“No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.“William Blake
And so it goes. Last spring we lost the last two of our rescue animals who were with us for over 10 years. Cinderella a Muscovy duck had come to us after the fires of 2003. Our barn yard seems eerily empty. Well from previous posts you know I am doing my best to fill it up again.
Friday we picked up another rescue animal from the SPCA, abandoned in a local park in town. “Of course she can come and live here”
So meet Aflac.
The first day was precarious. The chickens were not sure and quickly formed a band together to investigate the intruder. Aflac, being tame was a little worse for the encounter.
Satchmo and his gang of juvenile thugs attacked her. Holy pterodactyl feet.
We quickly had to re-think the living arrangements. Aflac was given an outdoor nesting box surrounded by a dog x-pen.Sunday was much better. Aflac had a swim and learned some confidence and preservation skills. So far everything is harmonious.
It helped that our neighbors are cleaning their gardens for fall and the barn yard is a daily recipient of their compost. Mmmm… pea vines with peas still on them, zucchini, corn, carrots: delicious and meant to be shared.
Coming together in community to share a meal is a thousands year old tradition to build understanding and harmony.
After a long day of eating and really getting to know each other, bed and nighttime are a welcome reprieve.
The chickens are learning to roost in the barn and the goats love sneaking into the hay room for their nightly hand fed goat mash treat and a chance to steal some hay.Scarlett the pheasant still looks longingly at the big world outside the barn yard. I won’t clip her wings again and I know that the call of her nature will come. I just hope that she will know that she is always welcome back, just like any other child who has outgrown the nest and spread its wings to fly.
Amazed With Mystery 