the Thanksgiving pig

we were invited to the neighbors for a fresh pig dinner

the day after Thanksgiving.....

who could resist?

it was the first outing since I sprained both my ankles

first they shave the pig - it's a lot of work

I was surprised by how many men it took

the pig was 300 pounds and not easy to move

this is Leroy - I would not have made it in New Mexico

without him

he has helped every step of the way

he can do anything

fix anything and is the happiest person I know

this is Leroy's mother in law

she raised her kids on that land

and now brothers and sisters come home and bring their families

for the event

Leroy and his wife live in the house she grew up in across the road

after the pig is shaved, the organs and blood are taken out

and they skin it

the pieces of skin are hung in the barn to freeze overnight

the next morning the fat is cut off and fried

Chicharrones!!

(note - I did not make it back the next morning for the chicharones, 

I had of course

overdone it and my ankles were not so good the next day...)

after they skin it, they take off the head and legs....

it was hard work with a big saw

when the pig was skinned it was lifted up with this tractor

and hung to freeze overnight and taken to the butcher tomorrow

and the meat shared by the family

I was surprised how much work it was and

how many men it took

they started at 5 AM ( it was 25 degrees out)

it was only about 40 when I got there

but with the sun out it was very comfortable

I like the long shadows of the morning sun

of course much meat was cut off and cooked

right there

it was excellent in handmade tortillas!

I am very grateful to have been invited to share

with this wonderful and generous family

such an age old tradition

it was not gross - it was real - ancient

and human scale

xxoo