Spring has definitely arrived in the NEK. And just two days before meteorological summer begins!

The chickens have been wandering all over, happily digging through the yard for bugs and resting in the shade when it gets too warm.

It’s been lovely to see things blooming and green again.

Our huge quaking aspen, which is always the last to wake up from winter, has its first light mint-colored leaves.

That particular tree sits right outside my office window, and is particularly lovely and calming to listen to when the wind blows through its branches in the summer months.

Speaking of vistas from windows, we finally broke down yesterday and bought curtains for Daphne’s room.

This is partly due to the increased light pollution motion-activated floodlamps on the neighboring houses, but mostly it’s because Daphne is getting older and needs some privacy. (Hers is a very visible window from the road.)

Alas, not all is coming up roses.

Between work, Daphne, our burgeoning online card sales business, and the leach field issue, I had a lot going on this last Tuesday evening. And because I was off my routine, I forgot to close up the chicken coop.

Sadly, little Daisy fell victim to my oversight…

The scattering of telltale feathers the following morning told us that something snatched her in the night and carried her away…

Although, if we’re being honest, this may very well qualify as a small mercy. Daisy never quite developed properly, and often struggled to walk/balance.

That video was taken back when she actually ran around with her sisters. Of late, she really hadn’t been doing very well. She spent most of her days just hiding under the ramp leading to the coop, as the other hens would peck her if she tried to be near them.

We’d had several discussions about euthanizing her, and typically fell back to the, “well, she hops out of the coop every morning and eats and drinks…” argument. Which, honestly, was probably more for our benefit than hers.

Still, it’s a little sad to look out at our flock and not see Daisy hobbling around.

We miss her.

j.s.