I'm not sure this story is more about the pigs or about myself. Of course, it's rather silly of me to admit to y'all that I've gotten to the point where there are several things around the house that people would wonder about...especially if they have to go to the bathroom and find that bungee cord that is around the bathroom doorknob. It's at that point where I must explain why there's a bungee cord there in the first place. I became truly frustrated that I had to coax Lillian out of the bathroom at least once a day. Coax is the mildest word I can use, too.

She liked to spend her afternoons in the bathroom, lying in the winter sunshine, but she liked doing that alone. She wasn't only alone, she would shut the bathroom door behind her. If the sun happened to go away, she would get up and lay beside the bathroom door. I'm not as young as I used to be, so I do have to go to the bathroom more often and it's not always easy with a pig purposefully blockading the door. So, I actually thought about how I could either remove the bathroom door (it's not like it would truly be a horrid thing, since there are only two adults living here) or get that bungee cord installed in a way that would prevent Lily from her private moments. I chose the latter option, knowing that people wouldn't think I was as totally crazy.

First, I installed an oak towel rack behind the door (into the studding, so it would hold up to Lily's attempts to close the door). Then I got a bungee cord and placed one of the hooks over the dowel and the other hook, I simply put on the first one. Then I grab the cord and pull till it's over the knob. I was very impressed with my accomplishment. Of course, it's still not easy to explain to friends that I have a bungee cord on the bathroom doorknob so the eldest pig can't block the bathroom door. However, I've learned that the shorter I keep the explanation of that, the less I'm given odd looks.

Speaking of being proud of myself...this is the year the pigs will be getting a new, wooden fence. I've been looking for sales at the various home building places and the best fencing is already done in eight-foot lengths. This means that I simply dig the trenches for the fencing and pour the cement into it, then set the fencing into the trench. It sounds simple...and I'm sure praying that it will be. In any event, I will update y'all on my fence project.

The pigs are getting both anxious and obnoxious right now. This is the time of year they begin to bug me to go outside and it's not really warm enough yet. However, I realize that if the fence were totally done, they could go out (except I doubt that Lily would, since she prefers to wait until it's about eighty outside). Garbo, Tyler James and Louise are all giving me grief that I've not done the fence project and they are the main reasons I'm exploring those choices. Lily has always been very good about staying in the yard, yet she was the one last Fall who ended up in the neighbor's yard. I can understand why she went over there, they had better grass then we did, but that's no excuse for her to wander. I'm still adjusting to the fact that we have neighbors, but after twenty-five years of living in the middle of very secluded woods, you really can't expect the school district would sell the FFA land. What's worse is the fact that there are about thirty new homes...ten on this side of the road and twenty on the other side. I complain out loud if I have to drive north and see them.

I have a funny story to relate about Tyler James and his little, new obsession. Every morning when Marcie gets up, she has a cup of coffee and eats a banana in the television room, then she will share her banana peel with the pigs. Tyler knows this and waits for Marcie at the door. Marcie was gone for a week and he was very upset that his routine was wrecked. He was an extremely happy man to see her return home!

It's that time of year the pigs love, when they get their blankies washed (they need them washed more in the months they go out more, just to keep them clean). I promise to report on how the wooden fence project goes and if the fence is something easy to accomplish. Have a good month!!