Sunday, December 16, 2007

Hog butchering! Proceed with caution

Since Cliff's brother and his buddy are still here, I made Pioneer Woman's latest recipe for breakfast.  When I woke up, I was a little leery about getting out of bed; I was on my feet almost non-stop yesterday, and I figured my knee would be telling me about it.  However, the knee was not protesting at all.  It's a little better every morning when I arise.

Now if you are among the squeamish, you won't want to go far into this picture album:  After pictures one and two, you will see sharp knives.  And blood.  And guts.  I assure you the hog was feeling no pain in any of these pictures.  Cliff shot him with a twenty-two.  I took no pictures until the throat was actually cut and all movement ceased, because I was afraid someone would think the poor creature was still alive.  There's a lot of involuntary kicking and jerking when an animal is dying.  Those of you who were raised on the farm and saw chickens killed know how they flop all over the yard after their heads have been removed.

Today the people who supplied the hogs will come and wrap the meat and help grind it, as Cliff makes it into chops and steaks and ground pork.

So there you have it.  Enjoy (or not).

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

When we buy those chops in the grocery store, we don't think about all the work that goes into it.  It looks like you'll be feeding lots of people there.  Glad all the work isn't bothering you and the knee is better, I was wondering about that.  Take care.  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

VERY interesting ! Does Cliff use Chicago Cutlery knives? The one he's checking in the picture looks like one my dad used, to do the butchering in my Aunt's little "Mom and Pop" market. The sides of beef and pork would come in and my dad would "break em down" into roasts, steaks, chops, etc.

There was big ol' meat grinder like the one you pictured here in one of your journal entries sometime back. I used to get to 'grind the pork for sausage and beef for hamburger. I thought I was a butcher too !! LOL. I was 15 at the time !

Thanks for sharing Donna ! And BTW.....glad to hear the knee is doing so well !

Anonymous said...

Oh, I feel like I have been left in the middle of a story!  Wish you had pictures of the cutting of chops etc.  But I know you are busy, so thanks for this.

Anonymous said...

Well, I kind of wanted to see all of it to the end.  LOL!  Sorry.  I imagine you can only stand in one spot for so long.  Although I was glad to read that your knee improves each day.

I helped butcher a deer one time.  At the fire station while we were on a storm standby.  Oh brother, the guys loved that I helped.  (I kind of had to, you know?)

Anonymous said...

The improvement you've been having in your knee really does make me hopeful about my own..

~Amy

Anonymous said...

So glad your knee is doing so well! :)
Being a country girl, I've seen all kinds of farm animals butchered, & some wild animals too.
Have a good upcoming week.
Hugs,
Sugar

Anonymous said...

interesting....and now I have further proof that the Lord meant me to be a "city" girl LOLOL...hugs all day....Ora

Anonymous said...

This was so interesting to see. I did ok thoughout the series...but the one where he is cutting out the guts made me a bit queasy. I don't know why?? I've seen so much worse. Thanks for sharing this....I enjoyed it. But, the piggies looked so cute in the trailer <sigh>.
Enjoy those chops! I bet they are good!!
Glad your knee is doing so well.
Pam

Anonymous said...

Ok not as bad as I thought...although those little piggies almost looked as if they KNEW!  It was very sad:(  BUT hey I love bacon! And we just had a ham dinner tonight so.....!!  lol  

Anonymous said...

I think I will pass on my bacon this morning.  As I was reading this entry I thought to myself "Pretty sure I won't be seeing hog butchering in anyone else's journal!"  LOL  squeal squeal

Anonymous said...

That was something else. I have never seen this process, so this is a first. Interesting to see. I still couldnt do it myself. I am not squeemish, but I just can't do it. It did cross my mind how much it stopped looking like an animal and more like just meat as the process went on.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Cliff!!  I'm very impressed with his skills.  Looks like what I remember.

Hollie

Anonymous said...

Well, you know it's not going to bother me! lol
This was interesting.  Thomas has told me stories of hog butchering, but I have never witnessed.  Chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, goats, deer, and elk -- yes, but hogs, no.
Lori