moon, moon

 

 

 

 

Images from a super awesome out of print book I found at the Booksale.

It's called 'Moon, Moon' by Anne Kent Rush (1976).

It's full of moon lore, poems, songs, images,

and explores the relationship between women and the moon.

 

It's one of my favorite books to just open up anywhere and start reading.

 

-------------

 

Now we're coming upon

the November full moon.

 

In some Native traditions, 

the November moon is called

 

the geese going moon

 the beaver moon

the frost moon

 

It's also called

the moon when the water is black with leaves

the moon when the rivers begin to freeze

and

the moon when all is gathered in.

 

I love all of these Native moon names.

(and there are so many more!)

 

They're so alive and resonant.

 

I like the way the names roll of my tongue,

and remind me that even cold, dark November

is beautiful

and holy

with it's clear place in the order of things,

rooted in place

and time

and meaning.

 

------------------

 

What other name would you give

to the November moon?

 

 

chicken doormat

 

Friday I came home to a surprise waiting at the doorstep.

At first I thought it was a photo of our very own chickens!

It sure looks like Brahmy and Buffy...

But the second russet-colored hen is what gave it away...

 

These aren't our girls at all,

but they're still some nice looking hens!

 

Turns out you actually can get a personalized photo doormat.

I googled several different places...

So if you want one of your chickens, your dogs,

or whatever else excites you --

Personalization Mall seems to be one of the least expensive options.

 

While these aren't our very own chickens, it sure is fun to arrive home

and be greeted by any kind of chickens. 

 

Is it functional?

Not so much...  but even if it were,

I don't think I'd feel comfortable

stomping my feet or wiping some mud on their little faces and feathers.

 

Basically, the mat also serves as a good reminder...

I get home from work, see the chickens at my feet,

and think to myself

"Awwww! I bet the girls would like a visit..."

And so I change into my comfies and boots and head out to the coop...

 

I say it's for the chickens, but really, it's for me...

The chickens are great therapy

after a day at work.

 

I ask them for advice on difficult matters

and they never steer me wrong!

 

Every day they tell me:

Don't worry, be flappy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yakety Yak

 

Weekend chores can be such a drag!

 

We work all week,

so excited to have the weekend

and to be at home.

 

But the reality is,

the weekend is just more work.

Different work.

 

Definitely more pleasant work

because we can do the chores

with or in the company of our loved ones.

 

We can wear whatever we want.

And take breaks whenever we want.

We can say, 'Oh $#@$% this #%$%#$ !'

and walk away

and come back later. 

 

Sometimes the chores

are a lot more fun than our day jobs.

 

I'd take the most grueling, tiresome chores

over a meeting,

hands down,

any day of the week!!!

 

Still, it's always work,

until we make time for a little play.

Or turn the work into play,

and try to be light-hearted about it.

 

Inevitably,

as soon as something gets scratched off the to-do list,

something else gets added.

 

My solution is sometimes

when I'm making the 'to-do' list,

I write down things that I've already just done,

to make myself feel better

and the list seem more manageable.

'Oh look! I've already made so much progress...'

I try to trick my brain,

or just simply acknowledge

all of the things that go into

maintaining a home,

maintaining a life.

 

Things we are always working at.

 

It's just the way life goes.

 

If I start to turn a little sour

and get a bad attitude about it all,

I get down with this catchy old tune, Yakety Yak

and it helps the work go faster.

 

itsy bitsy teeny weeny chicken eggs

 

 

 

 Yep.

This is one sorry excuse for an egg!

 

Not only are we barely getting any eggs

on these shorter autumn days

(and with the whole flock molting to boot!) 

sometimes when we do manage to get lucky and score a rare egg -

this is what we're getting!

 

 Itsy bitsy

teeny weenies.

 

A quick google

tells us that are casually called

'fart eggs.'

 

Also called 'dwarf' or 'wind' eggs.

It seems like it went down the rabbit hole

in Wonderland and drank the shrinking potion

so it could fit through the little bitty door.

 

Apparently a 'fart egg' is an egg that developed too quickly in the cycle,

and it rarely contains any yolk - just a glob of albumen that was encased by shell.



Our fart egg is pictured here

next to another egg anomaly,

 an egg with a belly button of sorts.

(It probably has a calcium deposit in the shell). 

 

Another weird egg type we've gotten a couple of times

is a 'soft-shelled' egg when one of the girls hasn't eaten enough calcium...

they're somewhat translucent and very squooshy... 

 

Life is always interesting

with these wacky chickens!