tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72941067684315103842024-03-15T21:09:34.049-04:00Scratch and Peckthe riveting tale of five backyard chickens, a terrier, and other small crittersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-17474649443469811172015-12-27T11:55:00.000-05:002015-12-27T11:55:15.104-05:00Wandering with Marky<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Together we've climbed mountains and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBguGRSFxP3TfbMlKa6BwSw21jrJwP6UBEis2olf1tkiwkYxrClQkYMxMsPSIb2gdYq36sY0-9AYFCw_KBElij0PrmyTkJ48fcvg57El83EnO0F8ty2n5ZwjnziFFztGuqA6Qja032uGA/s1600/we+ran.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBguGRSFxP3TfbMlKa6BwSw21jrJwP6UBEis2olf1tkiwkYxrClQkYMxMsPSIb2gdYq36sY0-9AYFCw_KBElij0PrmyTkJ48fcvg57El83EnO0F8ty2n5ZwjnziFFztGuqA6Qja032uGA/s400/we+ran.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> we have raced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RqHEwrpBxJPd1in0oaoMoAHQHy847Wlgb6BVpgwkgrPwJU_qWc6Kts5Lzvw8lbV2iAt_EAzFeeY5uoeCJad2wjoHddKH2cZ7EqnP3gFotXiODNXY2S3D6Bcgo5Cm51XK8pf9cLT_nHI/s1600/marky+splash+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RqHEwrpBxJPd1in0oaoMoAHQHy847Wlgb6BVpgwkgrPwJU_qWc6Kts5Lzvw8lbV2iAt_EAzFeeY5uoeCJad2wjoHddKH2cZ7EqnP3gFotXiODNXY2S3D6Bcgo5Cm51XK8pf9cLT_nHI/s400/marky+splash+1.jpg" width="380" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've waded,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0SIsB03_nMIrUTaP80CvIHHMeJXNSUKfb-y_yQuHb2_8tv_ptMRnrDT9_a1F2Q7DhDXOLl-xRwCq0jxL30V4MDBaSiLClxquglzIR6JsKgGaEY9Zvc2UiB2ucdpPfkoxHVAXDD0f_eY/s1600/we+dug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0SIsB03_nMIrUTaP80CvIHHMeJXNSUKfb-y_yQuHb2_8tv_ptMRnrDT9_a1F2Q7DhDXOLl-xRwCq0jxL30V4MDBaSiLClxquglzIR6JsKgGaEY9Zvc2UiB2ucdpPfkoxHVAXDD0f_eY/s400/we+dug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">rooted, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi1N5wm_KJCKPQy5X1Zw5XUBHQgrsL2DLb53lH2TcT6L18nXsfWcu8NJeCWa6p9x5O-4F0lTGX_OjYum5UmFDKnExweozdA8D42yDh87zOwYEpNOMQj3UrizB5LI9DNhdozPY8xnfiHs/s1600/jumped.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTi1N5wm_KJCKPQy5X1Zw5XUBHQgrsL2DLb53lH2TcT6L18nXsfWcu8NJeCWa6p9x5O-4F0lTGX_OjYum5UmFDKnExweozdA8D42yDh87zOwYEpNOMQj3UrizB5LI9DNhdozPY8xnfiHs/s400/jumped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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and we've flown. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSF1k3HYu8h39YdNsibR8HqLYSrxjEsdZV3NVobf4fuLpIgi2BBublKgvIpZsBLYT_rDx8jPnH8SLFWTb0GrIi-L8jrrpW1SnX4TyN3cEx411Wy9x_iRx_xY7S9EUzJdmA-RxIOCSbds/s1600/marky+flock+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSF1k3HYu8h39YdNsibR8HqLYSrxjEsdZV3NVobf4fuLpIgi2BBublKgvIpZsBLYT_rDx8jPnH8SLFWTb0GrIi-L8jrrpW1SnX4TyN3cEx411Wy9x_iRx_xY7S9EUzJdmA-RxIOCSbds/s400/marky+flock+copy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have tended flock </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF1_WgVbFa01kXou4vaOmnthp-9dXuyMnihnxKlg7HNs26VhNXRTH-g4t2xyn2qquG2wo3HTOYKX915ST11pG4qS0XYVuSui8WJzySQ5XaTmDUPMF5-0MIP9SQkwnoxI4hP5sPgCyCA8/s1600/marky+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihF1_WgVbFa01kXou4vaOmnthp-9dXuyMnihnxKlg7HNs26VhNXRTH-g4t2xyn2qquG2wo3HTOYKX915ST11pG4qS0XYVuSui8WJzySQ5XaTmDUPMF5-0MIP9SQkwnoxI4hP5sPgCyCA8/s400/marky+kiss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and we've stolen kisses.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEDs4Rf3MsCV8Pad7CBU-_GM-uqNRm2a1t_TKvkBLlXFp1OC9UG7hBEwhup1TKw8Y8vM0Es_lxPZpze0Oer7_CEL6WSSG1mR7ztlB2H5SSwSLwfTQd7p-SMSeycKZxLJbyokbDDYl3_k/s1600/explore.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEDs4Rf3MsCV8Pad7CBU-_GM-uqNRm2a1t_TKvkBLlXFp1OC9UG7hBEwhup1TKw8Y8vM0Es_lxPZpze0Oer7_CEL6WSSG1mR7ztlB2H5SSwSLwfTQd7p-SMSeycKZxLJbyokbDDYl3_k/s400/explore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've explored</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1DoAzvigtOmVDesrY7GhwcIr0wDPKFqgqvrH039WNLfkxcNzXfERau45Ez8CGehDK9VaNbuOXnPQ5CvFvgaYnTkvuo-chdWmMsomLa8iirY9X286uXUq5GMCjTeHLDH4T-N95QemJRI/s1600/marky+kayak+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1DoAzvigtOmVDesrY7GhwcIr0wDPKFqgqvrH039WNLfkxcNzXfERau45Ez8CGehDK9VaNbuOXnPQ5CvFvgaYnTkvuo-chdWmMsomLa8iirY9X286uXUq5GMCjTeHLDH4T-N95QemJRI/s400/marky+kayak+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and we've voyaged. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This month, after fifteen years of high adventure, our sprint has slowed to a stagger. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We still explore, but it's different now. We don't go far. We take our time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwjKhP6iRtRFX5I-Eq8jD1BzL9iCLq96GEaE3UjmnOD4X7zt2HVkO644Moeji0YC9NJioUW_A9G-9Yb6XeeUef3BX_ql9Fyr3PBEFVZAfh618tDTMgbgzvO4-KuNhBQuXKV30GVmUp00/s1600/marky+sniffs.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwjKhP6iRtRFX5I-Eq8jD1BzL9iCLq96GEaE3UjmnOD4X7zt2HVkO644Moeji0YC9NJioUW_A9G-9Yb6XeeUef3BX_ql9Fyr3PBEFVZAfh618tDTMgbgzvO4-KuNhBQuXKV30GVmUp00/s400/marky+sniffs.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes Marky needs a few minutes to really process that sniff in all its nuances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I1Ot7uOlK5pSX2NvofEU3mbAwX_J4lLuHrCoQcUDl3T40uR1THWpBwiZu8CWAOiQ79hAEJP7cEcEfdWWIKtq_oacl3f-jVSN64ofj_BMsBRTNcV6b7zUP2i0_ybdp2LIF_KxtUeGSUk/s1600/marky+sniff+2.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I1Ot7uOlK5pSX2NvofEU3mbAwX_J4lLuHrCoQcUDl3T40uR1THWpBwiZu8CWAOiQ79hAEJP7cEcEfdWWIKtq_oacl3f-jVSN64ofj_BMsBRTNcV6b7zUP2i0_ybdp2LIF_KxtUeGSUk/s320/marky+sniff+2.png" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And just down the path, there's more sniffing and thinking to be done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I stop, and I look around and I think about it too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkSoKQBsCdHJ5Wg1I2ZTDtwBk6ldzZxLYG8O4XOqoEbvh0NKD73zQe1TPAsmTfvAWgUuzyi6QuDfrutbiET5KZjyWKCva3AlwvnAnM6zFQeOMMWueE8SpEGEZ-AlVNChhrdptY-jsmQM/s1600/marky+moss+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkSoKQBsCdHJ5Wg1I2ZTDtwBk6ldzZxLYG8O4XOqoEbvh0NKD73zQe1TPAsmTfvAWgUuzyi6QuDfrutbiET5KZjyWKCva3AlwvnAnM6zFQeOMMWueE8SpEGEZ-AlVNChhrdptY-jsmQM/s400/marky+moss+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I find things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf5XFjQuLjqUSMaFxDhSy1NSOitmNckHBUyXpphMRQdXAkCHtGIH9M-lNfzVXBUfHBhi-c4Wu0hmV4UBc1VLw7ya-9WRBwk9IYWzjIpJhHvHgrLnXCZ7v7OIXySe_cJuwsrSjPNVlq58/s1600/lauren+scheuer+brit+soldiers.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf5XFjQuLjqUSMaFxDhSy1NSOitmNckHBUyXpphMRQdXAkCHtGIH9M-lNfzVXBUfHBhi-c4Wu0hmV4UBc1VLw7ya-9WRBwk9IYWzjIpJhHvHgrLnXCZ7v7OIXySe_cJuwsrSjPNVlq58/s400/lauren+scheuer+brit+soldiers.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">delightful things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl-rTr1MXxWPyb9nCUTGJXFE9HunzM71NWEamwH2Xc8Dm9YqbWyqVgVb1BYl1XUjlhTfCrBUx3cGwKc4vigRXhQ8TyTT74LAaOmXqU3jNak5QodZrCiVUBFdG2Tqgcgf6KeYLvWBqZvQ/s1600/moss+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl-rTr1MXxWPyb9nCUTGJXFE9HunzM71NWEamwH2Xc8Dm9YqbWyqVgVb1BYl1XUjlhTfCrBUx3cGwKc4vigRXhQ8TyTT74LAaOmXqU3jNak5QodZrCiVUBFdG2Tqgcgf6KeYLvWBqZvQ/s400/moss+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elegant things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1Gujzlt9LDpEp_YYIEHhVc9ix4uf4pczy_UkI-UmzzEUqWhDf53APMQDyP-G5QqxHJjgHjvOeDM-mgBVH05UKByhKHd8o3NAp8CNn3iTzzUT4z90-cPjsI0Ua2MapnjSe_QKYre8A3k/s1600/DSC_0875.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1Gujzlt9LDpEp_YYIEHhVc9ix4uf4pczy_UkI-UmzzEUqWhDf53APMQDyP-G5QqxHJjgHjvOeDM-mgBVH05UKByhKHd8o3NAp8CNn3iTzzUT4z90-cPjsI0Ua2MapnjSe_QKYre8A3k/s400/DSC_0875.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are wanderers now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But you know, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">not all who wander are lost.<span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">*</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-small;"> *J.R.R. Tolkien</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com227tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-16247355732881725172015-10-03T17:00:00.000-04:002015-10-04T00:05:16.286-04:00Beautiful Lines: How to Make a Quill !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Long, long ago</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfJKeC7S1fNWpsjJp7acq2V0BiqpyAwuevyLQ8ZRoQQE2YGTFlJ__DOvYqLcIuqrSnELBYYqiHipHLCggv6ujWQJGw5GB9-xe0buBnwFD6Tk-w_KUbOzEIq2rxBxD3t479TnNQxqZySA/s1600/sharpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfJKeC7S1fNWpsjJp7acq2V0BiqpyAwuevyLQ8ZRoQQE2YGTFlJ__DOvYqLcIuqrSnELBYYqiHipHLCggv6ujWQJGw5GB9-xe0buBnwFD6Tk-w_KUbOzEIq2rxBxD3t479TnNQxqZySA/s320/sharpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before there were Sharpies,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2J0Ne9vbyPebqzdWnJ_cHdgQUpB5VVNzshgp7lRuwBYUqSqRv2GUKN_o3mUax46JpC6IHoAXu_vJ4XSzXE9GrnPckAHmtcv6-M7BNrPyq2iKXINLLElZNOC1_n4cT-tzeRmk6NLyzw/s1600/quill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2J0Ne9vbyPebqzdWnJ_cHdgQUpB5VVNzshgp7lRuwBYUqSqRv2GUKN_o3mUax46JpC6IHoAXu_vJ4XSzXE9GrnPckAHmtcv6-M7BNrPyq2iKXINLLElZNOC1_n4cT-tzeRmk6NLyzw/s320/quill+1.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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folks wrote and drew with these.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkc5p8McayaVyyxwAlVUmWdDQ9WiFObzUn-uiaK5qqn9yxkir1K-4k1-zK4ejT3zoAqswfM3RozqPZql4QqLDY4z_EnrzBtB7kYD7NHKVWrGhsKtAKKjDGWp6pI1qjnwArBJ-lUdK0fw/s1600/tools+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkc5p8McayaVyyxwAlVUmWdDQ9WiFObzUn-uiaK5qqn9yxkir1K-4k1-zK4ejT3zoAqswfM3RozqPZql4QqLDY4z_EnrzBtB7kYD7NHKVWrGhsKtAKKjDGWp6pI1qjnwArBJ-lUdK0fw/s320/tools+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I do love the line quality I get with my pen and inks, but I've been thinking that I would like to try drawing with a real quill.</div>
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Coincidentally, Lil'White and Jenny have been dropping feathers willy-nilly all over the yard. So I collected a few and brought them inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-B2jljs9SM30j_lo-jRxPmHZ60xZTW-LWLafvxBQoi5oiNnEzwxdpHxh-y9ZJX2IbhtV944N8RZjqTauAy6MDOnklfP9AIQQktDm2hGQlxmC9PQHfUALfkveBASPezdiZMV76TYZuag/s1600/fig+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-B2jljs9SM30j_lo-jRxPmHZ60xZTW-LWLafvxBQoi5oiNnEzwxdpHxh-y9ZJX2IbhtV944N8RZjqTauAy6MDOnklfP9AIQQktDm2hGQlxmC9PQHfUALfkveBASPezdiZMV76TYZuag/s400/fig+a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On each feather shaft, I first gave a hasty slash with an Exacto knife</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4FwlxrhE-5hQADdr3Okq3TgBg8qcnfpmOTbYVcB2bqEwf2SYH5vSeecLuyW9SMKC49JMc45sV7Qi84h0iznsuGRkK0OzYqYvxxIrJ9s6WA0VOMfslFnl5Ke4f8dNVSF1hfd9bVfOlLQ/s1600/fig+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4FwlxrhE-5hQADdr3Okq3TgBg8qcnfpmOTbYVcB2bqEwf2SYH5vSeecLuyW9SMKC49JMc45sV7Qi84h0iznsuGRkK0OzYqYvxxIrJ9s6WA0VOMfslFnl5Ke4f8dNVSF1hfd9bVfOlLQ/s400/fig+b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then made a little slice down the center of the tip.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Could it really be that easy?</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: orange;">. . . . . . . . . </b></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went straight to the studio to give it a try.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqIHuyCzEKzBZQKawBG1loH2F6PTZsp54qk6dTlalT86-L8cboO-nTOHv9xpDyHcF-O-ueNSxGkNT7qg0R1eYeKNJwA2pweg3IDUBtnI4M-YQCEQn1sfWpgBkwN9CnMsxQn_F9DjXt14/s1600/scheuer+lil+white+fluff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqIHuyCzEKzBZQKawBG1loH2F6PTZsp54qk6dTlalT86-L8cboO-nTOHv9xpDyHcF-O-ueNSxGkNT7qg0R1eYeKNJwA2pweg3IDUBtnI4M-YQCEQn1sfWpgBkwN9CnMsxQn_F9DjXt14/s320/scheuer+lil+white+fluff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lil'White's flimsy fluff feather was pretty useless as a tool.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnsUoMpQ8ppMb3cymBF3wAqLKuU7b3Bl940oEkkHZW_WwS3xkICa_4jrl0KHiD8A7PJxOGyPxoY6UL1N51rscRr0UOyU9mGu3SH-d4Lxs_twYgNi2WMs1TOaUtchs1XWsRqE9osJVo50/s1600/scheuer+jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnsUoMpQ8ppMb3cymBF3wAqLKuU7b3Bl940oEkkHZW_WwS3xkICa_4jrl0KHiD8A7PJxOGyPxoY6UL1N51rscRr0UOyU9mGu3SH-d4Lxs_twYgNi2WMs1TOaUtchs1XWsRqE9osJVo50/s320/scheuer+jenny.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But Jenny's sturdy wing feather</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzQlQJMVVRINeLRJyc5hpqPEJufo-YgBtc74eSWGvhLJF6DeIZ7SBe2aisU17ogzxI46Qoze4u2yK6rd7cMAHDfKvJ3G-H7sKJbYKcbR8wUECxPhhcdNQeFtOD7AKd7bb5UgOlh5n2Mg/s1600/hand+with+quill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzQlQJMVVRINeLRJyc5hpqPEJufo-YgBtc74eSWGvhLJF6DeIZ7SBe2aisU17ogzxI46Qoze4u2yK6rd7cMAHDfKvJ3G-H7sKJbYKcbR8wUECxPhhcdNQeFtOD7AKd7bb5UgOlh5n2Mg/s320/hand+with+quill+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
provided for some interesting mark-making,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQJPBsJzcdN_nW3_3CrywwGbDGCCPvnikbG_J7ZorAFROze6WMOq5XSNYWtNHlk-TOiszHy6in7Rpg1w0KwOFAtTIQZIYYMFYKnymMnEdsrozYPpRIAZtrZTHvaesrhrzvR52yW3HdVE/s1600/flourish+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQJPBsJzcdN_nW3_3CrywwGbDGCCPvnikbG_J7ZorAFROze6WMOq5XSNYWtNHlk-TOiszHy6in7Rpg1w0KwOFAtTIQZIYYMFYKnymMnEdsrozYPpRIAZtrZTHvaesrhrzvR52yW3HdVE/s320/flourish+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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flourishing,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BZVORGFqjU8-r2FjQYNtF8cQoaQMqpZOuXCFTloex3R1iRXxdc3f9Ktk4wEIXXN7X8usKbWXQ9GmQ3UaRg3EVM_TDE_MGM4Z7gxaqXq1BDr1DJjajl9O431Gef2mKu4q1LpZrvoF9D8/s1600/letters+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BZVORGFqjU8-r2FjQYNtF8cQoaQMqpZOuXCFTloex3R1iRXxdc3f9Ktk4wEIXXN7X8usKbWXQ9GmQ3UaRg3EVM_TDE_MGM4Z7gxaqXq1BDr1DJjajl9O431Gef2mKu4q1LpZrvoF9D8/s320/letters+A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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scratches and spatters.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That afternoon, I found a turkey tail feather in the woods.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2xHkDM5RTnoRIVUDlya66tCGHB-4hR-nO9R5kXoRMKoerakX17-_f0_e1LVmf7b-f3qy8svBTajLz-4Fw0YtV6KlY3hJE4azQdaEQ_vrRw8p0N9AEeTomVWzEs1tRCJGYWYKADKzq48/s1600/scheuer+quill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2xHkDM5RTnoRIVUDlya66tCGHB-4hR-nO9R5kXoRMKoerakX17-_f0_e1LVmf7b-f3qy8svBTajLz-4Fw0YtV6KlY3hJE4azQdaEQ_vrRw8p0N9AEeTomVWzEs1tRCJGYWYKADKzq48/s400/scheuer+quill.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jackpot! Best quill yet! </div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;">. . . . . . . . . . </span></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lines.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Basic and beautiful. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are some lines for your inspiration:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjAcTSTZNxdjFAUkXSiwlAsCnCMv8qbv2LKURuWpKT1MHrfwOkxllAWaMUdiryWFXSceZLZWxYNJw1KMEKRQA9d4FcNKD37YS8yIxsaXSnl7jQIv1C7YFuptn-jtCrvHy9dkZKf1dZxE/s1600/quran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjAcTSTZNxdjFAUkXSiwlAsCnCMv8qbv2LKURuWpKT1MHrfwOkxllAWaMUdiryWFXSceZLZWxYNJw1KMEKRQA9d4FcNKD37YS8yIxsaXSnl7jQIv1C7YFuptn-jtCrvHy9dkZKf1dZxE/s400/quran.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Qur'an: you don't even need to understand the language to appreciate these rhythmic lines.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26EMZNcUSgEa4AVGWN9yCttU_U33dDgS_sgfIc40_nSSFBRoBChX7cFIjwS-ipNUi69TQFI1TcIzcYs1lTPS7NYtb21lispp5zyqnhoxUO31-jMQEKE6Ta7LXCz4Qyw8FXrBBed2_5x0/s1600/BILL+WATTERSON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26EMZNcUSgEa4AVGWN9yCttU_U33dDgS_sgfIc40_nSSFBRoBChX7cFIjwS-ipNUi69TQFI1TcIzcYs1lTPS7NYtb21lispp5zyqnhoxUO31-jMQEKE6Ta7LXCz4Qyw8FXrBBed2_5x0/s400/BILL+WATTERSON.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes: yes, his stories are entertaining. But his lines are astounding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAAlupHKqj2nAawPJoXJDw9GW14B1YRA5zgU2CbPJk2ygiNkXEv3BspAofQ4OlBURMwj63e1ZoFGn7n81GmKP6cmWsl-wf9gufCvuWHWxxVtQbve9CzuewKcfBHUaqRFSxnOGebLGWcA/s1600/ca089-05870-th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAAlupHKqj2nAawPJoXJDw9GW14B1YRA5zgU2CbPJk2ygiNkXEv3BspAofQ4OlBURMwj63e1ZoFGn7n81GmKP6cmWsl-wf9gufCvuWHWxxVtQbve9CzuewKcfBHUaqRFSxnOGebLGWcA/s200/ca089-05870-th.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Saul Steinberg: line and wit in perfect balance. --- you can see the original image here at the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/cartoonamerica/cartoon-caricature.html" target="_blank">Library of Congress CartoonAmerica exhibit</a>.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Experiment and enjoy!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-4317481455888438162015-08-19T21:10:00.000-04:002015-08-19T21:10:31.214-04:00Hummingbird Dance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSFS0cmaj0QNQyaLGVNNMN6mi9Jbj6PVGTL-kCOdI2B6bULxRLWEUwxwrrsGmb4D1gTAQm4GFXTBgSbU9WxKzoKekN8qdDVM0V6-FDWUSJRJi6F2DZxurM1iBcklvKLI7WirA8VGBKdE/s1600/on+earth+no+heaven.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSFS0cmaj0QNQyaLGVNNMN6mi9Jbj6PVGTL-kCOdI2B6bULxRLWEUwxwrrsGmb4D1gTAQm4GFXTBgSbU9WxKzoKekN8qdDVM0V6-FDWUSJRJi6F2DZxurM1iBcklvKLI7WirA8VGBKdE/s320/on+earth+no+heaven.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz70v90xG8FP_K9KHF8gi7bWfmR8sfzFB2yG0Pry-zVLsWxTPPBgg7NHY6eDFZeUzHBI9Y9C1dCjR-d5R6sMpOjDNFSLAZLWfZXYDLfqwxuxbJcIw6cHnFP4Y72bARukePOL16JQdJe4o/s1600/scheuer+humbird+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz70v90xG8FP_K9KHF8gi7bWfmR8sfzFB2yG0Pry-zVLsWxTPPBgg7NHY6eDFZeUzHBI9Y9C1dCjR-d5R6sMpOjDNFSLAZLWfZXYDLfqwxuxbJcIw6cHnFP4Y72bARukePOL16JQdJe4o/s320/scheuer+humbird+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmIKUBQAa9oICAXCZEQl7im59qxT1H19RQi8Vabvoxk9bYGJ-8DZyTdZIOU4H1eq6jpCShhISeMmeRfq0lrRvQPqnr1AlooOjGn9kiNiwAu2oHFe6-ob7d5O85M_3Aql6BX5xBFfv21A/s1600/scheuer+humbird+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmIKUBQAa9oICAXCZEQl7im59qxT1H19RQi8Vabvoxk9bYGJ-8DZyTdZIOU4H1eq6jpCShhISeMmeRfq0lrRvQPqnr1AlooOjGn9kiNiwAu2oHFe6-ob7d5O85M_3Aql6BX5xBFfv21A/s320/scheuer+humbird+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXR1KZqUy5h0SQxSR5_eHl9RZAvke00tFY6-qVKVh9fjTQwJE_xGegnPZDoRLFzm-k_0k7UEX0sYHVX13eRUCukEBmrNOIJJJJoIbYmvvuTLDNKHJwUkxi5m1cSQbG4J2jvAv6nkO-lg/s1600/scheuer+humbird+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXR1KZqUy5h0SQxSR5_eHl9RZAvke00tFY6-qVKVh9fjTQwJE_xGegnPZDoRLFzm-k_0k7UEX0sYHVX13eRUCukEBmrNOIJJJJoIbYmvvuTLDNKHJwUkxi5m1cSQbG4J2jvAv6nkO-lg/s320/scheuer+humbird+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiNxloRj1nEm9oHC4gQIrE9lyarWBkCvO7j2x2ixKoHurWhNbhty0Wd-9MOF0Q63IvsS4nvCEUUnIqLLoNA-naA6QAFXPhjAtHqp9AyuNEf3K0QxKaB0LGAy2aju5ldvNVr1w6s96HN0/s1600/scheuer+humbird+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiNxloRj1nEm9oHC4gQIrE9lyarWBkCvO7j2x2ixKoHurWhNbhty0Wd-9MOF0Q63IvsS4nvCEUUnIqLLoNA-naA6QAFXPhjAtHqp9AyuNEf3K0QxKaB0LGAy2aju5ldvNVr1w6s96HN0/s320/scheuer+humbird+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkMZ0hCBxzf4TwP4Oc1vMwOkBAV0ERKcLNNH8yyaw5gxKfZh3vSvmBz78RQxnTswvdLVTkAbt-icPpmwFnYeMV5pMAVPbI2JzB4lARLc5cerCHvolbv54mX_hN_Au6SetME44nbTl3FE/s1600/scheuer+humbird+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkMZ0hCBxzf4TwP4Oc1vMwOkBAV0ERKcLNNH8yyaw5gxKfZh3vSvmBz78RQxnTswvdLVTkAbt-icPpmwFnYeMV5pMAVPbI2JzB4lARLc5cerCHvolbv54mX_hN_Au6SetME44nbTl3FE/s320/scheuer+humbird+5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrbzJXaCWQ34SQzLzZqDDsPSDGTR7IXQwKuTVeXfQRgdUMG0EbT9tdaUxxQsNigClMuOyrsHxAqzr6-U9BpAXteVXYJnvBh8i0Xj2G0bdFFFDobRHFFxSnLaHViQ8ow_9e7P6-LGpeo/s1600/scheuer+humbird+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzrbzJXaCWQ34SQzLzZqDDsPSDGTR7IXQwKuTVeXfQRgdUMG0EbT9tdaUxxQsNigClMuOyrsHxAqzr6-U9BpAXteVXYJnvBh8i0Xj2G0bdFFFDobRHFFxSnLaHViQ8ow_9e7P6-LGpeo/s320/scheuer+humbird+6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-40072390845863417682015-08-10T11:49:00.000-04:002015-08-10T11:49:44.118-04:00Plan B<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(continued from the previous post, <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2015/07/freezing-phoebe.html" target="_blank">FREEZING PHOEBE</a> )</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So. The ice-pack trick had no effect on Phoebe's perpetual broodiness. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggc51CEGgmfliyp0nubmFm5yGUDOt96CMkffILih9yhGesUYWBT6GCJUbdr-0Nb3HEx_gGcLxe6QAJfSKu3jgBN_LUkXWAJ-zmANLeH3cDbn1O_s6bonAxO3Eng9KCzVltlNjirIUiQSE/s1600/phoebe+on+ice+scheuer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggc51CEGgmfliyp0nubmFm5yGUDOt96CMkffILih9yhGesUYWBT6GCJUbdr-0Nb3HEx_gGcLxe6QAJfSKu3jgBN_LUkXWAJ-zmANLeH3cDbn1O_s6bonAxO3Eng9KCzVltlNjirIUiQSE/s320/phoebe+on+ice+scheuer.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I planted a glacier of ice packs in the nest box and she found her way around it, squeezing onto a tiny bit of bedding that remained in the corner. So I rearranged the ice packs and then she scratched and tore them and the ice melted and dripped out and that was fine with Phoebe, who sat blissfully upon the whole soggy mess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I moved on to <b>Plan B: </b>The Broody Pen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpvYhxlzlPGguZdTxp5W_luUyQTKiOLNMsT4bjJOmORsG9slgRu_4T3ikZsCat6J50MAD1xiAwXUKTbhauMmzPI6LteF1LUTK8NN8j3aNxvXIFEMRQPVeXxI2KNN8Z5hfwffKS05BFA8/s1600/Scheuer+Broody+Cage+2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpvYhxlzlPGguZdTxp5W_luUyQTKiOLNMsT4bjJOmORsG9slgRu_4T3ikZsCat6J50MAD1xiAwXUKTbhauMmzPI6LteF1LUTK8NN8j3aNxvXIFEMRQPVeXxI2KNN8Z5hfwffKS05BFA8/s400/Scheuer+Broody+Cage+2015.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As it was suggested by several chicken-friends, I fashioned a little pen for Phoebe just outside the run. She had water, food and safety, but she had no nest box to sit in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This appeared to be a comfortable setup, but for Phoebe it was a heinous torture chamber. She paced and fluffed and ranted and panicked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In response to her distress, all of the ladies stood beside her at the edge of the run, and there they remained, compassionately close to the little jailbird. Because a flock is a flock, even if one member is doing hard time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At night, I placed her back into the nest box, under house arrest until morning when I took her right back to the correctional facility. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took only three days to rehabilitate this little gal </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TlltZSNMhm00eE8LkuRUL8DxlWXTMQ2gy_tXCmDNgYa2xh5tAD2eivhMMw3n_X7dJ265WqvkP2SOk0vij1ZA497QvL_EtFCr5-3YQY8_-BmoEZn72_TdLuRmy3nOLJrAYan4DdxjLc8/s1600/scheuer+psychophoebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TlltZSNMhm00eE8LkuRUL8DxlWXTMQ2gy_tXCmDNgYa2xh5tAD2eivhMMw3n_X7dJ265WqvkP2SOk0vij1ZA497QvL_EtFCr5-3YQY8_-BmoEZn72_TdLuRmy3nOLJrAYan4DdxjLc8/s400/scheuer+psychophoebe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vp3SFArz_ybmA8avlnddw7lAv-vPL5whj82MBmcCF7Vm1gr49eCgdZx6LL0ONQPiYfTUspY7_OUn-A65hXE5BTwFSa7pMXfipErh1aZd9QRGUNcenzm8jphEhYN0RwSXlUhzvBPKfo0/s1600/scheuer+normal+phoebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vp3SFArz_ybmA8avlnddw7lAv-vPL5whj82MBmcCF7Vm1gr49eCgdZx6LL0ONQPiYfTUspY7_OUn-A65hXE5BTwFSa7pMXfipErh1aZd9QRGUNcenzm8jphEhYN0RwSXlUhzvBPKfo0/s400/scheuer+normal+phoebe.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On that third day, she stepped out of the nest box, stood up straight, and returned to her esteemed position at the very bottom of the pecking order. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I opened the gate that morning, Phoebe accepted a peck on the head from each of her friends, and then tore out across the yard to trash my garden with her team. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoux_b9oWUKTkGpbitdOd06S-Hu4gQEh-TKid5L4yWOUumZl9EvDsyczHIXdLbu0LXlo04-JK4Vi9R9V-AjGmMWZrI_C6du1LVxK0_EdC9jiBSY_SLwBL00K7x0-a76-zObHSLWpltlVQ/s1600/phoebe+and+flock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoux_b9oWUKTkGpbitdOd06S-Hu4gQEh-TKid5L4yWOUumZl9EvDsyczHIXdLbu0LXlo04-JK4Vi9R9V-AjGmMWZrI_C6du1LVxK0_EdC9jiBSY_SLwBL00K7x0-a76-zObHSLWpltlVQ/s400/phoebe+and+flock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone was happy to have Phoebe back. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6WGguMPBGmNSUl0nyrOh2zdhGNhjR5PqLLT8UFUU_qA9du1jfV0arRKxIUaUBjEQyccGeGZOKCtvxjmMvm4NIwZjYimcDkcl5-1stkyqlLLA_17BHXcfRA75GXWd89U9UrBnlDXLA2M/s1600/scheuer+phoebe+marky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6WGguMPBGmNSUl0nyrOh2zdhGNhjR5PqLLT8UFUU_qA9du1jfV0arRKxIUaUBjEQyccGeGZOKCtvxjmMvm4NIwZjYimcDkcl5-1stkyqlLLA_17BHXcfRA75GXWd89U9UrBnlDXLA2M/s400/scheuer+phoebe+marky.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, almost everyone.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-16815106341226113712015-07-22T12:51:00.004-04:002015-07-22T12:51:25.063-04:00Freezing Phoebe<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">O.k. I just can't take it anymore. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiXYl5sPrhUXF4GKro-oMwwEk883faAhpFIA5IX1XiLLmePxCTaVVfCWAVaGJ3CH7VsV8ebNXqqOqUpKvCu9_uu16kIYnPdK361lKVMhi8Bvq2h9LkyweSNBzWl_vJE3HhjZNu2otAto/s1600/broody+phoebe+scheuer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiXYl5sPrhUXF4GKro-oMwwEk883faAhpFIA5IX1XiLLmePxCTaVVfCWAVaGJ3CH7VsV8ebNXqqOqUpKvCu9_uu16kIYnPdK361lKVMhi8Bvq2h9LkyweSNBzWl_vJE3HhjZNu2otAto/s400/broody+phoebe+scheuer.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Little Phoebe is wasting her entire summer hiding in the nest box all puffed up and insanely broody. She has barely seen the light of day since late May. Her beady eyes are getting beadier, and every day she looks less like a respectable Speckled Sussex and more like a cupcake. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsA4r-v6XIraePRFMFMuJ_6Cxubzc4ywxeUfTGpBszUDNvZv4SRzVJDkKrSsg5SYYNyh1ymCy0irQNWJnzucQhigFtP6VFp2tVFIxYgeeceLealvsZR5Mb3gon3OqfngT6V664dwZOX8/s1600/Chicken+Cupcake+Scheuer+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsA4r-v6XIraePRFMFMuJ_6Cxubzc4ywxeUfTGpBszUDNvZv4SRzVJDkKrSsg5SYYNyh1ymCy0irQNWJnzucQhigFtP6VFp2tVFIxYgeeceLealvsZR5Mb3gon3OqfngT6V664dwZOX8/s400/Chicken+Cupcake+Scheuer+a.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's time for an intervention. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So last night I froze several gallon-zipper-bags full of water, and right now I'm heading to the coop to implement this diabolical plan.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA76KcaYhXJoL3lfzhflFu1oLwHDCJQTzOCtnaDMiS13fEeKstGNB_b5xMWe6vSYbcRsLmDTwJoPFq2dra11rvRRLc_sxn92wY2dgQXpWf5V8TvfdRWEXwJFdrpQW62H5A1Y5uy17YR0/s1600/phoebe+on+ice+scheuer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA76KcaYhXJoL3lfzhflFu1oLwHDCJQTzOCtnaDMiS13fEeKstGNB_b5xMWe6vSYbcRsLmDTwJoPFq2dra11rvRRLc_sxn92wY2dgQXpWf5V8TvfdRWEXwJFdrpQW62H5A1Y5uy17YR0/s400/phoebe+on+ice+scheuer.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Come out and seize the day, my little lunatic chicken! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-82250947166766025452015-06-24T09:26:00.000-04:002015-06-24T09:26:28.679-04:00DORRIE'S DEADLY DIVERSION<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVULBcalzo7giKgH4aqIOgiGSjJYf3TmcUiwuFQLFf16cJO3no_vSZe8Fsqq9Z7gNUbEXtpnD_6FosZh0fYtmkXOYJNgXbzpoC8EsiFon4r5LR7znokhTG7PIR1j1-xwfyu3w6UaYSqU/s1600/marky+and+the+girls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVULBcalzo7giKgH4aqIOgiGSjJYf3TmcUiwuFQLFf16cJO3no_vSZe8Fsqq9Z7gNUbEXtpnD_6FosZh0fYtmkXOYJNgXbzpoC8EsiFon4r5LR7znokhTG7PIR1j1-xwfyu3w6UaYSqU/s400/marky+and+the+girls.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn’t think about Dorrie’s wandering because the ladies
do like to scratch in those leaves at the shady edge of the yard. </div>
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But a few hours later, back at the coop, I found Dorrie
standing hunched in the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was barely awake, and she was drooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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…..Drooling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This
was especially odd.</div>
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It didn’t take long for me to guess what was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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My wild foxgloves were in glorious bloom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmwaOSoFbpdCcjj0VnScB9XXxSUtSEY8RxOl-nYRt10GtqDoHY-tvWP2TuMds3KJBSjn9zomYNkyEsQrINYQ-xKswqMz7KpY4kr-_C-fsq57Qlvflg9I8qKeO5lR8iKGYJFlBCFt5XQ/s1600/dorrie+foxglove+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvmwaOSoFbpdCcjj0VnScB9XXxSUtSEY8RxOl-nYRt10GtqDoHY-tvWP2TuMds3KJBSjn9zomYNkyEsQrINYQ-xKswqMz7KpY4kr-_C-fsq57Qlvflg9I8qKeO5lR8iKGYJFlBCFt5XQ/s400/dorrie+foxglove+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dorrie must have eaten some of this highly toxic plant.</div>
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I left her in the care of her flock while I went to do a bit
of quick research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the
kitchen I Googled madly. I
found some good info.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It was
interesting that the human symptoms of foxglove poisoning matched Dorrie’s
symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the treatment
would be the same as well? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I
contacted some Facebook chicken-fanatic friends for advice. </div>
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Activated Charcoal was the consensus -- the same treatment as
for humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I didn’t
have any activated charcoal lying around. I didn’t even know what it was, and
by that time it was way too late at night to hop into the car and go hunting
for it. </div>
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In desperation I brought Dorrie into the house and fed her a
watery swill of ground-up charcoal from my fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no problem getting it down her throat as she was
virtually catatonic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZGesZ8LnIVKFjF0YQOgnodMWPnFbgE_P8RrW6jES7T_otOXHQHdVSIMNcZQ_6EgmOHWIcxoIN1y0YLBYaaIyQZRoxBgmgoHoqNDwEqKakVTe1g_oDmErApJsWWoPiiNVk4Q4nAXu9Z0/s1600/dorrie+sick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZGesZ8LnIVKFjF0YQOgnodMWPnFbgE_P8RrW6jES7T_otOXHQHdVSIMNcZQ_6EgmOHWIcxoIN1y0YLBYaaIyQZRoxBgmgoHoqNDwEqKakVTe1g_oDmErApJsWWoPiiNVk4Q4nAXu9Z0/s400/dorrie+sick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I put her to bed in the kitchen and hoped for the best.</div>
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The next morning Dorrie was no better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The p</span>lain charcoal had had no effect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to find activated charcoal,
quick.</div>
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My dear friend Beth, who normally sleeps in on Saturdays, actually answered her phone when I called at 7am,
god-bless-her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yes, as
a matter of fact, she did have a packet of activated charcoal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I fetched the precious remedy from Beth, brought it back and mixed up the potion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdCGtZjOhi92Qfzd0BegTXnLd_L-jbS57LojLFtpVewdJGs9N_e92k7T_nNphFfIOmTX_W0-kk6lEEXq_QM1dZzRmkSiRLrluDLYUvxZ8bgY7QNk-Bl4fyT1C6VZA7pkQoSZKemaOLVg/s1600/activated+charcoal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdCGtZjOhi92Qfzd0BegTXnLd_L-jbS57LojLFtpVewdJGs9N_e92k7T_nNphFfIOmTX_W0-kk6lEEXq_QM1dZzRmkSiRLrluDLYUvxZ8bgY7QNk-Bl4fyT1C6VZA7pkQoSZKemaOLVg/s400/activated+charcoal.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I squeezed about three tablespoons of the stuff into Dorrie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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That seemed like a good amount to me. </div>
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We took a quick little selfie together, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-dCMELNpGdIKSW5FhJBS9xI1_rGQ5ewHHamDRNKY0_muPmURZnpfYkpDPzxNymzm19EJ8dMws_vb37HLBrYVQpJGpQITDoMbdIUWkIkhlVk52tqZ91h-cExID5Rd9FuVq_QBcJov-CM/s1600/selfie+with+dorrie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-dCMELNpGdIKSW5FhJBS9xI1_rGQ5ewHHamDRNKY0_muPmURZnpfYkpDPzxNymzm19EJ8dMws_vb37HLBrYVQpJGpQITDoMbdIUWkIkhlVk52tqZ91h-cExID5Rd9FuVq_QBcJov-CM/s400/selfie+with+dorrie.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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and then I returned her to the coop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The flock gathered around Dorrie where she stood hunched, drowsy and drooling.</div>
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Now all we could do was wait. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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But we didn’t wait long!</div>
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In only three hours, Dorrie was honest-to-goodness back from the dead, flitting around with the flock like nothing had ever happened!</div>
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Don’t you just love a miraculously happy ending?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I let the girls out for some celebratory free-ranging.</div>
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This time, we stayed on the right side of the yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plenty of weeds, none of them
poisonous. </div>
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<o:p><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: orange;">. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . </span> </span></b></o:p></div>
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And now I’m at the kitchen table eyeing this precious little
packet of activated charcoal, this magical elixir…</div>
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Maybe I’ll sprinkle some on
my toast. </div>
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I wonder how it would taste in my coffee….. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-6322557787490370952014-12-19T12:25:00.000-05:002014-12-19T13:31:54.929-05:00LESSONS FROM LUCY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucy was a special-needs hen.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-3SbRNNpNaQgGKPX-cf5Jawd1Ew73wDE4r7lzRev7aXWNCM_WpR060ugQEQAg_Upe8IZd7nzJW7UNYsV1sMLcOqjpNXml6_o5_QIH_LmDHAR3kj0cBPT6yGk_5Rp8eOwreuP8lGVChM/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lucy+selfie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-3SbRNNpNaQgGKPX-cf5Jawd1Ew73wDE4r7lzRev7aXWNCM_WpR060ugQEQAg_Upe8IZd7nzJW7UNYsV1sMLcOqjpNXml6_o5_QIH_LmDHAR3kj0cBPT6yGk_5Rp8eOwreuP8lGVChM/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lucy+selfie.png" height="400" width="396" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the age of six months, she was stricken with Marek's disease. She survived, but her legs and her stamina were permanently affected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucy needed me, so she invited me into her life. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For six and a half years Lucy and I shared a beautiful trusting friendship. She taught me what it's like to be a chicken. And she taught me what it means to be alive. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9GtN4nMScH7guUyDP2M5GcxLIot8A6dDkY9NU9TPXnTYv3li9zxKDseZQiyBFh2ZB7Gi0HZ-QL_IJY_JOPwgZ_ZWC2xzFgIDmDJPp0Kk6L7nIe2f80OqR3uHdljj6F5HJUNTHlT1CCs/s1600/Lucy+and+Lauren.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9GtN4nMScH7guUyDP2M5GcxLIot8A6dDkY9NU9TPXnTYv3li9zxKDseZQiyBFh2ZB7Gi0HZ-QL_IJY_JOPwgZ_ZWC2xzFgIDmDJPp0Kk6L7nIe2f80OqR3uHdljj6F5HJUNTHlT1CCs/s1600/Lucy+and+Lauren.png" height="347" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This October Lucy fell ill. I recognized her symptoms at once, and made a confident decision on her behalf. I called </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rosario, the wonderful vet who I wrote about in my book, and she met Sarah and me in our backyard the next day. Together we gave Lucy a comfortable ending while I held this beautiful hen my arms. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been an honor to share Lucy with the world. I continue to be amazed at the way she touches people's lives in my book, <i>Once Upon a Flock</i>, in my blog stories, and on Facebook. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucy's flock mourned her passing. And now her flock guides me in moving forward. Because the sun is shining, and it's a beautiful day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you, too, aspire to attain the wisdom of a chicken, here are a few pointers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCBozjK4B4howOdovbFAYh-ULDaua7ba3pNfGzRV9cVKmtBCzMlm3xCbl9lAZNB9KcXgE8wQCfmtZr_sHKPNegL4vL31LVsfFqRB_oBJKPfZgyNY86yzphYh1J5u8M0Zm1W_wmTmal_k/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lessons+from+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCBozjK4B4howOdovbFAYh-ULDaua7ba3pNfGzRV9cVKmtBCzMlm3xCbl9lAZNB9KcXgE8wQCfmtZr_sHKPNegL4vL31LVsfFqRB_oBJKPfZgyNY86yzphYh1J5u8M0Zm1W_wmTmal_k/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lessons+from+lucy.png" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONi2AJJrlm9qHDJIJxXQ7nDszc73DkatOAqtnUDPk2lJhPag87loFH9ey5cu5VTiL5aluLEAfoRgcWNQfXp8msrgzxUidj4fgWmIt6HPIbdedlyILK-pYCYoRUCBRL70HePTGLbM1O9c/s1600/lauren+scheuer+dont+take+seriously.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCBozjK4B4howOdovbFAYh-ULDaua7ba3pNfGzRV9cVKmtBCzMlm3xCbl9lAZNB9KcXgE8wQCfmtZr_sHKPNegL4vL31LVsfFqRB_oBJKPfZgyNY86yzphYh1J5u8M0Zm1W_wmTmal_k/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lessons+from+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCBozjK4B4howOdovbFAYh-ULDaua7ba3pNfGzRV9cVKmtBCzMlm3xCbl9lAZNB9KcXgE8wQCfmtZr_sHKPNegL4vL31LVsfFqRB_oBJKPfZgyNY86yzphYh1J5u8M0Zm1W_wmTmal_k/s1600/lauren+scheuer+lessons+from+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONi2AJJrlm9qHDJIJxXQ7nDszc73DkatOAqtnUDPk2lJhPag87loFH9ey5cu5VTiL5aluLEAfoRgcWNQfXp8msrgzxUidj4fgWmIt6HPIbdedlyILK-pYCYoRUCBRL70HePTGLbM1O9c/s1600/lauren+scheuer+dont+take+seriously.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONi2AJJrlm9qHDJIJxXQ7nDszc73DkatOAqtnUDPk2lJhPag87loFH9ey5cu5VTiL5aluLEAfoRgcWNQfXp8msrgzxUidj4fgWmIt6HPIbdedlyILK-pYCYoRUCBRL70HePTGLbM1O9c/s1600/lauren+scheuer+dont+take+seriously.png" height="345" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSIB3V5fz489SROqwhv1XmDfsMayO_2rfBAjYXauQGslXSXrtRHor3p_iTqCCsI4hI0hxY8k4zQOkgoIIrN-twvT2Sb0MKsRULsrk7j4JmaW3zS3-yiO66MvXXWL30gOmLKgWIk8c9w4/s1600/lauren+scheuer+early+bird.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSIB3V5fz489SROqwhv1XmDfsMayO_2rfBAjYXauQGslXSXrtRHor3p_iTqCCsI4hI0hxY8k4zQOkgoIIrN-twvT2Sb0MKsRULsrk7j4JmaW3zS3-yiO66MvXXWL30gOmLKgWIk8c9w4/s1600/lauren+scheuer+early+bird.png" height="400" width="390" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdrnajscmvK-T6wa6FpsWWZAEktSWoajv3t36cOxMCXIfagKuOeRtkqrNmPsMqoqAg45I3lcNefjmm9tkppZ_QqFyeVH5Ujhi2EXzjnOk-Mmw3HP7OarXjksA7vs2UleWTu8UpyJ7lQU/s1600/Lauren+Scheuer+Listen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdrnajscmvK-T6wa6FpsWWZAEktSWoajv3t36cOxMCXIfagKuOeRtkqrNmPsMqoqAg45I3lcNefjmm9tkppZ_QqFyeVH5Ujhi2EXzjnOk-Mmw3HP7OarXjksA7vs2UleWTu8UpyJ7lQU/s1600/Lauren+Scheuer+Listen.png" height="375" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuLDZZvFgQjhx8WI0WU3LKDaz9qhMvaf95oAh8VXq2CLOYP5yTRlfBnZKRxxwKSSR417OOAzW4tSS6-iZeUP0MESo78c9AOjydWgcb92ubTwxXhBVaNZwOk-jgL1OnbLN5pm5G3jyswI/s1600/lauren+scheuer+ask+for+help.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuLDZZvFgQjhx8WI0WU3LKDaz9qhMvaf95oAh8VXq2CLOYP5yTRlfBnZKRxxwKSSR417OOAzW4tSS6-iZeUP0MESo78c9AOjydWgcb92ubTwxXhBVaNZwOk-jgL1OnbLN5pm5G3jyswI/s1600/lauren+scheuer+ask+for+help.png" height="400" width="315" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6znBZPgPesBo2by4bFXWTql1qI1jmkQOZYChpVKefxKD_bhPQ12L_PT9askJFfjzK1FWuBKgX6Q0-9aWrUfU0rN6Hj0WGeH2oIopWEV6_VLdZTXWCFXGOTkrH6a0Iqw1dkPMFUF2mIs/s1600/Lauren+Scheuer+Tolerate+humans.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6znBZPgPesBo2by4bFXWTql1qI1jmkQOZYChpVKefxKD_bhPQ12L_PT9askJFfjzK1FWuBKgX6Q0-9aWrUfU0rN6Hj0WGeH2oIopWEV6_VLdZTXWCFXGOTkrH6a0Iqw1dkPMFUF2mIs/s1600/Lauren+Scheuer+Tolerate+humans.png" height="372" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for following my stories, and stay tuned for more tales of a soulful flock!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-60414472131429490032014-08-08T09:46:00.000-04:002014-08-08T09:46:13.782-04:00Hummingbird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS9fTwbqIHo7WccR3GPYkcN8d4BFHhpttmD7PyLWpIUwBKhcgw7OjD4rft5GpGdVYpN2qdXqLgXFhtUkyUUaw5cF-sJwAYynOSPxdwj9ckFLUnszKaiivVH4aIwmLmRrLSd2fFPnNXcY/s1600/bertrand+russell+quote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS9fTwbqIHo7WccR3GPYkcN8d4BFHhpttmD7PyLWpIUwBKhcgw7OjD4rft5GpGdVYpN2qdXqLgXFhtUkyUUaw5cF-sJwAYynOSPxdwj9ckFLUnszKaiivVH4aIwmLmRrLSd2fFPnNXcY/s1600/bertrand+russell+quote.png" height="220" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><b>. . . . . . . . </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While I dilly-dallied in my garden yesterday, mesmerized by a clean arc of sparkling water flowing from the hose nozzle, I was startled by a very small hummingbird who darted around my head and then hovered above the stream of water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I held completely still, hoping that it would stay for a moment. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7ojy1CbmZdxFIURN1rmK6Pn8-02hg9SRT-3ns8zxfZ8CNsr7aw_UKgEkHq-N8SVO4b9dD0dWEIule5ZRBRQdWVPLLlNLd4oSd6jhwRuLKn3Jg2VZXW0RIUQ_kisqTQAv69P7eanp5Nc/s1600/hummingbird+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7ojy1CbmZdxFIURN1rmK6Pn8-02hg9SRT-3ns8zxfZ8CNsr7aw_UKgEkHq-N8SVO4b9dD0dWEIule5ZRBRQdWVPLLlNLd4oSd6jhwRuLKn3Jg2VZXW0RIUQ_kisqTQAv69P7eanp5Nc/s1600/hummingbird+a.png" height="317" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was exquisite, and especially tiny, even for a hummingbird. When I spied three shimmering red feathers on its chin, I knew it was a young male Ruby Throated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guessed he had come to take a sip, so I held the stream steady while he whizzed around it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xEcI3s0NE3pW6XQPEiN5ZWJBbU8VxMN1Os7lIhv8yFZjlhz7If7lIfZXpiBrB6l-Yl4z_EMl5ztN_v-rfqrIqtFu84AtWv_NUjxr_3XNbP38aGP7yXsnn_lKjEqfu63shtDZroIw_Y/s1600/hummingbird+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9xEcI3s0NE3pW6XQPEiN5ZWJBbU8VxMN1Os7lIhv8yFZjlhz7If7lIfZXpiBrB6l-Yl4z_EMl5ztN_v-rfqrIqtFu84AtWv_NUjxr_3XNbP38aGP7yXsnn_lKjEqfu63shtDZroIw_Y/s1600/hummingbird+b.png" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He examined the water from all angles, but he didn't touch it with his beak.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl4rcX7D5wpn5z4nP1hAvTmsstPr_NMsUi1BM2P9te3Wm2ciEWkSQfF1QxXNeagB2d3gwjAKW6Opw3wJfvEnu6Mg4zZ45Tx-6ZkWWTj5qsRK9nIypv-UcAjya6UOHABDX-eoSZwrpOJ0/s1600/hummingbird+c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl4rcX7D5wpn5z4nP1hAvTmsstPr_NMsUi1BM2P9te3Wm2ciEWkSQfF1QxXNeagB2d3gwjAKW6Opw3wJfvEnu6Mg4zZ45Tx-6ZkWWTj5qsRK9nIypv-UcAjya6UOHABDX-eoSZwrpOJ0/s1600/hummingbird+c.png" height="321" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead, he extended his tiny talons and carefully lowered himself onto this beautiful shiny perch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NstCNFLxjvfFbuSuD1qFIisoUTv2NsO5N3m4Xt8yiQ1dOSyKWaRSciAtrg4M4gsDAdyAycKggM2PXJacwUoOpS4Vu6VaQHIa3QDntd6Ih77pyD8zid50sLzgjVLYF5gO9r1-YQd9WcE/s1600/hummingbird+g.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NstCNFLxjvfFbuSuD1qFIisoUTv2NsO5N3m4Xt8yiQ1dOSyKWaRSciAtrg4M4gsDAdyAycKggM2PXJacwUoOpS4Vu6VaQHIa3QDntd6Ih77pyD8zid50sLzgjVLYF5gO9r1-YQd9WcE/s1600/hummingbird+g.png" height="331" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a moment, even I believed it might work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He raised himself above the flow </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and tried from another angle. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW3EdnvDuX648UsgkjvQJLuuir7VJwafgOZ58Slg5LByYccsDM3NzqsW7X4VJLwdb0EPcM1bdrUpOMuyhL-QRNLnwGbyQ35pPN9eR0THDBHg1KxwqqbzJx8eSYcdJVOZh6fu97apbdpI/s1600/hummingbird+i.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW3EdnvDuX648UsgkjvQJLuuir7VJwafgOZ58Slg5LByYccsDM3NzqsW7X4VJLwdb0EPcM1bdrUpOMuyhL-QRNLnwGbyQ35pPN9eR0THDBHg1KxwqqbzJx8eSYcdJVOZh6fu97apbdpI/s1600/hummingbird+i.png" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His toes were so small there was hardly a splash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He made a few more attempts to stand on water,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTGiXE240tTDhpzWPyCzvEWzuOzdKMmp3bBNyrdQ_vDgtlGSagQJ-V8WkNSZYVXNyCDOLFpyET5Rmyu607ccJd2_t2xV6nYBOtrX32YfnaZ_G_aUDuJmxupkt_QLzfizCrmNxuLwST80/s1600/hummingbird+f.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTGiXE240tTDhpzWPyCzvEWzuOzdKMmp3bBNyrdQ_vDgtlGSagQJ-V8WkNSZYVXNyCDOLFpyET5Rmyu607ccJd2_t2xV6nYBOtrX32YfnaZ_G_aUDuJmxupkt_QLzfizCrmNxuLwST80/s1600/hummingbird+f.png" height="377" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and then he retreated to a more substantial perch in the forsythia bush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To ponder physics, no doubt. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-27471790789349174022014-07-10T16:59:00.002-04:002014-07-10T21:20:06.355-04:00Daisy and the Broody Toad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The young Nuggets were terrified of Daisy. Her attacks were incessant. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuQQpxvgK6y7ZFH0JfrP8LZ7rLSgzadGqwpnHVMc6Pj363nCaLXqIcVkQ5cSugCESFO_QcXMn47o4tpZFWFXRrdBRnuMwaqyATKKoJOOr1VCGELM6RmUo_yQqpW5H-RsBv8CO7Wz8_cw/s1600/daisy+attack+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuQQpxvgK6y7ZFH0JfrP8LZ7rLSgzadGqwpnHVMc6Pj363nCaLXqIcVkQ5cSugCESFO_QcXMn47o4tpZFWFXRrdBRnuMwaqyATKKoJOOr1VCGELM6RmUo_yQqpW5H-RsBv8CO7Wz8_cw/s1600/daisy+attack+b.png" height="212" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So in the interest of peace and safety, I decided to split the flock. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank goodness I've built so many coops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The four youngsters and Lucy continued to abide in the big coop, </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p_imseqnhdpYENDa2pMikFcE_7SFBEP2u_DoWGJ1B4t8I3zgalzkZOxaTmPDw4lSp8HgxzBswhrw-u8zU1Zm9FZTOQf29AevM_bXSup99ALh2By5vPaGePoEVT6Rm4_7P_0AxFvpz60/s1600/flock+of+7+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p_imseqnhdpYENDa2pMikFcE_7SFBEP2u_DoWGJ1B4t8I3zgalzkZOxaTmPDw4lSp8HgxzBswhrw-u8zU1Zm9FZTOQf29AevM_bXSup99ALh2By5vPaGePoEVT6Rm4_7P_0AxFvpz60/s1600/flock+of+7+b.png" height="178" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and I moved Daisy into the jailhouse where wicked Lil'White is serving her life term.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To make Daisy's transition more comfortable, I dragged her favorite little henhouse into the jail yard. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuJPulZ4koftYZdPR4KJCHGbgp8-yNDyI9iLsL8vr9NISBHCnCvUGjqHcS-XgOuaCfWxkH2FVzZLgHEHI9oYfTK1M9lSKxjwW95cPrazHMGPrI29kdZDKj8cexq9tnnWeyUWL6rbIK0I/s1600/daisy+coop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuJPulZ4koftYZdPR4KJCHGbgp8-yNDyI9iLsL8vr9NISBHCnCvUGjqHcS-XgOuaCfWxkH2FVzZLgHEHI9oYfTK1M9lSKxjwW95cPrazHMGPrI29kdZDKj8cexq9tnnWeyUWL6rbIK0I/s1600/daisy+coop.png" height="333" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">When I built this house a few years ago, all the ladies were amused by it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHPj-o_gUlj5pir5Hcl7zKhJnd-Q2-nbb2pJKEOMB_mwVhxNRmMVRMCCLFXxPP5ss3ZuE9ddSvr03vJPTfiJl0vXPK-cPNvQdcj_cuqxPcynqFW0XRxKKMYjZzn7a7N0YtadsiJuR3oo/s1600/Lucy+looks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHPj-o_gUlj5pir5Hcl7zKhJnd-Q2-nbb2pJKEOMB_mwVhxNRmMVRMCCLFXxPP5ss3ZuE9ddSvr03vJPTfiJl0vXPK-cPNvQdcj_cuqxPcynqFW0XRxKKMYjZzn7a7N0YtadsiJuR3oo/s1600/Lucy+looks.png" height="368" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Lucy checked it out first, then settled on the front porch. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYlvPwKNRlPXgYRnWZW71Wt9Ly_OpPaRrhSBN739rnK4QYZD5LhBe11NqTUe4RYwdGmhn657iCN3XrmkZzaTssY4X3d_2Bvjna53UnQy_ULbOyGI_SSMcKIhE8TYsvq1TcD2vG8sqaHs/s1600/Daisy+coop+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYlvPwKNRlPXgYRnWZW71Wt9Ly_OpPaRrhSBN739rnK4QYZD5LhBe11NqTUe4RYwdGmhn657iCN3XrmkZzaTssY4X3d_2Bvjna53UnQy_ULbOyGI_SSMcKIhE8TYsvq1TcD2vG8sqaHs/s1600/Daisy+coop+2.png" height="291" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">But Daisy decided instantly that this would be her own personal nest box. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">She marched right in and laid an egg. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEd8xhUoC3woMCifao0TmeFA_q_zXLdTf6QPFjQAtaBrWAWdRdEQjWt4XaYb_47hM1Zz8z4Y6DEw16EmIsrMG_IbbUmV7DwmrDfVKtBDzLAhPZn3GZaZ3k4tHI5Ivdk17H1efKzTHFgk/s1600/daisy+and+lilwhite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEd8xhUoC3woMCifao0TmeFA_q_zXLdTf6QPFjQAtaBrWAWdRdEQjWt4XaYb_47hM1Zz8z4Y6DEw16EmIsrMG_IbbUmV7DwmrDfVKtBDzLAhPZn3GZaZ3k4tHI5Ivdk17H1efKzTHFgk/s1600/daisy+and+lilwhite.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Daisy settled comfortably into jailhouse life, and continues to lay eggs in her white henhouse. She and Lil'White get along just fine because they're both self-absorbed and aloof. They kind of enjoy having their very own prison. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recently I discovered another resident in the Chicken Jail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I discovered it when I opened the back door to Daisy's white house to collect her egg, and nearly grabbed this:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4rEqdYVtyqEmNkKDGhWTTZTTetJEUHO5I59UCrSqu2RQWPcg88t1iVWxN4Kg1Wa6vBO9Aqg0j7UDETiP_vCYZ8ED_sO38TSjv-Ko-fmamA4abLCdi5BMUDawx6zDEkKQrWx2O-lz3A0/s1600/broody+toad+closeup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4rEqdYVtyqEmNkKDGhWTTZTTetJEUHO5I59UCrSqu2RQWPcg88t1iVWxN4Kg1Wa6vBO9Aqg0j7UDETiP_vCYZ8ED_sO38TSjv-Ko-fmamA4abLCdi5BMUDawx6zDEkKQrWx2O-lz3A0/s1600/broody+toad+closeup.png" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Definitely not an egg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a toad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sitting calmly beneath a Daisy-feather. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I quickly shut the door. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't know what to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If I left the toad, then Daisy would soon walk in and find it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've seen Daisy kill frogs and shrews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love toads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Should I rescue it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or should I let nature take its course?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I walked away... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Later in the evening, I went back out to collect Daisy's egg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Expecting to find carnage and toad-chunks, I opened the door ever-so-carefully....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl441Q2Z2MZhGVXVgYTjJd1b03n1hu7FF4FGuHzWhuIme4qIdWufP_alAApFzob_-19GPn4xDBSpO-FGM6B01byayEWZqX3hJpHSFwTukjnRVqTav91nv0fXvjnErpAE5WK1zHyHO9wc/s1600/broody+toad+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrl441Q2Z2MZhGVXVgYTjJd1b03n1hu7FF4FGuHzWhuIme4qIdWufP_alAApFzob_-19GPn4xDBSpO-FGM6B01byayEWZqX3hJpHSFwTukjnRVqTav91nv0fXvjnErpAE5WK1zHyHO9wc/s1600/broody+toad+a.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And there it was, Broody Toad, beside an egg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Daisy had stepped ever-so-carefully past the toad and laid that egg, then stepped out again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why didn't she touch it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's not because she likes the toad. It's because she's smart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She knows that toads have a secret power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marky knows the secret of the toad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He learned the hard way. He licked one. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM63RJJh8JnokPlA17eXXea4qoHR607GSy8cUaVtIkcZvPE4BcL8iaTbJZQQO59hmCG96kQkI9ck_sWJkqrAD1xJDA-HVJ1kC-pUx97y-_ZhsINumPfgYgJkDnfGEVoKxLQ8lztaHB51Y/s1600/marky+bubbles.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM63RJJh8JnokPlA17eXXea4qoHR607GSy8cUaVtIkcZvPE4BcL8iaTbJZQQO59hmCG96kQkI9ck_sWJkqrAD1xJDA-HVJ1kC-pUx97y-_ZhsINumPfgYgJkDnfGEVoKxLQ8lztaHB51Y/s1600/marky+bubbles.png" height="327" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">His mouth fizzed up like he'd eaten a bar of Ivory soap. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So apparently chickens know, too. But I'm not sure how. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last summer, when the Nuggets were mere youngsters, they met their first toad in the garden. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVzjs1ep6abtIieC7rbdluvv6UB0Mad5KqYofevfFlqJDyNNLA71hZuJjEyE9xIkpfqd8zpBK8UWSn-LC1qcxAMnxxzMih9xu5vfBkGYlrUjCjJ4RJ7AIfzmlnDkeWWYJii99b26nfc/s1600/nuggets+and+toad+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVVzjs1ep6abtIieC7rbdluvv6UB0Mad5KqYofevfFlqJDyNNLA71hZuJjEyE9xIkpfqd8zpBK8UWSn-LC1qcxAMnxxzMih9xu5vfBkGYlrUjCjJ4RJ7AIfzmlnDkeWWYJii99b26nfc/s1600/nuggets+and+toad+1.png" height="332" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They all shrieked and stared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I rushed over to see what the hysteria was all about, and found this tiny creature </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">standing on its tippy toes, trying to look fearsome. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently it succeeded. The ladies didn't touch it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4__e_EFertLOqCb9Wgp9romQHs1RWXdVrAxwsOkWRTcra9o5NV6FZuv9pTzDOsZ8FRLvkFTeGQNc5JYIVgw7h2w0iwFGO_chNsqIKgn8i_dflfcVB7W9Ddt6BsHeXzmBq3qMxJNeXXEw/s1600/daisy+and+toad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4__e_EFertLOqCb9Wgp9romQHs1RWXdVrAxwsOkWRTcra9o5NV6FZuv9pTzDOsZ8FRLvkFTeGQNc5JYIVgw7h2w0iwFGO_chNsqIKgn8i_dflfcVB7W9Ddt6BsHeXzmBq3qMxJNeXXEw/s1600/daisy+and+toad.png" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been more than a month now that Broody Toad has been rooming with Daisy. And Daisy is careful and respectful of it still. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She's a <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2011/06/daisys-astounding-brain.html" target="_blank">smart chicken</a>, Daisy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So where did the phrase, <b><i>"dumb cluck"</i></b> come from? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not my flock.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-16965730336056225572014-03-15T10:15:00.001-04:002014-03-15T11:00:53.381-04:00LilyLove<div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few weeks back, I went over to my friend Terry Golson's house for a visit, and to congratulate her on the publication of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Farmstead-Egg-Guide-Cookbook/dp/1118627954/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394891859&sr=1-2&keywords=the+farmstead+egg+cookbook" target="_blank">The Farmstead Egg Guide & Cookbook</a>. I love to hang out at Terry's house. Her kitchen always smells of fresh baked treats, and she makes a great cup of coffee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marky loves to visit, too, but Terry's dog Lily stresses him out a bit. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHMQwXzYVtliubkkHkE3UBrR1DIzEkS3u7qC9tW3eIwl9o9fa4E7oEwd3qMW7z9pxhJO9mdloK9RdVobti3uXBjhWOWWhmTV2sB8seauwOLqDhy-annMs1SddMw4aBWFyWkqpwUTlPQs/s1600/lilylove+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHMQwXzYVtliubkkHkE3UBrR1DIzEkS3u7qC9tW3eIwl9o9fa4E7oEwd3qMW7z9pxhJO9mdloK9RdVobti3uXBjhWOWWhmTV2sB8seauwOLqDhy-annMs1SddMw4aBWFyWkqpwUTlPQs/s1600/lilylove+1.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Because Lily adores Marky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">On this visit, Lily adored him even more than usual.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28SCkdTku7aP9hyphenhyphennCicJgzH36df8OCJsAvkXfsNFdmBp2LGnNdzFFYPfOBy8HrOhQ8_HlLRMwUEmn7BglSWbDBsHtehsQaDiN-BAXRVYsP31uSY7QzzKwOHtoZ0aMs-M9Fexd9l3g9pI/s1600/lilylove+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28SCkdTku7aP9hyphenhyphennCicJgzH36df8OCJsAvkXfsNFdmBp2LGnNdzFFYPfOBy8HrOhQ8_HlLRMwUEmn7BglSWbDBsHtehsQaDiN-BAXRVYsP31uSY7QzzKwOHtoZ0aMs-M9Fexd9l3g9pI/s1600/lilylove+2.png" height="342" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">You know how girls can be a little scary sometimes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Marky attempted a few subtle cues, but nothing he did could change the way she feels about him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwQ8Vn9beh_dQ6_1-UeTUidk_7Aq1Ub5GikuuzU30jXv60iXC7ZqGG1kHu4PjBunyIhE6zuHFLIB7PCsQuP0q2TGIsCnwB8llUMMb44ElfnvNGjZaJb7Dr_i7AvVQkMC-j2MH8Qn6ZIc/s1600/lilylove+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwQ8Vn9beh_dQ6_1-UeTUidk_7Aq1Ub5GikuuzU30jXv60iXC7ZqGG1kHu4PjBunyIhE6zuHFLIB7PCsQuP0q2TGIsCnwB8llUMMb44ElfnvNGjZaJb7Dr_i7AvVQkMC-j2MH8Qn6ZIc/s1600/lilylove+3.png" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Lily was happy to gaze at Marky from either end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;"> After coffee, we went out back to see Terry's critters.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd8dWwh6xsxh6KLGmalGesq67eQ8udg1ihm9X7-KPkk_CUEDECy4sWj8mIczZH4jrl0-_w0iyVE74TvbtnWSpHHQ6vaL6CTQDJGWfrL9KS-ZhG7lIO3T8EAxYLtXu87xfJyTAlHyDpIc/s1600/lilylove+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixd8dWwh6xsxh6KLGmalGesq67eQ8udg1ihm9X7-KPkk_CUEDECy4sWj8mIczZH4jrl0-_w0iyVE74TvbtnWSpHHQ6vaL6CTQDJGWfrL9KS-ZhG7lIO3T8EAxYLtXu87xfJyTAlHyDpIc/s1600/lilylove+9.png" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Marky seemed relieved to have a little distance between himself and Lily, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2wBpWkIWw4UF2JxkZ8oVGvRFjOCFEYVqfjVTn9bzSh2nWkga9cLPBQ-f2gV84FwT1H-RGauT0183rXVFprpHiWJxfuMZtUj6alsAbxwM912i5Pvijkajh7cMXrlaAsU7OJeXvJPUSWg/s1600/lilylove+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2wBpWkIWw4UF2JxkZ8oVGvRFjOCFEYVqfjVTn9bzSh2nWkga9cLPBQ-f2gV84FwT1H-RGauT0183rXVFprpHiWJxfuMZtUj6alsAbxwM912i5Pvijkajh7cMXrlaAsU7OJeXvJPUSWg/s1600/lilylove+10.png" height="323" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">But soon she found him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Pip and Caper lured Terry into their yard and put her to work</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu90ONNf0uvk6g2NnKxbqSVWaB5rQkIALLSU4xG4ANJeu-ZJOPSJX5YnTuUsyzvsDGV8GBSw0V_c0j1XkKOwMYw0jWx5-JPLxXae9rqZVEpa7-N1sEx1C0yFQvk10Dh28JA8OTDBlkPs/s1600/lilylove+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicu90ONNf0uvk6g2NnKxbqSVWaB5rQkIALLSU4xG4ANJeu-ZJOPSJX5YnTuUsyzvsDGV8GBSw0V_c0j1XkKOwMYw0jWx5-JPLxXae9rqZVEpa7-N1sEx1C0yFQvk10Dh28JA8OTDBlkPs/s1600/lilylove+7.png" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">scratching butts and giving kisses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I, of course, made a beeline for the henhouse, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfQOdgc4mbHaIQ84-bwnfTadDF97YpFiUxG3F5E35-aTGaothDme1paEdfPon_2hb4CWVELrjlKgBdo7ac4Sx2sJg6l_3MyNrQxPIAb-9s-uo3zEUuA2Q3qSB7_bdb-FQtSy9fqfjGpM/s1600/lilylove+14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfQOdgc4mbHaIQ84-bwnfTadDF97YpFiUxG3F5E35-aTGaothDme1paEdfPon_2hb4CWVELrjlKgBdo7ac4Sx2sJg6l_3MyNrQxPIAb-9s-uo3zEUuA2Q3qSB7_bdb-FQtSy9fqfjGpM/s1600/lilylove+14.png" height="400" width="342" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to visit with Terry's lovely ladies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marky's nose caught the scent of Phoebe, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7DVPnViZkzAix75p8oUJZwCoa0dcaRg5OEtnmcqG3MYXMlOzT0wrBoVuI85yJejQ0DMKDmawLQR9nksNNLYBD0UTtUfqA9jvgiA79Rk_yuIZcLQO98q-6xy90rYu6lQi2etHqQ-eVq8/s1600/lilylove+phoebe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7DVPnViZkzAix75p8oUJZwCoa0dcaRg5OEtnmcqG3MYXMlOzT0wrBoVuI85yJejQ0DMKDmawLQR9nksNNLYBD0UTtUfqA9jvgiA79Rk_yuIZcLQO98q-6xy90rYu6lQi2etHqQ-eVq8/s1600/lilylove+phoebe.png" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the long-eared member of Terry's flock. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVosw_yPdrK6VGrMc4JkJ8YCoPiRplZaHDbpgTDtrGYGRCAqoKQ_fwH8T8-bY10ovk6MAQ3lVLh7uTqxehNDLjQtFo95jO3SyK2UT4KdrlcJGLcp4dWZjuq9tEmU9d26idTlDNJWYPdo/s1600/lilylove+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVosw_yPdrK6VGrMc4JkJ8YCoPiRplZaHDbpgTDtrGYGRCAqoKQ_fwH8T8-bY10ovk6MAQ3lVLh7uTqxehNDLjQtFo95jO3SyK2UT4KdrlcJGLcp4dWZjuq9tEmU9d26idTlDNJWYPdo/s1600/lilylove+11.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He set off on a bunny hunt.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMq2AWpbXrMSn4krt7RWp8RRJBLfe8r8pNC5hsfV_UwjyYBdq9vGT1R49ttlS41OPbqvGJaThzFri5KJTZXRLZFNtcHzkumRMNxM9HHS9OmpDeoB-wLWZOm10scoDvYsgfcUkGLtamHU/s1600/lilylove+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMq2AWpbXrMSn4krt7RWp8RRJBLfe8r8pNC5hsfV_UwjyYBdq9vGT1R49ttlS41OPbqvGJaThzFri5KJTZXRLZFNtcHzkumRMNxM9HHS9OmpDeoB-wLWZOm10scoDvYsgfcUkGLtamHU/s1600/lilylove+5.png" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And Lily set off on a Marky-hunt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSTRpeNPJr0Cjm80LyRBx2t3m5xXyOkObc1Cy9IqbPwyiufWwytJE3inmr3Ip1RvDYKOl_XPUaZBzGCTc9yc4CoNsxwmK26z46WR5Hx6pn0OwFFiIpom1xiSnVBo6VYI92sOkWWDNjUI/s1600/lilylove+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSTRpeNPJr0Cjm80LyRBx2t3m5xXyOkObc1Cy9IqbPwyiufWwytJE3inmr3Ip1RvDYKOl_XPUaZBzGCTc9yc4CoNsxwmK26z46WR5Hx6pn0OwFFiIpom1xiSnVBo6VYI92sOkWWDNjUI/s1600/lilylove+6.png" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Find Marky in this picture. (click to enlarge)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the end of our visit, Marky seemed to be coming to terms with Lily's passionate attention. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKgZdjdZeZ_dHoKUncnstvd2tRfdwTyo1jpBz2dhcNguTJNNus8B_q_5vd9PgOhfUcS3K0lmT8f4e4eZREqEYn90K9xRdSc2NgIRuV-MAPNOpmjTCnHDIcF6RdNV5ktjnXixh0JufQF8/s1600/lilylove+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKgZdjdZeZ_dHoKUncnstvd2tRfdwTyo1jpBz2dhcNguTJNNus8B_q_5vd9PgOhfUcS3K0lmT8f4e4eZREqEYn90K9xRdSc2NgIRuV-MAPNOpmjTCnHDIcF6RdNV5ktjnXixh0JufQF8/s1600/lilylove+8.png" height="386" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Because love really isn't the worst thing that can happen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Win Terry's Book! </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This post is part of Terry's official Blog Tour to celebrate the publication of </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Farmstead Egg Guide and Cookbook! </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please leave a comment below (with your email address) in order to win, </span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">then head over to Terry's blog at <a href="http://hencam.com/henblog/" target="_blank">Hencam.com </a> to find out more about Terry and her animals, and for a list of awesome blogs on the tour! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-17143911403147774092014-01-06T14:03:00.002-05:002014-01-06T14:03:24.265-05:00JAILBIRDS - Part Two <span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Continued from the previous post, JAILBIRDS </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b><a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2014/01/jailbirds.html" target="_blank">(click here to go there)</a></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the previous episode, I approached the chicken run to find Dorrie looking like this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZNJPVqPuoMcTq4XEHsJsoF3OWhq_x-gj3IUxUWEOAWpR1XRW02ctPtOvf85820moOgydx7g7QIUH7ltfNxzdyIN7acXNzon_qw32hwiJHmzlFxcduMQTY8_prYQqkxZVqQbvwZydBMs/s1600/dorrie+blood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZNJPVqPuoMcTq4XEHsJsoF3OWhq_x-gj3IUxUWEOAWpR1XRW02ctPtOvf85820moOgydx7g7QIUH7ltfNxzdyIN7acXNzon_qw32hwiJHmzlFxcduMQTY8_prYQqkxZVqQbvwZydBMs/s1600/dorrie+blood.png" height="400" width="347" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The whole flock looked up at me as if I were Jessica Fletcher suddenly appearing at the crime scene.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't know what had happened to Dorrie, but I had a hunch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My guess: That Daisy had stirred up the youngsters into such a tizzy that Dorrie nailed her beak into the hardware cloth - the tightly woven fencing that surrounds the run. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was instantly furious with Daisy, although I knew I shouldn't be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I scooped Dorrie into my arms to take a closer look. Fresh blood and dried blood....this must have happened hours ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I needed another pair of hands to clean Dorrie's wound, and I needed another human to tell me what to do next. Since I was all alone and it was after 5:00 on a Friday and my vet, Rosario was unavailable, I packed Dorrie into an Epson printer box and drove her to Tufts Veterinary Emergency Room, only a few minutes away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two young residents attended to Dorrie. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was worried that the top of her beak was missing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x5ntDHTxQuGugZZ1bnSV6AuBEz2g0D6-1YEnt7YJ0Sq6Hvp48hlWl6AMQQvnsKueG7ij5yu2W-0FRhc7WlPzmlQwlNqYT4wj_ARD2FNU00bUqeVrLmlygylctWNl-yo28oWgmvKMgdQ/s1600/dorrie+doctor+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2x5ntDHTxQuGugZZ1bnSV6AuBEz2g0D6-1YEnt7YJ0Sq6Hvp48hlWl6AMQQvnsKueG7ij5yu2W-0FRhc7WlPzmlQwlNqYT4wj_ARD2FNU00bUqeVrLmlygylctWNl-yo28oWgmvKMgdQ/s1600/dorrie+doctor+1.png" height="320" width="313" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once she was cleaned up, we could see that the injury wasn't as bad as it looked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She had shaven off the front and sides of her beak, but it was not so bad that it wouldn't grow back eventually. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NL2SBD6jiO-bXbCLWL-a7CSGfBh2lq5j6XBYOuNM-Pc4RRfM8sA36iAuHq0Lzmd-MqcMqaYbFacSc1_h0-sowBfrMp5dDmNimu_DAf_v-WlCxhjE0kk6uXkqALarFievCnzz7oTDsvQ/s1600/dorrie+vet1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NL2SBD6jiO-bXbCLWL-a7CSGfBh2lq5j6XBYOuNM-Pc4RRfM8sA36iAuHq0Lzmd-MqcMqaYbFacSc1_h0-sowBfrMp5dDmNimu_DAf_v-WlCxhjE0kk6uXkqALarFievCnzz7oTDsvQ/s1600/dorrie+vet1.png" height="281" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dorrie was the first chicken that the doctors had worked with. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPOVZDHEChyphenhyphentI8751zKz8hawYFIgWEfEuEX9y9ZqCfVFu2SwTMCUahIgb1W_0pvAJ1CNQ27LReuJl0k76eEez5yrEjiMV9U-yGttBMQJx4L8wuJtjtZXpt3MT-RPqKvr9gi6tqJ5SqHs/s1600/dorrie+doctor+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPOVZDHEChyphenhyphentI8751zKz8hawYFIgWEfEuEX9y9ZqCfVFu2SwTMCUahIgb1W_0pvAJ1CNQ27LReuJl0k76eEez5yrEjiMV9U-yGttBMQJx4L8wuJtjtZXpt3MT-RPqKvr9gi6tqJ5SqHs/s1600/dorrie+doctor+2.png" height="305" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They thought she was very sweet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They gave her some hydration and sent us home with antibiotics. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That night I placed Dorrie on the roost with her flock. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfFcx1aUPowNcglQChvj7kdoJGmS_JM3_zpVBOp4wVdEaFVN2qobGs6u22Wm6AzD31U9Ev4uXBpHAzeGByte0yHBet2LypMNtSYCnBgEW2gEN_GQncd0NPSzxVcwV8kNFsKEzssnLb2Y/s1600/daisy+moves+out.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfFcx1aUPowNcglQChvj7kdoJGmS_JM3_zpVBOp4wVdEaFVN2qobGs6u22Wm6AzD31U9Ev4uXBpHAzeGByte0yHBet2LypMNtSYCnBgEW2gEN_GQncd0NPSzxVcwV8kNFsKEzssnLb2Y/s1600/daisy+moves+out.png" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But first, I moved Daisy out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>(to be continued)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-51278594331401065912014-01-05T14:03:00.000-05:002014-01-06T16:33:35.361-05:00JAILBIRDS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Continued from the previous post, " TORTURE". </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i> <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2013/11/torture.html" target="_blank">(Click here to start there)</a></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaiRue_BmhVxpkoHlIwewxIHxEqTo_aYeanWjRG07KGSiUG8cD7pvdRQmkcyaSSkLK8974zCM5rcmXHctpvWGbk6vBJsfrh6N3pZ9Jeyrh32cL8S-EuTJGeLMp_PcOhWctmlkoKRIo8U/s1600/lilwhite+walking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaiRue_BmhVxpkoHlIwewxIHxEqTo_aYeanWjRG07KGSiUG8cD7pvdRQmkcyaSSkLK8974zCM5rcmXHctpvWGbk6vBJsfrh6N3pZ9Jeyrh32cL8S-EuTJGeLMp_PcOhWctmlkoKRIo8U/s400/lilwhite+walking.png" height="353" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those Pinless Peepers worked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They stopped Lil'White from pecking at Lucy, but still allowed enough range of vision for her to shoot me a spiteful glare. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I could tell that the Peepers were uncomfortable, and I felt like a real heel for doing this to her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I gave her about two months - hoping that would be enough time for her feather-picking habit to become a distant memory -- or no memory at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day I removed the Pinless Peepers, Lil'White took a few steps back and gave me the full-frontal stink-eye. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJUg4ORTj8y-RgUTd6_hCGZsd9phPY7TtcZVC8V2y7-XBD8Yv_td4QqYkAJlOiB_a9-l3oVABHn8DoyFFe8z7EFBwb_KF7a9XL9Dem2jKVAAC24_Jf_VfwwTghWGPWZ7nHpzXOVnjGGU/s1600/lilwhite+glare+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJUg4ORTj8y-RgUTd6_hCGZsd9phPY7TtcZVC8V2y7-XBD8Yv_td4QqYkAJlOiB_a9-l3oVABHn8DoyFFe8z7EFBwb_KF7a9XL9Dem2jKVAAC24_Jf_VfwwTghWGPWZ7nHpzXOVnjGGU/s400/lilwhite+glare+1.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then she shook her plumage indignantly, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sauntered </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">over to Lucy, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_BZ7KeoKAaGCponx4DLwrAm9LFkMvMG3Ew5RMtUgkuV-T2vIZp0MHG1VtGsFfc4l5CfK7snexHftLI6qIdE14tjZssor6WpmrOMRqG5tVubesWHfoNknUDCeDcb41KmK2CJ8J3XijkY/s1600/lilwhitepeck.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_BZ7KeoKAaGCponx4DLwrAm9LFkMvMG3Ew5RMtUgkuV-T2vIZp0MHG1VtGsFfc4l5CfK7snexHftLI6qIdE14tjZssor6WpmrOMRqG5tVubesWHfoNknUDCeDcb41KmK2CJ8J3XijkY/s400/lilwhitepeck.png" height="206" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and promptly resumed her bad habit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sorry, Lil'White. That was your last chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I scooped her up and took her to </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the mobile coop where the young Nuggets had grown up. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNk5Teky6I79EI8s1RZ5jLzAclnzWtQUBn960ISbXiayXWCUzz7zyNG8d2S3Gb8S51hs34QWXmelM1wVDLB-Ah3E4nZwbOELjAFFtJqC89EPxOJgdgmLUv0DFgDsuNp03v-EvKFN90kU/s1600/lilwhite+in+jail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNk5Teky6I79EI8s1RZ5jLzAclnzWtQUBn960ISbXiayXWCUzz7zyNG8d2S3Gb8S51hs34QWXmelM1wVDLB-Ah3E4nZwbOELjAFFtJqC89EPxOJgdgmLUv0DFgDsuNp03v-EvKFN90kU/s400/lilwhite+in+jail.png" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I placed her inside and locked the door. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And because Lil'White has no friends, and needs no friends, she settled cheerfully into her cozy private home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>. . . . . . . . . . . . .</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, back at the big coop, all hell was breaking loose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had moved the Nuggets in with the old ladies, expecting them to sort out a pecking order and settle down as a flock. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the integration process had gone horribly awry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Daisy plotted to make all of their lives miserable. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She stalked the nuggets from morning to night.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbWby7BPXYwJVgdBX3yogeyyLbim4s6Wry63NTS20hIVY44SvCClFhtGzcR9brDg5CwXgOEcquJmtQ5o_mDgeiMSVsrKCEsnOU2yoqThkytN3Pv8cABlrd2NJmbuHPDFz1PFvp_ca2yE/s1600/daisy+chase+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEbWby7BPXYwJVgdBX3yogeyyLbim4s6Wry63NTS20hIVY44SvCClFhtGzcR9brDg5CwXgOEcquJmtQ5o_mDgeiMSVsrKCEsnOU2yoqThkytN3Pv8cABlrd2NJmbuHPDFz1PFvp_ca2yE/s400/daisy+chase+b.png" height="178" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And when she caught them, feathers flew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Her attacks were relentless. The screams and yelps of her victims were disconcerting. I hoped that things would mellow out with time, but Daisy just didn't lighten up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then one sunny day, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35jmeBn7YicdDqdLGVPEl0uCq0hgpWn35EAOrmCKa5jfnA1kA7xz87Xj9W_8wKq5PmRLEFvrMtBFwzcmNO3zMCtS9tGn8q_ZdIRYVv60p7LUkxzjVDu7VgO8AmBB5lo1OzrumRBggJrw/s1600/ikea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35jmeBn7YicdDqdLGVPEl0uCq0hgpWn35EAOrmCKa5jfnA1kA7xz87Xj9W_8wKq5PmRLEFvrMtBFwzcmNO3zMCtS9tGn8q_ZdIRYVv60p7LUkxzjVDu7VgO8AmBB5lo1OzrumRBggJrw/s400/ikea.png" height="327" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as I spent long hours assembling this simple Ikea product on the back deck, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I noted from across the yard that the flock was unusually calm and quiet. There was no squawking, no running.... There were no feathers flying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Finally</i>, I thought, <i>they've reached an accord</i>. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That afternoon when I visited the gals, nobody came to greet me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something was wrong, but didn't figure it out until Dorrie turned to look at me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqLIXETOD7wwzbB8uJOsUYEBfw_XERozbNAbBhyphenhyphenorJthtIvup5WhLdTS932Yn0r58MR1iY2gUF6DBt-gLaSgf24Ks7aAylLIhP9v4ZadyAKEv_RL48yjEsW9GhrJwJmVUY3SZD4jEs0I/s1600/dorrie+blood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqLIXETOD7wwzbB8uJOsUYEBfw_XERozbNAbBhyphenhyphenorJthtIvup5WhLdTS932Yn0r58MR1iY2gUF6DBt-gLaSgf24Ks7aAylLIhP9v4ZadyAKEv_RL48yjEsW9GhrJwJmVUY3SZD4jEs0I/s400/dorrie+blood.png" height="400" width="347" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Her face was caked with blood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2014/01/jailbirds-part-two_6.html" target="_blank">(click here for JAILBIRDS part two)</a></i></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-44504775520470115402013-11-14T14:24:00.002-05:002014-01-05T14:05:56.516-05:00Torture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This was an extreme measure.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBiww0QzJasmrfPt2Xa7z0ByBkC3cp6t-Ekmtfn6BULiizkEBb2vpYXl0vC2IahrWpgXG8ynTvbiflSw1smTo_u2uyjaopNISGydZxOVbZqcNddGj2X0nxzyK0TwpV0aT2hkC9rZmsG8/s1600/peepers+for+lilwhite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBiww0QzJasmrfPt2Xa7z0ByBkC3cp6t-Ekmtfn6BULiizkEBb2vpYXl0vC2IahrWpgXG8ynTvbiflSw1smTo_u2uyjaopNISGydZxOVbZqcNddGj2X0nxzyK0TwpV0aT2hkC9rZmsG8/s1600/peepers+for+lilwhite.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let me explain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lil'White had been pecking brutally at Lucy's neck. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lucy's neck feathers were all gone, and any new ones that emerged were promptly tweezed by Lil'White. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This had been going on for months. It was horrible to watch. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhxE4YNEz18GQTzOf5b9cGjCi4la_sJT4oUZxqTz7qD-RsBRlKSqIJWImsfAiBlYli4rOQrTCQ0MM9CaLlOZmHe9xV45pj8IHbgnRN_YmPT3g0HX8vZ9XX8sOgAbz6TpLS7ZqPsjSyN8/s1600/lilwhitepeck.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhxE4YNEz18GQTzOf5b9cGjCi4la_sJT4oUZxqTz7qD-RsBRlKSqIJWImsfAiBlYli4rOQrTCQ0MM9CaLlOZmHe9xV45pj8IHbgnRN_YmPT3g0HX8vZ9XX8sOgAbz6TpLS7ZqPsjSyN8/s400/lilwhitepeck.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I tried everything I could think of to stop this behavior. I knew that Lil'White would create a bloody wound if she were allowed to continue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With all options exhausted, I broke down and ordered "Pinless Peepers", a little pince-nez designed to prevent a bird from pecking flock mates while still allowing the bird to eat and drink. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had hoped for pink ones. They sent blue ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With a bit of a struggle, I placed the Peepers on Lil'White's beak, clipping them into her nostrils.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCrXW0RKCj3HCefgF3m3C1zivSycsWUqX_x2iFXhzMFATQI8NIN7qR30ANK4pT0VD25Zl9mWJus0ifnbbJmSYt1TQCTc2Zkfq8gRfOsVfpsNajHJParlZc1P9Bx02Wbv7HsESk51qLf0/s1600/lil%2527white+brick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCrXW0RKCj3HCefgF3m3C1zivSycsWUqX_x2iFXhzMFATQI8NIN7qR30ANK4pT0VD25Zl9mWJus0ifnbbJmSYt1TQCTc2Zkfq8gRfOsVfpsNajHJParlZc1P9Bx02Wbv7HsESk51qLf0/s400/lil%2527white+brick.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lil'White would have thrown this brick at my head if she could have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She was livid.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the Peepers worked. The Lucy-plucking subsided, and after a few days Lil'White seemed to adjust somewhat to the contraption. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSj77H1Q1L6lll4QzrFzo8sSUKL2tFwXs2jldZ62h81gvkQXpZMyTB0YZgpkxT05TTopVPLuesjk86u5cS0MG3gDlpzcYSqT3unaFUR-8rQspFNzM_rwcDqTYp5Vi5XiDqgIV6xEwTdA/s1600/pathetic+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSj77H1Q1L6lll4QzrFzo8sSUKL2tFwXs2jldZ62h81gvkQXpZMyTB0YZgpkxT05TTopVPLuesjk86u5cS0MG3gDlpzcYSqT3unaFUR-8rQspFNzM_rwcDqTYp5Vi5XiDqgIV6xEwTdA/s400/pathetic+lucy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It took about a month for Lucy to transform from scraggly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">back to glorious. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYvQluqi3rie6MRxP2yI6-1NontFfmYiPannJynICTZzsJTBeOfWgRBjKFVnknhFqDEWAZxiN56hO3RVs0UZLuEUQDeWCHawYijaoCxvce3JRdJ7hfR4djIrB2kGhz2Hzb1otb2D-2sM/s1600/glorious+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYvQluqi3rie6MRxP2yI6-1NontFfmYiPannJynICTZzsJTBeOfWgRBjKFVnknhFqDEWAZxiN56hO3RVs0UZLuEUQDeWCHawYijaoCxvce3JRdJ7hfR4djIrB2kGhz2Hzb1otb2D-2sM/s400/glorious+lucy.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But at what cost? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I felt I had only transferred the torture of one bird to the torture of another. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And Lil'White continued to despise me -- more than she ever did, if that's even possible. </span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qu8e1SC7bWwesvJ8Vz3MvpEnFgUei_jtBum4Zad8RF9oDH9EOY6jcymN6uta5_cg6ZCQsFH37Cy-MeJjvLBIuXz0ycbjEeGLUKXRRJJpKEl3bHRwTmny2gLqbRHc81N_h_BD7I3D79I/s1600/lil+white+peepers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qu8e1SC7bWwesvJ8Vz3MvpEnFgUei_jtBum4Zad8RF9oDH9EOY6jcymN6uta5_cg6ZCQsFH37Cy-MeJjvLBIuXz0ycbjEeGLUKXRRJJpKEl3bHRwTmny2gLqbRHc81N_h_BD7I3D79I/s400/lil+white+peepers.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There had to be a better solution. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2014/01/jailbirds.html" target="_blank">(Click here for part two: JAILBIRDS)</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-64181022963990274702013-11-03T20:25:00.000-05:002013-11-03T22:00:16.284-05:00A Chicken in Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until recently, Marky's job was a piece of cake.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO5KIbyN91gsSq35Cp6brMJ9myerwWwitTOJRkUaNTXvmpmrSXs5pcQa9aioiz6Jxe6as0qF5G9w93nik7ImFzCKjQjdP4G4zVnbV3-XBFPH5b9a12E9gbxVnCU1iHCVvkhJoAKxORv8/s1600/marky+and+cop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO5KIbyN91gsSq35Cp6brMJ9myerwWwitTOJRkUaNTXvmpmrSXs5pcQa9aioiz6Jxe6as0qF5G9w93nik7ImFzCKjQjdP4G4zVnbV3-XBFPH5b9a12E9gbxVnCU1iHCVvkhJoAKxORv8/s400/marky+and+cop.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He was in charge of three old ladies.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJoDfDOyByBibDOiUVqGpB_JeNG8my_Jbk1bpOB1bC08IJD2ltePbEXir8xRti3-SJA8FJLCVhF385P8n6CrQWCKVcGrXpM8Duvm1Uvqfr7l8TkMBHUyMvosciSnCCpEEbkpjpTwh-EE/s1600/lil+wht+and+daisy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJoDfDOyByBibDOiUVqGpB_JeNG8my_Jbk1bpOB1bC08IJD2ltePbEXir8xRti3-SJA8FJLCVhF385P8n6CrQWCKVcGrXpM8Duvm1Uvqfr7l8TkMBHUyMvosciSnCCpEEbkpjpTwh-EE/s400/lil+wht+and+daisy.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lil'White and Daisy have never been much trouble, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRTv2FWey_qOWN5J8Mr-NGnQNmCrGif932EZ-GPnEem17oDuOePGN1HFUxwydIcNGS2BRGTXTrfmN_OlTu7Qu0gzgarDEan9h7BG1Qedp1-XnDPEvhnhThp5HVtKu5gbewDwNjHPM4xE/s1600/marky+lucy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRTv2FWey_qOWN5J8Mr-NGnQNmCrGif932EZ-GPnEem17oDuOePGN1HFUxwydIcNGS2BRGTXTrfmN_OlTu7Qu0gzgarDEan9h7BG1Qedp1-XnDPEvhnhThp5HVtKu5gbewDwNjHPM4xE/s400/marky+lucy.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and Lucy hardly ever moves from her chosen spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was a pretty cushy job. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . .</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then came the four young Nuggets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Four additional chickens shouldn't have been much of a challenge for a professional chicken-protector like Marky…. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But these four chickens were unlike any that Marky had met before.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy0g9D3lB7VSGN3nOzkdlqL8rAWm-PGtNjox2Dw7v9D25BfCowvBGny4Y11wisodTZnKNLvxwvknjZ8VWx72jqxxezlxwEY855AwLW_y6HCJ4xSodcI2355JE-Wpj0zn8YlTzhZoZkcI/s1600/stalking+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy0g9D3lB7VSGN3nOzkdlqL8rAWm-PGtNjox2Dw7v9D25BfCowvBGny4Y11wisodTZnKNLvxwvknjZ8VWx72jqxxezlxwEY855AwLW_y6HCJ4xSodcI2355JE-Wpj0zn8YlTzhZoZkcI/s400/stalking+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These four Nuggets <i>adored</i> the dog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They truly enjoyed his company. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5eVAPFnMqxF0DX_cXKIpPUGD40gQd6is5_TTnHrTzuetNsSuu3ZIQSwgnilbDnxWnCYoz7XPNmE-8NEXpJYk8k38Dnue6p5fxrHWSPospq4J548MRf1UBKitOfwXSoVR0X1mT7nbv6Y/s1600/phoebe+marky.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5eVAPFnMqxF0DX_cXKIpPUGD40gQd6is5_TTnHrTzuetNsSuu3ZIQSwgnilbDnxWnCYoz7XPNmE-8NEXpJYk8k38Dnue6p5fxrHWSPospq4J548MRf1UBKitOfwXSoVR0X1mT7nbv6Y/s400/phoebe+marky.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These little gals gleefully pushed the boundaries of chicken-canine relations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They stared at him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi208rwhyphenhypheneaGoifNF1ofxprEJAulx6P1lqzZXefH54B40g9jSvQXbfAToHsrR6luLOginUEMcGOMF-FWkRe8Df6UPXUv3rSX_qkEz3qWjpsgLFOZywqUiJSzd25UHZVwpW8I88vP5kqbcs/s1600/jenny+flaps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi208rwhyphenhypheneaGoifNF1ofxprEJAulx6P1lqzZXefH54B40g9jSvQXbfAToHsrR6luLOginUEMcGOMF-FWkRe8Df6UPXUv3rSX_qkEz3qWjpsgLFOZywqUiJSzd25UHZVwpW8I88vP5kqbcs/s320/jenny+flaps.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They flapped at him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZpMlYg2qdocrEUm0dTJP9VhilBPMfjQPzsNksqwOk9SN8-tVVVLwmvPAtiSMllKZ1KW3d7bDAFsb66J7HPeKUhlH6WeOeJkxPL5RRqaUt3ihQuBNkfSbEqMCSKf_ySKiwH9qfm5jsOg/s1600/dorrie+corners+marky.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZpMlYg2qdocrEUm0dTJP9VhilBPMfjQPzsNksqwOk9SN8-tVVVLwmvPAtiSMllKZ1KW3d7bDAFsb66J7HPeKUhlH6WeOeJkxPL5RRqaUt3ihQuBNkfSbEqMCSKf_ySKiwH9qfm5jsOg/s400/dorrie+corners+marky.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They cornered him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JZdaIUPYJ946osyhE23KR5qEBqG1hMsDxIVysOnWjYwS5wuOhL9SVNqTpNDFwFbYVyaDSB2dSryhT1Zp_N3-nr80XDPL2tJZyE9yl1OgioKAoRVKHVZqVPSaOGDeg8boWHn5jBnEHZU/s1600/forsythia+nap+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JZdaIUPYJ946osyhE23KR5qEBqG1hMsDxIVysOnWjYwS5wuOhL9SVNqTpNDFwFbYVyaDSB2dSryhT1Zp_N3-nr80XDPL2tJZyE9yl1OgioKAoRVKHVZqVPSaOGDeg8boWHn5jBnEHZU/s400/forsythia+nap+1.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They napped with him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F8NJBdtY-YlIptDreZRa49u9dDN0iRy3JxKMG__ii26MMrePea-bOzq6ylE9OL2sMP2ssztb9uRoEJ_Ben1LHr6JSzJnsIGfdsQP3HGRdR3rwYKwmXNws-iXP0ZARt-fPMN0VHU1TZ4/s1600/marky+hiding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5F8NJBdtY-YlIptDreZRa49u9dDN0iRy3JxKMG__ii26MMrePea-bOzq6ylE9OL2sMP2ssztb9uRoEJ_Ben1LHr6JSzJnsIGfdsQP3HGRdR3rwYKwmXNws-iXP0ZARt-fPMN0VHU1TZ4/s400/marky+hiding.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They stalked the poor guy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being friendly with the flock was not part of Marky's job description.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All this attention made him very uncomfortable. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><b>. . . . . . . . . </b></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eventually, Marky felt pressed to teach each of the little ladies a lesson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Below, for example, was Phoebe's moment. She came in from the left and scooted behind Marky.... just a little too tight a squeeze.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxQIpp6EzDOl90qNoo9o_R15BPFFZVZqi6TlVIwhVSHQTZ0PI4XBPbsUDSLiGXGKanEefGgQfN6quSC05JXo73txxm7zdmr8BsWwkz3mcL_Li9Rb8qKxcYyzcRn4AVkhtzf7WoswDQyw/s1600/marky+nails+phoebe+1+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxQIpp6EzDOl90qNoo9o_R15BPFFZVZqi6TlVIwhVSHQTZ0PI4XBPbsUDSLiGXGKanEefGgQfN6quSC05JXo73txxm7zdmr8BsWwkz3mcL_Li9Rb8qKxcYyzcRn4AVkhtzf7WoswDQyw/s400/marky+nails+phoebe+1+2.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-Onw_zPpxt389K7n51JL_djFvIKi_5gDHfP7YOOraIG_SGI4RUVtx0a7ydgfRiNsRO1FrJal3gR34Jet8Xaa5vog6_FkbkSCQySAvGETA-UY4VcjErcqSS9PdTpZpo1qKX1Ytqg5guE/s1600/marky+nails+phoebe+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-Onw_zPpxt389K7n51JL_djFvIKi_5gDHfP7YOOraIG_SGI4RUVtx0a7ydgfRiNsRO1FrJal3gR34Jet8Xaa5vog6_FkbkSCQySAvGETA-UY4VcjErcqSS9PdTpZpo1qKX1Ytqg5guE/s400/marky+nails+phoebe+3.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't worry -- she escaped unplucked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next, Dorrie pushed her luck </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevs16jneqH8qOXTVp-QPm1N12FhabYUuPTzpm8e8C5R-GCfYCamdo1trRqY0z9byh_wGI4nEBWtCnj2lYuwmQgL8a51pt4nag_LScBK7BOOO9r7pdiXiOLXiVHv-hVOUjI9JJYuxc-os/s1600/Marky+dorrie+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevs16jneqH8qOXTVp-QPm1N12FhabYUuPTzpm8e8C5R-GCfYCamdo1trRqY0z9byh_wGI4nEBWtCnj2lYuwmQgL8a51pt4nag_LScBK7BOOO9r7pdiXiOLXiVHv-hVOUjI9JJYuxc-os/s400/Marky+dorrie+1.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She got a little too close.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva0boiSCKBhIs3EXIOpfJQ9YTCzHbRcqSofUrnLiEFB4Y15o42_T6rhcFFBJpOQvb7j1dwk4qmsMkycYqBPuHGx4TKTOBo-W-uiTcl6jsQrg2iEhnHs9GVEc9ODV-s6pObTM-hlC4iHI/s1600/dorrie+and+fur.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva0boiSCKBhIs3EXIOpfJQ9YTCzHbRcqSofUrnLiEFB4Y15o42_T6rhcFFBJpOQvb7j1dwk4qmsMkycYqBPuHGx4TKTOBo-W-uiTcl6jsQrg2iEhnHs9GVEc9ODV-s6pObTM-hlC4iHI/s400/dorrie+and+fur.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just moments after I clicked this photo, Marky expressed his feelings toward Dorrie. She now demonstrates proper respect for the dog's personal space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One by one, each of the little ladies learned the hard way that Marky's beak contains teeth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scarlett, the little Buckeye, had her moment with the teeth, too, but she was not deterred. </span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every day, Scarlett continues to risk her shiny red feathers….</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWaXRJ-UTTwbfO5dRVJTxpFgOvsXcMyPn4yMcqhkaVvU4iDOrkHnvF7MTeQ6YUhLZqYThd79dUzY6c0PaZHTcsNCi3QyIBN_FDrPxknK7BOCaVkt2OQ0IN2Ghi_6uT6fy41afad9E6Sw/s1600/scarlett+watches+marky.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWaXRJ-UTTwbfO5dRVJTxpFgOvsXcMyPn4yMcqhkaVvU4iDOrkHnvF7MTeQ6YUhLZqYThd79dUzY6c0PaZHTcsNCi3QyIBN_FDrPxknK7BOCaVkt2OQ0IN2Ghi_6uT6fy41afad9E6Sw/s400/scarlett+watches+marky.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">to be near the dog.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrHAed9Et7ui7uBK5UIFPalDPR_X9niT_EHvV3aOSyz_TAUSw9y-ZFLauFmV8itvLFuGQW-soHmIeTJ6KIHhmenmo5Xb9Ev9QtxUM8ZXfvJ92hh5a158EN6f8CKY7zrybNmlsBJegdM/s1600/scarlett+tail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrHAed9Et7ui7uBK5UIFPalDPR_X9niT_EHvV3aOSyz_TAUSw9y-ZFLauFmV8itvLFuGQW-soHmIeTJ6KIHhmenmo5Xb9Ev9QtxUM8ZXfvJ92hh5a158EN6f8CKY7zrybNmlsBJegdM/s320/scarlett+tail.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She examines him from behind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV14ufUlJHoObkRMfMctFMSwskU_yjZcxiEC8bpU4QmenmLiqf0DD1pCgtM3rKvtSC9mt41MckcDIXgo8aoWQnjdS3TLhy2m4yEWCcOo7Kvui87tNWv969pCU38Bv9iQ4sdFCXyDS4waE/s1600/scarlett+marky+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV14ufUlJHoObkRMfMctFMSwskU_yjZcxiEC8bpU4QmenmLiqf0DD1pCgtM3rKvtSC9mt41MckcDIXgo8aoWQnjdS3TLhy2m4yEWCcOo7Kvui87tNWv969pCU38Bv9iQ4sdFCXyDS4waE/s400/scarlett+marky+1.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She gazes deep into his eyes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOsombCbAZ_Z6ccmH93yzFo6MiZcxU3mYv9EMjAjF-WAEXjq_yyjEF1u2hf6R7PUclhaHpwFYlR3YNAJblARGk41W7pFUeVqbnhKz-hb3iCLU0nzS75oU1e-i8TL6iSfC7tUPfTfcy60/s1600/scarlett+approach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOsombCbAZ_Z6ccmH93yzFo6MiZcxU3mYv9EMjAjF-WAEXjq_yyjEF1u2hf6R7PUclhaHpwFYlR3YNAJblARGk41W7pFUeVqbnhKz-hb3iCLU0nzS75oU1e-i8TL6iSfC7tUPfTfcy60/s400/scarlett+approach.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marky just wants to be left alone. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1usPbdVATriyY3PFsvvHyzZ4FyQgwN66AuTw0-sfdCxfTsc28wqFtD7-C1f7QspLvpMnIFvVayfT35tItxRKnr1JTIqPi_cc5xaW4M5yrYu8KAlDzWpNfIhiNSCXLRt0aiDGiDXHcRw/s1600/phoebe+too+close.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1usPbdVATriyY3PFsvvHyzZ4FyQgwN66AuTw0-sfdCxfTsc28wqFtD7-C1f7QspLvpMnIFvVayfT35tItxRKnr1JTIqPi_cc5xaW4M5yrYu8KAlDzWpNfIhiNSCXLRt0aiDGiDXHcRw/s400/phoebe+too+close.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scarlett just wants to be close to Marky.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikApZI75LFM-_3rucCJOIgi-PHiUOP9gPbMEK9wtsSbfaQzjmsH3ZBZpGJfnaHW-MMzZuLVCUjLtEGMZzkMTnAfzp0cdjmV9ArA4BdrHe2AgqgMoCJFRJGwbqxTKggTrlntw1-4DNSmfE/s1600/marky+scarlett+corner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikApZI75LFM-_3rucCJOIgi-PHiUOP9gPbMEK9wtsSbfaQzjmsH3ZBZpGJfnaHW-MMzZuLVCUjLtEGMZzkMTnAfzp0cdjmV9ArA4BdrHe2AgqgMoCJFRJGwbqxTKggTrlntw1-4DNSmfE/s400/marky+scarlett+corner.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever the dog goes, Scarlett finds him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marky has become extra patient with this little gal. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG7Wxz_gDbmjJbXO2Vluk7gbcB7Tmy3n53gf1HgdlymNN4OEyzaIeHzk24ecdLPdrHu_VdYEv4KGSlklHopgAu1SyyRIpcLG72FCYZNvvR62uQqYcKNYzWQ6w3sh_XqJPE0qVxEYo1xQ/s1600/DSC_0819.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG7Wxz_gDbmjJbXO2Vluk7gbcB7Tmy3n53gf1HgdlymNN4OEyzaIeHzk24ecdLPdrHu_VdYEv4KGSlklHopgAu1SyyRIpcLG72FCYZNvvR62uQqYcKNYzWQ6w3sh_XqJPE0qVxEYo1xQ/s400/DSC_0819.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe he realizes that another display of fangs will be useless in thwarting her advances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He tries to ignore her. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD02xcniuVkKexlKzrzKfBsdkRcD-rRZjwj9EQ29rNG9K2npM2WOkABOgug97W43ck5pGVO4X8x8YrBgGKXUcDkIWJJmz97zhRA-c-hmgIOiLGKmQStrQJHhjjkIl15V7ELote9h_LRw8/s1600/tail+step+scarlett.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD02xcniuVkKexlKzrzKfBsdkRcD-rRZjwj9EQ29rNG9K2npM2WOkABOgug97W43ck5pGVO4X8x8YrBgGKXUcDkIWJJmz97zhRA-c-hmgIOiLGKmQStrQJHhjjkIl15V7ELote9h_LRw8/s400/tail+step+scarlett.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I try to fend off disaster.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ2c9aDY4gswr9D2utc94ifW_pukEAJHqyXzcfmxWM3C3Beg5HrN1PRXGJ7kDWVleCGcaVA9K6bEqZWoMicpvqENCEHEQ6wdQ5f_q1oN85CVCRpClaIyfJamh8aCPdgFYPghf7TLw0PU/s1600/pointing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJ2c9aDY4gswr9D2utc94ifW_pukEAJHqyXzcfmxWM3C3Beg5HrN1PRXGJ7kDWVleCGcaVA9K6bEqZWoMicpvqENCEHEQ6wdQ5f_q1oN85CVCRpClaIyfJamh8aCPdgFYPghf7TLw0PU/s400/pointing.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's Scarlett I'm scolding in this photo - not Marky. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And still she doesn't get it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwgZpKjNadFuymqpvh_Lq-iwc5b60cIzQwcQ56LnETkj4BZJmm8dsgxnWP_HVeBwtPOosXJgI0Wb1BRChyzy973f5MV9iPufoi1YG1mxOnVwGBQNW98Jp_30DKGqqRtJXiVbLDnWDiIM/s1600/Marky+hug.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwgZpKjNadFuymqpvh_Lq-iwc5b60cIzQwcQ56LnETkj4BZJmm8dsgxnWP_HVeBwtPOosXJgI0Wb1BRChyzy973f5MV9iPufoi1YG1mxOnVwGBQNW98Jp_30DKGqqRtJXiVbLDnWDiIM/s400/Marky+hug.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you, Marky, for not killing the chicken today.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">…..it's not easy being Marky. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3SXQugCCbuGNq81dknQsVruJ-4ieH5SnmCoSfkFPX84AsSDcT7WvNAvUlFZNJxX4P1jOnPN5dvt86DHYXSTUmbuoSssBvgP9BLWsODX3T85iFmnhLf3p3tEQCoefe45oo23Wl-Po1xw/s1600/scarlett+hearts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3SXQugCCbuGNq81dknQsVruJ-4ieH5SnmCoSfkFPX84AsSDcT7WvNAvUlFZNJxX4P1jOnPN5dvt86DHYXSTUmbuoSssBvgP9BLWsODX3T85iFmnhLf3p3tEQCoefe45oo23Wl-Po1xw/s400/scarlett+hearts.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But it's also not easy being a chicken in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-64518647871057301272013-09-10T10:36:00.000-04:002013-09-10T10:36:29.563-04:00Lucy and the Ghastly Nuggets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I had read about hens accepting young
chicks and caring for them, and I was eager to see if Lucy, having already
raised a chick of her own, might take a shining to these wee nuggets.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">So on a nice warm day, when they were
exactly two weeks old and their Marek’s vaccine was well-integrated into their
immune systems, I scooped up the chicks and whisked them outside to greet the
sun ---</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli2-9XWJbo8tE-M6uQTPBfSqMSBUwkjVB1XuHn1zldVXdHyhpRYiZlTQDYDUu7ya6SijOdtI39xv_d2bjlwCSSJdBA_QMXDHase14eq1ROf0GFS4IcimsiBefe8c6rnmtlafgDhU0Vbc/s1600/chicks+outdoors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjli2-9XWJbo8tE-M6uQTPBfSqMSBUwkjVB1XuHn1zldVXdHyhpRYiZlTQDYDUu7ya6SijOdtI39xv_d2bjlwCSSJdBA_QMXDHase14eq1ROf0GFS4IcimsiBefe8c6rnmtlafgDhU0Vbc/s400/chicks+outdoors.png" width="400" /></a>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">and to meet an honest-to-goodness
chicken. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Once the chicks were situated on the lawn,
I carried Lucy over to take a look. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I placed her beside the cage.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">For a moment, she ignored them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but only for a moment.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUr3TerBKEtqdoqHwBMvnuX_Ozgb8sRGLsTsAZhblKT2tKt4w_Spquud0aS5dX__nmvjVpCoRLIbzPK8pWEKYHEH6d5-ApzHf06SxRKrSmAnE7ul_SIXX2MlGgKO1GYX93Fn-4kncTEY/s1600/lucy+screams.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUr3TerBKEtqdoqHwBMvnuX_Ozgb8sRGLsTsAZhblKT2tKt4w_Spquud0aS5dX__nmvjVpCoRLIbzPK8pWEKYHEH6d5-ApzHf06SxRKrSmAnE7ul_SIXX2MlGgKO1GYX93Fn-4kncTEY/s400/lucy+screams.png" width="400" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Then Lucy lifted her head, raised her
hackles, and shrieked like a banshee.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The nuggets just stared at her. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Lucy was terrified. I wonder if she even
recognized them as chicks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She turned and lumbered away from their
cage, and scrambled to the safety of my lap. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Only when she discovered the tag on my
pants</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUt6Fi-UhhBY9tAOqVZ58M1wVSp2LBus23MUKsEXxu0XYkZl6DRk5SJIUEUE1wLtD5pvDFJfO_dUwdRV50z5tba8VPG-o3mbMA2ACUnjaKZBUutE4e7ZqZ_vaFwspq2xVEYGfXTxz73w/s1600/lucy+tag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUt6Fi-UhhBY9tAOqVZ58M1wVSp2LBus23MUKsEXxu0XYkZl6DRk5SJIUEUE1wLtD5pvDFJfO_dUwdRV50z5tba8VPG-o3mbMA2ACUnjaKZBUutE4e7ZqZ_vaFwspq2xVEYGfXTxz73w/s400/lucy+tag.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">did her hackles settle </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpTUvll0gQtfdNE3PlZl3G1c8rvUNqE4UaQEh4uLPjG1DgUCuN-1eF57FiYG8JHE65OvYHUp_UtQojZUE9X4kfjGE1JqLqf5c0WE0MYnvqTyyUndz6otZDYMM2_YZo7ixBVSWaRJhlyQ/s1600/lucy+tag+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpTUvll0gQtfdNE3PlZl3G1c8rvUNqE4UaQEh4uLPjG1DgUCuN-1eF57FiYG8JHE65OvYHUp_UtQojZUE9X4kfjGE1JqLqf5c0WE0MYnvqTyyUndz6otZDYMM2_YZo7ixBVSWaRJhlyQ/s400/lucy+tag+2.png" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">and her panic subside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z3EIi0bQi67ObLwPVEmvxUo4tLVq78Yji1jaKqFs5IoBeiXDKiNLJEH79wz5ONqeGpC_8XHIHHQyMk8FAT35qKBWEiZkuxz3esIDX2IHcffV8ViY-ugb7I5TmdKVvnRW7F4Q19n0vUs/s1600/lucy+timid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z3EIi0bQi67ObLwPVEmvxUo4tLVq78Yji1jaKqFs5IoBeiXDKiNLJEH79wz5ONqeGpC_8XHIHHQyMk8FAT35qKBWEiZkuxz3esIDX2IHcffV8ViY-ugb7I5TmdKVvnRW7F4Q19n0vUs/s400/lucy+timid.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">After a while she glanced up to find that
those freaky little nightmares were still there. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Poor Lucy. The prospect of enduring
motherhood again nearly sent her over the edge.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I carried her back to the safety of the
coop and the reassuring company of her geriatric companions.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #fd9600; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. . . .
. . . . . . . . .</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color: #fd9600; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Once the chicks had grown and it was time
to integrate them with the old
ladies, I worried for Lucy.....as I always do. Her disability is evident,
and the youngsters might very well choose to pick on her. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">But Lucy held her own. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She and Lil'White share the position of
Top Chicken in the coop, and the nuggets have not contested their status.
</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyhCZP_McWKaqCFymDpR7b3BoCsb2Gh2SK8bbp_QDUI-1y6bUZ82wmwAGd1NfxTxpGluH-4QRsab4W53vwPQcvwP8Rb4aXFEEvBF2gYlFOZbx5OHfa_3dJbFXonb-Dnj83tKp2PkKOL0/s1600/nuggets+c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyhCZP_McWKaqCFymDpR7b3BoCsb2Gh2SK8bbp_QDUI-1y6bUZ82wmwAGd1NfxTxpGluH-4QRsab4W53vwPQcvwP8Rb4aXFEEvBF2gYlFOZbx5OHfa_3dJbFXonb-Dnj83tKp2PkKOL0/s400/nuggets+c.png" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">They stick pretty closely together, these
little gals - they're a sub-flock within the big flock. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">They don't aim to bother Lucy. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">But Lucy's peaceful afternoons beneath the
forsythia</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwly6nhTat0XwcmTo1ObYT72U1KLg_3aEkX5vulrrMCp2MnWhkF3KE3JiLRksaIfWFCAmHoGtG_UCXajVrBzQJaalgH9zC1L8GS3qFbRfLkVcptauwp8Elk2LAYYorkBGPmBvinxU5hI/s1600/nuggets+forsythia+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwly6nhTat0XwcmTo1ObYT72U1KLg_3aEkX5vulrrMCp2MnWhkF3KE3JiLRksaIfWFCAmHoGtG_UCXajVrBzQJaalgH9zC1L8GS3qFbRfLkVcptauwp8Elk2LAYYorkBGPmBvinxU5hI/s400/nuggets+forsythia+copy.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">are no longer so peaceful.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">And in the coop, I've noticed young Dorrie
choosing to stand right beside Lucy ---</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFWQwlGhHr3B5ubo69lFMIii8UKMX5OjjzNymvYmAuArCojAgJ1lMHqmEPb8jvjiY5iA_8Ca_A9SFhuHmCuYHs70XU3XeOlzDg-BSrO-1nKfCBlvsBBGnCIX3ZT77Ekf_PS4SCdhHw3o/s1600/Dorrie+and+Lucy+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFWQwlGhHr3B5ubo69lFMIii8UKMX5OjjzNymvYmAuArCojAgJ1lMHqmEPb8jvjiY5iA_8Ca_A9SFhuHmCuYHs70XU3XeOlzDg-BSrO-1nKfCBlvsBBGnCIX3ZT77Ekf_PS4SCdhHw3o/s400/Dorrie+and+Lucy+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">---just because.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Dorrie reminds me of </span><a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-little-hen-with-big-heart.html"><span style="color: #0000f6; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Pigeon</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I told Danny this, and he replied,
"Maybe she <i>IS</i> Pigeon."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Pigeon or not, I think Lucy's in for another big adventure.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-41300023108372656992013-08-16T21:37:00.000-04:002013-08-21T12:41:19.664-04:00Coopaholic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Five years, six coops. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How did this happen?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibS5krRkRqYDhB6_284xnSzRO6NSm1XVjbXJ3q34uvSbyEv56vo2WeJLUsiLPxvlgHpxwIt6DXvXJYIRpEFz8aHs8bVkqDtftA3dvmRB4GGp6WXMgYdKsuw9Aub8PvvJM53O6X7vDG5A/s1600/+coop+final+color.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibS5krRkRqYDhB6_284xnSzRO6NSm1XVjbXJ3q34uvSbyEv56vo2WeJLUsiLPxvlgHpxwIt6DXvXJYIRpEFz8aHs8bVkqDtftA3dvmRB4GGp6WXMgYdKsuw9Aub8PvvJM53O6X7vDG5A/s400/+coop+final+color.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first coop I built, as I recall, was pretty darn perfect. It kept the young ladies safe and comfortable, and it looked rather adorable in the backyard. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq2zMhD986BIUWPjATzRFwMAuClS4dHto9yNGokXxnXQwYST3DEloHPzFNMq0gYfurTO-OpKLzaMbo6uJnK3-huqkh-pXc6Nr9p4Sa8r_hwlJtP8oi_WL69ehAckI-rsASVjiXuaKdEs/s1600/coop+1+coop+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq2zMhD986BIUWPjATzRFwMAuClS4dHto9yNGokXxnXQwYST3DEloHPzFNMq0gYfurTO-OpKLzaMbo6uJnK3-huqkh-pXc6Nr9p4Sa8r_hwlJtP8oi_WL69ehAckI-rsASVjiXuaKdEs/s400/coop+1+coop+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When Lucy's feet were damaged by <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2010/02/lucy-limps-part-two.html" target="_blank">disease</a>, of course I had to build the Special Needs coop for her. It, too, looked good and served its purpose. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With no reason to build another coop, I started sketching and building chicken-tractors and play-structures and cage-things... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAiSuW6kNgi2VNq_XwAOhG7sTijwJio3Do02UPpf_sJaDZ8_fC3hCCNRCoxE81UoxffohKqUeUDnHj5n4C_5Y31yaC-I49UkszycDcVDerBPRsWpTwOtUQR9sdHzRqx4Agx7VHa-O2Uw/s1600/tractor+1+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAiSuW6kNgi2VNq_XwAOhG7sTijwJio3Do02UPpf_sJaDZ8_fC3hCCNRCoxE81UoxffohKqUeUDnHj5n4C_5Y31yaC-I49UkszycDcVDerBPRsWpTwOtUQR9sdHzRqx4Agx7VHa-O2Uw/s400/tractor+1+.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EE4wVwCaPEcCy8sDZqx0rv9sWn5QWwQvquCUqVdx6gxxu677syGoEWCO7uO25Qf2iWv7Wh3_V1_FspZseKgww6ksCGfdj3mruogeI3g2VHmy7eZGRBBGJB71XeHqiG3yn0531Yi2wvc/s1600/Marky+and+tractor+-+scheuer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EE4wVwCaPEcCy8sDZqx0rv9sWn5QWwQvquCUqVdx6gxxu677syGoEWCO7uO25Qf2iWv7Wh3_V1_FspZseKgww6ksCGfdj3mruogeI3g2VHmy7eZGRBBGJB71XeHqiG3yn0531Yi2wvc/s400/Marky+and+tractor+-+scheuer.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAPEBM-edYo3avnxW8d9FpxFFQn1BDTQ1m5yAaJolsZ4fpf6l0B_WrHlmdIKOZGAQPV_Ybu7FFsNe65bSZ-2YegBwFrfjP188-4L-tcm6Y-GyDBdwaVw9umz83OwoPwbY5kZ4PdDw8CE/s1600/fence+cage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAPEBM-edYo3avnxW8d9FpxFFQn1BDTQ1m5yAaJolsZ4fpf6l0B_WrHlmdIKOZGAQPV_Ybu7FFsNe65bSZ-2YegBwFrfjP188-4L-tcm6Y-GyDBdwaVw9umz83OwoPwbY5kZ4PdDw8CE/s400/fence+cage.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg1NXGOC2YdFsYdYuIgv2iPkA5CuE_vuxPTDN5amSdYWFmApIRLttbPD4xpjWHsYXjvCKtdxZOVt95VHj6GZcywqIurCLn7kt2Q4sWlb6dGg8r5LsoVANLu7399l4uDJxQYe_lY7YVF0/s1600/doghouse+redo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg1NXGOC2YdFsYdYuIgv2iPkA5CuE_vuxPTDN5amSdYWFmApIRLttbPD4xpjWHsYXjvCKtdxZOVt95VHj6GZcywqIurCLn7kt2Q4sWlb6dGg8r5LsoVANLu7399l4uDJxQYe_lY7YVF0/s400/doghouse+redo.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF3sqU-L8AB7SbQSGxAnAI3-Gn39E7ljwT3Qh-YQhSVS6GRLyQDS9S5nxrjlyGfEnUHHliC4unpnuAiDKA44EzYHGhKzMedlnifuE-nF1tgYB2wWyo4bvC-hRkjGfq9BLE3ypQTW3zf4/s1600/IMG_5947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF3sqU-L8AB7SbQSGxAnAI3-Gn39E7ljwT3Qh-YQhSVS6GRLyQDS9S5nxrjlyGfEnUHHliC4unpnuAiDKA44EzYHGhKzMedlnifuE-nF1tgYB2wWyo4bvC-hRkjGfq9BLE3ypQTW3zf4/s400/IMG_5947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">....because you can never have too many tractors and play structures and cage things.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But when my little barred rock, <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2010/04/pigeon-chicken.html" target="_blank">Pigeon</a>, came along, she and I needed a project. Pigeon inspired me to build just one more coop.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRcHFrcZUy1-G48bYx9zgNWgWYAMXtmU5tEgnuwlBv84QqripFh_OFKVVMTdruHN78IQbW4VTs-lj-pe7rmncI6jmI-_3eXiOfb3t83UTacH3lc3qyQ5aIPKQCBBVJy8f2HkpEEm9BPY/s1600/video+coop+build+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRcHFrcZUy1-G48bYx9zgNWgWYAMXtmU5tEgnuwlBv84QqripFh_OFKVVMTdruHN78IQbW4VTs-lj-pe7rmncI6jmI-_3eXiOfb3t83UTacH3lc3qyQ5aIPKQCBBVJy8f2HkpEEm9BPY/s400/video+coop+build+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pigeon was a good little helper. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's Coop #3.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkCvQmqzKeO3ozNFElvEBDDsaPKleKX4Oin30hGRHr9_0UffyXV5eaH7IIv-f7GP2xeX9ax-FCw17y79agw3aUaFj3YV59dht21JozuiSddIgos1kYKePzGi-J-GKnqt1eAR5qiP4diA/s1600/coop+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkCvQmqzKeO3ozNFElvEBDDsaPKleKX4Oin30hGRHr9_0UffyXV5eaH7IIv-f7GP2xeX9ax-FCw17y79agw3aUaFj3YV59dht21JozuiSddIgos1kYKePzGi-J-GKnqt1eAR5qiP4diA/s400/coop+3.png" width="350" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pigeon never lived in this one. Nobody ever lived in this one. Though my heavenly blue morning glories lived ON it.... and it did serve as a handy jailhouse for Lil'White on the many occasions that she deserved incarceration. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The flock grew, as flocks do, and I decided that my precious ladies needed a more glamorous, palatial space. I found myself sketching again....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESjr4eLQ7Krpg1Nandd7vJD_JFLCfFAuFP8_qBQ_AycGNmFzavZMNgOxNpxnlHYB-nnMOGqrcgkNAViWU47MaFNOTujTjfTftL3uW_gRSkmEeGeUspNhXvgW6l8p-MmKVtbeMMYc6SQ/s1600/coop+4+construction.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ESjr4eLQ7Krpg1Nandd7vJD_JFLCfFAuFP8_qBQ_AycGNmFzavZMNgOxNpxnlHYB-nnMOGqrcgkNAViWU47MaFNOTujTjfTftL3uW_gRSkmEeGeUspNhXvgW6l8p-MmKVtbeMMYc6SQ/s400/coop+4+construction.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and I found myself sawing and drilling and wrestling hardware cloth again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coop #4 was bright and spacious, </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGu9DTDh-qKITqSMxgRyruqxMBdEjqKpXJ-cioogIs6UwuujmRWbTRavTaP00rYsCZER1KAxMrhiCvD-jHtHN1UarkN4Rhuww0UWQQiEvl-GJTmQ3QeaNA22f_kq-5o7M9FYuAN5LcSk/s1600/old+coop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGu9DTDh-qKITqSMxgRyruqxMBdEjqKpXJ-cioogIs6UwuujmRWbTRavTaP00rYsCZER1KAxMrhiCvD-jHtHN1UarkN4Rhuww0UWQQiEvl-GJTmQ3QeaNA22f_kq-5o7M9FYuAN5LcSk/s400/old+coop.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">with a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12' x 5' covered run and a big picture window. A few months later, I added an 8'X8' back room. This was it. This was perfect. I was done. Ta-da! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But still, coops kept on happening. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr7lO5K-2P1Pot5RF83ENjUbeLIGi3chS9SM8zpBafV-lWdiLM8JI8SsNKFJ3dQykC9mRYHWNWL8xIVk_PJT65JqYtoiRluTAg5ArKkfwWeiB1tTGjBckgwuZI2miIV_4mvHQ_-xKLMg/s1600/coop+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr7lO5K-2P1Pot5RF83ENjUbeLIGi3chS9SM8zpBafV-lWdiLM8JI8SsNKFJ3dQykC9mRYHWNWL8xIVk_PJT65JqYtoiRluTAg5ArKkfwWeiB1tTGjBckgwuZI2miIV_4mvHQ_-xKLMg/s320/coop+5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't even know why I built this little thing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKATyfOspY-eulLYzEc4StwMPKEmdjhs3Q8lVH31fprPsFYYDFGtacZ8ZVX5SInYcAuCvKeHkFmPx1Z3HZ7qgnokY9gDoGvQCzcl5jtcnVUAr5rYKBiz999_eTIzNiYGt44JAgjM1Twk4/s1600/coop+5+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKATyfOspY-eulLYzEc4StwMPKEmdjhs3Q8lVH31fprPsFYYDFGtacZ8ZVX5SInYcAuCvKeHkFmPx1Z3HZ7qgnokY9gDoGvQCzcl5jtcnVUAr5rYKBiz999_eTIzNiYGt44JAgjM1Twk4/s320/coop+5+a.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lucy does love to get herself wedged into the front porch, though, and Daisy once laid an egg inside.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two years ago, when that freak October snowstorm hit New England, an oak tree crushed the little red coop I had built with Pigeon. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBouy07LOcXEqyGCaiu-YZyvkFOaT0L3UpOjw9BWg_ISZ-82hJm1oTMWuDbniAf1c-6UFixwFdx7Xppbyt6LB2JbFL4pWqotpzApZ_sUlUP7PuaZWnlMDvgLXTxgywkEgV17PpPZFn8s/s1600/coop+3+smashed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBouy07LOcXEqyGCaiu-YZyvkFOaT0L3UpOjw9BWg_ISZ-82hJm1oTMWuDbniAf1c-6UFixwFdx7Xppbyt6LB2JbFL4pWqotpzApZ_sUlUP7PuaZWnlMDvgLXTxgywkEgV17PpPZFn8s/s320/coop+3+smashed.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No chickens were harmed, as it was still vacant. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But my confidence was absolutely crushed. From that night on, I lay awake wondering if my ladies were safe, or if they'd be the next victims of a plummeting tree limb. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wished I'd built my coops out of two by fours instead of toothpicks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">his spring I took the plunge and sprang for a solid prefab structure. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JuLbFj5881CQ-hBFaCNSsN_TAgJeSGs6uRvRSX4qAwlFoJIue784BgBGXRvthyphenhyphen7oLePVMHRB3w_ZjxP4zM5_UBEGmuV4CQP_BaMvl04iSbDGSx8GWBLRbHQobyNJKLyui6zqvO9NTYI/s1600/coop+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JuLbFj5881CQ-hBFaCNSsN_TAgJeSGs6uRvRSX4qAwlFoJIue784BgBGXRvthyphenhyphen7oLePVMHRB3w_ZjxP4zM5_UBEGmuV4CQP_BaMvl04iSbDGSx8GWBLRbHQobyNJKLyui6zqvO9NTYI/s320/coop+6.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was a rather ugly 6X8 shed made of two by fours and pine planks -- but it was a structure that could stand up to the perils of an oak forest.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8VFH-gdAjs4UdA2yMJawjW1kxFW7af6uoQr6qvQ59qY2dNrBjuDfDa4cyiC22ocAl8eS3SJL_U3RTZES_oJiDSvEuYJbWNWJvlt5bfhbKsRzxQNMrfGT7qJDuc3XTmXYtObRM_UYffQ/s1600/coop+6+windows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8VFH-gdAjs4UdA2yMJawjW1kxFW7af6uoQr6qvQ59qY2dNrBjuDfDa4cyiC22ocAl8eS3SJL_U3RTZES_oJiDSvEuYJbWNWJvlt5bfhbKsRzxQNMrfGT7qJDuc3XTmXYtObRM_UYffQ/s320/coop+6+windows.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As soon as it was plunked down into the yard, I revved up the ol' saber saw and extracted that tiny front window. No tiny windows for <i>my</i> gals. They like lots of light and air and a good view. I cut three more huge windows on the south and west sides, too. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I added a nest box, then built the ladies a 16' X 6' covered run, filled with roosts and logs and feeding stations. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meet Coop #5!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwML9UJNbpg4Ts822xT_8EYETnMYWzxwZfxYcfGdWq4WprqxpgWaUBeBBhvgqrapT-WV5tRESN64gVtSzzSlQa7AMRUUYv285uBlAUcXMwT8AlZIWYudVh6JlM5KEtkvui5L4Vtk0baOg/s1600/coop+6+marky+sleep.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwML9UJNbpg4Ts822xT_8EYETnMYWzxwZfxYcfGdWq4WprqxpgWaUBeBBhvgqrapT-WV5tRESN64gVtSzzSlQa7AMRUUYv285uBlAUcXMwT8AlZIWYudVh6JlM5KEtkvui5L4Vtk0baOg/s400/coop+6+marky+sleep.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now there was room for the three older gals as well as my four new nuggets. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQqaHd7-X3HbGC9lk4iEqgSXMNF2f5lsJLIpmLGI-vRtmWroBnJ3Jqd8K7Z8FcsJxt3UlmAfqUNODZmNmL_URhdsOxpZBlXaSHa0oi3T-O8u5nSm_z0eBP8wYjOWhdPGfNnu191mWLQ/s1600/coop+6+idea+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uQqaHd7-X3HbGC9lk4iEqgSXMNF2f5lsJLIpmLGI-vRtmWroBnJ3Jqd8K7Z8FcsJxt3UlmAfqUNODZmNmL_URhdsOxpZBlXaSHa0oi3T-O8u5nSm_z0eBP8wYjOWhdPGfNnu191mWLQ/s320/coop+6+idea+b.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">....and of course I can always add on.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The new coop was complete. The ladies were thrilled. I was done. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-four-nuggets.html" target="_blank">nuggets</a>, having moved from my living room into a cage on the back porch, were homeless. They needed a bigger space, but they also needed another month or two to grow - in size and in smarts - before I tossed them into the big coop with those scary old ladies. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I fought the urge to drag out the tools, but then I met a neighbor who had some nice windows to sell for $5 each. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They were really nice windows.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I bought one. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTa6RdOyo0ABIZIx3QiP_yLpp6eHSEO3P72itiJqqUPZU-nz7I6IDLoVFIukwi-cuOqyLJST6hAO7QSCdqc5Y9N9pljzTMUoCBwM44yoqaFj8B1fxizEoV4DbRN9AB7b0pnUHoLQka-Y/s1600/coop+7+plan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTa6RdOyo0ABIZIx3QiP_yLpp6eHSEO3P72itiJqqUPZU-nz7I6IDLoVFIukwi-cuOqyLJST6hAO7QSCdqc5Y9N9pljzTMUoCBwM44yoqaFj8B1fxizEoV4DbRN9AB7b0pnUHoLQka-Y/s320/coop+7+plan.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I designed a little coop around it, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">made with scraps from coops gone by.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Introducing Coop #6!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZm7SLIREQzqBrfqrNPd7BD0PiqobVVkQTZqR53ISzei7-utiW6rLEwqJG145RTyCQdymNhFTy0JIPZrCNRsj998JQGKEvcPS2AbmqpdI-jwTx-GJdG3qpFIYS4v-tjJbd_2w4haiKevw/s1600/coop+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZm7SLIREQzqBrfqrNPd7BD0PiqobVVkQTZqR53ISzei7-utiW6rLEwqJG145RTyCQdymNhFTy0JIPZrCNRsj998JQGKEvcPS2AbmqpdI-jwTx-GJdG3qpFIYS4v-tjJbd_2w4haiKevw/s320/coop+7.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Daisy approved.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I put the little ladies inside, showed them where to roost, and locked them up for the night. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIooYnRO4DxhglSBJ-ENp7CrV2tiZMKVjMgtdDd_3DZ9eGI1gsaYOj-nwKg0hUJLDUv1qjMA1SUBOhSqKFMN5N0SSS_fW_sJ32UROztT3LLbnSJRK7sPw9B9qFZI2pWVVI9-OCBKzKnlY/s1600/night+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIooYnRO4DxhglSBJ-ENp7CrV2tiZMKVjMgtdDd_3DZ9eGI1gsaYOj-nwKg0hUJLDUv1qjMA1SUBOhSqKFMN5N0SSS_fW_sJ32UROztT3LLbnSJRK7sPw9B9qFZI2pWVVI9-OCBKzKnlY/s400/night+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The four little pullets slept in a piggie-pile in the corner. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next night: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDaWrLNy4H24IqhXRXpzKcWujqEzBw28696Bl8v2PQAwBe13NT_snXt1R34CrZyrsTtRARx8POvIYg5iwaxArEqkUPSAo61a1OpIsFi-IuVT_uNwDvfz0Si1OHmm5Fjen8RHsMOKGRZc/s1600/night+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDaWrLNy4H24IqhXRXpzKcWujqEzBw28696Bl8v2PQAwBe13NT_snXt1R34CrZyrsTtRARx8POvIYg5iwaxArEqkUPSAo61a1OpIsFi-IuVT_uNwDvfz0Si1OHmm5Fjen8RHsMOKGRZc/s400/night+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They still didn't figure it out. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Night three: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwxZNUb7hsROt72rVKZy19M3WT1DqZhc5QfmC7LNGlhx2joAu4WyP5jqJ86RCSg7yarrU6KsHRnmacZ8n1w9y1YRitzI7AV3Mnz5e7zARz63pg61Opi8DoL3jf6zy90inErRj3VHBX7s/s1600/night+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwxZNUb7hsROt72rVKZy19M3WT1DqZhc5QfmC7LNGlhx2joAu4WyP5jqJ86RCSg7yarrU6KsHRnmacZ8n1w9y1YRitzI7AV3Mnz5e7zARz63pg61Opi8DoL3jf6zy90inErRj3VHBX7s/s320/night+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">they discovered the roost.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Night four: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETH4dximvdnFmW-ojPNtbNm7gh-WkLyxjFRQ9ESgFLnrc35OCns9jATonOiDWqknWLX7EK7vsZzeX3G_peyYZMyFFcG2cxm46TyWDxJamh1UoX_RGEIKfVRI319ZETQu8PHwZ8d5hAgc/s1600/night+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETH4dximvdnFmW-ojPNtbNm7gh-WkLyxjFRQ9ESgFLnrc35OCns9jATonOiDWqknWLX7EK7vsZzeX3G_peyYZMyFFcG2cxm46TyWDxJamh1UoX_RGEIKfVRI319ZETQu8PHwZ8d5hAgc/s320/night+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well done, little ladies!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Was I done? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Almost.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnws4UQS8iJ7ehoU4mgDaRR7X1R8DZatZJwnJOi1dtTRtMkTWE_yBx0xnCtp9TenUpnG63ZLpQqV12ezV0eSUds-HQNOouB-TZfp4sGXrHhm7PJsrSD0RVmEZjs4TBL-CGhTX0O6H0jgg/s1600/chick+tractor+addition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnws4UQS8iJ7ehoU4mgDaRR7X1R8DZatZJwnJOi1dtTRtMkTWE_yBx0xnCtp9TenUpnG63ZLpQqV12ezV0eSUds-HQNOouB-TZfp4sGXrHhm7PJsrSD0RVmEZjs4TBL-CGhTX0O6H0jgg/s400/chick+tractor+addition.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I turned their little coop into a chicken-tractor with a sidecar. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Am I done now? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...til my power tools recharge.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-38226092233300603632013-07-08T12:08:00.000-04:002013-07-08T14:47:07.679-04:00The Four Nuggets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Introducing: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1y_GhPiR0PyMsUBOSXi2gVcrT78KMdxNDdQZUgkglzfP9d61XhYmh_DUq-Zv6al3V_BHoGegEP1gEG4o7h6iBW7sgSXlMxaRB4tNOhCh1Mupg8KFQw1WTmSp7em36-Pd_ltsfeCBDu8/s1600/1+four+babes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1y_GhPiR0PyMsUBOSXi2gVcrT78KMdxNDdQZUgkglzfP9d61XhYmh_DUq-Zv6al3V_BHoGegEP1gEG4o7h6iBW7sgSXlMxaRB4tNOhCh1Mupg8KFQw1WTmSp7em36-Pd_ltsfeCBDu8/s400/1+four+babes.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Born May 5 --- </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I raised them in the living room for the first two weeks. Not because I especially wanted to raise them indoors, but because they'd been vaccinated for Marek's Disease, and they needed a little time for their immune systems to kick in. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Marek's Disease is a virus that thrives in my yard. I lost both Pigeon and Fern to the disease. Lucy has suffered from it, but she is a strong survivor so far. I'm hopeful that the vaccine will protect the new little flock members. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There was no shortage of fun activities for the chicks indoors.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They met THE HAND... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsuk_LS1DHk05aQH7nHhYrKdcJJvGi801NhsD-JRmG9BJIHb947jpt8fCbiHdBfwZm37SgVEgaKxdpn7Gr45-IErAZD1iLjvdnhtNOk4AO6zMiFCexd3BaiadfPs5u1Pkh_ShXHM93Vc/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+the+hand+1+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsuk_LS1DHk05aQH7nHhYrKdcJJvGi801NhsD-JRmG9BJIHb947jpt8fCbiHdBfwZm37SgVEgaKxdpn7Gr45-IErAZD1iLjvdnhtNOk4AO6zMiFCexd3BaiadfPs5u1Pkh_ShXHM93Vc/s320/6-27+blogpost+chicks+the+hand+1+.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">---pretty darn exciting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then they met THE PAPER PLATE, with watermelon slices. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PS4VB303zxhut6Xw4ZMpe2RLkqJV6BJ1O7ktdCighBx7DD4UAa0L-FFyzne1_tZN85-j6peKd9x8w7GCTsbGd9Q0ZGCZFNXwQ7rX3ZYBM2Pcu1f_9tuLfpptM3fRlh7yrcWNYUyiHJY/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+paper+plate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PS4VB303zxhut6Xw4ZMpe2RLkqJV6BJ1O7ktdCighBx7DD4UAa0L-FFyzne1_tZN85-j6peKd9x8w7GCTsbGd9Q0ZGCZFNXwQ7rX3ZYBM2Pcu1f_9tuLfpptM3fRlh7yrcWNYUyiHJY/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+paper+plate.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> --- a little too scary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They played a variety of sports.<br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aU6mFjo2L2M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Phoebe showed natural athletic potential... Jenny, not so much. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">. . . . . . . . </span> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dorrie, the Barred Plymouth Rock, warmed right up to The Hand. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz6uV7iO2n5JvaKMyBvZWK1JgFU7aKBdRXHo3A40RipxjFxNidflbM9FMh1czS_UFZ4Iff7stc0nA3qmRlVqYOsV_rEzxCXhx1WZSyJNtGWN4hg1H_9tDSKTML3fCk259wBVEIj9MvhY/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+dorrie+2.png" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was alarmed that Dorrie sported a tiny comb on her little noggin from day one. And from day one I was sick with worry. Was she a "he"? I read that the boys are the most personable chicks. Dorrie was by far the most personable. She was uniquely endearing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I struggled to keep my heart in check while I searched the chicken sites for information on the sexing of Barred Rock chicks.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTX6nYXYFy4bFNlKN537iPufqD2dO1rhlOn9wuSuV9m0rKH2Mb9CmN6Q5ejRUMq512qbRRgftQb63ZX7Abfai0_bAPqsEq6TQpfJflYlzmPX0aa15WeGFJrGfyPATvqgyjTds1YQt7oSY/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+dorrie+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTX6nYXYFy4bFNlKN537iPufqD2dO1rhlOn9wuSuV9m0rKH2Mb9CmN6Q5ejRUMq512qbRRgftQb63ZX7Abfai0_bAPqsEq6TQpfJflYlzmPX0aa15WeGFJrGfyPATvqgyjTds1YQt7oSY/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+dorrie+3.png" width="356" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I posted the above photo on Facebook, asking knowledgeable chicken-friends whether Dorrie was a pullet or a roo. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheviw-_zeBNJduQBvyvwn9knZJQ4Yth6wqiZE5g_KN8L5cF-AQfj6bI5rpqAL00OeBUYa_-rb8lJlgm6ev1h-toqEkPkQ7B9I_i4zPxykaBzYMxftxBl9QAETc7n-Z2knJVsQpPiehNkQ/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+dorrie+or+dewey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheviw-_zeBNJduQBvyvwn9knZJQ4Yth6wqiZE5g_KN8L5cF-AQfj6bI5rpqAL00OeBUYa_-rb8lJlgm6ev1h-toqEkPkQ7B9I_i4zPxykaBzYMxftxBl9QAETc7n-Z2knJVsQpPiehNkQ/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+dorrie+or+dewey.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many opinions and educated speculations were offered, but the response was pretty much 50-50. So I continued to wring my hands over Dorrie and I tried not to fall in love with her.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. . . . . . . . . . </span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile, Jenny the Australorp, who we named after our first Jenny, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcpH4GXU39eKqvBiVGc5OjyS2UUzt0ShSaRTb2WVr_2JCFs0lHGz1WSSIvOc6kb16c5GrRAsAr81flr_ryPg7K1MYmNKf8bfyU0lxPPT9QjxFzxViw0AmWAo5p0IqJrdJZLZ0N8Kq_BQ/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcpH4GXU39eKqvBiVGc5OjyS2UUzt0ShSaRTb2WVr_2JCFs0lHGz1WSSIvOc6kb16c5GrRAsAr81flr_ryPg7K1MYmNKf8bfyU0lxPPT9QjxFzxViw0AmWAo5p0IqJrdJZLZ0N8Kq_BQ/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+1.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> sported no comb at all, thank goodness. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Instead, Jenny had a curiously enormous head. I wondered about the size and complexity of the brain inside her huge chickie skull. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR3QGQsTKgLzILKVEeLmuDBIs51M6ya2Pd-aLkahndXvR0evTXmW0prP2FHht2VK3KWtGpz6wvLq1nzwMF8BMo1T08_vfTCG-pi07sHno8vl4k7QnsleeEJ7eInRpsgJ2J9o4T3TuIYc/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR3QGQsTKgLzILKVEeLmuDBIs51M6ya2Pd-aLkahndXvR0evTXmW0prP2FHht2VK3KWtGpz6wvLq1nzwMF8BMo1T08_vfTCG-pi07sHno8vl4k7QnsleeEJ7eInRpsgJ2J9o4T3TuIYc/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+4.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jenny grew twice as quickly as the others-- perhaps her body was trying to catch up to her hat size.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoLoZ9osffhgoLaWf-_LrBTpScsAT7qJUKl0ftX-6pAjIpVIKrKZ7LjzFMkqXgsyzcMLz7fOH5frnWLFVkzgDJasWnoDSYwvfKuGaAucahIY7Tsgu_lHjchLR0D6d9ZcWdqKrwba4bYo/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoLoZ9osffhgoLaWf-_LrBTpScsAT7qJUKl0ftX-6pAjIpVIKrKZ7LjzFMkqXgsyzcMLz7fOH5frnWLFVkzgDJasWnoDSYwvfKuGaAucahIY7Tsgu_lHjchLR0D6d9ZcWdqKrwba4bYo/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+3.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It occurred to me that she might actually be an ostrich.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgFUeXpJgpavxJse9N9dkptnRniE5pNNVfkSpwEsn25x_yGlAaylcw3HssDNnqZLWY4JrkbDilNNbKdsJ4IngUyl9HrwsKLKkLar5bYUrrF-_wMXQUnbeqa5eZxI_gwd8AmZg3VnG3-U/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgFUeXpJgpavxJse9N9dkptnRniE5pNNVfkSpwEsn25x_yGlAaylcw3HssDNnqZLWY4JrkbDilNNbKdsJ4IngUyl9HrwsKLKkLar5bYUrrF-_wMXQUnbeqa5eZxI_gwd8AmZg3VnG3-U/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+jenny+5.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or an albatross?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>. . . . . . . . . . </b></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, Scarlett - she's my little Buckeye. She's named after a flowering tree: the Scarlet Buckeye, and her adult feathering will be a deep red.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64BqmrhcayiBXbA5fCh00CkbYTO7-ZIAIbPDMLTiFWUNwGusLz6kZBN06bD3-dnw_a_aAH3e3WU2hVe4UDIl8YBjDMw3qgw7-ERCK1HgKGgkQRlRK2-KBESEmS_8tmxVEAFCsFpD25C8/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+scarlett+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64BqmrhcayiBXbA5fCh00CkbYTO7-ZIAIbPDMLTiFWUNwGusLz6kZBN06bD3-dnw_a_aAH3e3WU2hVe4UDIl8YBjDMw3qgw7-ERCK1HgKGgkQRlRK2-KBESEmS_8tmxVEAFCsFpD25C8/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+scarlett+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her breed is supposed to be good at catching mice.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aI2qm4nwd-_3STScOT4AhZJjBZV4G4amm4A80-CoOEby1duJl_PdXFGsXbRWF7nQRKO23WH6Gkx9_qv82hDQ8wBrLeqbi11cbzzapDnfszyyMtg020FdQ6TXxTWLcrfQ20F7zVmPtew/s1600/mouse2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aI2qm4nwd-_3STScOT4AhZJjBZV4G4amm4A80-CoOEby1duJl_PdXFGsXbRWF7nQRKO23WH6Gkx9_qv82hDQ8wBrLeqbi11cbzzapDnfszyyMtg020FdQ6TXxTWLcrfQ20F7zVmPtew/s320/mouse2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What they do with the mice once they catch them, I'm not sure.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ijCkMLKSDAmMZuzR5Pgh7Hj8sHskhV3a1HfNFmiIXew21pbiY7SdrvVhQzWTEH6wQlKoOgM5083eLAl44yPNe_uGA3TJ2GTI6ENzErNQ4S-1zp7oV4Q8IyQVs1LlQI0YVct9ggNlVxw/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+scarlett+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ijCkMLKSDAmMZuzR5Pgh7Hj8sHskhV3a1HfNFmiIXew21pbiY7SdrvVhQzWTEH6wQlKoOgM5083eLAl44yPNe_uGA3TJ2GTI6ENzErNQ4S-1zp7oV4Q8IyQVs1LlQI0YVct9ggNlVxw/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+scarlett+3.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scarlett is a bit shy, so I don't know much about her personality yet.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. . . . . . . . . </span></h4>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Phoebe, a Speckled Sussex, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtqZu1FiK2mVsrrJaptgYhyU6KjRiomnf5GofCsmlFSnAQ139fc54SxU7pQ0TSU2qvV9DO8nMvzbO5MtzFmyX3xdqyTY9e9zqHYF9sOIunv7E3E_qekMdNZVvwPIsSFWnDIOgFbsN13g/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtqZu1FiK2mVsrrJaptgYhyU6KjRiomnf5GofCsmlFSnAQ139fc54SxU7pQ0TSU2qvV9DO8nMvzbO5MtzFmyX3xdqyTY9e9zqHYF9sOIunv7E3E_qekMdNZVvwPIsSFWnDIOgFbsN13g/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+1.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is elegant and vivacious. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhxSxnjo4os9Gqr9gavmHTgF0Y0sOqw-yQpUDiKwjilcQ0zaoCVgYTCX-FWYVD_KB6lFJrkI1Z7V9z6vJNgFPnxyodXEOq4__DwgzjCMkgXw0PzvjR0DMH0MQ7dFaNJMSdmCJywpynr8/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+drink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhxSxnjo4os9Gqr9gavmHTgF0Y0sOqw-yQpUDiKwjilcQ0zaoCVgYTCX-FWYVD_KB6lFJrkI1Z7V9z6vJNgFPnxyodXEOq4__DwgzjCMkgXw0PzvjR0DMH0MQ7dFaNJMSdmCJywpynr8/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+drink.png" width="395" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And very photogenic.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif27NPtrt90NnJv4qLR67MoLu7PwkjxKf6n1CH35DH8Nskk_5OvwQu1t2As-7Doc4I-QlTuCcJmATFyi9MAi2-pMpOJFHXKtyiMtl9kDr9yY-DdsFgQoKcxRi8ZsJfyiQGJucXcvDkvJk/s1600/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif27NPtrt90NnJv4qLR67MoLu7PwkjxKf6n1CH35DH8Nskk_5OvwQu1t2As-7Doc4I-QlTuCcJmATFyi9MAi2-pMpOJFHXKtyiMtl9kDr9yY-DdsFgQoKcxRi8ZsJfyiQGJucXcvDkvJk/s400/6-27+blogpost+chicks+phoebe+2.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's Phoebe at nine weeks:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWm0eoQcIuMn42HQIijmRcYbqFZXWidlmzvIPAx04zip_XWnQ8MZ2l5NoG1ySGq7gAt2WdovDaOyqCJeJfFMECZQ0tOJ7C5LPmV5rd6iGiSemxbqPsVRdfzG-EaKcTupkvAKLy52BQhY/s1600/phoebe8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWm0eoQcIuMn42HQIijmRcYbqFZXWidlmzvIPAx04zip_XWnQ8MZ2l5NoG1ySGq7gAt2WdovDaOyqCJeJfFMECZQ0tOJ7C5LPmV5rd6iGiSemxbqPsVRdfzG-EaKcTupkvAKLy52BQhY/s400/phoebe8.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>
<h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">. . . . . . . . . . </span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here's great big Jenny at nine weeks, with her friends Phoebe and Scarlett:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bpgo5WowiOKGmGkzBZjtcpubnLpTyHYyoBvEBiw1qpPUn363ynxkuioHk_g8RkXoFmiDPg5kf8v1GqVtl8g387uvARZgDVPOKu9YE9b_TePs7SXFGh6UsiYtC7tHB-HntKyoDTxugWg/s1600/jenny+leader.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bpgo5WowiOKGmGkzBZjtcpubnLpTyHYyoBvEBiw1qpPUn363ynxkuioHk_g8RkXoFmiDPg5kf8v1GqVtl8g387uvARZgDVPOKu9YE9b_TePs7SXFGh6UsiYtC7tHB-HntKyoDTxugWg/s400/jenny+leader.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jenny's still the largest. She's a respectable and level-headed lady, and has accepted the leadership role of her young flock.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. . . . . . . . . . . </span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After nine weeks of worry, I can now officially declare Dorrie a <b>GIRL.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can tell by her stance, and by the shape and color of her feathers. Thank goodness. Now I can sleep at night. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Except now Dorrie is showing herself to be a spitfire and a daredevil.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HCbGrJyRaAD9jtFfm8oqakZFMX0SWELY2CjvEirzmX6fRKydJe90iPKtXizoo0So5iXMstYbRAgo72MWL5k1wo-qMVdH6ASTu0M1PYMRlDQgobAdZQzH7aCofMKDxDS8ELT9JCbjycY/s1600/dorrie+meets+marky.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HCbGrJyRaAD9jtFfm8oqakZFMX0SWELY2CjvEirzmX6fRKydJe90iPKtXizoo0So5iXMstYbRAgo72MWL5k1wo-qMVdH6ASTu0M1PYMRlDQgobAdZQzH7aCofMKDxDS8ELT9JCbjycY/s400/dorrie+meets+marky.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She rushes to greet Marky, fearlessly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She taunts Daisy.... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELGCgXgAMk-YVbkbTv_k_vKncZUieg1w0giYi6hSQqXPM8jHoZ_ugcyYKFIAeIN0JHii8YBchrkYqQSessrR2Rbg70tkdCxjlnaD8yvGPboGg8YmEne0XUZwDOFMUzd9RnZiYjFD7gbk/s1600/Dorrie+Daisy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELGCgXgAMk-YVbkbTv_k_vKncZUieg1w0giYi6hSQqXPM8jHoZ_ugcyYKFIAeIN0JHii8YBchrkYqQSessrR2Rbg70tkdCxjlnaD8yvGPboGg8YmEne0XUZwDOFMUzd9RnZiYjFD7gbk/s400/Dorrie+Daisy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">very foolishly. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If we can keep her alive to adulthood despite her reckless tendencies, she may turn out okay. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After all, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYgchksyfeo8M-tKGc_hQzwQ7nAsk_bpFUnFqwwMla1nArg_JFOwgYjkXFgp1Pps96vQVeRAMIFrgdaY4MnHJ9ihog7QuQEvbEiEeffYyNcfwWcwdnjo2k7tV7OFQUbJbdfZVwuhcRWA/s1600/dorrie+tools.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYgchksyfeo8M-tKGc_hQzwQ7nAsk_bpFUnFqwwMla1nArg_JFOwgYjkXFgp1Pps96vQVeRAMIFrgdaY4MnHJ9ihog7QuQEvbEiEeffYyNcfwWcwdnjo2k7tV7OFQUbJbdfZVwuhcRWA/s400/dorrie+tools.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">she is quite handy with power tools, </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURngiAu4Jk1NmmaDSQjxgH1FFoVmoKG-Ejs5yjhL3XSIrLwLWbzVHl4YlSQA04XblT_W86yWet4G5RAJl7b78j_7kv8KXOIwQ8dDDS9dmTpUjq4Kk3_m6WrPwZelQerl3exF_cY2VRw8/s1600/dorrie+reads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURngiAu4Jk1NmmaDSQjxgH1FFoVmoKG-Ejs5yjhL3XSIrLwLWbzVHl4YlSQA04XblT_W86yWet4G5RAJl7b78j_7kv8KXOIwQ8dDDS9dmTpUjq4Kk3_m6WrPwZelQerl3exF_cY2VRw8/s320/dorrie+reads.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and she's an avid reader. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So with a bit of luck, some smarts and wisdom may eventually displace the lunacy in that little head of hers.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">....we'll see.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-56119519561483780062013-05-12T12:40:00.000-04:002013-05-12T12:40:33.347-04:00Happy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWsF5QqrwmrLCMpxwEcVVOU_u-TaD59O34GSEA9R3IuRDpgMGrpchPkcW-B-mIPdVZXkcPwGT6FfyizlqnkwLfz9qkCLLtmJde7gaV7jlwepLiaHfvwaJIxYzj4RZyhqTdFhK-oAGYUU/s1600/scratchandpeck+happiness+lo+res.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWsF5QqrwmrLCMpxwEcVVOU_u-TaD59O34GSEA9R3IuRDpgMGrpchPkcW-B-mIPdVZXkcPwGT6FfyizlqnkwLfz9qkCLLtmJde7gaV7jlwepLiaHfvwaJIxYzj4RZyhqTdFhK-oAGYUU/s400/scratchandpeck+happiness+lo+res.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-85090411891185483292013-05-08T12:24:00.000-04:002013-05-08T12:24:44.479-04:00A Solution to Every Problem<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lately I've noticed Lucy's neck looking a little scraggly. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I chalked it up to old age...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I mean, my neck certainly doesn’t look like a
spring chicken’s either. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That's why I always pose with one of my hens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z8BaP2tg4ThKm9TBOHI0tngXUpqCapPvpwVbBvVSnLxdr3iKGX3d5ZjjlpQJiuNKPMgGIe5i7wZpkqAn3GWAmzc9f2s86WlEeU3rOhJSTSmSsvgq_RTYWtSqwprO4WPizqezSRNo4qA/s1600/pose+with+chicken.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z8BaP2tg4ThKm9TBOHI0tngXUpqCapPvpwVbBvVSnLxdr3iKGX3d5ZjjlpQJiuNKPMgGIe5i7wZpkqAn3GWAmzc9f2s86WlEeU3rOhJSTSmSsvgq_RTYWtSqwprO4WPizqezSRNo4qA/s400/pose+with+chicken.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">See how young I look?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">For a five-year-old hen, Lucy has been looking pretty healthy.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yvAO7bCuHEeOpQMZHMCe1Aot9ZDyX2e4WxIHnZwiMKEAPlTHOLPqVOHfnKYjIIJlC4Eb2u6JIvQ31Agvpk5pV02uAjcQUaEUud__w8H_jKKsyZei-6w3CEj2c3DJwaYpmkbrTlS9g9M/s1600/Lucy+in+garden.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yvAO7bCuHEeOpQMZHMCe1Aot9ZDyX2e4WxIHnZwiMKEAPlTHOLPqVOHfnKYjIIJlC4Eb2u6JIvQ31Agvpk5pV02uAjcQUaEUud__w8H_jKKsyZei-6w3CEj2c3DJwaYpmkbrTlS9g9M/s400/Lucy+in+garden.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But here's what I mean about her neck: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktsJ_2M2kwF9ddEMA3G6LXwvEDOuh8ZZBgmyFe5JJbuNhRYnYyiiBi-y4hIPfj_0sBLF2wyQXu-Vlhvk0IsY1d5B3eVnRpx-1dQZS1i1noM54ThvZWev9t-94UmkKO77TdpdX5nx4Zgk/s1600/lucy+neck.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktsJ_2M2kwF9ddEMA3G6LXwvEDOuh8ZZBgmyFe5JJbuNhRYnYyiiBi-y4hIPfj_0sBLF2wyQXu-Vlhvk0IsY1d5B3eVnRpx-1dQZS1i1noM54ThvZWev9t-94UmkKO77TdpdX5nx4Zgk/s400/lucy+neck.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then a couple weeks ago I witnessed this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCgPc3TbbxvghvkbkXvir0tErRKLEVh-lNxQ_ka6-FeZsxOw94vCov14BWA0en5W72v-hxSAiBv0hO1LhL1CcJ18teVDO_t7jr-I0eA1eWTzevN71gAtsxI-CDv3y9AQJWhWwiXpVwv8/s1600/lilwhitepeck.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCgPc3TbbxvghvkbkXvir0tErRKLEVh-lNxQ_ka6-FeZsxOw94vCov14BWA0en5W72v-hxSAiBv0hO1LhL1CcJ18teVDO_t7jr-I0eA1eWTzevN71gAtsxI-CDv3y9AQJWhWwiXpVwv8/s400/lilwhitepeck.png" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and I realized the problem wasn't old age -- the problem was Lil'White.</span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lil'White goes after</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Daisy all the time, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjJ9JwOd9RjG5u2irsO0tyfRcADzduG7ZevmaKtb5mizukbmovlLueiThJ9XMJhQi5psEvsd2uBDhU2i5acYrMt2-FFQEJG1iQgeJpL2F4tpq4WanTdaUCIah7ACr5RBJePlEudJOd4A/s1600/daisypeck.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjJ9JwOd9RjG5u2irsO0tyfRcADzduG7ZevmaKtb5mizukbmovlLueiThJ9XMJhQi5psEvsd2uBDhU2i5acYrMt2-FFQEJG1iQgeJpL2F4tpq4WanTdaUCIah7ACr5RBJePlEudJOd4A/s400/daisypeck.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">but Daisy has enough spunk to stay a few steps ahead of her.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lucy, however, couldn't outrun a snail.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I only saw Lil'White pecking at Lucy once, and never again....but Lucy's feathers have been looking worse and worse. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he night Lucy chose to roost outdoors at bedtime</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I realized that Lil'White must have been nibbling at Lucy all night long on the roost inside.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lil’White and Lucy always sleep side by side on the roost.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I couldn’t change their roosting situation - each gal chooses her place, and
the bedtime routine is pretty much set in stone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So I considered other possibilities:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskQEK0Qlt9B38nIg0WYs-LuIiGwsT7HLFTQzoETqEHIY2cUORuL4d6PEq21pgGP9F5JjBpFQY7n9pLMNzGxRco1mPwqj2w6mLNiB6EgyE5zhc7IeJVXtGV5goF2iXsHM2IHLiFJM8H0A/s1600/muzzle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskQEK0Qlt9B38nIg0WYs-LuIiGwsT7HLFTQzoETqEHIY2cUORuL4d6PEq21pgGP9F5JjBpFQY7n9pLMNzGxRco1mPwqj2w6mLNiB6EgyE5zhc7IeJVXtGV5goF2iXsHM2IHLiFJM8H0A/s320/muzzle.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPstGPiDLpo9qbP5etq4L3mQbwLOgeoVTbtgw1xJ2myHxz9ZsZVnWVg8MZugNfPdS05Zymq1GTQvptYClPaAtp6iZCv_dkxZH7ixq3MQwg6NQIaFnI9jWkKq4kuRl4mLbtay5ACyBCOCI/s1600/cone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPstGPiDLpo9qbP5etq4L3mQbwLOgeoVTbtgw1xJ2myHxz9ZsZVnWVg8MZugNfPdS05Zymq1GTQvptYClPaAtp6iZCv_dkxZH7ixq3MQwg6NQIaFnI9jWkKq4kuRl4mLbtay5ACyBCOCI/s320/cone.png" width="296" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtV9Cqdqv7oKEBRf_3wV-NY-DhV71XXMB6mwH2DIfAi9CDniNduFZHhK9ajg9YehbavXzJ29x89IHE5A52UCAiSBy2lh-tLbKGb5aFnasdgP8qNEEmtazuPuz_koebvc4IfmZDJYsLkK4/s1600/peepers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtV9Cqdqv7oKEBRf_3wV-NY-DhV71XXMB6mwH2DIfAi9CDniNduFZHhK9ajg9YehbavXzJ29x89IHE5A52UCAiSBy2lh-tLbKGb5aFnasdgP8qNEEmtazuPuz_koebvc4IfmZDJYsLkK4/s320/peepers.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">These "pinless peepers" helped my friend Jennifer's gal, Lily,to change her peckish ways....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had one other idea that seemed easier. I took two pieces of
wood, a couple of nails and a big ol’ C-clamp, and built a wall</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsuY-OTNNkSHs8hxz6EMRls_y9GIvR7Zvkym4liMXhXZ36c2yiQrkGA48RV43GVqCoXG7YL_TJWx_JhnIc8x6FtJ-LJ-iGYmRnesb8gERek56K31CE15zVZYleXVu8EODwixXJ2TDVRk/s1600/lil'white+barrier.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsuY-OTNNkSHs8hxz6EMRls_y9GIvR7Zvkym4liMXhXZ36c2yiQrkGA48RV43GVqCoXG7YL_TJWx_JhnIc8x6FtJ-LJ-iGYmRnesb8gERek56K31CE15zVZYleXVu8EODwixXJ2TDVRk/s400/lil'white+barrier.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So now Evil Lil'White has a bedroom of her own. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm not sure how Lil'White feels about this setup,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I think Lucy and Daisy are thrilled.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-91703053616473442322013-04-16T17:34:00.002-04:002013-09-09T13:24:02.183-04:00A Little Hen with a Big Heart<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the scope of things, with the horrible tragedy in Boston and all the other sorrows in our world, the death of a chicken really doesn't fit in. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But Pigeon will be missed, like any of Mother Nature's creatures, by the ones who loved her.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL0kn6Y0BwIyCjCVMO5-olXbLPi_RXJw7vPNYzfCqjcPweKxo7B4vpokB4qEuTYTgIWhnxdeehjC-gm0uc9QVwrLWggEAjUQdfVb4AI1K5iQ3KzNMuixDRNFTZRIvjEu2kL8BDplyGVE/s1600/pigeon+head.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL0kn6Y0BwIyCjCVMO5-olXbLPi_RXJw7vPNYzfCqjcPweKxo7B4vpokB4qEuTYTgIWhnxdeehjC-gm0uc9QVwrLWggEAjUQdfVb4AI1K5iQ3KzNMuixDRNFTZRIvjEu2kL8BDplyGVE/s400/pigeon+head.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She was a survivor, a trooper, and one of the happiest characters I have ever met. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pigeon endured some hard times, just as we all do.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUErgWqvvArMgAZoXP8r66QQqggZkT_E2CF9VCtkqsZZxLInkWOUYxy67xts_yjLCv-V7CijXIMCRkrpdhQTkskDlRszhz3mW0tWYA4OKdXCwI6pPceowWMvgeZVqvKXXQmFvuus4Gm_Q/s1600/pigeon+after+bath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUErgWqvvArMgAZoXP8r66QQqggZkT_E2CF9VCtkqsZZxLInkWOUYxy67xts_yjLCv-V7CijXIMCRkrpdhQTkskDlRszhz3mW0tWYA4OKdXCwI6pPceowWMvgeZVqvKXXQmFvuus4Gm_Q/s400/pigeon+after+bath.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Those hard times ended the day we met. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She healed, she blossomed,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-QHOHwMUzkbNs1IJnYSBIUHPH_w2zUJsQmX1xhKT95uZiH6Dwu573HaA-_PTLu8LC8xBHhkDrEmR4yqi661HUUnNOvRm9UEMCtFMEPdMBEVL93F90DQpAQKRLka4AF0Cvmg3rkJZ0BA/s1600/voluptuous+pigeon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-QHOHwMUzkbNs1IJnYSBIUHPH_w2zUJsQmX1xhKT95uZiH6Dwu573HaA-_PTLu8LC8xBHhkDrEmR4yqi661HUUnNOvRm9UEMCtFMEPdMBEVL93F90DQpAQKRLka4AF0Cvmg3rkJZ0BA/s400/voluptuous+pigeon.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She thrived. She was a treasure. A comical, half-blind, enthusiastic hen. She became the flock leader and she ruled with a warm and compassionate heart.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can find out more about Pigeon's happy life <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2010/04/pigeon-complex-and-mysterious-chicken.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>....and <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2011/01/pigeon-rules.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.... and her rescue story is in my <a href="http://laurenscheuer.com/once-upon-a-flock/" target="_blank">book</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today, the day after Pigeon's passing, we have no sorrow in the coop. While Pigeon was ill, Lucy and the gals paid their respects, treated her with kindness, and prepared for change. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lucy and Lil'White and Daisy carry a bit of Pigeon's warmth with them as they joyfully trample my young garden in search of slimy and crunchy treats. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60g3adoN_gaQXhoKsUKrpPUeeZ_S4McAMOeLaVftFjjvhZNlaCMwzGeVTDlUXJmRo2oA8BEuCrqOXeqqCczyxrSIaH6gSeba_ltw_AciVUqFya4BvGMOz-fXZvfLiEPwrmcmd7IQiQwQ/s1600/flock+of+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60g3adoN_gaQXhoKsUKrpPUeeZ_S4McAMOeLaVftFjjvhZNlaCMwzGeVTDlUXJmRo2oA8BEuCrqOXeqqCczyxrSIaH6gSeba_ltw_AciVUqFya4BvGMOz-fXZvfLiEPwrmcmd7IQiQwQ/s400/flock+of+3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sun is shining and the breeze is soft. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And it's okay to pause and cry, because pain and loss happen. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But still, today is a beautiful day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK02kiaZACNcWW5PTmQ1e4YV8HFOIm3Ry65e7clipEUGuRChK3T9tgx9TEtCYstESIrIvTO9JrUBFnFlsxEsYlnzyAVDf3OQhyphenhyphen3-zr0kdszvqKC-ZwMJGc4VmH5Hh8Rs6vRVbIfMyo4X0/s1600/pigeon+little.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK02kiaZACNcWW5PTmQ1e4YV8HFOIm3Ry65e7clipEUGuRChK3T9tgx9TEtCYstESIrIvTO9JrUBFnFlsxEsYlnzyAVDf3OQhyphenhyphen3-zr0kdszvqKC-ZwMJGc4VmH5Hh8Rs6vRVbIfMyo4X0/s320/pigeon+little.png" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Pigeon</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-24965164832472197952013-04-12T12:30:00.000-04:002013-04-12T12:30:04.026-04:00Everything's Bigger -- even the Grackles!
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The 2013 Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour has come and gone, but the thrill of Austin is fresh
in my memory.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Ah, the sunshine! The flowers! The Austinites!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">....The grackles! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">We have grackles in New England, and they're a gregarious bunch. But the Austin grackles are twice their size, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7ecMuGrJ8z0VquReaF9bmgWJMGnc9iSb-3d-iDTzwMoPX3fF8IOCZ3px7W4QrufVrBbxCSPUJsbQEpUTNC1usrmiVQDzSgLVCkggLaNY5Ek_k2m-O5KjBpYxy4eds1LVL13KosFPOGU/s1600/Grackles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7ecMuGrJ8z0VquReaF9bmgWJMGnc9iSb-3d-iDTzwMoPX3fF8IOCZ3px7W4QrufVrBbxCSPUJsbQEpUTNC1usrmiVQDzSgLVCkggLaNY5Ek_k2m-O5KjBpYxy4eds1LVL13KosFPOGU/s400/Grackles.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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and far more... um... outgoing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvKjU990brcOI0MPjd3Xsjxh-JXm4X3jsuDBq82f7kBjuDNKFl15vQPohkD4RcAGUwN4KACiJ4bZ28tRSHNCVjkD8ETkenMGFh5PNceEXz36ozbyPPR3T4ZocADdf3z9xwIlrMn0NS6Y/s1600/cowboy+grackle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvKjU990brcOI0MPjd3Xsjxh-JXm4X3jsuDBq82f7kBjuDNKFl15vQPohkD4RcAGUwN4KACiJ4bZ28tRSHNCVjkD8ETkenMGFh5PNceEXz36ozbyPPR3T4ZocADdf3z9xwIlrMn0NS6Y/s400/cowboy+grackle.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This here grackle, for example, helped himself to an entire slice of my tomato and basil
pizza without even a "Thank you, Ma'am."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But Austin's grackle
guys are the exception. All the the other Austin fellas are polite and good
lookin'. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Here’s a truly charming
Texan:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtjWbjJzlwJs5bQDrc-pWrMq9M0-tb9gEgxAVvyUnfIMfkS6PsxLrt-XeZ0AU08bc1qIONrEACCzhgaIXg3p_cldvz9SojtdBTP_4tPuFNNaC40i_cuxOKsJ9aGqURVV7j2OAzBZjdyI/s1600/prettyboy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtjWbjJzlwJs5bQDrc-pWrMq9M0-tb9gEgxAVvyUnfIMfkS6PsxLrt-XeZ0AU08bc1qIONrEACCzhgaIXg3p_cldvz9SojtdBTP_4tPuFNNaC40i_cuxOKsJ9aGqURVV7j2OAzBZjdyI/s400/prettyboy.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pretty Boy, a cream Barbanter, and the official
mascot of the Austin Funky Chicken Coop Tour. Pretty Boy stole my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a friendly rooster...the kind of guy you'd like to
take home to meet the flock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Other Texas observations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWqlaN1u6DEAntrXua0yY21IbQyV_ag1fwElbHHKAbYGDiZEY3JF3v4Ml8X-O1Mr3iskNpNVAv60YqetdccYKUwF6QolXyIcAh9gdE28QheTqMpcXNT5N4TrTdJWmJWsrQod8dgB-aWQ/s1600/austin+sky.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWqlaN1u6DEAntrXua0yY21IbQyV_ag1fwElbHHKAbYGDiZEY3JF3v4Ml8X-O1Mr3iskNpNVAv60YqetdccYKUwF6QolXyIcAh9gdE28QheTqMpcXNT5N4TrTdJWmJWsrQod8dgB-aWQ/s400/austin+sky.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
sky... definitely bigger in Texas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9id-oK28njyH20GMPHvF7OdssrRt6EgMbMLAETFp3alQybnCUUDnaObgcswf0L1BM-68EAISs2Cjxr-dVPvUCsJhkIW9nrqzOUIRVWZqLdP1mWle6RnbaPXTJDboFdpBLmZ5KNW02HuA/s1600/boots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9id-oK28njyH20GMPHvF7OdssrRt6EgMbMLAETFp3alQybnCUUDnaObgcswf0L1BM-68EAISs2Cjxr-dVPvUCsJhkIW9nrqzOUIRVWZqLdP1mWle6RnbaPXTJDboFdpBLmZ5KNW02HuA/s320/boots.png" width="292" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The boots are fancier.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYqKOP3_OQx24CRRQjrb13nrxl6ysUtggNiHWG-qSoGefXIWYtmp3k5ji3RTspCH-89tJFs_2OWl0QsAy9HIjfNsAtNAJpBfYJLnIh8Hl9YuUFbbB1dKET0Ebs3NzdPX3xNqIy4Jl2vU/s1600/austin+bloom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYqKOP3_OQx24CRRQjrb13nrxl6ysUtggNiHWG-qSoGefXIWYtmp3k5ji3RTspCH-89tJFs_2OWl0QsAy9HIjfNsAtNAJpBfYJLnIh8Hl9YuUFbbB1dKET0Ebs3NzdPX3xNqIy4Jl2vU/s400/austin+bloom.png" width="332" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Flowers
are explosive.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SuoPzLn-sxN6fE09cTAmcaJsRO8PzobT1EJVExOtaB4Z-FK4a3HsSIq7cAkfMVObsgPame8fdWS_RngnmsrvCIOsg6UTfgI5GKiNvKJe0Ki7pp-QS_b_zs_CF70SWU46OPUdCTd13lU/s1600/pointy+plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_SuoPzLn-sxN6fE09cTAmcaJsRO8PzobT1EJVExOtaB4Z-FK4a3HsSIq7cAkfMVObsgPame8fdWS_RngnmsrvCIOsg6UTfgI5GKiNvKJe0Ki7pp-QS_b_zs_CF70SWU46OPUdCTd13lU/s400/pointy+plants.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Thorns and prickers? Enormous. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi387hstJ8PopoKREw_NxnmoqjV-UuhMKX8KtMOEDeEhxU1NOrTrOyC4Sd_-OBrTxYgPsVh5rgnZK4jXjS11ZoT9qzI9ByPfpGiogwxfi30rcjxaZRYz6cpzKjWf-v_iw3jYEFD43guirw/s1600/cistern.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi387hstJ8PopoKREw_NxnmoqjV-UuhMKX8KtMOEDeEhxU1NOrTrOyC4Sd_-OBrTxYgPsVh5rgnZK4jXjS11ZoT9qzI9ByPfpGiogwxfi30rcjxaZRYz6cpzKjWf-v_iw3jYEFD43guirw/s400/cistern.png" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></div>
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Rain Barrels are big enough to swim laps in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O-AkS_Xwj-Aod6EhowtHDpylzgr4Bnd1KfUJtTEMOw6vWXCYrpUnhfpRv0dBKlapjRTLbKkzKnqSCeEXGL6ZIyFmZTrqqAeQU5vLgi8YBmK3eGW9K0oGdwef6aIyox3sRi9Bicr8fPA/s1600/big+head.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O-AkS_Xwj-Aod6EhowtHDpylzgr4Bnd1KfUJtTEMOw6vWXCYrpUnhfpRv0dBKlapjRTLbKkzKnqSCeEXGL6ZIyFmZTrqqAeQU5vLgi8YBmK3eGW9K0oGdwef6aIyox3sRi9Bicr8fPA/s400/big+head.png" width="337" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Even
my head seemed bigger in Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The coop tour was
so fun and inspirational that I forgot to take pictures of chickens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But I did snap some
shots in and around Austin for funky inspiration:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0a_zRW05NG3NNr2o5JQurjMYtqFcmHqijNjxtrJf1S-D2fXtB_Xx9KWUngYkWK6P9bPkMLcE7Oj0fXTQyAepo_w8nySKZj6tvA2ddHTPH1FR55sXcIAWb2swtkR_RtaAzUGMvJ2vUdw/s1600/shroom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0a_zRW05NG3NNr2o5JQurjMYtqFcmHqijNjxtrJf1S-D2fXtB_Xx9KWUngYkWK6P9bPkMLcE7Oj0fXTQyAepo_w8nySKZj6tvA2ddHTPH1FR55sXcIAWb2swtkR_RtaAzUGMvJ2vUdw/s320/shroom.png" width="289" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">A mushroom greenhouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistb3H3dm9IFt83xdtFKYQCD6wyibW2NY3dqzeu30VpafiE8ItIzzK82LfZ_J1FfUCfrkNBQTENl9rVgja4bSvfms9KJVxL1g5etP2UFYknpt306vyl2-959OY56VcZxjFQqzsamDWkoo/s1600/crib.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistb3H3dm9IFt83xdtFKYQCD6wyibW2NY3dqzeu30VpafiE8ItIzzK82LfZ_J1FfUCfrkNBQTENl9rVgja4bSvfms9KJVxL1g5etP2UFYknpt306vyl2-959OY56VcZxjFQqzsamDWkoo/s320/crib.png" width="320" /></a></div>
</o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Old baby crib as Garden Gates.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bptPn9JFeo7nwbgBTxGYtQ2vXyQvgnWanaHFDPmUiLguZ6xklbSV6do1WdD7l_AyMSEKoIzxbvnBre6Taulk8tmO9ACou24ujvtc01Omp2ctikSEBN3_1UEAzoNMXmSXH2c2W5AlGJc/s1600/graffiti.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bptPn9JFeo7nwbgBTxGYtQ2vXyQvgnWanaHFDPmUiLguZ6xklbSV6do1WdD7l_AyMSEKoIzxbvnBre6Taulk8tmO9ACou24ujvtc01Omp2ctikSEBN3_1UEAzoNMXmSXH2c2W5AlGJc/s320/graffiti.png" width="269" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Tidy graffiti,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvEFScvaiO7LkX6H2zkQZ_vIhWJGTnEW3-9XSei6cU5EqNiaDXo2nMZBJxx3aQqtBml0iXQctAhUKs1xpcy8GlV868nk8xIX1x6xCfzlf8vGvJ6yIjLLc98r9AHINRh3BFumhtWNQAYA/s1600/i+love+you+so+much.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvEFScvaiO7LkX6H2zkQZ_vIhWJGTnEW3-9XSei6cU5EqNiaDXo2nMZBJxx3aQqtBml0iXQctAhUKs1xpcy8GlV868nk8xIX1x6xCfzlf8vGvJ6yIjLLc98r9AHINRh3BFumhtWNQAYA/s320/i+love+you+so+much.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">sweet graffiti.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphN140hkFEmq6_qVBaMTcGnkXFkQIU-M0ERsz42ZwiK_vbJDTY68jP39SQCBTxOLMbRvM6pqKcBn5ljPQNHDS3JhM8VCaJUPZOm4E5yVYD6YFBIhxeld041dVgepnjdAcHkqibTYu9F8/s1600/feeder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphN140hkFEmq6_qVBaMTcGnkXFkQIU-M0ERsz42ZwiK_vbJDTY68jP39SQCBTxOLMbRvM6pqKcBn5ljPQNHDS3JhM8VCaJUPZOm4E5yVYD6YFBIhxeld041dVgepnjdAcHkqibTYu9F8/s320/feeder.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">plates and bowl as
chicken feeder,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjbn3fEnulC381vbOrBhqn2D_44d3KZ1uz7o6orLTSlQWoHFYyuPcgmFXFYkoSjIznd-cgZ4gdbiXsPdkR1Vf59x0nAfbo4iDHSIE59Z5YTS_YhGJlI5bKgltcju0YGl11XQ3QVPs5gc/s1600/dream+home.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjbn3fEnulC381vbOrBhqn2D_44d3KZ1uz7o6orLTSlQWoHFYyuPcgmFXFYkoSjIznd-cgZ4gdbiXsPdkR1Vf59x0nAfbo4iDHSIE59Z5YTS_YhGJlI5bKgltcju0YGl11XQ3QVPs5gc/s400/dream+home.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">my dream-home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">. . . . . . . . . . . </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Speaking of
dream-home….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg252wxsPBzkyZ6_B0qrjQv4bk_THSwwnGyiEKNFfJFR1lre6zjCceIxD-FHlA54OA9SHk-zEjRs1VD16HRtX2lKTZ1tBsoKUvf_r2LmtuOHi1-fpcMHBnn8KjYwGmDInv3w_bzHduVqIM/s1600/old+coop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg252wxsPBzkyZ6_B0qrjQv4bk_THSwwnGyiEKNFfJFR1lre6zjCceIxD-FHlA54OA9SHk-zEjRs1VD16HRtX2lKTZ1tBsoKUvf_r2LmtuOHi1-fpcMHBnn8KjYwGmDInv3w_bzHduVqIM/s400/old+coop.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The coop I built for the gals is
almost three years old now. And while I still love its design, I’m getting itchy to
build something new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">With four fresh chicks arriving in May, this might be the perfect time for a major construction project....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I'll keep you posted!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Lauren</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-33222919624391700292013-03-26T10:10:00.000-04:002013-03-26T10:10:04.043-04:00Triangles and Circles!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What a wonderful day! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today for our blog tour I got to draw a cat and a chicken!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wasn't I just gushing <a href="http://scratchandpeck.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-draw-chicken.html" target="_blank">recently</a> about how much I love to draw cats and chickens? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meet Linus and his ladies, some of the critters in Lisa Steele's menagerie:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIk3WxhvczxE_5wbT1uU3cRQ0pmfM8mtNOvYPry1Hpfk2rwkLBBoGP0P5KYLjggFs7pyBROTg9FQe9pTicFQcdhGBx36KDjvHlO-GU5r5PyYrfORN3AysEc89_enY9gOoRwG3HpSU7Ns/s1600/linus+and+ladies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIk3WxhvczxE_5wbT1uU3cRQ0pmfM8mtNOvYPry1Hpfk2rwkLBBoGP0P5KYLjggFs7pyBROTg9FQe9pTicFQcdhGBx36KDjvHlO-GU5r5PyYrfORN3AysEc89_enY9gOoRwG3HpSU7Ns/s320/linus+and+ladies.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here the hens wait patiently behind a pinecone while Linus gives the shed a kitty-caress. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had the best time drawing Linus and Grace for Lisa --</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take a look over at <a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreshEggsDaily+%28Fresh+Eggs+Daily%29" target="_blank">Fresh Eggs Daily</a>, explore this cool farmin' blog, and, yes, have another shot at winning a copy of Once Upon a Flock!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cluck!...and Meow!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-58042290786380322942013-03-25T12:22:00.002-04:002013-03-25T12:24:04.525-04:00Trottin' Along!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7yGP5H3RteRcbudEP953BF2yOC2wXty_V1NAPnwORbTv3y6nXNTLhzGTXPNNr8wkC5dR1Nwz3EDWuM8datgUKmq8DxV9tZwZsgw-z9oxfBj7TUu7X5xROWLlUoXQuap6RnaEzAUBStQ/s1600/shelftalker+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7yGP5H3RteRcbudEP953BF2yOC2wXty_V1NAPnwORbTv3y6nXNTLhzGTXPNNr8wkC5dR1Nwz3EDWuM8datgUKmq8DxV9tZwZsgw-z9oxfBj7TUu7X5xROWLlUoXQuap6RnaEzAUBStQ/s400/shelftalker+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes! Another wonderful blog for your enjoyment:<a href="https://simplethrift.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/lesson-730-once-upon-a-flock-by-lauren-scheuer-giveaway/" target="_blank"> <b>Lessons Learned from the Flock</b>! </a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Find out about a special gal, Charlie, the Black Copper Marans chicken! Leave a comment, win a book!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b>. . . . . . . . . . . </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's the blog tour schedule:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 19 <a href="http://www.tillysnest.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Tilly's Nest</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 20 <a href="http://hencam.com/henblog/2013/03/lauren-scheuer-visits-and-a-book-giveaway/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hencam.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 21 <a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-book-introduction.html" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Chicken Chick</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 22 <a href="http://www.ourneckofthewoods.net/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Our Neck of the Woods</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 23 <a href="http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-giveaway.html" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Our Little Acre</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 24 <a href="http://reddirtramblings.com/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> Red Dirt Ramblings</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 25 <a href="http://simplethrift.wordpress.com/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lessons Learned from the Flock</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 26 <a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Fresh Eggs Daily</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 27 <a href="http://gardenrant.com/" style="color: #006089; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Garden Rant</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-92126933329671529372013-03-24T09:28:00.000-04:002013-03-24T09:33:09.199-04:00Red Dirt and Hellebores<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's stop on the <i>Once Upon a Flock </i>Blog Tour: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://reddirtramblings.com/" target="_blank">Red Dirt Ramblings!</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I follow this wonderful blog because Dee's got the gardens of my dreams. Joyful and unpruned, always a new wall or border being built, and full of plants I've never heard of....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLciaeMR2OFLKn0Epk_hUDBcbXiShMVKWsScRQcJza2WkBc-e1oN2wtUTsxzLqqzWVWerUFwmZrMF3ISRHBSUP5r1RK39lzIAy6UqTmBVjDnU-bE5m8Yiek3HwGXe84zgEJC5yotgQYy4/s1600/Hellebore-Brandywine-Strain-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLciaeMR2OFLKn0Epk_hUDBcbXiShMVKWsScRQcJza2WkBc-e1oN2wtUTsxzLqqzWVWerUFwmZrMF3ISRHBSUP5r1RK39lzIAy6UqTmBVjDnU-bE5m8Yiek3HwGXe84zgEJC5yotgQYy4/s400/Hellebore-Brandywine-Strain-imp.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">like these here hellebores. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hellebore? What kind of a name is that for a flower? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">....or for a chicken for that matter? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've named my chickens "Daisy" and "Fern"... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've known "Violet" and "Lily". </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But really now. <i>Hellebore</i>?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bixuJYqiqPsDv3xvPh1kfPHeYiOl0MCybu9s43DcIJKykb45EVYauXlBiCnRGpJ1u2mJ6jKuOyW-RwipQm9eouVVEUqPOHj7SRIgQTf0ce9iEWV2h-lPwpuY5jZ0zafjoC14XvxNHGg/s1600/Hellebore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bixuJYqiqPsDv3xvPh1kfPHeYiOl0MCybu9s43DcIJKykb45EVYauXlBiCnRGpJ1u2mJ6jKuOyW-RwipQm9eouVVEUqPOHj7SRIgQTf0ce9iEWV2h-lPwpuY5jZ0zafjoC14XvxNHGg/s400/Hellebore.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Head on over to read <a href="http://reddirtramblings.com/" target="_blank">Dee's blog</a>, leave a comment to win a free book, and then go to the top of the blog and click on "My Gardens" for some eye-candy and more Hellebores!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">---and here's the full list of awesome blogs on my tour-- Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 19 <a href="http://www.tillysnest.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Tilly's Nest</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 20 <a href="http://hencam.com/henblog/2013/03/lauren-scheuer-visits-and-a-book-giveaway/" target="_blank">Hencam.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 21 <a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-book-introduction.html" target="_blank">The Chicken Chick</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 22 <a href="http://www.ourneckofthewoods.net/" target="_blank">Our Neck of the Woods</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 23 <a href="http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Our Little Acre</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 24 <a href="http://reddirtramblings.com/" target="_blank"> Red Dirt Ramblings</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 25 <a href="http://simplethrift.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lessons Learned from the Flock</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 26 <a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fresh Eggs Daily</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 27 <a href="http://gardenrant.com/" target="_blank">Garden Rant</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294106768431510384.post-11028139846232478932013-03-23T12:45:00.004-04:002013-03-23T17:32:39.403-04:00Copying a Masterpiece<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The <i>Once Upon a Flock</i> blog tour continues!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I love being an illustrator because folks give me assignments that I might never have tried to tackle on my own. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today's creative challenge is a spectacular living masterpiece: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kylee Baumle's Silver Laced Wyandotte, Violet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kylee wasn't sure which of these ladies is in fact Violet, so I chose that elegant form in the background. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB5xpjRy7kb9iadUhRYYrKvWyfKbEHRY7uWerqh42kVH6UwZiJgLC8H4bI-BFWZdbDD266BABfnm-GHt4emo777HwaC2yiKtVO6g6ETkyhBjdNNs0Fj6Qa1tN81nJgq3FEjLCwa2Qef8/s1600/kylee+wyandotte+a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB5xpjRy7kb9iadUhRYYrKvWyfKbEHRY7uWerqh42kVH6UwZiJgLC8H4bI-BFWZdbDD266BABfnm-GHt4emo777HwaC2yiKtVO6g6ETkyhBjdNNs0Fj6Qa1tN81nJgq3FEjLCwa2Qef8/s320/kylee+wyandotte+a.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First, to capture those voluptuous curves.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then, to make sense of that wildly graphic feather pattern.... I began with black, then carved the white pattern. A bit of shading, and that rich red face....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-mbm6u5R7u6gUzdHx7v9xbbwn-VCDea2ChWJGJjMoC6u2R8DBoQHpTAY6FiThyVRRdb9AFohCukrT4UodDO1LIhJwb2Pd-3aT6IXTfzq-q4JSs6LAOX0NXfVDl_2tGoJstEjqanOOHI/s1600/Violet+Baumle+1+framed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-mbm6u5R7u6gUzdHx7v9xbbwn-VCDea2ChWJGJjMoC6u2R8DBoQHpTAY6FiThyVRRdb9AFohCukrT4UodDO1LIhJwb2Pd-3aT6IXTfzq-q4JSs6LAOX0NXfVDl_2tGoJstEjqanOOHI/s400/Violet+Baumle+1+framed.png" width="370" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And here's Violet! ....Makes me want a Silver Laced Wyandotte of my very own. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now, please head on over to <a href="http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-giveaway.html" target="_blank">OUR LITTLE ACRE</a> to meet Violet and to win yourself a copy of ONCE UPON A FLOCK!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's the full list of the fantastic and unique blogs on my tour -- Enjoy! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 19 <a href="http://www.tillysnest.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Tilly's Nest</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 20 <a href="http://hencam.com/henblog/2013/03/lauren-scheuer-visits-and-a-book-giveaway/" target="_blank">Hencam.com</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 21 <a href="http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-book-introduction.html" target="_blank">The Chicken Chick</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 22 <a href="http://www.ourneckofthewoods.net/" target="_blank">Our Neck of the Woods</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 23 <a href="http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2013/03/once-upon-flock-blog-tour-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Our Little Acre</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 24 <a href="http://reddirtramblings.com/" target="_blank"> Red Dirt Ramblings</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 25 <a href="http://simplethrift.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lessons Learned from the Flock</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 26 <a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fresh Eggs Daily</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 27 <a href="http://gardenrant.com/" target="_blank">Garden Rant</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02303709081001334880noreply@blogger.com6