Yesterday we had a crisis of farm living. We had to separate one of chickens from the flock because she got broody (means she wouldn't get off the eggs to eat or anything). When we do that we put her into the kids' playhouse and duct tape the windows closed. She gets her own food and water for about 2 days and then when she's not broody anymore, we put her back into the flock. You can see the difference in her demeanor when she's back to her old self. I know that sounds like something a Chicken-Whisperer would say, but there's really a big difference in how she sounds, moves, where she goes, and how she reacts to us.
Anyhow, she was in her "time out" house for a full day, duct taped in, but getting fresh air through the little peek holes in the playhouse door. And the second morning, I went out to find a playhouse full of feathers and nothing else. Something went in through the tiny door windows and dragged her out through there! She couldn't get herself out through those windows and apparently neither could the predator. So she was seriously defeathered and then I guess she fit. There was a trail of feathers across the yard but so far, no body. Poor thing! I guess we taught her a lesson.
Of course I had a yard full of children and their parents when I discovered the tragedy. So I felt like an idiot welcoming kids to play in our yard and feed our chickens. "Oh, don't mind the carnage! Just play around the mess of feathers! No, I'm not sure where the body is but it's somewhere in the direction of where those kids are playing hide and seek!" These were kids from J.'s preschool class coming over for our turn hosting the weekly summer playdates. I called Jeremiah and confessed that we were once again the weird family (purple mashed potatoes, eggs as teacher appreciation present, craft projects decorated with seeds not foam shapes, etc. etc.). He said that I was a Chiappelli now so I need to get used to being out of synch! I hope my girls grow up used to it. Still, it's going to be painful living under the same roof when they're teenagers!
Hypermiling:
In an effort to save gas and thus the whole world, I decided to try hypermiling. This is very hard for me. I like to get where I'm going and get the driving over with as part of my aversion to using gas. So it's ironic that that spirit wastes more gas.
Also, I'm getting busier and thus running later and thus driving faster. I take the speed limit and add ten as a basic rule. I also hate when people take slow starts at red lights. There are people behind you who want to make this light, you know! And I hate it when people coast forever to a stop. Maybe your truck coasts at this speed, but you've got me riding the brake back here and I can't stop a mile from the light so let's get there please! And I'm a chronic tailgater, though I've been trying to watch it since I got our name on signs all over our car!
So I'm not a hypermiler by practice. One thing I do like is the idea of Rabbit Running, where you drop back from the pack and let other cars zoom ahead to trigger the light so it turns green by the time you get there. That hasn't happened to me yet bc I'm trying to be respectful of the people behind me and I won't make us both drop back too soon. But I'm looking forward to gaining the system one day!
I've noticed that hypermiling is making me pay a lot more attention to everything related to driving, which is another big difference. I'm not singing, using the phone headset, or mentally multi-tasking. Instead I'm bitterly protesting everyone in front of me and anxiously sending apology glances at the people behind me. It's a big change becoming the slow driver!
Oh man! That must have been a rough night for the poor chicken. At least whatever ate her really had to work for it.
ReplyDelete