A Heavy Heart

The sun is shining and my heart is heavy.  My big white hen died in my arms this morning.  I am so glad that she is not suffering anymore but I am sad for her passing.  I only have two hens now.  Polo was the hen that held the group together.  I don't know that I will ever keep hens again once the other two have gone.  I had an idyllic image of hens roaming free around the garden.  I had to scrap that idea once the fox population grew in the area.  I see foxes every day now whereas when I was a child I think I only ever saw one fox.

I am unable to find a vet who is knowledgeable or who even cares about chickens.  Many just see them as livestock.  Now I know there will be vets who do care but unfortunately there aren't any around these parts. In addition to this, chickens are susceptible to a wide range of health problems.  They need to be wormed every month, they can get red mites and become anaemic, if they eat corn they need to eat grit to break it down, they need oyster shell or calcium supplements to help them produce hard shells etc, etc.

If I haven't put you off of keeping chickens, I would urge you to research as much as you can about them before taking them on.  They are not an easy option and they do require lots of attention just like any other pet.   I didn't realise, until Polo got ill, that the large Sussex type birds are more likely to suffer from a prolapse due to producing extra large eggs.  If I had been equipped with this knowledge beforehand I wouldn't have chosen this type of bird as a layer.  Make sure you can find a vet that specialises in chickens too so that you can get expert help when needed and not driven into a panic like state as I have been over the past week.

Retreat

I am yearning to retreat.  I want to sit quietly and meditate and make the World go away just for a short while.  Since Saturday I have been dealing with a hen that has had a prolapse.  I clean her up, make her comfortable and keep my fingers crossed that the next day she will be well again.  Today I phoned the vets who the hens are registered with and was told that they don't deal with chickens.  They gave me the number of their sister surgery who told me that they don't deal with 'exotics'.  The original vets then phoned me after being contacted by the other surgery and told me that a vet would see my hen in the morning to 'fix' the prolapse for £90.00.  If I thought that this would work I may consider it but they had already gave me the impression that they don't know how to deal with poultry.  Tonight I have bathed her, cleaned her and once again isolated her from the other hens.  I hope that she will pass away overnight.  I cannot bear to think that she may be suffering. 

Willow Weaving

One of the advantages from volunteering at the vineyard is that I get the opportunity to do other things too.  Today I took part in a full day willow weaving workshop. The location was through the gate (above)

 and along a woodland walk.

Above are some of the items that were made by our tutor Tom Hare.  Tom Hare is responsible for making the fantastic willow sculptures on display at Kew gardens.

 With Tom's expert tuition I made the leaf shaped plant poke above............

 .............a snail plant poke.................

 ......a dragonfly..................

.............and a sweet pea support.  Not a bad day's work!  I wonder what other opportunities will come my way as a result of volunteering?

Wise Words

Those of you that regularly read this blog will know how much I love inspirational words, quotes and sayings.  They have in fact, helped me get through many a dark time.  I am working on a whole range of key fobs with different words to inspire, encourage, comfort and uplift the recipient.

We all need keys so I thought a key fob would be the perfect place in which to put these sayings so that they could be seen often.  If you would like to purchase one they are available at Linden Grove Mercantile.

Rich Rewards

After a disappointing summer, I feel that September has stepped in with her rich rewards.  This majestic tree stands in my neighbour's front garden.  Beautifully fragrant, it rustles in the light autumn breeze.  The blue sky provides a wonderful backdrop.  Around here the trees are still verdant but slowly yellowing.  Soon the leaves will be ready to fall and we will know that autumn has truly arrived.  I read a lovely description about falling leaves that is ' when a leaf falls from the tree it is just summer's way of waving goodbye.'

Giveaway Winner Announcement

All twenty names went into the golden tea light receptacle.  I gave them a good a shake and without further ado or hesitation I took the plunge and pulled out Amanda Claire from Amanda's Patch. 

Congratulations Amanda!  Please email your details to me so that I can get the key ring sent off to you.  I may get some more key rings made up to sell at my Linden Grove Mercantile blog unless I get distracted by paper crafting in the meantime! 

Thank you to everybody who takes the time to comment here, as I know your time is valuable.  Thank you also for your concern regarding my eye test.  I have to have further tests at the hospital to see if there is a problem with the back of one of my eyes but getting an appointment could be a long way off yet.  In the meantime I have updated my look with a nice new pair of designer glasses.  I may even colour my hair this weekend and paint my nails.  (I don't think I have painted my nails for about 20 years!)  Have a lovely weekend however you decide to spend it. x

Love

Keep in the Sunlight

You may recognize these words from the end of the quote in my last post.  I am striving to 'keep in the sunlight' at the moment and trying not to worry about what may or may not happen in the future.  I went for a routine eye test last week.  I came away with a letter for my GP as the optician has noticed something in the back of my eye that needs further examination.  The best thing for me to do in this kind of situation is to keep busy, so I have been keeping busy.  I  have made this tactile keyring.  You wouldn't lose this in your bag now would you?!!!  It is stitched onto a light pink Aida fabric, filled with a polyester filling, and a touch of home grown lavender in the middle.

It is nice and squidgy and backed with a vibrant paisley print.  It has all been sewn entirely by hand and may look a little rustic around the back ( a bit like me!)

I would like to offer it as a giveaway, so if you would like to be entered into the draw then please leave a comment on the end of this post.  Everybody is welcome to enter no matter where they are in the World.

I will pick a winner in about a week's time.

Worry

'Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen.

Keep in the sunlight'

Benjamin Franklin

The Ghost Cat

This is Teddy, a lovely old Persian boy who belongs to a family in the street where I live.  The family have quite a few older cats and have recently brought a new kitten home.  Teddy does not like the new kitten so he has left home.  I see him from time to time and am often startled by his ghostly appearance.  Maybe he is a ghost - he seems to have been wandering our streets forever...................

Edited: Just to let you know that I have been reliably informed that Teddy is being fed and cared for by a lady who lives close by to Teddy's old home.  He has not been abandoned.  Apart from having a disgruntled appearance he is really a most lovable cat who loves to be stroked and fussed over.

Spotted at the Vineyard

...................... Some rapidly growing chicks, Mother hen and two chicks, and a strutting rooster!