: Our 10 Favorite Ingredients
by: Matt Lewis • view -
Home Vegetable Gardening
by: F.P. Rockwell • view -
Classic Zester
Microplane • view -
Hand Blender
Cuisinart • view -
Blade for 5-Quart KitchenAid Mixers
New Metro Design • view -
Cut Kit Tray
Hydrofarm • view -
Seedling Heat Mat
Hydrofarm • view -
Grow Light System
Hydrofarm • view
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The History of US: A Novel
by: Leah Stewart • view -
The Hungry Ear: Poems of Food and Drink
by: Kevin Young • view -
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by: John Irving • view -
Edible Selby
by: Todd Selby • view -
Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect and Inhumane Treament..
by: Gail A. Eisnitz • view -
Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of
by: Andrew Beahrs • view -
Meatless: More Than 200 of the Very Best Vegetarian Recipes
by: Martha Stewart Living • view -
Pure Vanilla: Irresistible Recipes and Essential Techniques
by: Shauna Sever • view -
American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat
by: Thom Filicia • view -
Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton • view -
60-Ounce Utensil Crock
BIA Cordon Bleu • view -
Jumbo Spoon Rest
BIA Cordon Bleu • view -
Stainless Watering Can
Blomus • view -
Copper Watering Can
Master Craft • view -
Stainless Steel Pinwheel
Blomus • view
The Ballad of Icarus Licorice
There was a small piglet named Icarus
With surname and color both licorice;
He flew from his mother
To live with his brother
On Beekman Farm, Icarus Licorice.
Did he start out like his mother
(Who’s redheaded, just like his brother?)
Or did he, in transit,
Determine to chance it,
And take flight inspired by the other
Icarus, winging the higher
Reaches of heaven, catch fire,
Melting his wings,
Scorching everything,
Then fall to the earth, to expire?
The moral of this could be true –
“It’s dangerous to try something new;
That when you aspire
To rank that is higher,
You’ll star in your own Bar-B-Q.”
A lesson for life no denying.
Just stay where you are and no trying.
When you reach past your station
In one generation,
You’re likely to end up French frying.
Or….
Don’t push it, don’t try it, beginner.
You’ll never end up as a winner.
Your class is your fate,
Your status your state,
Just shut up or end up as dinner.
But there are two sides to our story;
This myth is not just allegory.
Our pig on the verge
Of a powerful urge,
Soared past bacon and sausage to Glory!
To our Icarus, flight is no biggie.,
He’s safe in his silo-ma-jiggy,
Growing fat everyday,
They eat, sleep and play –
Hog Heavenly life for a piggy.
Some day he’ll tell us his story,
That journey to star territory.
His ascent, burn and dive,
And how he survived
Will make for a grand oratory.
Come visit our happy pig Icarus,
Whose skin is the color of licorice.
His world is the best,
(He survived all the rest)
His fabulous sty is uBeekuitous.
So how did we name him, you query?
It was simply a task ordinary.
For flight, we said “Icarus,”
For hue, Brent said “Licorice,”
Together, the best salutary.
Flying pigs live to inspire us.
Impossible dreams will transpire us.
His style is divine,
Our Die Flederschwein,
Icarus Licorice, Esquirus.
Big Red and Icarus Licorice
Are growing both vigorous and rigorous.
So how will it end?
With laughter, my friend.
To think otherwise is ridiculous.
by Karen Cooksen
(who lives just down the road from Beekman Farm)
I really like that painting.
Of all of the denizens of my little ranch in California, a special place in my heart is reserved for my two pot-bellied pigs, Chicha and Ron. Their names are actually a rather sick joke. Chicharrónes are the deep fried pork rinds favored in Mexican and other Latin American cuisine. I love these two pigs dearly though, and the dinner plate is not their destiny.
Pigs are extremely intelligent animals. My two are at least as intelligent as dogs, and in some instances far more resourceful. They know their names, come when they are called. They are incredible problem solvers when it comes to figuring out how to open gates, doors, stalls, etc when on their endless quest for food. I once put a food bin on TOP of a stack of rectangular cubes of pine shavings, used to freshen the horse stalls. These pigs figured out that if they tore open the bottom bale, and dug out its contents, that the entire stack would fall, and they could get the food that was some 6 feet above their heads!
Ronnie-pig is a frequent early morning visitor in my kitchen. He knows that the dogs get fed in the house. Most mornings he will climb the stairs of the back porch and work on the back door. I am often not particularly good at latching the door all the way. He knows exactly which side he needs to push his weight to get the kitchen door to swing inwards. He knows exactly where the bag of dog food is kept. On more than one instance I have been awakened at 6:30 a.m. on a weekend by a hungry Ronnie coming in for some self-serve.
Personality-wise, these pigs are a bit cat-like. They enjoy hanging out with humans and other animals, their tales wagging happily. However to touch them or hold them is always on their terms. They must want it, or else it isn't happening. Unlike dogs, that crave contact, pigs are a bit more aloof. Chicha does get annoyingly affectionate every month or so when she goes into heat. She is annoyingly desperate for contact, and will nip the back of my leg if I don't scratch her or rub her.
Of all of the personalities on my farm, little Chicha and Ron are the biggest characters.
Very clever! I love fun things like this. Thank you!
Aren't pigs wonderful? Just be careful when hand feeding them fruits (as my sister does on her farm in Walworth, NY) not to stick your pinky finger in their mouths by accident, especially new, young pigs. Their teeth are S-H-A-R-P!!!! And, I bet their bite force is comparable to that of an alligator. Poor pinky! It's better now, but it sure was sore for a while!
I was fortunate enough to meet the Cooksen's when we toured their farm during Harvest Fest this past fall — such wonderful people and a really lovely poem! I actually use a picture of their farm as my background at work, to remind me what I am (hopefully) working towards one day!
Since you inspired:
“The one-l lama
He’s a beast
The two-Ll llama
He’s a priest
But I would bet a
Silk pajama
There isn’t any
3-L lllama.”—Ogden Nash
Lama Lamapolkaspot
Is my favorite
1l-Lama.
In his fancy birthday suit
He doesn’t need a silk pajama.
With his boys Josh & Brent
He’s the most distinguished glama
North of Island Bah-ha-hama.
how sweet!~ new companion to "ms. piggy"? or they are both male?
So is Licarus your new pig and Big Red’s new companion? I don’t think the new addition was mentioned or I missed it, somehow.
She’s a great artist, both paintings are wonderful.
what a lovely poem and a great painting of pigs.
The painting of Big Red and Licarus was done by the same artist that does the painting of the goats that is for sale in the online shop "Sweet Silence". She's wonderfully talented