Home again and turkey on the table...

I spent the weekend at the All American Grooming show in Chicago. I hate to leave home, partly because it is where I am happiest, and partly because I hate to leave all the animal care to those-who-did-not-choose-to-have-this-many-mouths-to-feed, but I went and had a very nice time. I gave 4 lectures and they were well attended and reviewed. I made some new friends and visited with some I have not seen in too long. The only fly in the ointment was a sudden, unexpected and incredibly ouchie back. I think perhaps a pinched nerve. Everyone was very kind to me and I am feeling better, (I love my chiropractor!)

Today I keep making trips outside to sit quietly and watch the critters. The turkeys make me smile, and I have to think that most folks have something entirely different than this in mind when they say they are "going to put turkey on the table." Five of my six Broad Breasted White poults are napping here, the sixth is in a pile with some ducklings. I think it may be having an identity crisis.

One of these things...

When my daughter was little I became intimately familiar with the TV show Sesame Street. There was a little thing they used to do where a puppet would sing, "One of these things is not like the others, one of these things is not the same." They would show, for example, a picture of 5 dogs and a kitten. The children watching were to pick out the one thing that was not the same as the others.

That bit came to mind tonight when I looked out and saw a mama duck with 9 ducklings. No. Wait. 8 ducklings. And a sleepy turkey poult.

Sometimes I think it is silly that I keep my camera on the table by the door. Other times I am so glad!

Gifts that keep giving...

I have been wanting to raise turkeys for a while. On my March birthday my sweet daughter gave me a frozen turkey in a bag. It came with a twinkling grin. She promised to buy me turkey poults when the time was right.

In June, 4 turkey poults arrived. They were tiny and loud; much like baby chickens but with bigger eyes and a nosier, noisier nature.

Fast forward to now. The poults look like Emu's that got shrunk in the wash. And they are the most curious creatures! If I am out in the yard they are near me, watching what I do. If I sit a while one will end up sitting beside me, or on my leg. If we have supper at the picnic table some of the babies sit with us. We should not encourage this but they are so cute we can't help it. We slip them a snack or two.

In this photo two turkeys are sitting on a log with two baby chickens the same age. The turkeys are growing in leaps and they bring me great delight. They are, truly, gifts that keep on giving.

Thanksgiving in June...

One of my goals this year was to try to raise a few turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, I am trying to raise several things for our annual feast... I have planted butternut squash, garlic, onions, potatoes, pumpkins and a variety of herbs.

Ordering turkey's is something that should be planned ahead. I had the best of intentions, but then got sick and was pretty much useless the entire month of May. Today at work I was thinking to myself how dissapointed I was that I had not arranged to have turkey poults to raise. Then, in the afternoon one of my co-workers said, "The feed store I was at this morning has all kinds of baby ducks. Runner ducks, Pekin ducks...." I rudely interrupted her. "I want TURKEYS. DO they have turkeys?" She said, "Yes, they DID have some."

I nearly ran to the phone and called the place. The man said, "Yes, we have 4 left. And we close at 3 PM." It was then 2:20. I was at work. I quickly called my husband. He was on the way home from taking a load of trash to the dump. "Can you take a ride to the feed store in Waldoboro and buy me some turkeys? They close in 40 minutes." He was bemused but drove there- a 30 minute drive. When I got home he handed me a small, chirping box. Inside were 4 poults...all yellow down and big pink feet and dark eyes.

They are currently settled in a large wooden box, with a heat lamp and food and water and a deep bed of clean shavings. They are enchanting, and loud. And very possibly far too cute to eat.