Easter continues at Meadow Sweet Grove!  How could it not with lovely fresh eggs, courtesy of our neighbours and their urban backyard chickens? The lovely hues of these eggs are their natural colours - there was no need to dye these for the Easter display!  And I think the vintage glass egg cups (a great score scouted out and snatched up by my mother-in-law) provide the perfect pairing.

This unique present got me thinking that backyard chickens would be such a wonderful addition to the Grove.  The coop and run space really doesn't take up that much room for just a few "hobby" chickens.  But, unfortunately, our garden space is very limited right now and we are looking for a bit more room for veggies - not fowls!  But it must have stirred something in my blood ... because during the 1960s and early 1970s, my Dad owned and ran a poultry farm with over 5,000 chickens under his care. 

Here are pics of some of his brood!

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Mom and Dad are bringing them here, of course, because it is such a good food source.  It's touching how the little ones are now seemingly showing up on their own for breakfast ... but I notice that Mom or Dad, or sometimes both, are always watching from a little distance away (they are good parents).  They caw to let the babies know that it is okay to go get the food.  The caws sure change dramatically though when my little black and white cat sneaks out the door at the same time!  However, I have been advised by a reliable Gnome in the Grove that maybe I shouldn't feed the babies too much. 

The young ones do, however, need to learn to find food in other places too.  So, I am rationing the food ... it's hard!  Because they sit on the wires, and sometimes outside my window, with their little beaks open and waiting.   ​I am finding the strength to do what is right.  I only give them just enough at breakfast (and maybe a wee bit at dinnertime) to keep their little bellies hungry ... so that they go and search elsewhere.

​​Plus, it would seem that this fellow is attracted to any bits and pieces left-over.  His stealthy little hands reach up to the "special spot" hoping to grab any forgotten food.  And, as you can see, he is here, all hopeful, and it isn't even twilight yet!  Okay I'll scale it back ... I promise.

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​/ edited 2019

We've had a regular visitor to the Grove for about a year now.  The fairies have benevolently bestowed upon him the title of "Crow Man".  Since last summer, he comes often for a bit of bread or leftovers and now is very happy to wait, in his usual spot, outside the door nearest the kitchen where I can see him.  After a while, he started bringing two friends with him, but by winter, they were gone, and he was just back to his lonely self again. ​
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Pictured here with another resident of the Grove, St. Finnian, a cat with the heart and name of a saint.  "Finn Man" gives Crow Man no trouble at all.  While he's clearly interested in the visitor, the crow knows that he doesn't have too much to worry about from this one and will even come and fetch his breakfast with Finny close by!  Now there is another little trouble-maker in the Grove that Crow Man has no patience for whatsoever.  No love is lost between these two ... as you can see how this little feline reacts when he catches sight of anything feathered ... be it crow or any buzzing thing!

​Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​​​​​​​

Like Spring weather, new beginnings aren't always gentle

On a Spring visit to England one year, we were fortunate enough to see a lambing at a farm in Yorkshire.  It was an incredible bit of magic to happen upon.  Amazing also was watching all the other sheep come over to inspect the two new little arrivals ... and their obvious empathy when one wasn't moving.  Fortunately, help was on hand and soon he was happily received by his mama.  ​

A Happy Easter Ending!

Shamed, the white cat,
Slunk and hid
Behind the post
As he was bid.

But when those posers came quite near,
He thought around the post he'd peer,
Just to see the garb that night,
Of witches, skeletons and the like.

But those kids they screamed!
And fled in fright.
Trick or treat bags
Thrown left and right.

For rounding 'round that post they'd seen
A BIG WHITE GHOST !!
(or so it seemed.)