Hey friends. It’s almost the weekend again and it’s been a whirlwind of a couple weeks here at Hidden Meadow. Let me fill you in.
Sometime around last Thursday, I heard Tim yell out from the terraced garden where he was working that “Laurie (our rooster) may die.” Now my husband is British, and therefore not one for dramatics. Nevertheless he’s uttered this phrase a few times before and I never thought he was serious. This time however, I sensed something was different, and that he was actually very close to taking our testosterone-fueled fowl’s head off entirely with his mattock. (a digging tool, with a sharp straight end).
Now, we both equally disliked the thought of dispatching this feisty bird ourselves, but we disliked the the thought of more holes in our legs (oh yes it’s happened) far more.
Let’s have a quick rooster anatomy lesson.
Roosters, in order to protect their precious hens, are equipped with a pretty serious weapon. Pointy bone with sharp nail over it on the backs of their legs. These are called spurs. See below for some fresh nightmare fuel.
Now thank the sweet Lord Jesus that Laurie’s spurs were not as long as the rooster’s above, Mostly because he was barely a year old and his spurs hadn’t come into their full glory. Nonetheless they were still about half this length and well capable of punching size-able holes in your calf. (yes this happened).
Now don’t get me wrong, I have loved having Laurie around to protect the hens, and in our first year we’ve had no losses to predators, much to our neighbors’ amazement.
Despite his value in keeping sneaky hawks and coyotes away, we were both weary of always being on guard for his sneak attacks. He terrorized all freely, children, neighbors, contractors, and it was time for him to go.
In a desperate move, I posted a photo of him and a frank description of his growing sas on our local yard sale group. And lo and behold, I had a line of 5 or more people all interested in our feathered terrorist. The next day, the first person to respond came, picked him up and a deep peace settled over the meadow.
Now we know we can’t go rooster-less for long, so this summer when we get some more chicks I’m hoping we’ll get a rooster in the mix so I can hand raise him to increase the odds of him not tearing our faces off.
So out with the old, and in with the new. The day before Laurie went to his new home, I brought home four free ducks.
These sweet babes were 5 week old Peking ducks – complete with baby fluff and adorable little quacks. They are settling in to the farm and are loving having their own creek to zoom around in.
On the project front the first terraced garden is now finished, full of lovely dark compost and home to blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cantaloupe and watermelons.
We’re hoping to get all three levels done in the next couple weeks and then on the fencing! The first bed received fruits, the second will be filled with delicious veggies. (So far, tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, beets, carrots, cucumbers, snow peas. (May also add okra, green beans, and corn!)
In the midst of all the craziness in the world, we can’t tell you how much of a gift it is to be able to walk away from the screen, the radio or the article, and within minutes, have your hands dirty in the rich soil, or petting a fluffy duck, or running through the pastures with Islay and the goats. This place is slowly coming to life, out of the dust, and the cobwebs, the brush and the debris, a haven is emerging. A retreat, an escape. We can’t wait to offer it and the peace it affords to any and all in need of it.
I can’t leave without sharing some of Islay’s recent cuteness. You’re welcome.
Until then friends.
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