Monday, May 9, 2011

Emmeline

Before Tea
by A.A. Milne (from When We Were Very Young)

Emmeline
Has not been seen
For more than week. She slipped between
The two tall trees at the end of the green...
We all went after her. "Emmeline!"

"Emmeline,
I didn't mean --
I only said that your hands weren't clean."
We went to the trees at the end of the green...
But Emmeline
Was not to be seen.

Emmeline
Came slipping between
The two tall trees at the end of the green.
We all ran up to her. "Emmeline!
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
Why, it's not more than week!" And Emmeline
Said, "Sillies, I went and saw the Queen.
She says my hands are purfickly clean!"

Friday, March 18, 2011

She's here.

At about 8:30 pm on March 16, Margo gave birth to a beautiful little doeling. She's a heart-stealer.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Luna's first egg

On the day that Aaron and I drove an hour south to pick up a Blue Wheaten Ameraucana rooster, my Blue Wheaten Ameraucana pullet laid her first egg.It's little, sprinkled with calcium deposits, and a beautiful pale, sky blue. I never would have guessed, years ago, that chicken eggs could ever make me this happy. I put it in an egg carton next to one of our prettiest sea-foam green Easter Eggers eggs.When I open an egg carton in the morning, I can't help but take a few moments to admire their simple beauty before cracking two into a bowl for breakfast.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

A long hiatus

Hello, internet. Remember me? It's been a long time since November, but I've been spending it, overall, very happily. There's been a lot of snow and flannel and wool, and hot chocolate and snuggling with the big dog. There's been wonderful stories and poems to read.
There's the old chicken coop, freshly sheetrocked and painted and filled with cozy hand-me-down furniture. I've spent many minutes simply sitting on the couch, looking around blissfully, happy to see the books out of boxes.

There have also been two new faces to become acquainted with:
Margo came first, arriving home in the middle of a snowstorm. She's a LaMancha with small, curled ears that are soft and silky. She is quiet and dignified and likes to watch me as I move around the barn doing chores. She's very broad right now, due to have her kids in just over a month.

Peanut had to leave her mama and sisters to come and live with us, and she cried all the way home. She's an Oberhasli and not even a year old. She explores everything with her mouth and has already chewed a hole in my favorite hat. She nibbles on gloves and boot laces and hay nets. I have a feeling that Margo finds Peanut a bit embarrassing sometimes, but they still like each other.

It's very cold and blustery today, but we've made it to February. Spring's ahead, and I'm looking forward to it with such enthusiasm.