All Purls. No Swine.
December 21, 2025 Dear Chickens, I know it's the shortest day of the year. And that, lately, it's generally been cold, overcast and gloomy. The worst laying conditions possible. Still--in the circumstances and all--you're giving me an egg or so a day when all the experts say the four of you should be molting and… Continue reading Winter Solstice, 2025–Yesterday
When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction--Mark Twain, 1887 Some of you have met him. Many of you have heard about him, or read about him. I’m talking about Psymon. My ginger-and-white cat who’s about seven years old, who first appeared in my life during the winter of… Continue reading Constantly Outwitted By My Cat…
Good grief. Have you bought any eggs lately? Apparently, the average U.S. price of a dozen individual servings of the perfect protein source (AKA œufs ordinaire) is fast approaching five dollars. A few days ago, I saw a box of twelve at the local Giant Eagle (lovely brown ones, surely from happy hens, not battery-raised)… Continue reading Grateful For My Chicken$
Last week, there was a mouse in the house. I was beginning to fear that might be the case, given the cats’ sudden interest in whatever they thought was going on behind the closet under the stairs (the back of said closet is one of those concertina-type folding vinyl doors which, when slid open, lets… Continue reading Weird Christmas Traditions, Down Here on the Farm
I can't tell you how much I feel this. I really tried. I read all of them: The Mayor of Casterbridge Far From the Madding Crowd Tess of the d'Urbervilles Jude the Obscure Et Cetera But, when it came down to it, electronically, virtually, or boookishly, I just couldn't. And yet. Here's Hardy the poet… Continue reading Oh, Thomas Hardy. Such a dreadful novelist. Such a sublime poet
The year was 1995, and the late Mr. Right and I had just been to see one of the very few movies I've ever designated as "perfect." By that time, we'd been living on our small farm in the country for nine years, and the movie was Babe. (Not the 1992 movie about the baseball… Continue reading A Perfect Little Movie: “That’ll, do, Pig.” And its Wallace Statue Counterpoint in Stirling, Scotland
My recent post about my stepdaughter mentioned her sense of humor and cited a letter of introduction she wrote about me to a group of ladies we didn't know, but with whom we were embarking on a trip to Italy. Among the many (excellent) qualities she related regarding her stepmother, there was this: Also, RWKJ… Continue reading The Story of Oliver
Four years ago today, North Macedonia, a former region of Yugoslavia, became the 30th country to join NATO. I rarely think about Macedonia, except on occasions when I see bags of frozen vegetables in the local Giant Eagle consisting of a mixture of butter beans and corn. My mother called it "macedoine,"** although most Internet… Continue reading Macedonia Baptist Bunnies! A Thanksgiving Story for the Run-Up to Easter 2024
February 29. It only comes around every four years, and next time it does, I'll be 73 (assuming all goes well between now and then). I thought I'd look for post inspiration by seeing what historical events the day has on offer, and--in checking Wikipedia (so sue me)--the first thing that came up was this:… Continue reading Well, This is News: Celebrating Odo, Count of Paris, King of France!
So. I’ve about wrapped up, absent a bit of trim and the installation of an outdoor-accessible nest box–not an immediate priority because the elderly ladies involved rarely lay eggs anymore–the construction of my assisted-living chicken coop for the geezers. It’s going to have to stay in the driveway for the winter, but it is on… Continue reading And Now For Something Completely Different: Chicken Clucker Edition