The day is filled with numerous "I shoulds." I should finish working on the chicken fence -- Ed will say.
I should return to weeding -- I'll offer.
But even though it isn't terribly cold, the occasional rain keeps us mostly indoors. (The more drooping daffodils can be rescued and put into vases.)
In the early morning, the chickens are, as usual, anxious to get going. And again they are disappointed with the state of affairs out there (at least, as a commenter pointed out, I am presuming that they are that way: in my mind, their souls droop at the first drop of a cold rain).
Breakfast is our usual, plus Ed's flan. Finally. A superb treat. The day needs a bit of the sweet stuff.
The chickens are on their own, because we just haven't the oomph to spend the day outdoors. Not in this weather. Besides, I'm only easing slowly back to my weeding schedule: five minutes weeding for every hour of rest!
And this, of course, means that when I do come out, the chicks are so excited that they just cannot contain themselves.
It is unquestionably wonderful that I can call them now from anywhere with one word -- cheepers! -- it's a word that sends them running.
And still, I continue to worry about their vulnerability. Yes, Oreo protects them from hawks (as do our trees and shrubs).
And yes, the coop protects them from raccoons and nocturnal beasts. But we have a new foe whom we caught lurking outside in the middle of the night -- the possum.
Finding him at our doorstep used to be cute: those guys would not harm Isis, nor us humans. But we look at them differently now; we learn that they love to tear apart chickens, bit by bit. And they sometimes do come out in the day time. And they do climb fences. So unless we kept the chicks locked in the coop 24/7, there is always the possibility that a possum will wake up and hunt them down.
How sad is that!
Of course, this is what raising chickens is like: you have small issues and big worries and you must shake off both and let the day unfold. And if you have ever let your chickens free range, you will have understood the beauty of their freedom. The excitement in their exploration.The delight in the familiarity, even as they rarely stay with one favorite spot. They have a dozen favorites, just like you and I have a dozen favorites!
Rain. It's diminishing now and that's good. Spring teaches patience. We'll be patient.
I should return to weeding -- I'll offer.
But even though it isn't terribly cold, the occasional rain keeps us mostly indoors. (The more drooping daffodils can be rescued and put into vases.)
In the early morning, the chickens are, as usual, anxious to get going. And again they are disappointed with the state of affairs out there (at least, as a commenter pointed out, I am presuming that they are that way: in my mind, their souls droop at the first drop of a cold rain).
Breakfast is our usual, plus Ed's flan. Finally. A superb treat. The day needs a bit of the sweet stuff.
The chickens are on their own, because we just haven't the oomph to spend the day outdoors. Not in this weather. Besides, I'm only easing slowly back to my weeding schedule: five minutes weeding for every hour of rest!
And this, of course, means that when I do come out, the chicks are so excited that they just cannot contain themselves.
It is unquestionably wonderful that I can call them now from anywhere with one word -- cheepers! -- it's a word that sends them running.
And still, I continue to worry about their vulnerability. Yes, Oreo protects them from hawks (as do our trees and shrubs).
And yes, the coop protects them from raccoons and nocturnal beasts. But we have a new foe whom we caught lurking outside in the middle of the night -- the possum.
Finding him at our doorstep used to be cute: those guys would not harm Isis, nor us humans. But we look at them differently now; we learn that they love to tear apart chickens, bit by bit. And they sometimes do come out in the day time. And they do climb fences. So unless we kept the chicks locked in the coop 24/7, there is always the possibility that a possum will wake up and hunt them down.
How sad is that!
Of course, this is what raising chickens is like: you have small issues and big worries and you must shake off both and let the day unfold. And if you have ever let your chickens free range, you will have understood the beauty of their freedom. The excitement in their exploration.The delight in the familiarity, even as they rarely stay with one favorite spot. They have a dozen favorites, just like you and I have a dozen favorites!
Rain. It's diminishing now and that's good. Spring teaches patience. We'll be patient.
Wonderful post about spring, and life, and patience. thank you. and Ed's flan looks amazing. I have never seen one that BIG!
ReplyDeleteBig man makes big flan. With big eggs! :)
DeleteI want some flan!
ReplyDeleteNow... you need to start writing a cookbook for eggs only... for those chicken farmers out there, and all of us others who don't own them but who love eggs, as well. You could call it "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" (oh how original I am!) or how about "Which Comes First? The Chicken or the Flan?"
xxxx
I meant to respond earlier, Bex, about the number of eggs we eat. Unless it's an off day, we pick up three fresh eggs per day. So that's a lot of eggs. But I can't say our eating habits have greatly changed. (There are plenty out there who like an occasional gift of free range organic eggs.) We typically do eat eggs *at least* once a week for supper and sometimes Ed'll have one for breakfast. The thinking has changed on their health value. But we're both in the category of (to our knowledge) "heart healthy" adults, so eggs aren't going to make us or break us. Better than beef -- is my thinking.
DeleteThat flan is fantastic! It looks delicious; what a perfect breakfast treat! And with so many eggs, maybe it will become a staple at your house? I hope your back is improving. It sounds like it is/was just miserable. When you have healed, I understand that back lifts (lying on your stomach, lifting your shoulders and torso up) are great for strengthening backs.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I so like getting back exercise tips. I *really need* to strengthen my back as much as possible or else these episodes of pain will be increasingly common. BTW, the doc suggested a gradual height insert in the shoe to counter the hip differential! Sounds familiar? :)
Delete