Sunday, 22 April 2012
Rainbow's End
Today was the first day in 5 years that we weren't up with the sun to let chickens from the pod. Last night was the first time in 5 years when neither of us said to the other, 'Are the chickens in bed?'
Sadly, sadly, whatever caused the demise of Mrs Slocombe nearly two weeks ago, got the better of Mrs Pumphrey, too. On Friday she was fine. Yesterday morning she wasn't quite herself. At lunchtime, she went to take on her new job, not as a Lady Adventurer as she had planned but as an Angel Chicken.
Today I am finally getting around to decorating my arty crafty writing room. Every now and then I stop, paint brush in hand, and glance out onto the garden. It is strangely quiet, save for the bees. Thank goodness for the bees. But no flashes of white in and out the fruit trees, no flapping and stretching amongst the willow. No deranged clucking at the sighting of a neighbourhood cat. I've had a tear or two.
Of all our hens, Mrs Pumphrey was the best.
When Mrs Slocombe died, there was a rainbow.
There was a rainbow yesterday, too. A double rainbow.
Andy said, 'If I believed in God, I'd say it was him saying everything is going to be all right.'
I do believe in God.
Everything is going to be all right.
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This is one of the many reasons that I love you so much.
ReplyDeleteOh Denise, I am so sad to hear that. It was probably just her time to go, and perhaps she missed Mrs Slocombe too much.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine my garden without the chickens - sometimes (like today) I curse the need to go and clean them out, but I love to see them pottering when they're let out of the run. I hope you feel able to get some more hens eventually - they bring fun into your life and life into your garden.
Condolences. RIP Mesdames Pumphrey and Slocombe.
Thank you Olly. I never thought I'd cry over a chicken but I did today. Stupid, really but there you go. You are right about the life that hens bring to a garden.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, Mrs Pumphrey going was the bitter cherry that topped a rubbish weekend; one of those moments that makes you take stock of what you are doing and where you are going. Basically, I want more hens. I don't want to be without hens, but we need a bigger garden which means we need to make the leap and find that house in the countryside with the big garden.
Feel the fear?
Hope you are well x
I'm so sorry to hear about Mrs Pumphery. Our hens sadly went to a new home earlier this year (due to my ongoing chronic health problems) and I still find it odd not to see them in the garden or their run pottering about. I hope you get your plot of land soon.
ReplyDeleteBecca (aka Yategirl)
I am so sorry Denise, they were both so special and now they are still shining little stars. I have wept over all my hens when they have taken their last flight. They are the most lovable creatures and they give us so much pleasure. Sorry for your loss, take care, Di
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry, I know you will miss them. I will miss hearing about them too.
ReplyDeleteBecca, Diane and Deanna - thank you all, you lovely ladies. I think hens are such fabulous creatures. The garden seems so empty now. I've just got home from work and for the last 5 years my first job on doing so has been to pop into the garden to have a chat with the ladies and think up some adventures or conversations that I can write about to entertain you all.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine me doing the same with the bees - it's raining hard at the moment and not a bee in sight. I shall miss my girls and their voices and characters that come through so clearly.
Lord, what am I going to write about now???
you can write about the cats. I know they have wonderful adventures while you and Andy are away at work. I have a 20 year old tabby named Tootse who drives the Model T in the garage everyday while we are away at work. I know she must have many adventures in the great state of Texas.
ReplyDeleteWell, there's an idea, Deanna; I have suggested it to them all and they have gone away to discuss contracts and appearance fees! Cats, it seems, are far more mercenary than chickens.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to about the contract that the cats come up with!
ReplyDeleteBecca