Sunday, February 3, 2019

A Lovely Hen And More


See that basket? I probably got it a thrift store because I love baskets. And bowls. And leather bags. I believe it's a womb thing. Anyway, that basket has been sitting there for some time because Dearie, in her struggles to lay eggs in the bag of shallots on the nearby wicker table where it sat, knocked it off and I never put it back on the table. Dearie has been quite upset since I replaced the bag the shallots were in with a paper bag because she can't figure out how to get in it and lay.
Yes, I did make the no-more-chickens-on-the-porch rule because of the poop and I blocked off their entranceway but Dearie quickly figured out how to just come in the cat door being undeterred by the flap in it. She's a smart hen.
So she's been coming on the porch and just rustling about and sitting on a chair and staring at me and so forth and today I heard her making some sort of noise behind me as I sat on the porch and I turned around but couldn't see her. The sound appeared to be coming from the basket though. Whose lid, as you can see, is closed. Was closed.
I walked over, crouched down and slowly lifted the lid.


She was completely unperturbed. I let the lid fall back down and left her to her business. I could see that there was more than one egg in there and after she hopped out of the basket and left the porch I found these. 


Oh, that funny hen! I do love her. I just can't help it. 

I also found two more eggs on the front porch today in the same potted fern I found those half dozen yesterday. Crazy chickens! 

This afternoon, Mr. Moon and I met up at the mounds with Hank and Rachel and Jessie and Vergil and August and Levon. And guess what? August was wearing his dress. 


Here he is, explaining something with many hand and arm movements to his daddy and Rachel. 


And on his bike. 

Here's Levon on his. 


Actually, it's a trike. 

Between all the food that Jessie and Vergil and I packed and the FEAST that Rachel had packed, we dined like royalty. There was chicken salad and hummus and tuna-egg salad and crackers and celery and fig and orange preserves and cheese and pickles and oh, I don't even know. 
A fine picnic, indeed. 


After that the Weatherfords and the Moons came back to the house of Mer and Bop where Vergil and Glen cut a tiny bit of the oak tree that fell in our yard for firewood. Yes, that tree is still there but it is scheduled to be removed early next month. I've gotten quite used to it being there. 

August has told his mother that I need to make him another dress, like Maggie's, and that Levon needs a dress too so I took August's measurements today and we looked at fabric. I think I'm going to go back to Joanne's to see if they have any more of the bug flannel. I don't think I'll make Levon a dress until he asks for one. 
We read some books and Levon and I played peek-a-boo and did some pretend sneezing which makes him laugh. And then the men were done and off the little family drove with a truckload of oak. 
The Super Bowl is on and a neighbor is here to watch it. 
And yes, I have already made (and eaten) Velveeta dip. I didn't eat all of it. Let me make that clear. 
Lord have mercy, that stuff tastes better than anything should be allowed to taste. I would eagerly and happily eat it with a spoon and call it spicy cheese soup. 
Now THERE'S a thought...

All right, dear ones. I'm going to go prepare some manly food. 
It's always about the food, isn't it? 

Sigh...

Love...Ms. Moon

21 comments:

  1. the dresses are such a stroke of genius! Kids with their best stitches on them- going about just being kids...and that little hen of yours, smarter than a cat and more useful I would say- I would hate to bank on cat eggs...Lovely post as usual, lovely basket, thoughtful little hen putting them there - and SO MANY!! in spite of the barricade. Mighty is she!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really want to see how she lifts that lid up to get into the basket. Leave it to the Jungle Fowl!
      I can't wait to make August another dress. As long as he wants me to make them, I will. What better use could there be of my time?
      I am SO glad you're back, woman, although whenever I missed you I would think about how happy you were in London and feel okay about it.

      Delete
  2. oh, I so love your posts and your family! Nothing like a chicken in a basket :-) .
    Superbowl is on here (a bit beyond halfway) I've been waiting to see a Bud Clydesdale ad........but none so far. Domestic day with much baking.....rib roasting.......potato salad making......just for the 2 of us, and now winding down. Your day sounds divine......and ours was too, quiet as it was
    Susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds perfect, Susan! Quiet is the best in my opinion with a bit of chaos thrown in for spice.

      Delete
  3. I love that August wears and likes his dress...such a happy kid. It sounds like another lovely adventure for the Moons and those chickens are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I love that when he put it on yesterday and walked out into the living room his dad said, "You look so pretty!" Vergil had a dress when he was a little boy so he understands.

      Delete
  4. Those boys are so lovely. Levon (autocorrect just offered me Lebotwood or Lowboy!) is growing into his beautiful self so much. I'm always surprised by his pictures now.
    foodfoodfoodfood

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lebotwood????
      Is that an Irish name? Is Lowboy?
      Lebotwood Lowboy is really growing into himself. I love his precious self.
      I'm with you on food.

      Delete
  5. Your dearie is one smart, resourceful bird.

    The grandkids are cute as ever. I spent the afternoon cooking as well. I'm working lates this week so it's nice to have supper already made when we get home.

    Have a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be nice to have supper already made when you get home. Prior planning!

      Delete
  6. clever little chicken. humans are so arrogant thinking they are the only smart creature on the planet. I was wondering if August still wore his dress. I think I'm going to make a skirt today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you make a skirt? I hope so.
      Chickens are brilliant in the exact way that chickens need to be and to judge them by human standards of sense and intelligence truly is a form of arrogance!

      Delete
  7. I began, saying "husbanded chickens". My fingers objected, and my brain. A quick search for "wifed" yielded nothing. The synonyms for husband are all related to tending crops and livestock. The antonyms are ignore and neglect. OK, I'm through going there.
    The native intelligence of our "livestock" always amazes me. And the ones who absolutely rule their kingdoms, like Dearie, are the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that the word "wife" may have had a far more broad and positive definition than it does now. I'm just guessing about that.
      But I think of midwife. And henwife.
      Are chickens livestock? You know, I think they are! How cool. And yes, they can be very, very intelligent.

      Delete
  8. Dearie looks perfectly content in that Basket she so cleverly turned into her Secret Nest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Almost literally beneath my nose. She's a funny thing.

      Delete
  9. fresh and healthy eggs.
    have a great day

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love how much August clearly treasures his dress. Your post with the Owen and Maggie photo was so very sweet. Much love.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Barbara. I don't now if August treasures his dress as much as he just likes to wear it. It's different than the rest of his clothes and that in and of itself is special. But I hope he likes it because I made it too.
      Owen and Maggie ARE sweet. That picture captured it.

      Delete
  11. Such a beautiful family, in all ways.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.