Foster Piggie Update and New Items

July 2, 2023

Things have been fairly slow around here lately.  Not a lot of big things have happened. I added a few new items to my website and etsy shop, which I’ll talk about at the end of my blog.  I also had to separate Mikko from his mom and sister earlier this week.

Mikko… he’s such a spunky little guy! He keeps making me laugh with how big of a personality he has, or ego, rather, is what I should say, for such a young small thing lol.  He’s about 5.5 weeks old now!  

So, ever since I brought him and his sister and mother home to be fostered, he’s done a bit of bickering.  I figured it was the stress of the new environment, and it would settle down after he adjusted.  We planned on waiting a few weeks before separating him from Munchkin (mom) and Mocha (sister)  But last week, while I was upstairs working on some orders, I heard a lot of rumble strutting.  I looked up just in time to see Mikko and Mocha facing off, then burst into a big fight. Biting at each other, tumbling all over the cage.  Munchkin came out of her hidey to investigate and Mikko immediately started rumble strutting and swaying at her and she ran back in her hidey! Lol  So, I contacted Diana (who runs the rescue) and told her what I witnessed.  She decided it was time to separate him.  She was hoping he’d hold off a little while longer until a baby male she has, that was born June 11, was ready to be separated from his mom and siblings. She intends to bond Mikko and that baby together. But since that baby wasn’t ready yet, she had me take home one of her 5 year old boars that recently lost his cage mate.  The intention is for Elliot, the 5 year old male, to be a mentor to Mikko and kinda show him how to behave.  I was skeptical at first. I was afraid Mikko was going to grow up to be a bully. Especially after I put Elliot in the cage with him and watched how Mikko would bite at Elliot and attempt to mount him!  The mounting was too funny as Mikko was literally jumping in order to reach high enough on Elliot.  Elliot would just kinda move off to the side lol.  Elliot did a lot of rumble strutting and dominant mounting but never did it get aggressive.  He was very good with Mikko, actually.  Now, after that first day the two get along great!  So I am relieved for now that Mikko has learned to not be so mean to another pig.  

Mikko is a real sweet angel when you hold him, though.  I was holding him in my lap at my pc one day and he just curled right in and splooted when I started petting him.  He LOVES his ears scratched and to have a firm pet across his head. It makes him melt right into you lol. His sister Mocha, is turning out to be just as loving and gentle when you hold her as well.  Munchkin, she’s more shy, but she also settles in and loves her ears to be gently rubbed as well while you hold her.  These piggies are going to be excellent pets for whomever ends up being their furever home!  

Also, as I stated, since I had a slow week, I was able to finally make and add fleece forests to my shops both on this website, as well as my etsy shop!  It’s been something I’ve wanted to add for a while, I just haven’t had the time to make some and get listings made.  

I also have started playing with the AI generation.  I’m pretty neutral when it comes to AI art. I see both sides of the argument people tend to make about it.  But as an artist myself who struggles with ADHD, having a way to tell AI what your idea is, then seeing it come to life before you is amazing.  I always struggled with wanting to make original art, but unless I had some references to look at, I could never get them to come out how I wanted.  Now, this is a most excellent way to generate references for things that are hard to find!  But I decided, after coming up with cute ideas from talking with a good friend of mine, to make some AI art generated stickers and coloring pages. It’s been a lot of fun.  I giggle when the AI makes it all wrong and comes up with the craziest things. But then when I can dial in a really good piece, it’s awesome as well.  So now I have added some stickers and coloring pages to this website's store listings as well.  The Coloring pages show a watermark over them, but once you purchase them, the download file will not have the watermark. 

Let me know what you think about the stickers and coloring pages.  Is it something I should keep and add to the collection?  I’d love any and all feedback!

Have a wonderful Fourth of July Celebration, if it’s something you celebrate. If not, then have a wonderful week!!

-Robyn