Tonight, nothing but chickens and other various and assorted Vance family pets. We’ve been focused on our menagerie this week. We’ve had the addition of a new kitten, Tofu, a black Maine Coon Cat. Our very beloved Harry, who is 19, had to spend some time with the vet this week, using up one of his nine lives to come back home to us. We are very happy to have him back! And, of course, chickens.
A lovely note with which to end what has already been a very fine day. Thank you for sharing. If cats and chickens can coexist then perhaps there is hope for that certain flawed species that always thinks so highly of itself.
Oh Joyce, this is precisely the kind of news that I love. It truly feeds my soul like no other. This sort of retreat is probably why you are so good at what you do too. This is what keeps you grounded. It’s too bad so many of us have lost that grounding. It’s what keeps us from going nurtz, if ya know what I mean. All’s right with your world just for today. Have a great rest of the weekend, all of you.
That is quite a chorus of … cicadas? The kitten is adorable, glad Henry is back home. Cosima, also a coon, lived to be 21. The chickens look more chicken-like with every posting. Tonight I listened to the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra perform “the mighty fives”: Beethoven’s and Mahler's Fifth Symphonies. The law is temporarily on another planet.
I love the animal breaks. Nice to have peaceful beauty in the middle of so much turmoil from one party. In 1980 I rescued a mature duck from a dire situation. I then proceeded to move from Virginia to California and had a great cross country trip full of adventure with the duck. I think of her because she was crazy for watermelon too!
Many years ago, my soninlaw found an adult Muscovy drake by the river & brought him home to me - Henry (!) lived quite a few years with me - took a break moving across the street with a neighbor couple who had a little Call duck - the two of them were buddies for several years - traipsing across a field to get to a pond at another neighbor. The little guy was killed at the pond & Henry was alone again. When the neighbors sold the house & moved, they brought him back to me - there were tears all around!! I believe Henry eventually died of old age.
Just like chickens (and every single other creature) ducks have personalities!!
Thank you, Joyce for sharing your chickens and cat. I love how you have created a paradise in your lovely yard. All the animals happy to do their jobs. I think gardening and chicken-ing and catting and dogging therapy are healthy for our planet.
I loved every one of your pictures! It is indeed lovely to take a night off from the political madness. Rest up everyone - we have a long road ahead! (Hopefully more good than bad.)
Joyce (if I may), If you currently scroll down a few posts, you will find my post (it presently has 20 “Likes”), wherein I invoke a particularly meaningful remark from Dahlia Lithwick. I note this because I expect your comment is a reply to my reference to Lithwick.
Thank you, Susan! That was cute! It took me a minute to find it, but the motion of the cat's paw and leg touching the icon guided me right to the correct spot. My dear Grace perked up when she heard the meows coming from my laptop!
I too love the fact that you shared this site. It was hilarious to see the result of tapping the 'paw' icon at the top right hand corner! I think it might be time to get another cat!
Thank you, Susan! I've always had a houseful of kitties, but I'm 81 now and my last kitty passed last year. A new kitten would likely outlive me, and I would worry about it. That page was so much fun...almost like having a full house again. :)
Hi Harriet, I'm 82 and share your concern about a pet outliving me. But how about adopting an older cat? I have two, ages about 9 and...who knows? Older ones can be great company and certainly need homes too.
I got my cat as a kitten last year, when I was 78. I thought long and hard about the problem.I decided there were enough folks on my family who would take Pangur or see that someone good would adopt him.
Hi Barbara, That's a great idea, but I'm unsteady on my feet. If anything startles me, I lose my balance, even while using a cane. I have osteoporosis (yes, TMI), and a fall could end my independence. I'm still thinking about it. I'm so glad it's working for you. Give your furbabies a pat-pat from me. :)
Joyce (if I may), Your photos and personal narrative brought to mind a Dahlia Lithwick (Newsweek contributing editor and Slate senior editor) remark. She had said, as I recall, that no one can do serious political work in a society as polarized as ours unless one can find joy in her or his life.
I will repeat what I wrote earlier: Thank goodness I signed up for your Substack writings! Not only do I get the best legal reasoning on what is going on with our country, but I get little animals, too! And the little kitty is the cutest--ever! I feel refreshed! Thank you! Plus, I get to see what a master knitter can do! ❤️🐼
Thank you Joyce! Sanity does have a place for us all in nature and in simple pleasures - very good medicine you gift us with.
So very special to see this other side of you.🤗
A lovely note with which to end what has already been a very fine day. Thank you for sharing. If cats and chickens can coexist then perhaps there is hope for that certain flawed species that always thinks so highly of itself.
Peace
Animals seem to be much more intelligent than humans in that respect - well, in all respects!
Oh Joyce, this is precisely the kind of news that I love. It truly feeds my soul like no other. This sort of retreat is probably why you are so good at what you do too. This is what keeps you grounded. It’s too bad so many of us have lost that grounding. It’s what keeps us from going nurtz, if ya know what I mean. All’s right with your world just for today. Have a great rest of the weekend, all of you.
Thank you Joyce for sharing your beautiful pets, you are a treasure!
That is quite a chorus of … cicadas? The kitten is adorable, glad Henry is back home. Cosima, also a coon, lived to be 21. The chickens look more chicken-like with every posting. Tonight I listened to the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra perform “the mighty fives”: Beethoven’s and Mahler's Fifth Symphonies. The law is temporarily on another planet.
The cicadas are insane right now!
I love the animal breaks. Nice to have peaceful beauty in the middle of so much turmoil from one party. In 1980 I rescued a mature duck from a dire situation. I then proceeded to move from Virginia to California and had a great cross country trip full of adventure with the duck. I think of her because she was crazy for watermelon too!
I would REALLY like to read this book!!
Many years ago, my soninlaw found an adult Muscovy drake by the river & brought him home to me - Henry (!) lived quite a few years with me - took a break moving across the street with a neighbor couple who had a little Call duck - the two of them were buddies for several years - traipsing across a field to get to a pond at another neighbor. The little guy was killed at the pond & Henry was alone again. When the neighbors sold the house & moved, they brought him back to me - there were tears all around!! I believe Henry eventually died of old age.
Just like chickens (and every single other creature) ducks have personalities!!
Ducks are cool. When I go fishing, there are usually some ducks around to keep me company.
She was so loyal and really smart and so, so funny!
Thank you, Joyce for sharing your chickens and cat. I love how you have created a paradise in your lovely yard. All the animals happy to do their jobs. I think gardening and chicken-ing and catting and dogging therapy are healthy for our planet.
Oh good... just animals!
I loved every one of your pictures! It is indeed lovely to take a night off from the political madness. Rest up everyone - we have a long road ahead! (Hopefully more good than bad.)
Thank you for sharing pictures of your family! I love the Oasis you have created for yourself! Everyone is so beautiful and interesting. 😊
Dahlia is a dear friend & a very wise woman!
Joyce (if I may), If you currently scroll down a few posts, you will find my post (it presently has 20 “Likes”), wherein I invoke a particularly meaningful remark from Dahlia Lithwick. I note this because I expect your comment is a reply to my reference to Lithwick.
So I just saw this tidbit: Go to Google, search for "cat". click on cat icon. then click anywhere on the page, over and over as long as you want.
I've spent the last 5 minutes doing this. Who knew? It's wonderful! (On my phone, the icon is a cat's paw)
Thank you, Susan! That was cute! It took me a minute to find it, but the motion of the cat's paw and leg touching the icon guided me right to the correct spot. My dear Grace perked up when she heard the meows coming from my laptop!
I too love the fact that you shared this site. It was hilarious to see the result of tapping the 'paw' icon at the top right hand corner! I think it might be time to get another cat!
Thank you, Susan! I've always had a houseful of kitties, but I'm 81 now and my last kitty passed last year. A new kitten would likely outlive me, and I would worry about it. That page was so much fun...almost like having a full house again. :)
Hi Harriet, I'm 82 and share your concern about a pet outliving me. But how about adopting an older cat? I have two, ages about 9 and...who knows? Older ones can be great company and certainly need homes too.
I got my cat as a kitten last year, when I was 78. I thought long and hard about the problem.I decided there were enough folks on my family who would take Pangur or see that someone good would adopt him.
Hi Barbara, That's a great idea, but I'm unsteady on my feet. If anything startles me, I lose my balance, even while using a cane. I have osteoporosis (yes, TMI), and a fall could end my independence. I'm still thinking about it. I'm so glad it's working for you. Give your furbabies a pat-pat from me. :)
Joyce (if I may), Your photos and personal narrative brought to mind a Dahlia Lithwick (Newsweek contributing editor and Slate senior editor) remark. She had said, as I recall, that no one can do serious political work in a society as polarized as ours unless one can find joy in her or his life.
Thanks to you and all the gang. A great relief given the continuing horrors of the republican party and their orange dumpster fire.
I will repeat what I wrote earlier: Thank goodness I signed up for your Substack writings! Not only do I get the best legal reasoning on what is going on with our country, but I get little animals, too! And the little kitty is the cutest--ever! I feel refreshed! Thank you! Plus, I get to see what a master knitter can do! ❤️🐼
Thank you, Joyce. That was heartwarming.