It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Blue is dead. I had a love/hate relationship with him. Blue came into our lives three years ago when we ordered some chickens from Murray McMurray. The deal was that when ever you order chicks from them they throw in an exotic bird, which is their way of getting rid of roosters.

Blue was an Americuna. His first year was spent mating. I've had roosters before and I never saw one that could mate as often as Blue. He was on a different hen every minute or so; all day, every day.

He slowed down during his second year; mating only every hour or so, but this gave him more time to try to attack me. When I was outside he'd make his way to me and he'd try to ambush me. I kept a close eye on him because the moment I didn't he was in the air trying to spur me. He did catch me in the back of the boot on two occasions.

Blue was pretty noisy. Though I had gotten used to the sound of his crow, I never enjoyed hearing him scream from inside the coop three hours before day light. The neighbors must be delighted in his passing for that reason. Sometimes I'd be working out side and I could hear him crowing every few seconds for a half hour or so.

A neighbor dog took Blue and though I am upset any time one of the chickens are preyed upon by a dog, this neighbor called us and fessed up about the incident.

Blue was a beautiful bird. He kept the flock in order, but on the other hand he had a mean streak and he was noisy. I do miss him in a way, but on the other hand I'm enjoying the peace and quiet.

You Asked For It

All right already. Here’s a new post. Three of my seven readers have made me feel guilty enough that I’m writing a new article. Especially because one of them gave up drinking for Lent and the photo of the glass of applejack was haunting her and making her question her resolve when she checks the blog every morning. That applejack is calling her name.

Once in a while someone will bring up a topic I had written about in the past, and I will search the archives to see what I had to say back in the day. I am constantly amazed by how much I’ve mellowed over the years. This blog had some really good writing and commentary in the past. I took on people and issues. Sure I may have been wrong sometimes, but I had a fire in the belly and I kind of miss it.

I used to make it a point to be involved. I’d go to board meetings and meet the movers and shakers. I was on a few advisory committees and I got to attend some great election night parties. Though it was exciting at the time, in retrospect I should have felt dirty. I would feel dirty now if I were involved in the political cesspit I used to swim in. This is not to say I was on the wrong side of anything, or that my position or opinions have changed; politics is dirty no matter what side you are on. The ends always justified the means.

Now that I’ve distanced myself from all politics I am no longer the choir that gets preached to. Sadly one of the side effects is that I no longer write about my outrage. I haven’t had a post in a while, and before this topic came up today I was considering writing a post about cookies. Cookies…Snickerdoodles no less… what have I become?

P.S. hope you injoy this photo for the next couple of weeks.