Who looks smarter?

I'm not sure, but my husband has hired Sophie to do his books while I'm away.

You heard me: away. My daughter and I are headed to the coast of Maine for a couple of days to spend some time with my stepmother. We leave in 2 hours, which is kind of funny if you keep in mind that we are not packed; I haven't made a list; I haven't technically finished my humor column, which is due today; I haven't picked up the house or brought the laundry in off the line or showered or made my husband's lunch. But I am blogging. Hmm.

First, let's get the bad chicken news out of the way. (Calm down. Helen is fine.) Remember how I put Portia in a dog cage on some eggs and how that night the fox came to the coop and took a chicken and also the dog cage was open and Portia was gone? As I said, my husband thought that she and one other bird had probably gotten away and were just hiding.

Well, early Saturday morning, around 3 a.m., I heard a frightened-chicken noise coming from our front yard, out by the animal barn. Turns out, it was Portia being attacked. I guess she had been hiding in the barn for a day or two until the fox thing blew over and something chased her out and got her. We found her body, with the head chewed off, the next afternoon. I really do feel bad about this because I feel like my poor poultry management skills not only messed up Portia's desire to sit on eggs, but also left her scared and then dead (killed by a weasel, skunk, or cat, probably).

However, as I was writing to someone who commented yesterday, this is how it is with animals. if I choose to name them and treat them like pets, I have to face the reality that animals are part of the food chain and even if we don't eat them, someone else will. At least she had a great life while she was here.

So I'm focusing on the positive side of nature. Such as these:

Pet caterpillars. Woo-hoo. Actually, they're just visiting. We went for a walk in our fields last night, and found the milkweed practically dripping with monarch butterfly caterpillars. We took some home and left them on the porch. One of them made a break for it:

See it? It came back later for more milkweed. But this morning it's gone again. The other one is still happily munching away. It will probably going into a cocoon while we're gone, I'm sorry to say. Meanwhile, I'll be feeling guilty that the other went in search of more milkweed and is going to die of starvation in our yard. (I'm a little sensitive about creature survival these days.)

Okay. Ogunquit, here we come. I hope to have great pictures to share (and maybe some knitting?) on Friday. I leave you with two more pictures from Sunday night. My daughter's in the second one.

Comments

[Scout]

Have a good trip!

[JessaLu]

Have fun in Ogunquit!

So sorry Portia didn't make it :o(

Oh and DH looks effing thrilled. Too funny ;o)

[trek]

Have fun.

PS - Decidely macroscopic bugs rae the most disgusting and fear inducing things on the planet - JMHO.

[CindyCindy]

Have a wonderful trip. Loved the caterpillars. Great nature shots! I'm so sorry about Portia. Wasn't she your last foofy chicken?

[Jane]

Oh, poor Portia. Sadly, it's the saem with any pet you let go outside. I knew my cats where at risk of cars, although fortunately only one out of four had to suffer that bad end. I love the catepiller photos and can just imagine the lovely scene when all the butterflies hatch.

[Carrie]

Yeah, I'm not so fond of caterpillars either, but I sure do love the butterflies.
What a shame about Portia, she was a pretty one. I'm glad Helen is well. It's like building a house in the forest - sooner or later, you're going to have to reckon with the forest fire. That's just the way this planet seems to go. But yes, Portia had a good life and was well loved, and really, what more could a chicken ask for?

[Carrie]

PS - Have fun on your visit. If you don't blog, we'll miss you.

[Scarlet]

Ogunquit! We used to go there every summer when I was growing up. That's one of the things I miss about New England summers--eating steamers on the beach. Have a great time!

I'm really sorry about Portia. Poor scared little chicken.

[Laura]

So sorry about Miss P. Nice accurate image you portray in the description of her body! heh

Yes, the responsibility of farmyard pets. It's hard to lose them when you think of them as companions and never imagine awful things happening to them. Like it's your job to protect them. Thankfully they're "just chickens". And moving changed things around you too - obviously. Experiences like these help you to learn and be a better keeper for the outside critters. I guess you don't have a dog or other thing to keep the baddies away, huh? Guinneas are supposed to be great yard watchers. And donkeys too. I know several people in Texas who keep donkeys with their cattle and chickens to keep the baddies out and who keep Guinneas in other parts of the yard closer to the house.

[Mindy]

My parents keep chickens and they have them fenced. It hasn't kept the other beasts out. Their second batch of chickens was attacked by a fox. Their first by my dog (a bird dog who sadly did not recover from the feathers she injested). The last batch was attacked by an owl that took up residence in my parents barn. The owl is sadly no longer living.

Love the caterpillar pictures.

[Donna K.]

Have fun on the trip and enjoy your time with your daughter.

[Diane E.]

You'll see more Monarch caterpillars when you come back. We've contained them in aquariums with fresh supplies of milkweed and had great success following their crystalis stage and then hatching out. Sorry about Portia, Hardy Helen hides heroically!Horay! Headin up through northern VT tomorrow, will shout "Boy Howdy"

[Teyani]

so sorry to hear about Portia and the others. We too name our 'pets' and we care about them. It is okay to grieve their passing.
they were wonderful - and indeed it was their time.
if a fox/skunk/cat got them, it was time. don't blame yourself... it just is.
enjoy your break. see you back again soon,

[Dorothy B]

So sorry about Portia. But your commenter was right. She had a good life.

You can't protect everything all the time. You can only do your best and hope that it's enough. That you try is better than the ones who don't or won't bother.

Have a nice time away.

Love the pictures.

[Kelly]

Sorry to hear about Portia.

Hope you and your daughter have a great trip!

[Amanda]

Oh, poor Portia. I was so hoping that she'd made it.
Beautiful caterpillars, though. Hope you will be greeted by lots of Monarchs after your trip! (or relatively soon thereafter--I know they don't hatch in just two days)

[lynne s of Oz]

Hope you had a great trip!
Foxes take the heads off animals and drink the blood. Poor Portia!
Love the caterpillars - we don't have those ones here.

[sahara]

I started to read your post, but had to click off, as I love chickens and actually started to cry. My condolences for Portia. I accept the reality of the food chain, but it is still upsetting.

There is a site that shows you how to set up a feeding station for Monarch Butterflies. When they show up––it's amazing!!