Monthly Archives: March 2016

Not in Her Usual Nest

Posted on March 31, 2016 by amanandhishoe

I can hear Special. She’s not in her usual nest. She’s decided to try a new nest for a change. It’s something hens often do. They get bored seeing the same things, gossiping with the same hens when they settle … Continue reading →

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It’s a Beautiful Morning … But

Posted on March 29, 2016 by amanandhishoe

It’s a beautiful morning, the cherry trees are ecstatic, Special is on her nest, I saw the first swallow of the year, who could possibly be cranky today? Midge is cranky, that’s who. Pepper is on her nest, never mind … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Have Too Many Tulips

Posted on March 28, 2016 by amanandhishoe

Each year I keep planting more tulips. You can’t have too many tulips, can you? When you have free roaming chickens, you need two to three times as many tulips because they like nibbling on tulips when they start pushing … Continue reading →

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Tread Lightly Like Deer

Posted on March 27, 2016 by amanandhishoe

I love the forest floor this time of year. It is green with false lily-of-the-valley and bleeding hearts. I lived once in a desert and learned that I can’t live where it’s not green and moist. Every day, just a … Continue reading →

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Size Doesn’t Matter

Posted on March 25, 2016 by amanandhishoe

You never hear people say, “I can’t wait for the maples to bloom.” I never thought much about blooming maples either, until I saw these scarlet blossoms on a Japanese maple. They’re rather stunning. They’re as pretty as the cherry … Continue reading →

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No Dressing Needed

Posted on March 24, 2016 by amanandhishoe

The greens this time of year have so much flavor, adding dressing would desecrate them. After going through a winter, the kale is tender and sweet. The ruby streaks are so mustardy, they clear your nose. When you eat an … Continue reading →

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The Aliens Have Landed

Posted on March 23, 2016 by amanandhishoe

Oooo! What is that? This is why walking in the woods is important. You get to see the alien life forms that live among us. I guess this is what happens when all you eat is wood. You turn into … Continue reading →

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So Fleeting, There’s No Time to be Sad

Posted on March 21, 2016 by amanandhishoe

A gust of wind this morning filled the air with swirling petals … a blizzard on a spring morning. Petal blizzards. No need to bundle up, and put on a coat, and a scarf, and a hat. Cherry blossoms are … Continue reading →

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On This Solstice Day

Posted on March 20, 2016 by amanandhishoe

On this solstice day, the pears open their flowers. On this solstice day, Tangerine checks to see if the old doghouse is good for laying eggs. On this solstice day, a potato wakes from its long winter’s sleep. It’s a … Continue reading →

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So Much Happens in Just One Day

Posted on March 19, 2016 by amanandhishoe

So much happens in just one day, it’s enough to make your head spin around. Biking home, I noticed a “No Trespassing” in the middle of a flooded field. Is trespassing really a problem in this case? Maybe people are … Continue reading →

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How Much Does a Chicken Poop in a Night?

Posted on March 19, 2016 by amanandhishoe

How much does a chicken poop in a night? I know it’s a question that has crossed your mind many times. Here’s the answer: A Handful. The picture above is proof. There is a single chicken who spends its nights, … Continue reading →

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And Then We Die … or Not

Posted on March 16, 2016 by amanandhishoe

We do all this work, and then we die. At times you wonder what the point is. We might as well die now and be done with it. But then the plum tree blooms, and the bees fly onto the … Continue reading →

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More Than I Can Count

Posted on March 15, 2016 by amanandhishoe

All the blossoms on the cherry tree are now open. On a sunny day like today, it’s a favorite spot for the bees. It would take one bee days to visit every flower on a tree like this. It makes … Continue reading →

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Mother and Daughter

Posted on March 13, 2016 by amanandhishoe

Mother and daughter, Hazel and Special, shared breakfast together this morning. Hazel, the dark hen, raised a clutche last year. She was an outstanding mother, and I hope she raises a clutch or two this year too. Special will be … Continue reading →

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Something New to Be Happy

Posted on March 12, 2016 by amanandhishoe

The thimbleberry’s are unfolding their new leaves. This time of year, there’s something new to see everywhere you look. If you have a flock of hens, don’t forget to give them new nests from time to time. It’s not enough … Continue reading →

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Down Her Hatch

Posted on March 11, 2016 by amanandhishoe

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Add a little blue to the sky, and it takes your breath away. If you’re outside, it’s impossible not to be entertained. One moment, it’s the cherry blossoms dancing their hearts out in … Continue reading →

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No Shame

Posted on March 9, 2016 by amanandhishoe

The bleeding hearts are spreading their lacy leaves. This morning their leaves are jeweled with yesterday’s raindrops. Before long, their pink flowers will dangle gracefully. Back in 2006, when we brought BB and Echo to live with us, Echo had … Continue reading →

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Eggs in a Cap

Posted on March 8, 2016 by amanandhishoe

A cap comes in handy if you leave the egg basket in the house. You can get a lot of eggs in a cap. I brought in fifteen this afternoon in my cap.

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Do Nothing for a Change

Posted on March 7, 2016 by amanandhishoe

Rosemary blossoms are among my favorite flowers. Small and whimsical, clown-like really, they must attract insects with a sense of humor. The white Satsuma plum blossoms are far more formal. The serious insects pollinate them. You’d want to put on … Continue reading →

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Spring’s Green Illicit Sweetness

Posted on March 6, 2016 by amanandhishoe

The best vegetables never find their way onto store shelves. I left some cabbage grow after plucking their heads last fall. This spring, tender shoots of cabbage greens sprouted from their stalks. So green and mild, they make the sweetest … Continue reading →

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