Determination

Here's a bit of random farm junk we inherited, incorporated into a very determined little birch tree. While it feels vaguely icky (doesn't that HURT?), it also seems to show the power of nature and slow perserverence. Even if we humans leave junk all over the place, trees will find a way, even if just for a while. There's quite a bit of tree-shaping going on this little junk pile.




I've asked WF to leave the tree standing just so I can continue to be amazed at the power of zylem and phloem (tree veins)!


We have to be pretty determined here these days about the fate of one of the roosters. The hens are still showing wear (bare heads and even now some wings), and the two roosters started really fighting this weekend. I've been unsuccessful in finding the smaller, perkier rooster a home (it's very hard to place roosters!) so it looks like we might have to enter a new phase of the chicken world this weekend... the ah, "transformation" into an edible item. Eeek-we're such greenhorns! I've never cleaned an intact bird before, so we're looking around for "mentors"... maybe even my dad, who has cleaned many a duck over the years. Being a girl, I didn't learn that old family skill. It was pretty much a once-a-year ritual for the men in the family. WF's family is pretty far removed from any of those skills.

But in the meantime, we're having a hard time looking at "Smaller Rooster" on "death row" in the chicken tractor. He doesn't seem happy to be separated, so that won't be a good long time solution, either. Ah, life (and death). I won't likely blog about the gorey details, but let's hope we have the fortitude to just do this, and do it right. I DO like to eat chicken, just maybe not ones that I know so well. We value local protein, soI think we need to face this reality. I'm trying to learn from Rurality's bravery, but...Last chance: anyone have room for one smallish rooster?!