And since that moment, I have struggled.

You see … piglets are cute!

I’ve gotten used to the big pigs wandering around, and while they’re nice looking pigs, there’s not cute. Not really even attractive.

In fact, when I look at them, I find it very easy to thing of the ham and bacon that they will someday become.

But it’s weird to look at these little red and black and spotted pigs and see them running around, rooting their little snouts into the ground, playing with each other and acting like any other little baby animal … and then come back into the house and take a deposit for the butchered half-hogs that they will be in a very short amount of time.

This experience has definitely made me think even more than I had before about how critical it is that animals we eat are treated with respect and raised humanely.

And I am so thankful that my family is able to be a part of this process.

It’s one of the things that you just don’t know until you see the dead daffodils.

Or the torn up lawn.

Or the broken door to the shop where the food is kept.

They love to roam, rut and roll. Its part of their nature. Unfortunately, it’s also detrimental to landscaping and the checkbook.

But in the end, I’ll forgive them.

Cause I LOVE bacon.