Big Bertha got a big surprise.
So I looked in the pond and what did I see? A big fat chicken just a lookin' back at me. Her look showed exasperation, she knew not what to do. So I picked her up and on the ground and got a soaking, too.
Living on a rural homestead with horses, dogs, cats and even free ranging chickens, I have an early morning routine that I follow to feed all the animals as they start another day. First up is my visit to the nearby fish pond where we have beautiful koi swimming around and frolicking under the waterfall. On this day, however, they were hunkered down on the far end of the pond, not swimming toward me as they usually do, knowing I always give them food. Something was definitely wrong, so I decided to look around carefully in the dim morning light, thinking perhaps a snake was in the water. Then I looked more closely by the side of the pond and there was Big Bertha, silently standing in the water and looking up at me. She is a big booty girl and had no way to climb out of the pond and with her wings doused with water, there was no way to fly. While she was calm and collected, she looked at me as if to ask if I would help her out of her predicament. So, I knelt down by the side of the pond and gently lifted her as her wings flapped wildly and soaked me to the bone.
Now safely on the ground, she shook her wings repeatedly, then went and rejoined her hen party and it looked as if she was telling her tale about the pond and the fish. She was fine and then just started scratching the ground as I gave them their morning chicken scratch. Next, going back to feed the fish, they didn't come my way, staying wary on the far side of the pond even after I sprinkled the fish food on the surface. I'm sure they were startled but they'll get over it and Shamu, the large black and yellow koi who is their leader will float still when I next visit, awaiting the meal that he and they missed this morning. Sometimes he even jumps high in the water like a killer whale, hence his name.
One of the great joys of living out here is being able to observe these creatures and the funny things they do. I might even try to imagine Miss Bertha doing the backstroke, but no, she definitely doesn't have the figure for it. She's no Esther Williams. And there's something else I noticed this morning and it's the subtle hint in the morning sky as the sun is about to clear the pine forest. Even though it's the heat of August, with the days gradually getting shorter the sky has a more golden tint these day, reminiscent of what to expect as fall closes in. It makes me think to myself: What a gift of beauty that changes regularly in this world created by God. Each day is slightly different from each before it and it shows that He is always working on things, each and every day.
Okay, Miss Bertha, lets not do that again or old Freddy will put you in your place for good. Watching on, old Freddy the Rooster nods his head and she knows exactly what he's up to next. Sorry, that's for mature audiences and not GP. Now everybody go have a good day.
Living on a rural homestead with horses, dogs, cats and even free ranging chickens, I have an early morning routine that I follow to feed all the animals as they start another day. First up is my visit to the nearby fish pond where we have beautiful koi swimming around and frolicking under the waterfall. On this day, however, they were hunkered down on the far end of the pond, not swimming toward me as they usually do, knowing I always give them food. Something was definitely wrong, so I decided to look around carefully in the dim morning light, thinking perhaps a snake was in the water. Then I looked more closely by the side of the pond and there was Big Bertha, silently standing in the water and looking up at me. She is a big booty girl and had no way to climb out of the pond and with her wings doused with water, there was no way to fly. While she was calm and collected, she looked at me as if to ask if I would help her out of her predicament. So, I knelt down by the side of the pond and gently lifted her as her wings flapped wildly and soaked me to the bone.
Now safely on the ground, she shook her wings repeatedly, then went and rejoined her hen party and it looked as if she was telling her tale about the pond and the fish. She was fine and then just started scratching the ground as I gave them their morning chicken scratch. Next, going back to feed the fish, they didn't come my way, staying wary on the far side of the pond even after I sprinkled the fish food on the surface. I'm sure they were startled but they'll get over it and Shamu, the large black and yellow koi who is their leader will float still when I next visit, awaiting the meal that he and they missed this morning. Sometimes he even jumps high in the water like a killer whale, hence his name.
One of the great joys of living out here is being able to observe these creatures and the funny things they do. I might even try to imagine Miss Bertha doing the backstroke, but no, she definitely doesn't have the figure for it. She's no Esther Williams. And there's something else I noticed this morning and it's the subtle hint in the morning sky as the sun is about to clear the pine forest. Even though it's the heat of August, with the days gradually getting shorter the sky has a more golden tint these day, reminiscent of what to expect as fall closes in. It makes me think to myself: What a gift of beauty that changes regularly in this world created by God. Each day is slightly different from each before it and it shows that He is always working on things, each and every day.
Okay, Miss Bertha, lets not do that again or old Freddy will put you in your place for good. Watching on, old Freddy the Rooster nods his head and she knows exactly what he's up to next. Sorry, that's for mature audiences and not GP. Now everybody go have a good day.
RSS Feed