Sunday, March 22, 2020

A Sweet Distraction And Promise Of Life Continuing


Well, there you go. Deal with the adorableness. I'll write about 'em in a minute here.

First. How are you? What has this day been like for you? Not necessarily what you've eaten or done or not done but how are you feeling? Where are you on the scale of emotions? Also, are you reading the news obsessively or are you letting it happen without your own personal minute-by-minute awareness of it?
This morning was hard for me. I thought I was going to need to pop an Ativan but I didn't. I did get more hives but I'm used to that. They're mostly gone at this moment. I talked to Lis and they're doing well. She's saving everything she can from Lon's garden, using, not wasting. It does really help to talk to someone else, doesn't it? To compare notes and know we're not alone in this. She lives on even more property than I do and there is plenty there to keep the both of them busy. She is of good cheer for the most part and by the time we got off the phone, I felt better.
Jessie started texting me about wanting to go get baby chicks. And you know, I've been dragging my heels about this, even though I have been wanting some.
"But we don't have this ready and we don't have that ready."
Still, I kept remembering when Kathleen brought me my first chicks. She just handed them over with a bag of shavings and a bag of chick starter food and before you knew it, I was raising chicks and Mr. Moon was building the Chick Mahal.
It worked out.
So Jessie went to two different places in Monticello and got nine chicks at a local feed place and nine more at the Tractor Supply. She said they probably would have given her all of them. They need to get rid of them.
The one she got at the local place are older. Probably two to three weeks. They have pin feathers and little tail feathers.


When she opened the box I said, "Hell, these chickens are ready to lay." 
Not quite. But they're definitely not peeps. This is fine with me because they're going to move outside ASAP. Like maybe tomorrow. All baby chicks do is eat and poop their weight daily and they get stinky. And messy. I don't even use shavings anymore in the bottom of their little bin-homes because it's easier just to use towels that I can take out, shake out, and bleach. 
The ones she got at the Tractor Supply are teeny tiny. 


Especially the three banties. Those yellow ones are two of those. 
I don't even know what all breeds they are. I suppose if you held a gun to my head I could tell you but luckily that is not the case. There are some Golden Comets, Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers, Americaunas, perhaps some Rhode Island reds. Not sure about that. And some others, I think. 
We have them in two separate bins so that the big ones don't torture the little ones. 
And so here we go. Jessie and Vergil are going to take some of them. And we'll keep the rest. Because I know how these things go, some will turn out to be roosters, some may die. And there's quite a bit of work and worry involved, keeping their spaces clean, keeping their feeders and waterers filled, making sure that their environment is warm enough and critter proof. 
But it's not rocket science. I mean hey- chickens are the descendants of dinosaurs. They have great genes and are hardier than they look. 
I already cut some greens up for them but they weren't sure what to do with them. Yet. They'll figure it out. When I went to pick some greens for our supper, I picked some of the chard that's getting bug eaten and I'll feed that to the chicks. It's nice to think that even buggy greens can be used, one way or another. 

One of the things that Lis and I talked about was how strange it is to walk out into our yards and feel as if everything is absolutely normal. "Another beautiful day," as Lis said. And then to realize that nothing is normal. 
Not really. 
I know exactly what she means. 

I kicked bamboo this morning. It's coming up like crazy. 


The wisteria is climbing way, way up into the trees, dropping purple petals which the wind catches hold of and spreads across the ground. 


The wisteria that grows on the trellis has lots of bee attention. Can you see this one? 


One strange thing that I've noticed is how fast the days seem to go. I'm not sure why but every time I look at the clock, it's later than I thought it could possibly be. It's certainly not because I'm deeply involved in anything. I flit from tiny project to tiny project. A little laundry here, a little weeding there. I'm spending way too much time doing crosswords. I really want to make a dress but all I've done is to wash the fabric. I haven't even ironed it. I suppose this is all just part of my denial/dissociation. I chastise myself for not using this time more wisely but honest to god, let's try not to do that, people. 
Some folks deal with anxiety by being in constant motion and some deal with it by floating and flitting. I do have to get out and walk more. It's quite easy to keep a safe amount of space between humans while walking here. Mr. Moon is riding his bike and he is loving that. I'm proud of him. 

I've been texting my kids and we all agree that not being able to see and hug each other is so hard but as May said, "I miss all of you! I think about how much I want to hug you all the time, and I'm just so grateful that anytime we've gotten together we have hugged, fiercely. I feel bad for people who don't and who haven't."
Yeah. That pretty much sums it up. It also sums up why I'm so damn lucky. 
When Jessie was here we did not, of course, hug her. Did we keep six feet of space between us at all times?
Not really. 
Also- can corona virus live on the down of baby chicks? 
We're doing the best we can. I imagine that very soon, if our governor is wise, there's going to be a stay-at-home order. We all expect it. 

Day by day. Or, minute by minute. However it is that you handle things. We all have our own styles of coping, our own tools in our toolboxes. Our own needs and definitely our own circumstances. 
And yet- here we all are in the same boat, basically, from Australia to Hawaii to Great Britain to Mexico to China to Canada to Italy to Lloyd, Florida. 
Doing the best we can. 

Here's hoping you love the one you're with, be that man, woman, child, or pet. 

Love...Ms. Moon

35 comments:

  1. Well the one I'm with is me. And I'm definitely lovable. Today was good on the emotional barometer, because it contained the Music Challenge, and I heard from a couple of people who did it, yay.

    Long distance nice chat with neighbor who says he'll shop if I want anything, just tell him.

    Lovely day, great walk.

    Blogging and responses.

    Watered house plants.

    Listened to good novel.

    Now set to watch old Alec Guinness movie. All in all, good by any standard. The sunshine makes a big difference. And thank you for asking!

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    1. That sounds like a pretty perfect day by yes, any standard! Inspiring!

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  2. Also- can corona virus live on the down of baby chicks? must be a poem, must be a novel!! Such a wonderful sentence, Mary!! Your day is wonderful . My nephew is getting married and that is also the best news of the day. Staying in is not at all bad, however weather changing , there will be darkness and rain for the next week and a half...shite! That is going to be a challenge but a hell of a lot better than getting the virus, holy cow, what a miserable death!! here's to life ( raises her glass of tea & brandy) Cheers! Skoll! LOVE

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    1. I WISH we would get some rain. At this point I'm about to declare a drought. I suppose that if it rains, it pours, and so forth.
      Can't you just see a tiny corona virus sphere on the tip of a bit of down? Well, I hope that can't happen. But it's an interesting image.
      Hurray for your nephew and his man!

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  3. How rude of me to forget to admire the chicks. If chick care is anything like baby parakeet care, it's all about cleaning and scrubbing and sweeping, so the house doesn't look like the forest floor. But they are soooo cuuuuute. For onlookers! Love the little sounds they make.

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    1. That's pretty much exactly what it's like although I'm keeping the chicks in a Rubbermaid bin and not a cage. And they do make precious little chirps. My theory is that they do that so their mamas can always find them.

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  4. I was so happy to see your chicks! Enjoy. Life is difficult here in NY. The City border is ten feet from my front door and New Rochelle is 7 miles away. We are trying to keep busy,walk outside with the dog and text loved ones.I have several family members in health care and worry constantly. One thing I don't do is watch that horrid orange idiot when he bloviates on television.Keep well.

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    1. Whenever I hear of the town New Rochelle I always think of the Dick Van Dyke Show. Didn't he and Laura live in New Rochelle? It will forever be a hip, cool town in my mind.
      I can imagine that it IS very difficult there. I am truly one of the lucky ones and I know it. But I'm glad you can get outside.
      I haven't watched That Orange Thing in days.

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  5. I'm having a hard time, emotionally. I've been very fearful today about just how dreadful this is all going and up and how long it's going to go on. My allergies have been terrible for the last day or two (probably all the pollen) and I've felt truly awful with my nose running buckets, a sore throat, headaches, and lots of fatigue. I wonder how much the stress of all this is contributing....usually I only have seasonal allergies in the fall, not the spring. And of course even though I know that all my symptoms point to allergies and not covid 19 I still have a deep down fear that I've caught it.

    Not my best day, by far. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

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    1. Oh Lord. We'd ALL be thinking we had Covid 19 with those symptoms. You stay on top of it, Jennifer. I'm sure that it's not the virus but you know what to do. I am so sorry that this is so hard for you. You sure aren't alone.

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  6. Lovely baby chicks. I have a cold now. It’s getting kinda miserable. Onward.

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    1. Oh, dear god. No. Please. Just NO COLDS!
      Be safe. Don't go too far onward, okay? Rest.

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  7. Wont usually let me comment anymore Will try UK govt useless. Apparently worst response to crisis l am in isolation as a vulnerable person. Your blog saves my sanity. Love to you and yours Maggi xxx

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    1. Oh, Maggi. I'm sorry. This comment came through at least.
      Stay safe, woman!

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    2. Love across the pond and thankful the post got through. Had to do several of those verify things Somecere very USA so failed them Love to you and yours Maggi xxx

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  8. I can't give the days credit for speed, but they seem to go along "normally". Breakfast. Do something. Lunch. Do something. Supper. Do something. Go to bed. Start over. Lack of family the last four or five years has trained me well.
    Yeah for peeps. Good for all of us, though you get to do all the work.

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    1. Well, I'll gladly take care of the peeps. We all need to feel useful, right?

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  9. Baby chicks! Fussy and making that peeping noise.

    Thank you dear one. Enjoying the fragrance of daphne by the front door.

    XXXXX Beth

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    1. Love you, woman! It was so nice to chat today. What a sweet surprise!

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  10. With my friend in Texas and a little homesick. Worried about my husband and son back home though they assure me they being safe, my son insists on going fishing with his buddy. Sigh. I'm glad my friend isn't alone here though, she's facing an emotionally draining situation made all the worse by this sbit. We've been doing the isolation thing for over a week now. Jealous of your eggs! They seem to be a scarce commodity lately like tp. My friend said we're now in a world with legal weed and black market toilet paper! Lots of creative cooking going on here. Stay safe.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Your friend is right- legal weed and black market toilet paper. That about sums up this crazy time.
      You ladies hang in there and keep up the creative cooking. I hope some eggs find their way to the kitchen soon.

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  11. Thank you for the baby chickens to cheer us up!

    Last night, I briefly had a half asleep horror vision involving this virus and another and another in waves but when I told my man about it this morning he told me his nightmare was that he had missed teaching two maths lessons before the kids had their exams.
    He felt so awful, he almost got up, he said. And he is a retired teacher.

    I argue with my dad over the phone every morning because he thinks I am wasting money calling him but we are both relieved that he is living alone at home with friends and neighbours dropping meals by his door and a daily call from a health service. This morning he said, he was very content. That's big coming from him.

    Be well, Mary Moon, look after our feathered friends for us.

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    1. Oh Lord. I had a dream about school too! I dreamed I was getting a very important senior college award for journalism and was going to be able to interview a famous person but I had to take care of my grandfather. Who's been dead for about thirty-five years.
      I will do my best with the baby dinosaurs.

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  12. Doing the best we can, indeed. I'm so glad you got some baby chicks. Yes, they are adorable, especially the really little ones. I hope there aren't too many roosters!

    I don't know how to feel. The dog walker comes today so I am able to spend the day at home, and I'm kind of looking forward to it. Maybe I'll get started on some garden projects, and maybe not.

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    1. Actually, Vergil wants some roosters to process for meat. So...no problem there. Just gotta keep 'em all alive.
      Garden projects are perfect right now. That's what I think.

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  13. Thanks for a glimpse of your world. New chicks will certainly give you something to do/think about for the next while. Think I am in the float/flitter category which, considering the world at the moment, it isn't a bad place to be. Suddenly, being an introvert--in what was an extrovert world--stands me in good stead.

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    1. Me too, Mary! Days and days at home?
      Lovely. If there just weren't a horrible virus out there and if I could see my grandchildren, all would be pretty perfect for me.

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  14. I'm staying safe by staying connected. A friend and I "met" for lunch yesterday - parked next to each other in our cars and rolled down our windows. We are also having virtual lunches during work, so a group of us eat "together" and can see each other on our screens. Those things are incredibly uplifting to my spirits. I'm so so so happy you guys got baby chicks. My daily visits here are as important as ever. And it is really heartening for me to read how your family is doing this distancing thing - because sometimes I feel like so many people aren't and that's too depressing.

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    1. That sounds creative, safe and fun, Jill! I've been talking more to people on the phone and it makes a difference, doesn't it?
      Lily sent us all some pictures just now that I won't put on the blog (child nudity) but they made us all smile. Maggie is a force of nature. That's all I need to say about THAT!

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  15. well, my comment I made last night doesn't seem to be here. It went something like this: I'd like to have some chickens but I already have more than I can handle to do. what I'd really like is fresh farm eggs brought to me cause it's not like there aren't plenty of people selling them around here.

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    1. I think that was on another post. Go back and check because I answered it, I'm pretty sure.

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  16. We have just heard that South Africa is to be in lockdown from Friday morning. I have heard that there is an army contingent in a nearby suburb(not verified). I for one am breathing a sigh of relief. It means that I don't have to refuse to go to lunch with friends because I am a spoilsport and a wuss and a little bit odd.I would love to get out and go to lunch,but I also worry about where this is leading. We have a vast population of poor people living in shanty towns and we need to prevent the virus getting established there. We also have many people compromised with HIV and TB. So I am glad we will all have to comply now. I am selfishly glad you have chickens so I can vicariously enjoy them. I need to go and get some seedlings tomorrow so I will have an outdoor activity in the next few weeks. Stay safe!

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    1. God. Going out to lunch? Yeah. Glad you don't have to even think about that option now. This virus is going to hit the poorest people the hardest. Big surprise, right? Damn, I hate this.
      Starting seeds is the best thing you can do. Be careful. Be safe. Keep telling us how it's going.

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  17. Oh good! Looking forward to regular baby chick news.
    I'm fine here in Minneapolis. I've made a routine. Coffee. T'ai Chi Chih, yoga, household chores, news and breakfast, then craft some thing or another. Go for a walk. My anxiety is not bad. But I'm having weird disturbing dreams that I can't quite remember. xoxo Take care.

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    1. Sounds like you're handling it very, very intelligently, Denise. I'm so glad. I still have a hard time thinking of you in Minneapolis and not California. But I'm glad you're okay.
      My dreams have been fairly weird too and for me, that means REALLY WEIRD.
      Take care, sweetie.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.