First, the awesome:
The St Valentine's Day porker: Piglet born with heart-shaped spots
A cute little piglet born with heart-shaped markings on his side is the centre of attention as lovers gear up for Valentine's Day this week.
The 10-day-old Gloucester Old Spot piglet christened Valentine - what else? - is one of a litter of seven born at Byford's Farm in Taynton, near Newent, Glos.
Farmer Eric Freeman, 75 - a founding member of the Gloucester Old Spot Pig Breeders' Club - said Valentine's mother Mandi Lou has already got used to her piglet stealing the show.
"Some sows get really annoyed and squeal but Old Spots are known for being quiet," he said. "Mandi Lou was very good and didn't mind Valentine having her picture taken.
"I've bred thousands of Old Spot piglets over the years but this is the first ever to have such a clear heart-shaped mark. "It couldn't be more appropriate with Valentine's Day just around the corner."
Mr. Freeman has been breeding Old Spots at his farm for 25 years and said the breed has come back from near-extinction in the past few years.
"I think there are probably around 400 members of the breeders' club and they have spread far and wide," he said.
So far so good, right? Oh, wait, there is one more sentence in the U.K. Daily Mail article:
"There has been a lot of interest because they are a fatty breed and it's a different taste to the normal type of pig - it's much more succulent."
Not Awesome.
Wrong!!! That is all awesome. Cute, adorable, and yummy as well. What couldn't be wrong with that??
Posted by: steven | February 12, 2008 at 07:07 AM
I "heart" bacon.
Posted by: bruin | February 12, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Hopefully there is a very talented spider living in Valentine's barn . . .
Posted by: Diane | February 12, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Bean, maybe you could do another photo day with more shots from your farm? Please? I would love to have a cow and a pig etc., and am interested in pictures of your setup. Someday I will have an EIEIO farm like you. And that heart pig? Totally cute. I wouldn't eat her.
Posted by: Chrissy | February 12, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Aw that's such a cute pig.
We had a liter of puppies. One had a heart shaped spot on his side. We kept him and named him Titus. :]
Posted by: Shandra | February 12, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Shandra, why was it a "liter" of puppies? Were they liquid?
Posted by: Paulie | February 12, 2008 at 09:39 AM
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
Posted by: michelle k | February 12, 2008 at 09:45 AM
So I read this AFTER breakfast...sorry
Posted by: db | February 12, 2008 at 10:55 AM
That's not right.
Posted by: EditThis | February 12, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Damnit, I hate the ending of this story. :(
Posted by: LA | February 12, 2008 at 03:32 PM
i bet you wouldn't mind giving that little sweetie to donna as a valentine this year.
Posted by: alisa | February 12, 2008 at 04:34 PM
He looks absolutely delicious!
Posted by: Matt | February 12, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Baxter, you 'MO! All the little girls in your posse: "thats so cute, give it to Donna, I love Tater, more farm pictures, 'Zilla is adorable". All the dudes want to eat all your animals. Congrats!
Posted by: Angry Adam | February 13, 2008 at 08:58 AM