An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.
~ Martin Buber
(I & Thou)
Yesterday we went to pick up fresh eggs from our local family farm. While there I decided to pause and capture some photos of chickens. Well, this sheep presented himself and was very interested in me, as a possible source of food, no doubt. He seemed to be very good natured and patient with all the chickens clucking and cooing around him. And one decided to stand on his back!
We’ve been having a quiet, peaceful weekend, with lovely low-humidity weather. It’s a rare treat to putter and meander through the days without feeling rushed about anything. Very refreshing and restorative!
Barbara – I love the sound of your putter-and-meander, non-rushed day. That sheep has some mighty impressive curly horns! And I’m pretty sure our mutual friend — Sandi W. — would enjoy these chickens 🙂
Laurie, I was enchanted by how friendly and gentle he seemed in spite of those impressive horns! I hope Sandy will take a peek at the chickens, too, so I posted them on Facebook. It was a rare blessing to have the chance to putter-and-meander. 🙂
Brave chicken, standing on the back of one with such impressive horns. I need to learn about chickens. We have this big old chicken coop that we can move about the property and we’ve been using it to keep the cats from wandering. I think chickens would put it to much better use, and we’d have eggs. 🙂
Nothing like farm fresh eggs and knowing the chickens who gave them to you! My mother used to keep chickens and she loved them – they all had names, interesting adventures, and unique personalities. This farmer is a retired doctor and he’s very friendly and candid about sharing all the mistakes he has made learning how to care for his chickens. 🙂
I’ve been thinking (again!) about having a few chickens in my back yard, Barbara, and one day I also thought how much fun it would be to have a little lamb there too, who would grow lots of wool for me to spin, dye and knit! I love the quote, animals eyes do speak volumes. 🙂
What a bucolic and soothing picture of domestic bliss you are describing, Joanne. It would be so rewarding, I think, to spin, dye and knit wool from your own sheep and to eat fresh eggs from your own chickens! I hope your dream comes true one day…
Do you have alpaca farms in Australia? (They are native to South America) We have several farms raising them here in Connecticut for their hair which is made into yarn. Maybe I will visit one of these farms some day… 🙂
Yes, we do know of a few alpaca farms in our area actually, but there’s still nothing quite like sheep’s wool to me. I watched a show on TV last night of a couple who built a new home on their property, using the wool from their sheep to insulate the walls of the house. They even had curtains in their new home which were as fine as silk, yet were made of a fine woolen fabric. I hope you do have the opportunity to visit an alpaca farm sometime. 🙂
That’s very interesting, using wool for insulating a house. I remember my mother telling me that wool was an excellent material for outdoor clothing because it can keep a person warm even if it gets wet. Apparently alpaca fleece is warmer and less scratchy than sheep wool, but it has no lanolin which is great if someone is allergic to wool – I know someone who was – but it does not repel water. Still, I love my wool coats, blankets and sweaters!
I love the sheep with the curly horn. Chickens are lots of fun to watch. Mostly they just go about their business, but once in a while …. Jane
I agree, Jane, chickens are very entertaining, and I love listening to the vocalizations they make as they explore the pasture looking for bugs to eat – it almost seems possible to read their minds as they talk to themselves! 🙂
I love that you care enough to know where your eggs come from …
Sigh… I wish all of us did, Sybil – what a difference we could make!
So glad you’ve had a chance to relax, Barbara, and meander for your spirits, for your soul. XO
Thank you, Diane, it was wonderful not to feel rushed – to stop zooming around, even for a short while. *hugs*
There is something about chickens. Something special about that. It’s funny, once again reading your blogs is a moment of synchronicity. During our recent book tour Suzi read a story about her love of chickens that had us in stitches. This post is very relaxing.
Is the chicken story in the book, Kathy? I just got my copy right before we left Connecticut and brought it with me. Can’t wait to dig into it. Chickens can be very comical creatures – rarely a dull moment as they meander around the barnyard.