What to wear, what to wear.

Have you ever asked yourself, "What does one wear to a pig sale?"

Didn't think so. But, since I have a tiny bit of city blood running through my country girl veins, I actually have to make conscious decisions about such things. It’s who I am.  And I have to squeeze such grave and important decisions into the middle of laundry, grocery shopping, rinsing and crushing milk jugs for the recycling man.

But I LOVE it!

Today, most assuredly, wasn't the sort of day for wearing my new spring high heels. For my Husband it was a combat-boot sort of day at the Air Base. For my parents it was a walking-shoe kind of day at The Masters. However, for this Mom? Muck-boots were in order. And not the pretty-polka-dot ones either. Those I save for cutting flowers or skipping through meadows of wild daisies (which I never do).

This was our day to go shopping for County Fair pigs. And, can I just say? It was AWESOME! Better than Nordstrom’s, people. We wait for it ALL YEAR. We PLAN for it, even.

First, we make sure the pig pen is ready.

So I tell the kids, "go get the pig pen ready!" And they're all, "WHAT did she just say?" Because they're used to hearing me say "Go clean your flippin' pig pen er, uh, room!"

Getting a pig pen ready is technical work, my friends. There’s fresh straw to be laid in the shelter, heat lamps to be turned on, because, although today is 80 degrees, tonight will be twenty. A watering device to be hooked up and leaks repaired. Last year's pig poop shoveled out, because pigs are clean-freaks. (Betch-ya didn't know THAT). They like their pen neat and tidy; with the latrine as far away from the kitchen and feather bed as possible. Unlike our goats, chickens and horses; who are TRULY, PIGS of the highest order.

So, I donned my whistle and handed out duties. Then, I sat in the house and ate chocolate covered bananas from Trader Joes while the kids did all the work. 'Cuz, I've got priorities. And my own, rather large, pig pen to keep clean thankyouverymuch. Besides, I had to spit-shine my muck boots for the big shopping trip!

Then we waited for THE PHONE CALL; because, this year we're buying pigs from a DUDE in Idaho who will bring them to us on a truck. Well, us, and about a hundred other crazy 4-H families. The DUDE must have stopped at a lot of Starbucks and 7-Eleven's along the way because we didn't get THE PHONE CALL until it was almost dark.

How fun! Shopping for pigs in the dark! But, how will anyone be able to see my tricked-out muck boots?

The congregation of horse trailers, dog carriers and pick-up-trucks in the parking lot of the Prineville High School must have looked all "official" to the ordinary passers-by; like a meeting of the Pure Bred Dog and Thoroughbred Cutting Horse Association, or something. Sorry to disappoint, but we were just a bunch of red-necks drawing straws, comparing hams, girths, gaits and jowls, then wrangling the little squeelers into the trunk er, um trailer for a short ride home and four months of pig-slop heaven. After which the circle of life comes to an exciting end at the much-anticipated, gritty, sweat-fest also known as, The Crook County Fair.

If you’re the Fair-going type, get these important dates on your calendar:

Pre-fair weigh-in for Swine, goats & sheep is June 7^th at the Crook County Fairgrounds from 7-10 a.m.

2008 Crook County Fair August 6-9.

Oh, and if you come, I don't recommend wearing sandals.