Thursday, May 20, 2021

Oh! 19 Years of Chickenblog, By The Way

In my head, I tested myself... No new posts until a comment, or any kind of query, comes in. If there were no comments, I considered it would be a sign of whether I am meant to stop blogging, or do something else. Ha! I'm glad I didn't sign an agreement, or testify to this trial, aloud. I'd be embarrassed to have to admit, It's been absolute radio silence for ten days, and so I am moving to a cabin in the redwoods, and taking up palm reading. No has to know that I have looked for messages, checked for new traffic, hoped to have inspired some engagement. I could keep all of that under my hat, or. Or, I could stake my claim! I am the Queen of Blogging Obscurity! I am the shameless hussy of ceaseless online prattle!
So. Obviously, I am not discretely slipping away to lead a quiet, private life. I am still irresistibly drawn to writing, and sharing my deep thoughts and other musings in a public forum. I am still compulsively taking pictures, and making little movies that I post, with music, and hashtags. I am still passionately concerned about justice and equity for Black people, and Mexicans, and Indigenous people, people that are differently abled, people that are poor, LGBTQ people, and Autistic people... basically anyone that can't enjoy the same life, liberty and pursuits of happiness that other people cherish and celebrate. I am still enamoured of cottage life aesthetic, including fairies, rising dough, pressed flowers, dresses, gingham, empire waist dresses, crafts, grinding spices, and cooking corn tortillas on a cast iron comal. (Ha! I wrote "dresses" twice. Accurate.) I am still waiting for a car collision settlement to be completed, and behind me... far behind me, please, oh please! And I will never have the sort of blog that sticks to a theme, or keeps to only one lane, or even two. While I was busy not blogging, we adopted a puppy, saw the miraculous return of Grace Hopper, built a geodesic dome, I painted, grappled with my insurance company and attorney, returned the darling puppy, and have laughed, cried, cried, and laughed.
I was so looking forward to announcing about the puppy, and sharing a happy story. And of course, this next chapter about our baby goat is reason to share, and feel joy. It's been a full week, both good, and hard. The hard parts, frankly, are just so... exasperating, or only unfortunate, but really sad, too. Anyway, I was actually all set to share a lot, and explain everything, but just now, it feels like a little too much, and I am down to my last clean outfit. Really, I should just do laundry, then maybe look into redwood cabins, palm reading, and getting therapy.

22 comments:

Ruth said...

Hi, there you are! Congratulations on 19 years of blogging. Please don't stop. You are the esteemed historian. Blogging is a good vehicle for your many talents and interests, and especially your great sense of humor.

I never thought of chickens as being beautiful birds until your pictures.

Destiny seems to be seeing to it that the goat and the puppy will end up with their best families. So happy that Grace is back with you. Yeah, the puppy does look like he'll be a big, high-energy runner!

Anonymous said...

Owh look those chickens! So lovely and pretty!
I love to read your blog, silently...
Hugs from Norway, Yvonne

Anonymous said...

Love your chooks! I used to live on a farm but our chooks had white feathers. Yours are so pretty. Robyn

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hahaha! "Ceaseless online prattle" -- I like that phrase! I always have enjoyed your prattle, Natalie. Please keep on sharing your thoughts and words.

Alison said...

I too run an obscure blog lol perhaps though it is because I never post? I just found your blog and I can't wait to read all your future thoughts and see your beautiful pictures!

lilysgrannie said...

Oh please know we are still reading your blog even if we don't comment. I've noticed that some of my favorite blogs have gone silent as they used the pandemic to make big changes in their lives. I understand but miss them dearly. Then there is the tragic loss of Teresa Kasner that I still haven't gotten over. She pops into my brain almost daily and I wonder how her family is coping with her loss.

Your chickens are so beautiful and interesting as I know noting about raising chickens but find them intriguing. Have a lovely day.
Ann

Cynthia said...

Congratulations on 19 years of blogging. Your writings are full of your every day life and that is why people like me like to read them. Sometimes we catch similarities in our everyday life, and sometimes just be entertained. Especially when your creative side is shown, which is often. Love your artwork and needlework, and your pictures. Keep residing in bloggyville!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

This feels like a party! Thank you, all, for playing with me, for celebrating our blogiversary, for leaving comments, and sharing encouragement. Even Geoff was surprised, and proclaimed to me, "You have comments!"

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Good morning, Ruth! I'm always a little bit relieved when people recognize that I am attempting humor! Thank you. I am still pinching myself about Grace, having her back. She's as sweet as ever, and Ada and Tasha look almost as disappointed as when she first arrived, but are maybe, possibly thawing a tiny bit. Silly old goats!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Hugs from Norway! Thank you, Yvonne, and I am sending hugs from California. Thank you for popping in to greet us, hens, and all. I am going to reply to some more comments, and then look at a map of Norway, because I am enthralled with the idea of sharing thoughts with someone in Norway, and I love maps!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Hello Robyn!
I haven't had a white feathered hen since we had a pair of silkies, and they were darling. I'dhave silkies again, white or black, if they weren't so small and susceptible to predators. What breed were your white feathered chooks?

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Good morning, Sara!
Thank you, friend. I am still thinking about, and delighted, that we lived in the same apartment complex... ("Nature is Everywhere") Now, it really does feel even more like *we go way back!* I love that.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Nice to meet you, fellow obscure blogger! Your "In The Woods" post had me convinced we might be cousins, because of how many details you shared that could be right out of our family stories! Later today, after I look at a map of Norway, I am probably going to pretend to shop for a lakeside cabin in Wisconsin! Keep posting, Alison. I am eager for cabin and lake updates.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Dear Ann, me too... I think of Teresa everyday, and I know that I would be really sad if any more bloggers stop posting. Thank you for the encouragement. It's hard to believe that I have had chickens for 19 years. I didn't know a whole lot when I started, except that I thought they looked darling, and like they would be fun company! They are all that, and messy, noisily, silly, individual, and never boring!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you, Cynthia! Thank you a lot! You have so many nice things to say, and I am appreciating your kind words. "Bloggyville!" I think I could carry on for another 19 years, just reveling in that cute description!

gretchenjoanna said...

Do you know of someone who's been blogging longer than 19 years? You are a survivor! Maybe it's partly because of your tribulations and sufferings that you've needed to write steadily and keep up your blog.... in any case,

I say, The more chicken pictures the better!!! (and goats, embroidery, etc etc....)

Anonymous said...

Dear Natalie,

I live in Australia in the state of New South Wales. My parents had a farm about two hours drive from Sydney. (Almost 100 kilometres). I think we had white Leghorns. We had thousands of them and sold our eggs. They were so happy to be let out each day to eat in the green paddocks, but of course foxes would sometimes come and get them. We did have a couple of silkies which were my brother's pets. In Australia we call them "chooks" as well as hens and chickens. Don't know where that term "chooks" comes from.

Regards,

Robyn

Anonymous said...

Dear Natalie,

I live in Australia in the state of New South Wales. My parents had a farm about two hours drive from Sydney. (Almost 100 kilometres). I think we had white Leghorns. We had thousands of them and sold our eggs. They were so happy to be let out each day to eat in the green paddocks, but of course foxes would sometimes come and get them. We did have a couple of silkies which were my brother's pets. In Australia we call them "chooks" as well as hens and chickens. Don't know where that term "chooks" comes from.

Regards,

Robyn

Kate said...

Hi! I may not always comment but I love your missives, and read them all. Sorry to hear about the pup, but I am so happy that Grace has returned!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thousands of hens! Robyn, I have been around farms like that, when I was a girl. It makes me relieved and thankful to only have 15 chooks!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you, Kate. We worked closely with the shelter, and we are very optimistic about all of this having a happy ending for the puppy. As for Grace... I am still pinching myself! She seems to have not skipped a beat, and is as playful and easy going as before. Tasha and Ada are. Well, maybe slightly adjusting? "Stubborn as a goat" is 100% accurate!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Hello, GretchenJoanna!
I am a survivor! I like that. Writing must be a kind of compulsive therapy, whether weathering the hard bits, or celebrating the many many good bits, I am glad to have an outlet, a means of sorting through the emotions and ideas. I'm not sure I do know anyone else that has been blogging 19 years, but I hope the few remaining bloggers will keep it up!