300 Comments

Cleopatra is simply beautiful. And I could actually hear the Dino-scream amidst the gentler clucking of the chickens. Love it.

Thank you for helping us understand the legalese and the goings-on. So damn much to process.

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"...these next thirteen months might be the most important for our country since any time since the Civil War." Amen

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My goodness, Cleopatra is indeed exquisite. Your photograph portrays her almost like a tapestry! Thank you for a lovely newsletter this evening, sensible and giving us some peace while acknowledging where we are and what likely lies ahead. Thank you for this phenomenal newsletter. Sharing with some friends to Bolster what’s already a phenomenal readership, I’m sure.

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Chickens!! 🐓 ❤️ Glad you took a break. It’s been a deluge of shenanigans from MAGA.

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That was absolutely the best cure for Trump‘s ridiculous antics in the courtroom and in the hallways today. It truly was “the Trump show” and I’m so glad he decided to decamp for Mar-a-Lago. We’re all the better for it. I love all the chickens, and their very appropriate names-thanks for giving us some moments of peace and tranquility. Now we just have to figure out what the Republicans are going to do in selecting a speaker. Right now it looks like they are scraping the bottom of the barrel with Scalise and Jordan. I truly can’t decide which one is worse. And the fact that Nancy Pelosi and Steney Hoyer, were told they had one day to vacate their Hideaway offices was a low blow.

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I loved Pelosi’s response though.

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Classic Pelosi

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What did she say? I knew she’d have something good. And they did it while she was at the memorial. SMH. Pls share with the class? Thanks !

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There was apparently more to it than that. She basically said, “I’m not even IN DC!”

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Ah. Thanks for sharing

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Sick burn by Ms. Pelosi. Brava!

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Me too, it was right on!

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Trump is a juvenile delinquent.

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IMHO Jordan is the worst! I heard someone last night state that anyone who had something in their background (Jordan=Ohio St wrestling scandal; Trump=91 felony counts). I hope both are non-starters to be Speaker!

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And in the Senate team Schumer steams ahead with holding to tradition vs taking steps to change outdated rules.

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They will have to have a larger majority than what they have to make any significant changes. If we want changes, given them a large enough majority with which to do that. GOTV.

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From what I have been reading - that is NOT within McHenry's purview as temporary speaker!!!

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Joyce, Penelope is full of feathers, and Cleopatra is beautiful from her array of golds and oranges to rust, and you, Joyce, you are thanking us! You -- who is the most prepared, most generous and most helpful guide, making one legal complexity after another understandable to us. Thank you for helping us to be more knowledgeable and more engaged as citizens of the US. We are determined to make it more of a democracy for all Americans.

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Fern, you said it so well, I am joining in. Thank you Joyce, and bless the sweet birds who remind us that what we are fighting for is peace and contentment.

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Thank you, Elizabeth. Joyce has been perfectly steadfast in her teaching of us. She knows which legal points might confuse us and how we might stumble, so her pieces are built on the sturdiest of foundations, with fortification to boot. I am repeating my initial comment by extolling Joyce's talents. She is such an extraordinary human, I would have liked to compose an Ode to Joyce, but haven't found the John Keats in me.

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Thanks for your presence, Joyce. So appreciate your chickens, their antics and the joy the bring you. At least they are understandable ❤️.

Your writing brings me joy because you are able to sort out what is happening so clearly. We ARE all in this together!

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You’re exactly right! Trump’s behavior is very predictable, just like anyone else with a childlike mentality! Chickens make for a better topic!

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The truculent toddler.

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I work in hospice. I visited a family today who have four house chickens. They all wear very colorful chicken diapers that really look more like hats (hats on chicken butts). They were all cozy (some mid moulting) like cats resting on the sofa. They were sweet. The one that belongs to the person dying was clearly more sad/affected than the other three.

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chickens have feelings too...

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Animal intelligence -which unfortunately has been and continues to be dismissed by toooo many humans.

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This is amazing that they have house chickens. And respected them by allowing them to say ‘goodbye.’

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They’re pretty sassy

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They are sassy! I has no idea how much personality chickens have going into this.

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At first I thought you meant Nancy Pelosi and Steney Hoyer.

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We’ll, Pelosi is at any rate. 😉

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The estimable Mr Hoyer is my Representative im proud to say. In his own way he is pretty sassy.

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I nominate Cleopatra for Speaker of the (Hen) House.

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OhJoyce we are the ones that thank you.it can’t be easy with all your commitments to sit down and write such detailed information but in a way that is understandable to the “common person”

Love the chickens especially the “fluffy one”

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It is so wrong... poor Cleopatra has to sit second fiddle to another orangey bird brain chicken... the former guy! It must be so humiliating for her in front of her peers...

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Don’t tell Cleopatra she’s second to anyone!

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Thought you'd like to know that you got a shout out this evening from Heather Cox Richardson at her book talk in Oakland. And thank you for sharing the chickens with us.

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I was there too and was clapping when Heather said Joyce’s name!!

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Eileen, where were you sitting? I was close to the stage but off to the right. Couldn’t hear a dang word that Rebecca Solnit was saying!

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We were about half way back toward right. Yes it was very frustrating trying to hear her.

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Only chickens is a welcome relief. And in that vein, my profile pic is for you. That is the concept for chicken portraits.

Build a set. Position the studio lights and reflectors. Put them in it and start shooting.

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Learning to properly photograph them is on my to do list. This is a great idea--just need to find some studio lights and reflectors :)

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Constant lights. LED. Not a flash to startle the subject.

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Would a ring light work, such as on a tripod? I have a 12” Sensyne w 62” tripod - $33.98 from Amazon, but it is indoor. An outdoor Mini Lume Cube with a battery may be better for the coop.

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Sure. Type of light is less important than position though.

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Thank you. I have a Shiba Inu and a miniature Dachshund. The Dachshund will be still and.’wait’ (his only learned concept). Chibi, my Shiba Inu just wants to follow me with my slightest move. They are both elders - chibi is just now learning ‘wait.’ Max has it down, but he wants a good day. Every time he hears that word.

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Our son and DIL had a wonderful, sassy Shiba Inu who was absolutely THE BEST pup ever! Sadly, she went over the Bridge 2 years ago. We all still miss her.

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Thank you Joyce for all your hard work! We’re in this together 😊

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C'mon, don't you all want chickens?

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