I am still here

Contrary to popular belief, the Hazel Dene blog is alive...if not actually thriving.  I could come up with lots of excuses, such as how busy I have been...which is true to some degree, but basically, I have just been a bad blogger.

Thank you to Phoebe, Mrs Bok and the other bloggers who asked after me.  I am fine.  I have just returned  from a quick trip to the U.S. ..which may go some way to explaining why I am writing this early in the morning...jet-lag.

I had baby sitting duties to perform.  In fact I was left in sole charge for four days while Mommy and Daddy went out of town.  Now there is a scary thought...Hazel in sole charge.  Well the kids and I both survived to tell the tale.

The garden slipped its autumn coat on while I was away,  the vegetable garden looks neglected and one of the hens has gone clucky and is sitting on eggs which is odd for this time of the year.  One of the Araucanas is missing and there haven't been any blue eggs for a while, so I am told.  I have my suspicions that they have joined forces and laid eggs somewhere with one of them on incubation duty. I would prefer this to the foxy type alternative.

It is production week at the magazine, hopefully I will fit in some gardening and blogging after that.

Balding

Rocky, the plymouth rock rooster, 

struts about the yard

oozing proprietary confidence.

He takes his pleasure when, where

and with whomever he pleases.

The instant the araucanas began to lay

they attracted his carnal interest.

His genes are dominant.

Nine of the eleven chicks, hatched

this season, have variations of his barred plumage.

But even a stud like Rocky,

has to moult.

The two remaining tailfeathers

blow about in the wind,

like a very bad comb-over on

a bald man.

His undies are on view for all to see.

He still has all the moves

and can shake a tail feather - or two.

Mind you, Heckle doesn't seem too impressed

in this instance!