Gratitude Tuesday

I cannot believe it has been a whole week since I have written in the blog, but I have been very busy with work and the chickens and being a cello mom, and in all the nooks and crannies where I can normally squeeze in time to write, I have been building the upcoming issue of Farmer-ish journal. Friends, I can’t wait for you to see–and hear it!

We are adding audio to this issue, and it’s beautiful. I have done some of the reading, but most of the authors read their works themselves. I have cried more than once hearing the authors speak the lovely words they wrote. I can’t wait to share it with you all.

I am thankful I have been able to put this together. I mean, I’m not finished yet, but it will be ready by Friday for sure.

I am knocking on wood as I write those words.

It has been a really, really tough week here in so many ways. I won’t write about it because I know so many people are having their own rough weeks right now, but I have to tell you the things I am grateful for today because it’s Tuesday.

I am so grateful the snow is melting, and you know how is the most grateful of all? The ducks!

They all made it through the winter, and though no one is laying an egg yet, they are getting wild and rowdy and having a blast in all of the water. Little Anna Maria is still struggling with her blindness but doing okay overall. It’s always a little hard on her when the snow melts and the flock is out and about more. She has a hard time finding them, so I am back to checking on her several times a day, chasing her down, carrying her to her people, only to be hissed at by our male duck, Ferdinand. I emphasize I am trying to help. I think at least Anna Maria is grateful for my efforts.

I am also grateful tonight that my daughter got a new and better job, that my brother continues to heal, and that it won’t be long before the rhubarb is growing. We are completely out of jam and jelly right now. That hasn’t happened in years. I did not make nearly enough last summer, and both my husband and son went on a peanut butter and jelly kick this winter.

Did you know I do not like peanut butter? I have, thus far, never met a single person who doesn’t like peanut better. If you do not, I would love to hear about it.

I do have to add one sad note: Hector is in her last days. I spent way too much time today snuggling her. I was going to make her a basket and let her sit in the sun today, but she leaned into my chest, which meant I worked to build pages of the journal in slow motion today with a chicken in my lap.

I am so grateful for that time with her though. I kind of want to go get her and snuggle her some more tonight, but she got tired of sitting still after a few hours. I took her to the coop, and she went to a nest box. She’s not walking too well, so I was impressed.

I was making dinner tonight when Ron did the nighttime chicken chores, so I had him check on Hector. He said she was in a really, really deep sleep. Hopefully, she will pass tonight in her sleep. She got a full 10 months longer than I thought she might. Gosh, she’s.a great bird.

It’s almost spring. The old birds who have held on all winter will start to let go.

It’s like spring brings the release.