One more enlightenment for this week (or, WOW, That Girl Finally Has Pigs In Show Coat!)

For the first time in about five years, I'm keeping animals in decent show coat. Don't hold your breath - the oldest is only 4 1/2 months old - but with my recent herd cutback, I found myself with the time (and motivation) to groom pigs. This leaves me with an intermediate sow of each breed, currently in coat.

I have struggled for years on how to make those maddening little critters hold still on the showboard while grooming. Use a stepstool, several people said. Well, my pigs are either really stupid or really courageous, because they just fly off of it as if they are Batman ready to save the world.

So in a hurry two weeks ago and not willing to put up with Daydream Believer's antics on the grooming table, I tried something new. What was that, you may ask?

Well, picture this. 30 ounce sow in crook of left arm. Left hand and right hand, together, very creatively, stick a wrap in.

The pig holds still. Somehow the wrap stays in for the next 2 - 4 days (depending on Megan's crazy class schedule at Gardner-Webb) and does NOT tangle hair in the meantime (I think the position while wrapping makes it the perfect tightness/looseness).

AND an added bonus: After I'd tried this three or four times, last Saturday I had the gall (and the time) to work with them on the showboard once again. Suddenly they hold still. They act as if they are still in the crook of your arm and they cannot move. Perhaps the closeness convinced them all is well (have no fear! the paper towels are here!), perhaps they haven't figured out there's more room than on my arm - whatever - they hold still.

I don't know if anyone else will try this or even be able to try it - it takes a certain amount of coordination, but I am known as a clutz, so it can't be that hard. If you try it, let me know your results. You just might be surprised.