How do I know they aren’t pleased? They told me so. Late Saturday I went out to the run to take them some lettuce and say hello. They thought I was going to let them out. I waved the lettuce at them and distracted them for a few minutes but once the lettuce was gone the scolding began. They all started chattering at me. I was squatting down trying to reason with them because, I don’t know, I thought me explaining why they couldn’t go out would somehow make sense. Instead they just got louder and mobbed me. Marianne jumped up on my back, Elinor stood on my leg (I was squatting down still) so she could look me in the eye while she scolded me, Mrs. Dashwood stood on the coop ladder next to my head squawking at me and Margaret half turned her back on me and screeched so loud the neighbors probably thought I was trying to wring her neck.
Apologizing profusely, I managed to extricate myself and made an attempt to escape through the run door. They were not having it, however, and squeezed themselves between my feet and out into the chicken garden. They were pleased as punch and if chickens can be smug, they were. To prevent me from rounding them up they scattered around the garden and then completely ignored me.
Hrrmph.
Saturday it didn’t rain but it was a cool, damp, cloudy day with some wind. I went out on a bike ride anyway. The weather was so odd I didn’t know how to dress. It wasn’t cool enough for long sleeves but sometimes the wind made it feel cold. Most of the time is was uncomfortably clammy.
I rode out to the tiny town of Marine-on-St Croix and then a little beyond it to William O’Brien State Park. I was hoping for some fall color but it is much too early yet apparently. Once I got out of the city the ride was beautiful in spite of everything — fields and woods and lakes and streams and quiet roads. I loved it so much out there I am planning on simply printing off a map of the area sometime and just riding around to explore.Not far up the road from the town and on my way to the state park, my front tire hit a sharp rock in the road and I got a flat. But I had a spare tube with me and I am now an expert at changing a bike tire so it was no problem. It took longer than I would have liked because everything was wet and Astrid was covered in dirt. By the time I was done with the tire I was covered in dirt too. A couple of nice people stopped to ask if I needed help, which I appreciated.
Because the flat took longer to change than expected, by the time I got to the state park I wasn’t feeling much like exploring. Plus the wind was beginning to pick up, my allergies were starting to go on super-charge, and I was tired of feeling clammy. I will save exploring the park for another time.
Today Astrid got a good cleaning. My bike shop is also having an end of season sale and I went and took a couple test rides, intending to find Astrid a sister. I found one I really liked, but there are a couple others at a different shop I want to try out before making a final decision.
The chickens obviously want to experience good weather for ducks!
LikeLike
Ungrateful Dashwoods in serious mobbing behaviour! I hope the weather will be better for them this week.
LikeLike
Ian, supposedly we will be drying out for the next couple of days. I sure hope so!
LikeLike
Jeanne, I think so! It started pouring rain late yesterday afternoon and they just stood around getting wet!
LikeLike
I love the sign!
LikeLike
jenclair, anyone going by me while I was taking the picture would have seen a big dopey grin on my face 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I can’t wait to see the new bike! Hope you find a great deal.
LikeLike
Iliana, thanks! I am looking for one for gravel road adventuring 🙂
LikeLike
Oh dear to the flooding! I hope it has gone down now and will not go back up again — poor everyone! They’ve been posting news stories in Louisiana all month about it being the rainiest summer on record, like we didn’t already know that. :p
LikeLike
Jenny, thanks I think most people affected are in clean-up mode now though a good many farm fields are still too wet for harvesting and hopefully the crops won’t be damaged by it. heh, yeah we’ve been told all summer too that it is the rainiest on record. I haven’t had to water my garden once but I suspect all the wet has kept some of the smaller seeds from germinating as I got no carrots or beets and very few radishes this year.
LikeLike
What are the Dashwoods going to do when it gets seriously cold and starts to ice and snow. Will they be so keen and smug when they get out then?
BTW We’ve been having a lot of rain here too. In September we have more than twice our September average, and in the last couple of days the state of South Australia is experiencing floods. So wet.
As for Astrid, I do hope you introduce her new sister nicely to her – when you get her. I don’t want poor Astrid to feel not good enough, and YOU don’t want to have to cope with sibling rivalry. I’ve had two kids so if you need any advice you know where to come!!
LikeLike
whisperinggums, it will be interesting to see what the Dashwoods do when it turns cold. I can hardly wait for their first snow! Wow, that is a lot of rain you’ve had! Crazy! Does it help any of the areas where there had been drought?
Astrid being the big sister will always have the upper hand and she will be glad I won’t make her ride on those horrible gravel roads anymore 🙂
LikeLike
Well, that’s alright then. Yes, I think the rains have helped some drought areas, though I’m not sure about some remote areas.
LikeLike
I suppose any little bit helps though it would be best if it didn’t happen in big raging storms!
LikeLiked by 1 person