The great thing about sporadic blogging is that, with a little luck, you'll come back to it and the photo you had up last year will be seasonally correct for the new post! I do this on purpose!
But after some prodding and encouragement from my dear boy and his sweet honey who are homesick for France, I decided to tell you about the adventures of the past 24 hours.
Last year, the farmer who owns the field behind our house told us that he'd be putting in cows. Momma cows....with BABIES! I love animals, and really love baby animals. Never mind that these poor ladies are being raised to make hamburger, they are fun to watch for now.
So finally, yesterday, they arrived. I was messing around out in the yard, and heard a "mooooo", looked over and there they were. He must have put them in while I was in Villefranche giving an English lesson. Needless to say, the babies are adorable, chasing after their mommas for a little milk, or chasing each other around in the field, just being kids. I think they'll be a great addition to our own personal farm zoo. Now we have donkeys 2 doors to the left, horses 2 doors to the right, and cows straight ahead! It makes for a fun evening chorus sometimes! The only thing that concerns me is the fly population this summer. Hopefully it won't be much worse than usual with the animals that were already around before.
The new neighbors checking out the neighborhood
So that was yesterday's adventure...
This morning, I went out to feed the chickens and nobody was home. I looked in all the normal hiding places, the coop, under the bushes, in the cellar (yes, the ladies have hollowed out a "dirt hammock" in the floor of the cellar). No chickens, nowhere. So, I widened my search, and headed out the lane the leads from our house to the main street of town. And there I came upon poor miss Mabel, feet up, on her back, obviously dead. She was just outside the neighbors gate. I'm not sure what happened to her, but I think she must have adventured out the street and had a rough encounter with a car. There weren't any signs of her being attacked, but I guess we'll never know. I wasn't too upset because she was getting old and not laying as much. We'll have to go to the livestock market in Villefranche one of these days and replace her. I just can't imagine buying eggs after having had fresh ones these past few years. They are cheap and I know what's going into them. They taste so much better too!
So, Mabel, may you rest in peace wherever you are. May you find fat earthworms and gross bugs to eat, and may you finally fly high over fences.
Mabel - RIP (What the heck are you doing on the picnic table?)
Now, the only problem is that I haven't seen Ethel either, since yesterday. Is she out there on Main street, feet up, for everyone to see? Did guilty car do a double murder last night? I'm afraid to go look, I think I'll just wait for an neighbor to call me.
So, only Daisy is left for now. And guess where I found her this morning?
For some reason, when I leave the door open, Daisy comes in and jumps up on this old trunk my friend Marceline gave me. She just loves it! She gets up their and scratches around on, as if she were arranging some imaginary straw to sleep on, then lays down and closes her eyes. I know it's gross to let a chicken on my furniture, but it's so cute, and it's not like she does it every day. (Anyone feeling defensive? Lori?) I'm just glad my husband doesn't read this blog. DON'T TELL HIM KIDS!!
Well, there's a quick post for my shildrens and anyone else who reads this. It's not that interesting but it's all true! I love you all!
