Saturday, May 22, 2021

BEBES!


 Look! 
The first chick has hatched! I was out looking for eggs when I heard the definite little peeps of a new-hatched baby. I raised up Darla's hindquarters and snuck a peek and there it was. Just out of the shell. Exhausted, I am sure. It is hard work to be born, whether, as I said the other day, one emerges from a womb or from an egg. I love how she's resting on one of her still-in-the-shell siblings. Or he. Watch- all of the eggs that hatch will be roosters. 
Lord, I hope not. 
Mr. Moon and I had both noticed that Darla has not been getting off the nest at all as far as we could tell. Generally broody hens will get off the nest for a few minutes every day to eat a very quick bite, to sip a little water, to dust off in the dirt and then rush back to her eggs but I'm not sure Darla read that part of the handbook. So today I cut up some cantaloupe into tiny pieces and gave her a little dish of that and the regular chicken feed. She gobbled up the fruit and I cut more for her. I've also put a little waterer in with her, designed for chicks so that they do not drown in it and put marbles in it too as a further insurance against losing one of the babies. That has happened here before and it is heartbreaking. 
I told Mr. Moon today that I thought I'd go to the Tractor Supply and get some chick starter but he said he'd go tomorrow as he has something else to pick up. When I saw the little chick out of its shell, I panicked for a second and then looked up "homemade chick feed" and there are many recipes including oatmeal mixed with hardboiled eggs and I made a little bit of oat bran cereal but I've gotten way ahead of myself. Some websites say that chicks can go forty-eight hours after hatching without food and water as they absorb all of the remaining nutrients in the shell before they peck their way out. 
I should have known that. 

Anyway, I am very, very excited. 

I have no one to share my excitement with at the moment because Mr. Moon is at a friend's for a fish fry. I was invited too but I have lost whatever ability I may have ever had to socialize over the last year. I made a peach and blueberry and mulberry cobbler for him to take and sent him off with that and a gallon of vanilla ice cream. I'm sure that those will be far more of an asset to the party than I would be. 

So let's see. What else? 
Oh! Guess what? When you cook purple pole beans, they turn regular pole bean green. 


But they are delicious. There are little red potatoes under those beans and we ate them last night. So, so good. 
And Mr. Moon picked the first two tomatoes of the year.


They are of the Cherokee Purple variety and as such, do not get entirely red. I almost forced him to pick them, especially that bigger one. I told him that if he waited too long, it was going to get mushy in the middle and wouldn't that be a sorrow? 
He agreed. 
He picked. 
He also picked us two little sungold cherry tomatoes that were as sweet as any tomato I've ever put in my mouth. More flavor in one of those than in an entire giant store-bought tomato. You have to close your eyes when you eat them, they're so good. So sweet. 

Lily and Lauren took Magnolia June to a park in Georgia today called Wild Adventures. It's what I call a poor-man's Disney World. They advertise as being a theme park, a water park, and an animal park. I used to take my kids there occasionally. It's not very far from Tallahassee and back in those days it was still pretty low-key. Some rides, a roller coaster, animals. Now they have lots of new stuff and I'm sure that Maggie is having the best time. Here are some pictures. 





I think they've classed up the joint since I was there last. I bet Maggie is having the time of her life. 
Here's my favorite fact about Wild Adventures: Part of Zombieland was filmed there in 2009. Some of you may not know this but Zombieland is one of my favorite movies. 
And no, I'm not kidding. 
I have extremely plebeian tastes PLUS Bill Murray is in the movie as is Woody Harrelson and I love and adore Bill and have a very soft spot in my heart for Woody. 
Don't you judge me. 
Oh hell. Go ahead. Judge me all you want. I couldn't care less.

Anyway, Mr. Moon is home now. He says he can't eat again for at least two days. He brought me home a plate with fried mullet, snapper, hushpuppies and cheese grits. Guess I won't be making supper tonight. 
But I'll be eating it. 
Pass the hot sauce. 

Love...Ms. Moon





28 comments:

  1. I agree ... those sungold cherry tomatoes are the absolute best ... they are what I get if the store has them! They are perfect for just snacking on!

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  2. A happy day for Miss Darla you realized she might be in need of food and water.

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    1. She's been happily eating fruit and cat food!

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  3. The baby chicks are so sweet. I have to chuckle, your tomato season is ending as mine is only starting. I planted my beans today, Jack helped me. I poked the hole in the soil and he put one seed in each hole.

    And Zombieland is an amazing movie! I love it.

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    1. Oh, our tomato season isn't ending. We're just now picking our first. Good for Jack, helping plant beans! Start 'em early!

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  4. I love sungold tomatoes and grow them most years. Not ever seen them for sale in the supermarket though. I planted some seeds a few weeks ago,( normally manage to buy small plants) but they are still only tiny with just their seed leaves. I have put them somewhere a bit warmer in the hope they will get on with it!! Looking forward to seeing some pics of your chicks....so cute.

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    1. We somehow planted so many sun golds. Not sure what we'll do with them all. But I am sure that they will all be eaten.
      There will be pictures of baby chicks. No worries.

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  5. That chick is so beautiful but I wouldn't have a clue what to do with chicks (or hens for the matter) - but you are positively clucking!

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    1. Well, the mothers mostly take care of the babies. I don't really have to do too much.

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  6. Those newborns are cannibals! Eating hb eggs!

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    1. Oh, you should see the grown chickens eat chicken. They love it.

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  7. We are huge Zombieland fans here. And tomatoes too. Yum.

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    1. I knew you appreciated the finer things in life, my love.

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  8. Zombieland is a great movie. and yay for Darla. I planted the Cherokee Purple before but I don't think I got a single tomato off it. and that Maggie is starting to really take after her mother.

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    1. It IS a great movie.
      I'm so sorry your Cherokees didn't make it. They must like our dirt or something.
      Maggie is a little Lily, isn't she?

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  9. I'm so excited for Darla! (And you!)

    Glad Magnolia is having her own theme park adventure. And how thoughtful that Mr. Moon brought some food back for you.

    We were watching "Gardener's World" on the BBC last night and coincidentally they mentioned that purple beans turn green when you cook them. I had no idea, but you've confirmed it!

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    1. I am SO proud of Darla. She done real good! As we say around here.
      I think Maggie had a terrific time. And Mr. Moon is a very thoughtful man, as you know.
      The BBC did not lie to you. Purple beans turn green.

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  10. So glad the chicks have started to hatch.Poor Darla needs to stretch her legs. I'm glad Magnolia had a fun day out as well and wasn't overlooked.Sensible parents!Enjoy the hatching!

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    1. Yes. Darla must be in dire want of a good run and a nice dirt bath in the sun.
      Lily wouldn't let Maggie feel left out. I think the little girl enjoyed being the center of attention.

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  11. Your story of handfeeding Ms Darla reminded me of my late great parakeet Harriet. I had about a dozen unrelated rescued parakeets and when she arrived she ran the flock. Kept everyone safe. When she had young (unplanned by me, she was crafty) sye wouldn't leave the eggs at all. Even agreed to let me hand feed and water her. Unheard of concession by her. She was a bit over the top with childcare.

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    1. VERY strong maternal instinct in Harriet! How many babies did she have?

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  12. bless you for giving Miss Darla some much needed treats......she's been working so hard. And I never knew purple beans could actually turn green after cooking. What is up with that? How can that even *be*?
    Susan M

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    1. I'm about to go take Darla some more food because she will NOT get off that nest.
      It does seem like a waste, doesn't it, for nature to produce purple beans and then let them turn green when you cook them?

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