Aw, man. I'm going to like to think that Snowy felt she'd finally reached a pinnacle of experience, and there was no going up from there: In the warm house, with her people. Given that all loves have to come to an end, this is about the best you can hope for, a true ending on a high note ending.
Luckily, all work retreats come to an end, too. I've never experienced the kind you describe--which, honestly, sound better than any education conference I ever attended (one time, early in my career, I actually had to share a bed with a colleague!)--but it sounds exhausting. No amount of beautiful snow scenery can make up for so much fraught peopling. (I don't care how much you like, respect, etc. your colleagues; it's always fraught because you can never really be fully your true self.) Thanks for keeping it real and digging deep (into the archives) to give us something wonderful on this February Wednesday.
I'm sure you're right, Rita. It was definitely a fitting departure for sweet Snowy, given that under any other circumstance she would have been on her own. Some day, I'll share the story of my own mother's exit. It was not entirely dissimilar!
I can rise to the occasion of a heavily peopled event, but it does take it out of me. On the upside, I often sleep really well afterwards. LOL! Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks G Warner! (Have I already asked what you prefer to be called?) It is very good to be home and back to the routines I crave. Enjoy the rest of your week. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
Gosh, Susan. I'm taken with the idea of soulwork in relation to what we are experiencing together here. Thank you for dropping that word into the conversation!
This is the most glorious love story, Elizabeth - it's absolutely beautiful. It's so special when we get to share our lives with friends like Snowy, isn't it? A goosepimpler of a post! ❤️🐓⭐️
Thank you, Rebecca. Definitely felt like a tiny miracle to get that many years with our feathered friend. And I keep thinking that tiny miracles all strung together are what make up a life. Grateful for you in mine.
When I was little - and indeed not so little! - the friends I most enjoyed to spend time with were the chickens, the goats, the ducks and the sheep. Chickens are the most delightful creatures - they're interested in things, enjoy company, like having a chat - those little sounds which always sound like a question are just demanding a reply, aren't they? Whenever I needed to get away it all I'd always head straight for the hen house!
We never had any four-legged farm friends, save for a recalcitrant pony and our various household pets, but there were all sorts of birds. Quail, guineas, ducks and chickens. Only the chickens lasted out our stay there - we sold their eggs at market. They were a lot of work, in their roving coop, but also the most wonderful pleasure! Do your folks still have any critters, Rebecca?
They've got three hens at the moment - Goldie, Sky and Coco - they're different breeds and lay different-coloured eggs. On a good day Mum and Dad will collect a light brown one, a blue one and a speckled brown one. Whenever there are eggs to spare I am handed an egg box full to take home, which I absolutely relish!
Interesting that you'd kept quail! I remember putting quail eggs under a broody bantam, and when they hatched they were about the size of large bumble bees! Happy memories!
I could talk chickens all day! I also speak chicken, if I've had one too many glasses of wine. 😅 Sorry to see that Speckles is no longer part of the flock. Are these full size birds or bantams? Though your dad's notes say otherwise, I would swear Coco was An Australorp and Goldie a Buff Orpington. Of all the breeds we kept (FYI, Snowy was an Easter Egger) those were the two broodiest! Delightful little egg trick you played, Rebecca. Your parents must have been so pleased! I've never been much of a Cadbury egg fan, but I love the practicality of eating them in the bath. So clever.
It's such a shame that Speckles is no more. She had been preceded by another Maran called Pengy, but she didn't look too well when she arrived, so she was taken back and replaced with Speckles - and that worked out fine to start with because she too had grown up with the other three, so they all knew each other - but then she got ill and didn't make it, which was a shame.
I couldn't really work out the breeds of the hens from the blurb the farm gave Dad - I reckon a couple are hybrids of hybrids! They're all standard-sized birds rather than bantams. Goldie is enormous - and so are her eggs - compared to Sky, though, who's much slighter in build.
I don't eat creme eggs any more - they give me toothache and make my clothes shrink.... 😉
I loved this story the first time, and I'm so glad to have read it again. I hope you enjoy some quiet time to recover from your retreat!
I know I'm wildly biased, but it is one I enjoy coming back to as well! :) Such a good friend. Appreciate the comment.
LOVE....a great love story...Long live Snowy!
Indeed! I'm sure she's a leader in some elite group of chicken matriarchs now! 😇
Aw, man. I'm going to like to think that Snowy felt she'd finally reached a pinnacle of experience, and there was no going up from there: In the warm house, with her people. Given that all loves have to come to an end, this is about the best you can hope for, a true ending on a high note ending.
Luckily, all work retreats come to an end, too. I've never experienced the kind you describe--which, honestly, sound better than any education conference I ever attended (one time, early in my career, I actually had to share a bed with a colleague!)--but it sounds exhausting. No amount of beautiful snow scenery can make up for so much fraught peopling. (I don't care how much you like, respect, etc. your colleagues; it's always fraught because you can never really be fully your true self.) Thanks for keeping it real and digging deep (into the archives) to give us something wonderful on this February Wednesday.
I'm sure you're right, Rita. It was definitely a fitting departure for sweet Snowy, given that under any other circumstance she would have been on her own. Some day, I'll share the story of my own mother's exit. It was not entirely dissimilar!
I can rise to the occasion of a heavily peopled event, but it does take it out of me. On the upside, I often sleep really well afterwards. LOL! Thanks for your kind words.
What a beautiful story...what a beautiful message, messenger (you!)
I vote for "mind-mining intensive." Truth in advertising. Welcome back! I hope you give yourself time to rest and refuel.
Thanks G Warner! (Have I already asked what you prefer to be called?) It is very good to be home and back to the routines I crave. Enjoy the rest of your week. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
Hey! I go by Warner😊 Very happy to be here!
Thank you for this lovely piece!
You would have loved our Snowy, Erica! Thanks for your sweet comment.
Heart-melting, lovely girl...
Rest up. We'll all be here as per.
She was a special friend. As are you. Thanks so much, Prue.
I believe that animals come into our lives at the right time and for the right reasons, as do people. Loved the love story of Snowy and your family!
Rest easy and deep,Elizabeth. We'll all be holding you up and waiting for your next piece of soulwork!
Gosh, Susan. I'm taken with the idea of soulwork in relation to what we are experiencing together here. Thank you for dropping that word into the conversation!
This is the most glorious love story, Elizabeth - it's absolutely beautiful. It's so special when we get to share our lives with friends like Snowy, isn't it? A goosepimpler of a post! ❤️🐓⭐️
Thank you, Rebecca. Definitely felt like a tiny miracle to get that many years with our feathered friend. And I keep thinking that tiny miracles all strung together are what make up a life. Grateful for you in mine.
When I was little - and indeed not so little! - the friends I most enjoyed to spend time with were the chickens, the goats, the ducks and the sheep. Chickens are the most delightful creatures - they're interested in things, enjoy company, like having a chat - those little sounds which always sound like a question are just demanding a reply, aren't they? Whenever I needed to get away it all I'd always head straight for the hen house!
We never had any four-legged farm friends, save for a recalcitrant pony and our various household pets, but there were all sorts of birds. Quail, guineas, ducks and chickens. Only the chickens lasted out our stay there - we sold their eggs at market. They were a lot of work, in their roving coop, but also the most wonderful pleasure! Do your folks still have any critters, Rebecca?
They've got three hens at the moment - Goldie, Sky and Coco - they're different breeds and lay different-coloured eggs. On a good day Mum and Dad will collect a light brown one, a blue one and a speckled brown one. Whenever there are eggs to spare I am handed an egg box full to take home, which I absolutely relish!
Interesting that you'd kept quail! I remember putting quail eggs under a broody bantam, and when they hatched they were about the size of large bumble bees! Happy memories!
Edited - meant to attach this: https://rebeccaholden.substack.com/p/65-hiding-in-the-hen-house
I could talk chickens all day! I also speak chicken, if I've had one too many glasses of wine. 😅 Sorry to see that Speckles is no longer part of the flock. Are these full size birds or bantams? Though your dad's notes say otherwise, I would swear Coco was An Australorp and Goldie a Buff Orpington. Of all the breeds we kept (FYI, Snowy was an Easter Egger) those were the two broodiest! Delightful little egg trick you played, Rebecca. Your parents must have been so pleased! I've never been much of a Cadbury egg fan, but I love the practicality of eating them in the bath. So clever.
It's such a shame that Speckles is no more. She had been preceded by another Maran called Pengy, but she didn't look too well when she arrived, so she was taken back and replaced with Speckles - and that worked out fine to start with because she too had grown up with the other three, so they all knew each other - but then she got ill and didn't make it, which was a shame.
I couldn't really work out the breeds of the hens from the blurb the farm gave Dad - I reckon a couple are hybrids of hybrids! They're all standard-sized birds rather than bantams. Goldie is enormous - and so are her eggs - compared to Sky, though, who's much slighter in build.
I don't eat creme eggs any more - they give me toothache and make my clothes shrink.... 😉