A Coop Full Of Chickens

So did we watch Project Runway last night?
Yes we did.
Do we love Tim Gunn?
Yes we do.
Were we surprised when the woman who designed that shorts outfit-slash-space suit thing got kicked?
No. We were not.

Are we surprised that Ms. Moon watches Project Runway?
I have no idea if you're surprised or not. But I love that show. I think it's because it actually shows the creative process in action from the design to the buying of the fabric to the cutting and sewing and trimming and wearing. And there is real skill involved and real talent and sometimes something beautiful happens.

On to my next subject:
I am going to my happy place tonight.
The Monticello Opera House where the usual suspects are going to do a just-for-fun read-through of Our Town. Oh, how I have missed my Opera House loves. My Jan and my Jack, my Kathleen (although we do have chicken/porch visits weekly, at least) and my Herb. My Colin and my Linda and my Lisa, perhaps. And my Rich. Oh, how I have missed my Rich.

Kathleen and Rich stopped by last night to pick up a car (long story) and I was in the garden, sweating like a pig and filthy. Wearing overalls, of course. I was weeding, clearing out the garden and getting it ready for the fall garden. I was putting the pulled weeds in the chicken coop because the chicks love to go through the weeds and their roots for bugs and tasty bits.

"Don't hug me," I admonished Rich. He's always so clean and neat and tidy and always smells so good. He's having to grow a beard for his part in the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof and it's driving him crazy. "It makes me feel dirty," he says, rubbing his chin.

But he hugged me anyway, sort of. I air-kissed him. That's Rich. He's such a dear. I met him when we did Casablanca and he and I and Kathleen became friends. He's the kind of friend whom you could call up at midnight and say, "Please drive me to Miami. It's an emergency." And he'd get up, get dressed and show up at your house with a full tank of gas, no questions asked.

And he would smell good, too.

Kathleen's the same way.

It's good to have friends like that. I am so fortunate to get to play with people like that. All of the Opera House folks are good folks. I feel like they're "My People," even if we aren't all the same.
Boy do I miss being in a play.
So tonight will be fun. Big, fun with my play-mates.

And today is filled with to-do's and but-firsts. Library (another happy place) and the grocery store and I need to make something to eat to take tonight and what will that be? One time I made stuffed grape leaves to take to an Opera House gathering but I realized that people would have been much happier with pizza rolls or baby quiches. But damn, I loved those grape leaves. So did Kathleen who brought sushi. We're two of a kind, that girl and I, in many ways. As we were looking at the chickens last night with Rich I said, "You know, Kathleen and I could just sit all day and watch our chickens," and Rick shook his head in amazement. I'm sure he wanted to say, "And this is why I think you're both crazy," but he didn't. He just smiled.

And isn't that a friend? They may not understand why you do what you do but they understand that you need to or want to. Same with me and Mr. Moon's hunting. I don't understand it but I love him and I know by now that he needs to hunt the way I need to write, which he, in turn, does not understand but accepts as part of who I am.

Acceptance. We all need it. And when we love someone, there's a lot we need to learn to accept. And if we don't, then how can we really love that person? As Lyle Lovett said once, "If I was the man that you wanted, I would not be the man that I am."

Amen, Lyle. Amen.

So I've gone from Project Runway to the Opera House to friendship and love and acceptance to Lyle Lovett. Phew! A coop full of crazy chickens for you today.

And one more thing- my son gave me a copy of a 'zine he did called Biscuits and Gravy and it's so filled with love for the south and the food we eat here and good writing, and also, his mama, that I just wish I could give everyone a copy. Maybe if you go visit him at Tallyhassle he'll send you one. I don't know. Maybe he won't. But it's worth a try.

Here's a quote from it:

"You can raise your kids and they'll never realize they're poor if you know how to make good soup."

Lot of wisdom in that boy of mine.

And here's a picture of Suzie and Red, looking up at me and saying, "Where's the treats, Ma?"

Sorry babes, I've given you all the treats I have today.
Now. I'm off to town and out into the world and tonight I'll play with my friends.
Have a wonderful Friday.

Love...Ms. Moon