Farmer Nyel and Mr. McGregor

From The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

As I mentioned (or at least implied) in my blog of a few days back, I feel very much at one with Winnie-ther-Pooh when I am outside planting mastershalums.  While I have been busy at that endeavor in the South Garden, Nyel has been working on planting more traditional salad ingredients in containers in the Kitchen Garden.

Today it was romaine lettuce starts and  I wondered if he was feeling at one with Farmer McGregor.  Probably not.  And probably not with Peter Rabbit either, although I do know for a fact that he is considering some sort of fencing to keep his garden safe.  Not from rabbits, however.  From our chickens.  We know that they will not even stop to clap and cheer when they get wind of those lettuces and cucumbers and I don’t know what all.

Lettuces About To Be Planted

For right now, while we are planting all these tasty seeds and baby greens, the chickens have not had access to the greater garden.  They are shut up in their run — much to their disgust, no doubt.  But as I told them, they are really not to be trusted.  And, besides.  They have only given us three eggs in the last month.  Perhaps constant proximity to the nest boxes will give them the urge to leave us an egg or three.

Which also makes me wonder if they have become confused with all their backyard roaming.  Have they been laying eggs under the house?  I’m definitely not going to belly under there to find out.  But if we start getting eggs on a regular basis, I might send a visiting kid or two under there for a look-see.

There’s never a dull moment in Oysterville!

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