The other morning, when I went to open up the chicken coop and do the food and water, I couldn’t find Ruby. Ron had put up the chickens the night before, and he doesn’t count the chickens like I do. I was in a panic until I realized I could hear Ruby. But, as I looked around, I still couldn’t find her. It literally sounded like she was coming from inside the coop walls. I didn’t know what to think.
And then I looked down. Outside, there is a ramp with slats leading to the big front door of the coop, Ruby was stuck under the ramp! I have no idea how she got there. It is solid on the sides. In fact, as I write this, I am a little freaked out by how she got there. But that’s where she was. Just complaining so loudly, probably extra because I was stepping down on the ramp and probably squishing her a little.
I raised up the ramp, and Ruby ran out. She didn’t even seem grumpy to me, as she usually is. She just seemed so relieved. That little girl!
We all took guesses as to what happened to her. Mostly, we just made up wild stories. I suggested the rats grabbed her and took her under the coop, but she escaped–sort of. My teen son said the rats got her and were storing her under the ramp for later, like in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. If you have read that book, I am sorry for that imagery. If you have not read that book, right now is definitely not a good time to read that book. Just don’t do it.
My real guess is that Ruby was out late roosting somewhere, got scared by something, managed to squeeze under the coop for safety but then was drawn to the light under the ramp in the morning. That’s truly just a guess though because there are holes in that theory as well because there is no easy path from the under the coop to under the ramp. I guess I will never know, but words cannot express how badly I wish Ruby could talk to me.
One thing I know for sure is that Ruby has a wild heart and is determined to make life an adventure for herself.
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I have been reflecting on my life and my constant push and pull between wanting adventure in my life but then wanting safety and security at the same time. I feel I am a mess. Maybe a little too much like Ruby in some ways because Ruby.
I was thinking about this more when I pruned the pear trees the other day. I love those pear trees so much, but I love them for what they give me, of course. I hate how I have to tame them to not get too tall and how I have to trim branches to ensure the best fruit in the fall. The chopping feels so harsh to me. You know those trees want to be wild. They try every year.
But their fruit is tied to my security. Every year, I get to can pears, make pear crisp, and the like because I tame those trees.
This morning, when I opened the coop door, Kate, Juliet, and Ruby were out and about right away. When I came back later after caring for the ducks and doing their water, Ruby and Juliet were at the door wanting back into the coop. After the rest of the flock clears out, they like to go back into coop to eat. I couldn’t find Kate at all though.
I looked around and found her walking way down the driveway. She is so adventurous. Kate-Kate has a wild heart that will never be tamed.
