Story of the Little Red Hen

I recently joined a group of a few other photographers who decided to commit to a 12 month project! We're calling our series "Life Story: The Story of ________" and we'll each be filling in our own blanks. At the end of this post is a link to another photographer who participated and she'll be linking to someone else. It's a whole big circle of stories in pictures. Click through and enjoy!


We live on a small farm. One of my favorite things is our chickens. I love having fresh eggs to eat AND I love that they love to eat bugs and mosquitoes!


A couple of weeks ago, we noticed Missy, one of our little red hens, was missing. Missing livestock is a sad fact of farm life. We have lots of coyotes, chicken hawks and raccoon around that like chickens too. 


A few days ago, my son ran in, all excited that he'd found Missy out by the barn. I went to check because we have more than one red hen and honestly, they all start to look alike after awhile. But, he was right. It was her. And we heard peeping! Upon closer investigation, we discovered she had 9 baby chicks!

Missy's such a good mama! She teaches the babies to scratch for bugs and to pick out the very best ones!

She also makes sure they share their starter feed.

If someone gets too close to her little ones, she ruffles her feathers....

and chases them away.

And as the evening comes to a close, she calls them all to her and tucks them in for the night. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Please have a click and see what story Audrey of Kentiga Photography has to tell this month!

A look back at 2011 - June

June was pretty uneventful. Just a lot of hangin' out and chillaxin'.

 

I borrowed my beautiful niece to practice "finding the light".

 

And my beautiful baby boy, Wheatley, joined our family!

 

Love me some puppy breath!

To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie -
True Poems flee.
~Emily Dickinson

A look back at 2011 - May

May found us still reeling from the tornadoes. Lots of time was spent helping neighbors rebuild their lives so not much time for photos. However, beginning around the 10th, we were greeted each day by a chorus of 13 year cicadas. I absolutely loved listening to them but the hubby and the boys thought they sounded like a bunch of weedwhackers running non-stop and weren't as enthusiastic about our visitors as I was. :)

New blooms appeared. And more visitors came.

We spent many pleasant afternoons on the trampoline and got our first taste of honeysuckle.

“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”  ~ Maya Angelou

A look back at 2011 - April

I'm a photographer for the Alabama Chicken & Egg festival and my whole family volunteers so the beginning of April was filled with preparations for the festival. I got to shoot the Confederate Railroad concert!

My son's the big one. :)

More freaky weather for April! First, we had rain, which caused us to pout because we couldn't play outside.

Then, on April 27th, the tornadoes came. This shot was taken on a cell phone by a friend of my husband.

Luckily, we only lost several trees in our backyard. And the treehouse. We were without electricity and phone/internet for about a week.

Others were not as fortunate.

Poultry is our county's biggest industry. Many chicken houses were totally destroyed.

And this quote...this is how we all felt for quite a while.

Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. ~ Ezekiel 7:25 KJV

A look back at 2011 - March

March had no snow but lots and LOTS of rain!

We also had lots and LOTS of lovely blooms!

 

Annnnnd, I placed 2nd in the Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest (Other animals/insects division) and was published in their beautiful magazine!! My photo is the caterpillar. :) 

“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” ~ Mark Twain

A look back at 2011 - February

February brought, what else? Hearts!

We got more winter weather! The cardinals appreciated the bird seed we left out for them!

The snow left and we got our first glimpse of spring.

And probably the highlight of the month...I birthed a baby goat! Mom had a tough time after the first and I helped her deliver the little white one. Unfortunately, mom didn't survive the tough labor. :(

Love is much nicer to be in than an automobile accident, a tight girdle, a higher tax bracket or a holding pattern over Philadelphia. ~ Judith Viorst  

A look back at 2011 - January

I was going through my external, backing up some files when I found some photos that I'd overlooked before. Thought they'd make a cool "year in review" type post. :)

This was my fortune from our first visit to the Chinese place. Although I can't say this has been the best year for our family, we did have some happy times so I guess it came true.

My Christmas cactus FINALLY bloomed....I've had it for years! And, in keeping with it's stubborn nature, it put on it's beautiful display two weeks AFTER Christmas. Better late than never!

Winter 2011 brought some eventful weather! For an area that's lucky to get one snice (snow/ice combo) every year or so, it was a welcome (to some) surprise!
Macro!

Meet Snow Dude!

Of course, every day wasn't snowy. We took advantage of the sun when we got it. :) Can't you almost hear the purr?

We got a honkin' noisy visit from these fellas every afternoon.