We moved the chickens into their new home over the weekend, and although I’m still landscaping for them (yes, it turns out, I live to serve them), they seem pretty pleased with their palatial new surroundings. They’re pretty swank, and certainly an upgrade from our modest, but much-loved, first coop.
This is what real life is! Thank you! I woke up to 5” of snow...after a dusting was predicted....hoping to find joy in it. You and the other sisters are so appreciated!
Beautiful coop! As a fellow knitter, you cannot talk too much about knitting. Always traveling with yarn came in handy over the weekend. I was driving in Massachusetts over the weekend and a sheet of ice flew off a car in front of me. It smashed my driver’s side mirror, so I pulled over, grabbed some yarn out of my knitting bag and tied the mirror to what was left of the mount. It worked well enough to drive through NYC until I got home outside of Philadelphia
Oops, I don’t knit, but I also don’t fly without 10 feet of paracord in my backpack. Now I know why (other than to share with flight attendants for restraints for unruly passengers)😉
But travel light with the yarn so you have room in the suitcase for souvenir stash enhancements. I look for local yarn, when possible! Thank you for grounding us between the more serious reports. We need that to keep clear minds.
Magnifique. My cats made me give up needlepoint decades ago, but Cleo, my significant feline other, now goes around the house chasing me out of my comfortable chairs while I’m reading because she has seat envy. My former great eccentricity was dressing three female mannequins in dresses of the 20s 30s and 40s that I found at vintage shops. I had to give that up at age 70 because I could no longer handle the mannequins (emphysema). I am fully retired, Sober, clean, and smoke-free for a long time. Now I just say whatever I please, the greatest eccentricity of all.
Feb 28, 2023·edited Feb 28, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance
Pickles: "That's a lovely long worm you have there."
I think it was Mark Twain who wrote " the difference between a crazy person and an eccentric person is the eccentric person has money. There are probably lots of people who would keep chickens if they could afford to. It says a lot about our society that having chickens is a luxury.
I keep two run down old horses, Romeo, a big Lusitano gelding, was an Olympics jumper with arthritis and probably cancer, and Boneca, a badly beaten and neglected survivor of a cruel owner, who keep my fields clean so I won't be fined by my parish. Both were gifts. And I do a little tatting.
If you're like me, Susan, while you saved your "two run down horses," they have saved you in return. I, too, have had horses in my life for the past 25 years. Their calming influence has kept me grounded. As Joyce says, we live to serve them...a most noble of efforts IMO!
While I collected abandoned cats, an occasional dog, an old male white rat who needed to be loved (he was in a darn pet store) and had a bear claw bathtub full of gerbils I erroneously took care of for a friend and they multiplied.
Susan, i am herbalist (one of my hats), arnica, yucca root, and comfrey would help your Romeo feel ease in his days. i feel this combination works better than bute. Hugs to you for loving your horses.
Nothing could be finer than you sharing those chickens and your knitting! I haven’t been able to do chickens or knitting for some years now, and you sharing yours pleases me no end! I love how your new palatial coop sounds & looks, and can almost feel the cool damp from drizzling rain on the roof! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing the chickens & the knitting, and most of all, sharing yourself Joyce! You make my every day happier & more bearable! Big thank yous!
I LOVE this posting, so human and so grounded. Joyce, you give me so much hope. My privileged eccentricity is reading and taking notes on Buddhist ethics, and then writing poems steeped in this philosophy. To each their own.
I love reading about your chickens and your knitting. Sometimes I think of you as this high-powered lawyer - talking with Preet and so impressive to me… and then you talk or write about your chickens and it humanizes you so much for me. High powered, intelligent, articulate, chicken-loving, knitter…. The perfect resume!
Feb 28, 2023·edited Feb 28, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance
Any time I have form a relationship to another of Mother's life forms, be it the chickens, my dogs, even the tomatoes on their vine, and a large Norway maple they have kept me in touch with what is real... I tell them my struggles, they tell me their struggles. I too would love those beautiful chickens of your. we are lucky in this together.
I saw my first IRL silkie at a garden in Maui this last week. Watching it run brought me enormous joy! I’ve been eagerly awaiting your update with the hope of seeing more of this fluffy, funny chicken. My husband is probably glad our HOA prohibits urban chicken keeping! I absolutely understand your love of these lovely birds. Keep keeping us posted, please!
So, our black Silkie is name Pepper, and she's everyone's favorite. People that is, not the other chickens. They've been picking on her a bit so she got to come inside and watch a couple of episodes of The Crown with my husband and me. She's possibly the most adorable chicken ever. Glad you got to see some in person!
Joyce, that coop is amazing!! And your chickens are amusing. Yes, we laugh, create, write, sing, play an instrument, knit, crochet, paint, sculpt, garden, read, and whatever else we do to experience joy. That’s how we stay sane! I’m knitting socks for my grandson and playing the flute again. Also, singing often.
Your commentary and photos warmed my heart. I am am consciously grateful for my environment and modest blessings: two sweet kitties and 3 feeders to cater to our various outdoor wild birds. The cats love watching the birds and fantasizing about being mighty hunters (from their indoor window observation posts). I'm still a social/political activist at 74 years of age, and I could not carry on without without the sanctuary of home life. Animals are a must!
Joyce Vance, you are such a gift to this bruised world. When I die I want to come back as one of your chickens. 🐥
I don’t really have an indulging eccentricity, but I’m currently reading every damn kids banned book I can get my hands on. Here is just one list, we’re in this together!
It is and it's where we're going. We're in a time where we all have to be out there speaking up or showing up - if you can. They're following in the footsteps of Orban and we all likely knew that but it's not in the media (for my likes) enough.
OK, I see where in Canada the Toronto Public Library is banning hop on pop. That is some pretty extreme woke-ism there lol. But I don't see is these books being banned by Americans.
Is there any real story here, or is it just another dramatic call to arms over something that is not real?
Media types and rabid "activists" are constantly crying wolf with the "I've been banned" drama. Most are just making stuff up.
I politely disagree, it’s happening in my local school district. Rabid activists? Yes, some parents are. And they’re actively imposing their rabid views on others. That’s all I’m going to say on this subject.
The chickens, the knitting, Pickles on your foot. This is the best read of the day. And from brilliant you! Thanks for this!!
It was a very restorative weekend, that's for sure!
I completely agree with Sylvia. Thank you Joyce.
This is what real life is! Thank you! I woke up to 5” of snow...after a dusting was predicted....hoping to find joy in it. You and the other sisters are so appreciated!
❤️
Beautiful coop! As a fellow knitter, you cannot talk too much about knitting. Always traveling with yarn came in handy over the weekend. I was driving in Massachusetts over the weekend and a sheet of ice flew off a car in front of me. It smashed my driver’s side mirror, so I pulled over, grabbed some yarn out of my knitting bag and tied the mirror to what was left of the mount. It worked well enough to drive through NYC until I got home outside of Philadelphia
Never travel without yarn
Oops, I don’t knit, but I also don’t fly without 10 feet of paracord in my backpack. Now I know why (other than to share with flight attendants for restraints for unruly passengers)😉
But travel light with the yarn so you have room in the suitcase for souvenir stash enhancements. I look for local yarn, when possible! Thank you for grounding us between the more serious reports. We need that to keep clear minds.
Sounds like something Samuel Clemens would say.
Thanks for your column. You are one of three letters that start my day.
Magnifique. My cats made me give up needlepoint decades ago, but Cleo, my significant feline other, now goes around the house chasing me out of my comfortable chairs while I’m reading because she has seat envy. My former great eccentricity was dressing three female mannequins in dresses of the 20s 30s and 40s that I found at vintage shops. I had to give that up at age 70 because I could no longer handle the mannequins (emphysema). I am fully retired, Sober, clean, and smoke-free for a long time. Now I just say whatever I please, the greatest eccentricity of all.
I love the notion of saying what you please, but I'd REALLY like to see photos of the mannequins in their vintage dresses!
Me too.
Thank you. I would be happy to send you the photos I posted on Facebook in the form of a Facebook “book”.
I’m w ya baby!
Really beautiful coop! And the chickens look gorgeous too! Nice work all around. I never get tired of the chicken news, Joyce.
Pickles: "That's a lovely long worm you have there."
I think it was Mark Twain who wrote " the difference between a crazy person and an eccentric person is the eccentric person has money. There are probably lots of people who would keep chickens if they could afford to. It says a lot about our society that having chickens is a luxury.
I keep two run down old horses, Romeo, a big Lusitano gelding, was an Olympics jumper with arthritis and probably cancer, and Boneca, a badly beaten and neglected survivor of a cruel owner, who keep my fields clean so I won't be fined by my parish. Both were gifts. And I do a little tatting.
God Bless You For The Love You Have Shown For The Horses.
If you're like me, Susan, while you saved your "two run down horses," they have saved you in return. I, too, have had horses in my life for the past 25 years. Their calming influence has kept me grounded. As Joyce says, we live to serve them...a most noble of efforts IMO!
While I collected abandoned cats, an occasional dog, an old male white rat who needed to be loved (he was in a darn pet store) and had a bear claw bathtub full of gerbils I erroneously took care of for a friend and they multiplied.
The more the merrier, Sherri!
Susan, i am herbalist (one of my hats), arnica, yucca root, and comfrey would help your Romeo feel ease in his days. i feel this combination works better than bute. Hugs to you for loving your horses.
Nothing could be finer than you sharing those chickens and your knitting! I haven’t been able to do chickens or knitting for some years now, and you sharing yours pleases me no end! I love how your new palatial coop sounds & looks, and can almost feel the cool damp from drizzling rain on the roof! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing the chickens & the knitting, and most of all, sharing yourself Joyce! You make my every day happier & more bearable! Big thank yous!
I LOVE this posting, so human and so grounded. Joyce, you give me so much hope. My privileged eccentricity is reading and taking notes on Buddhist ethics, and then writing poems steeped in this philosophy. To each their own.
I love reading about your chickens and your knitting. Sometimes I think of you as this high-powered lawyer - talking with Preet and so impressive to me… and then you talk or write about your chickens and it humanizes you so much for me. High powered, intelligent, articulate, chicken-loving, knitter…. The perfect resume!
Any time I have form a relationship to another of Mother's life forms, be it the chickens, my dogs, even the tomatoes on their vine, and a large Norway maple they have kept me in touch with what is real... I tell them my struggles, they tell me their struggles. I too would love those beautiful chickens of your. we are lucky in this together.
I saw my first IRL silkie at a garden in Maui this last week. Watching it run brought me enormous joy! I’ve been eagerly awaiting your update with the hope of seeing more of this fluffy, funny chicken. My husband is probably glad our HOA prohibits urban chicken keeping! I absolutely understand your love of these lovely birds. Keep keeping us posted, please!
So, our black Silkie is name Pepper, and she's everyone's favorite. People that is, not the other chickens. They've been picking on her a bit so she got to come inside and watch a couple of episodes of The Crown with my husband and me. She's possibly the most adorable chicken ever. Glad you got to see some in person!
Lucky Pepper, lucky you.
I love that image. Also, isn’t it strange that pecking order is a real thing??
Joyce, that coop is amazing!! And your chickens are amusing. Yes, we laugh, create, write, sing, play an instrument, knit, crochet, paint, sculpt, garden, read, and whatever else we do to experience joy. That’s how we stay sane! I’m knitting socks for my grandson and playing the flute again. Also, singing often.
Gorgeous chicken coop! And gorgeous chickens! Thank you for sharing this part of your life!
❤️🐼
Ditto!
Not TMI- love the personal aspect. What city do you live in?
Thank you for educating me with your legal mind (in the other posts!).
Carol
We're in Birmingham
Dear Joyce,
Your commentary and photos warmed my heart. I am am consciously grateful for my environment and modest blessings: two sweet kitties and 3 feeders to cater to our various outdoor wild birds. The cats love watching the birds and fantasizing about being mighty hunters (from their indoor window observation posts). I'm still a social/political activist at 74 years of age, and I could not carry on without without the sanctuary of home life. Animals are a must!
Thank you for your insights on so many levels!
Leslie
Santa Barbara, CA
Amen Leslie!
Thank you, Sharyn!
What a great coup! You have some very spoiled chickens, lucky birds!
Tillie
Joyce Vance, you are such a gift to this bruised world. When I die I want to come back as one of your chickens. 🐥
I don’t really have an indulging eccentricity, but I’m currently reading every damn kids banned book I can get my hands on. Here is just one list, we’re in this together!
https://tinybeans.com/kids-books-and-childrens-books-that-are-banned-books/amp/
Where are these books banned? That's cwazy!
It is and it's where we're going. We're in a time where we all have to be out there speaking up or showing up - if you can. They're following in the footsteps of Orban and we all likely knew that but it's not in the media (for my likes) enough.
Tucker Carlson didn’t help either. Fox should lose their license.
OK, I see where in Canada the Toronto Public Library is banning hop on pop. That is some pretty extreme woke-ism there lol. But I don't see is these books being banned by Americans.
Is there any real story here, or is it just another dramatic call to arms over something that is not real?
Media types and rabid "activists" are constantly crying wolf with the "I've been banned" drama. Most are just making stuff up.
I politely disagree, it’s happening in my local school district. Rabid activists? Yes, some parents are. And they’re actively imposing their rabid views on others. That’s all I’m going to say on this subject.
Where are they banned?
Various school districts in Indiana for starters.
Can you link to a real story about this?
A simple search for “banned children’s books” returns mostly lists, but a few articles and opinions too.
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2022/02/08/the-dangerous-messages-in-banned-childrens-books-column/
Where I live there is a movement to ban several of those books plus others. I know of this specific school district first hand.
If you need more concrete evidence it is easy to find with a bit of online research.