Christmas and chickens

The sun is setting on 2019 and this decade. The Christmas tree went up late, but it still looks great so we'll let it stand until the needles start falling. And then we'll give it to the goats...

We had some snow for Christmas, just enough, but right now we are back to green grass and cold rain. The snow is returning tonight and tomorrow, but I am not sure how much we are supposed to get.

I think I finally resolved the kitchen light dilemma by ordering a third (!!!) fixture online from a place I used to order from 25 years ago for the old NJ house, Rejuvenation. 2 to 5 weeks to deliver, custom-assembled to spec, in Portland, not China. The previous fixture that I really liked—a wall-mount which I can't use—I am asking the tenant in that same old house if she can use it. If not I will return it.

It really should not be this difficult to buy local, but I will keep trying.

I haven't talked much about the chickens lately, so here's an update: they are mostly fine, don't love the snow but don't hate it, and are holding their own (so far) against a marauding barn cat from across the road. We found 7 of them up in the tree one night when we went out to close them up. I think one of the youngsters died from an attack, or else I put her out in the cold too soon. The remaining 3 blondies are healthy and stick together inside the fence while the older ones are outside parading through the snow. 2 of the littles are hens, and the rooster looks amazingly like his big daddy (in the pic above, with his older girls).

They all truly enjoyed the salad leftovers from the Christmas party at work. Thanks Jim!