Shoring Up and Battening Down

Tool Shed Repairs

Tool Shed Repairs

While I’ve been indoors wrestling with Pacific County prison guards and inmates of a century ago for my next book, Farmer Nyel has been outside doing some necessary repairs to the out-buildings. The tool shed door is now functional once again and the south side of the chicken coop is mid-way to total renewal. But… have I documented his progress with my handy-dandy digital camera? Not on your tintype, you might say.

For a month or so, I’ve been unable to leave the house, even for a moment, unless I go through the garage. It’s the Stalker Rooster (as described in my blog of July 29th) who is keeping me housebound. If I dare to open either the east door or the south door, he is there within seconds, running at me with wings akimbo and ready to jump me, talons first.  For reasons I have described in previous blogs, that rooster has fixated on me as a challenger to his alpha status in the flock.

IMG_0381More than one visitor has had a good chuckle out of my cowardly refusal to walk them out to the front gate if the chickens are out doing their free-range thing. “What?” they say somewhat derisively. “You’re afraid of a rooster? Just take a…” and there follows any number of sure-fire solutions to my ‘problem’. But, I have to say that I’ve never once seen any of these well-meaning advisers leap to my rescue – not even Farmer Nyel. A rooster on attack is a formidable sight – even to onlookers.

Yesterday, though, I did manage to get two photos of Nyel’s work-in-progress. One I took first thing in the morning before Nyel let the girls and their champion out of the coop. Even though he was safely locked away from me, I have to admit to feeling nervous. There he was pacing back and forth and peering at me through the coop window. His intentions were clear. Farmer Nyel gave me time to get back to safety before letting them out for the day.

On Duty Inside the Coope

On Duty Inside the Coope

Later, assured that the chickens were far enough away, I walked out on the east porch to get a picture of Nyel putting the finishing touches of paint on the tool shed door. I had hardly gotten him in focus than here came the rooster, through the rhododendrons and with the obvious intent of flying over the porch railing to get at me. Before I turned tail and ran, I managed one photograph.

Nyel has promised to take care of the problem today. I suspect it’s because the dahlias need dead-heading and, in the usual division of garden labor, that’s in my bailiwick. As they say… stay tuned.

4 Responses to “Shoring Up and Battening Down”

  1. Nancy Russell Stone says:

    Will “Mr. Cockey” find a new home in another location? Also, wonder why he attacks YOU. Must be chicken karma.

  2. Nancy Holden says:

    Oh no, you won’t be having chicken stew for dinner — will you.

  3. sydney says:

    Not with that tough old bird! We’ll be returning him to the place where we bought him ( “sex-linked” and guaranteed to be a hen.)

  4. sydney says:

    Nan, read my blog of July 29th to learn why I am the ‘chosen one.’

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