My favorite chill spot

After dropping off Saenz and feeding animals sometimes Zephyr and I walk out here. A past resident somehow got a water rescue bucket; then hung it up in this drop dead gorgeous oak. While the nylon ropes are scratchy the shade is awesome. If you lay inside the swing, be silent, look up -sometimes you can find other animals, insects and birds sharing the hide out spot.

Another cool thing about this tree is; the wind makes the sound of a babbling brook rushing over rocks as it makes it's way down stream to more important endeavors. This reminds me of a subway, taxis, buses with people (ant trails) going to work; and you are probably wondering why. Simple, my job is here documenting the life around me, showing my sons and observing animals much like those commuters taking in (though not writing it down) the sights and sounds around them.

Thoughts from inside the coop.............

The Racial Divide: Let's talk about it

Deeply Saddened Again by the Uninformed


This week I have noticed a trend not only on the Internet, but other places as well: eBay blogs, hate-group sites, online chat sites, media, to include our local outlets of information with said places being feed & grocery stores. Seems some folks took upon themselves to pick a phrase of Attorney General, Eric Holder's speech at the Department of Justice African American History Month and turn a snippet

into something sorely out of context of his entire speech.

( http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-090218.html)

This phrase, "essentially a nation of cowards" (by Holder) was turned into a barn burning event of racial, Liberal, and Democrat bashing. Even worse, I over heard or read people discussing the proverbial RACE CARD in description of those of color tossing "said card," about whenever 'they don't get their way.' My question is what the heck is wrong with folks?

There is no greater divide much like the fence in the picture above than the one we construct around our individual or group-think rationalizations. While it has been said, Good Fences Make Good Neighbors; the same is not true when it comes to discussing the sensitive issue of race and other aspects which set people apart from one another.

As a child growing up in Alabama, I can remember horrible words being thrown around easier than grass seed and yet, my southern family for the most part are still stuck in the same place while the rest of our nation moves forward. Very sad to think my 'brown shoe' family members will die in the coffins of ignorance, intolerance and isolation, (my father included).

Those persons described by those horrible words have gone on and become educated, served in the military, doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers and many other professions. The persons labled by my father as the N-bomb will now be wiping his butt in his nursing home and providing a nuturing place for him to die. (Reminded me of the scene in Monster's Ball.)

I am deeply saddened that in this day an age, Mr. Holder is correct. 'Silent tolerance' is not conquering our prejudices however, it just gives root space to seeds of inhumanity. We all need to sit down, break bread, get personal and come up with a better understanding though we all bleed red; we all don't have the same opportunities or experiences--sometimes based upon our outer appearances.

Just thoughts from inside the coop...............

On the Road to Cocky

Sprocket the Spanish Rocket is now a MAN! He finally found his stud muffin crow and I heard him announce his status to the world this morning. He has a deep baritone bravado that reminds me of Barry White.

So in honor of Sprocket strutting himself, I will play some love making music from Mr. White. ROFL there is a line in this song that reminds me of Sprocket and his five Fat Bottom Hens. And here Sprocket says in his best White voice:

"I WANT TO MAKE IT WITH MORE THAN JUST YOU DOLL."

falls over snorting and slapping my own thighs here:

"DO YOU FEEL MY LOVE MOVING THROUGH YOU."

When the lights go down

IN THE CITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!




Sorry about channeling Journey but, country life is so different from living in a world lit up at night. It's just weird to actually see this tree at night, when I can remember Gil finding a rather fat Blue Indigo climbing it's branches looking for food one morning.

While I love being out in the world I guess my priorities have changed and will continue to evolve because I just want our sons to grow roots to the world around them. I do miss being apart of the ant hive of the 'city' but, I have also found my place here in the dust on my floors and the wind on my face.

I can step into either a deafening roar of the night life here with coyotes, skunks, javelina, racoons, opossums, insects and reptiles or, sleep behind our home's walls at night. Best of all, we can sit outside here near this tree and count endless stars because there are no city lights by the bay.





For your listening pleasure in case you have never heard the song.



Thoughts from inside the coop..................

Sexing a bird?

Hubby and I have been trying to figure out the differences in calls between male and female guinea fowl because they look alike to us.

ROFL, I know this seems like an easy task but NO.................the males don't have combs.

We were given these little skittish birds as keets out of the egg last summer. We held them as youngsters however, they hated being held. So, we followed their wishes and just picked them up once or twice a day for their first 8 weeks. Mind you we kept them in the house inside a brooder for about 5 weeks til the weather was super warm and the noise and smell was noteable.

These birds are great bug hunters and alarmists who, run about like single file partridges at an intruder. They let me know when someone drives up in the yard by rushing the car and if said visitor is not careful-will run over them all. However, once spooked they can be dangerous. One bird jumped and clawed hubby once leaving a 6 inch slice on his forearm.

I have been watching this youtube video over and over to discern the male and female differences. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJ8cpFHm-8

From inside the coop.............

Alpha: Hoe Hen Inn King

I felt something was wrong this morning and noticed a rooster staying in the coop; when I took Saenz to school. After feeding everyone, I went back to check the coop; sure enough Alpha (Brahma Cochin banty), had been injured. NOTE: He does not realize he weighs two pounds.













So I wrapped him up a towel to give him first aid inside the house. Hydrogen Peroxide, q-tips, and neosporin along with being warm inside the house brought out our curious cats and Turvy is getting ready to sniff his fluffy head.













While he is now resting inside a laundry basket in the darkened laundry room, his subjects have been worried. See the hen with no feathers on her hind parts (Scrapper), she is the resident bully and next to her is Romeo---Alpha's second in command. They are awaiting the return of their King.

Life without color

Have you ever thought about living without color? Much in life would not be the same. Generous are the gifts of a diverse palette.

So much is conveyed through the use of color in our existence. Birds with their mating plumage, flower petals, women in their 'war-paint' and the possibilities are endless.

Here is where I like to insert the analogy of people and color. The shades of a person are a varied as the palette in nature. Think about it, what we see as our self may or may not be the 'shade' another person sees in us.

The absence of heat is cold. So what is the absence of color in nature? What do you call the lack of seeing color, shades, nuisances in people?