The Stoning of Soraya M.

Last night, I read this entire book in one sitting because not only was it riveting but it is only 141 pages.

The author who is retelling the story of Soraya brutual killing as witnessed by her Aunt Zahara, which takes place in IRAN in 1986. Soraya's husband accuses his wife, Soraya of adultery. In the name of religion the men of the village decide to put her to death by stoning. I will not regale you with details just go buy or borrow the book. HORRIFYING

This made me look at my life, my birthplace, my freedoms with renewed respect. Even after serving overseas; witnessing the gender roles and lack of 'personal voice' by women around the world -- I am in awe just how lucky, we 'American' women truly are. I know this story has been made into a movie so, in support of victimized women all over the world -- I will go see and or buy this movie. I will talk to my sons about how to treat and respect the fairer sex.

Which brings me to the term 'fairer or weaker sex' depends on interpretation. To me, this term is used by men all over the world to reign over females in the name of RELIGIOUS LAW. I think this term is more in line with "women use all of their facilities to treat others," it's our curse by Our Creator to be nurturing. While not all men are abusive, neither are all women endowed with the 'fairer' status in humanity.

Thoughts from inside the coop......

One door closes, another opens

Even though we bid good-bye to our mascot, Rocky "Pyscho Cock" rooster only Thursday. Life does not sit still long around here for mourning.


Around 9 am Friday, I recieved a call from Mrs. Parker; our order of twenty pearl guinea fowl keats had arrived.

WOO HOO, I so love babies.


True to form, we had a spot already picked out in the house for them to brood the next two weeks inside. Young chicks need temps right at 95 - 98 for the first week.

It's cool how they arrive via the US Postal Service.


This little keat caught my attention yesterday because she/he was a tad more timid yet, peckish when fingers were around.

LOL

So, after giving them a night to settle into their new digs. I found and picked he/she out. I found out rather quickly why she was kinda of a loner. The left eye of this baby has an opaque film (cataract) and if I took her back. She would be put down. So, I named her "EYE B" and snuggled with her along with Zephyr. Just because an animal has a small disability, I keep them and teach my children about their care.



Here is Zephyr keeping "EYE B" from falling off my desk. Eye B kept trying to climb inside the printer's paper slot.

Love an animal, you love yourself; and humanity more.


A new begining from inside the coop......

Good-Bye Rocky Psycho Cock

This was their coop:

He was a Buffington, or Kellogg's Rooster

He was quite a hefty bird, well over 15 pounds.



When he was only 5 months, and hadn't found his man voice -- we put him in with 4 Buff & 5 Barred Rock hens. They then almost brained him; and I nursed him back to health. That is when he decided I was the horrible wench who tried to peck him to death. From then on, he tried to flog me several times a day.










This is Rocky under the mesquite tree next to where his coop was, he was over 2 feet tall. His ladies were never far from him. If we tried to mix them in another coop with a different rooster, they always came back to Rocky. They would never allow other hens to come into their harem as well. ROCKY WAS THEIR MAN.











Here they were enjoying some greens in the sunset. Each morning, I was the one who would feed, water and then let out Rocky & harem.

The first time he got a beat down for flogging, I was in the front yard with camera. He sneaked up and tried to kill me for invading his space. While my hubby saw it, and whacked him with a tennis racket and was going to kill him. I couldn't allow it, though I had scratches. Rocky was just doing his job in his mind.

Each day, I took a tennis racket with me inside his yard to do the daily watering and feeding.

One day, he was teased by my son SAENZ and Rocky flogged him. Saenz was so upset but NAWT about getting flogged or scratched up. He knew his dad would kill Rocky. So he begged me not to tell and he made up a story about falling down. (YET, I told my husband because the wounds were obvious.) I had made my husband promise not to hurt Rocky because Saenz had caused the incident.

And years passed, Rocky was left with his hens to be a ROOSTER.

What is so damned funny is, he thought he was sneaky and smart. If you turned your back, he would BE HUFFING AND PUFFING trying to get to your legs for a military style attack. --- TURN AROUND and he would be gazing off into the sky like an innocent. ROFL so funny................

Three weeks ago, an opposum had bit off his back toes which hung down below the wired cage floor. He never fully recovered but would still try to FLOG me several times a day.

Each day for the last three years, my day was full of his manly crows.



















HIS LAST DAY................ On Wednesday, I knew when he did not move around as much -- his end was near. He did not try to flog me once through I watered and fed them. Thursday morning, he did not even get out of the coop so I tended to his needs inside the coop. His hens would take turns hovering over him.

Then late yesterday afternoon, my husband went to check on him and found him death inside his coop. Let me tell you, I was wrenched with grief. One of his hens was so upset, she laid down and died as well.

I love you, Rocky -- may you find a new harem over the Rainbow Bridge. You were one in a million and will be sorely missed here on HOE HEN INN.

Where I would like to have him buried after building a makeshift coffin, and cement marker. All the chickens love to dust bathe under this mesquite tree.

Salud, my feathered knight in golden fleece.

Good-bye Farrah, part of my childhood fades

Sadly, I saw the news on CNN. It's hard to believe all the folks I grew up watching on TV are passing away. I remember her voice though most of all and trying to feather my hair. (smiles here)

My favorite movie she starred in was the BURNING BED. She was awesome in that made for tv movie and should have garnered an emmy. Just my opinion

I did watch her documentary on her cancer illness and treatments. She was such a brave soul, strong, vibrant and most of all.

A true, Texas, Yellow Rose. Farrah, may you rest in peace. May Ryan and your son, family, friends & fans find some rest in knowing you are no longer suffering. I know I am crying over the world's lost of a wonderful, intelligent, kind spirit -- who was an admirable LADY all the way.

Everything with God in time,
Thoughts from inside the coop......

Would You Trust Me With A?

GUN

Seems the hardliners are out fishing for new members. Last time I checked, I registered as an independent and not with the Republicans. So either, this is a postal SPAM or the NRA is looking for more backing in membership numbers as far as the supreme court is concerned with gun ownership guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

While I agree with owning guns for militia when the Constitution was written; in some ways this just does not fit into our society today. I am not too sure about allowing folks to have guns, shotguns, assault rifles, etc....... without registering, training, licensing, and recurring training. While I agree with self-defense, I have a hard time believing that I as a gun owner. Will have the time to find the key/combo to a gun safe, key to the barrel lock, and then apply my weapons training in time to save self or family in the event an emergency.

I can not sleep with a gun under my pillow, I have children and a husband who doesn't put away his own tools.

Can you imagine this scenario:

Excuse me Mr. Rattlesnake lay there a moment while I get my weapon?

Or

Mr. Criminal will you hold this while I remember the combo or where I hid the keys to my gun safe?

ROFL

I THINK NAWT,

Thoughts from inside the coop.

What 'The Drought' is starting

Starting to look like:

The grass/weeds have died or gone dormat. I have walked the back yard and have found 'cracks' starting to snake their way around the property. A fine layer of slilt has mostly covered over the cracks but, I found them. This slilt gets into and on everything; making housework a labor of -- NEVER GETTING DONE. ~;>

By this time each year, highway mowers have cleared the farm roads because the 'grass' or over growth would be truckcab in height making it impossible to see any wildlife before darting in front of a passing vehicle. To date in this small slice of heaven; our county is behind in rainfall by 10 inches or more.

So while the North/East coast is getting pounded by the wet.

We are feeling Mother Nature in another extreme.

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

Father's Day in Poth

Hubby and I took the boys to Poth to see their Grandma Torres and lay flowers on Grandpa Torres's grave--he died in 1991. Saenz left him a note he had illustrated. They got to see their Uncle Ray Ray; who was visiting from Lubbock.

Then they gave their grandma a framed 8 by 10 photo they would have given their grandpa. After the visit we stopped at Wal Mart in Kennedy to get some fishing gear for our upcoming Rock Port beach house vacation. I still need to remind my hubby to ask his Mom if she would like to stay with us. The boys barely know either set of grandparents or extended family as a matter of fact. Seems not only my family but, his family are scattered but, sad as it may be --- it's probably reflective of the American family today.

Summer vacation is turning out fine for our family; we only have a few more days until we get away to Rock Port.

OMG I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO STOKED!

Thoughts from inside the coop