What Greeted Me This Morning

This is Butch, my one-eyed pet rooster. 

He lives in the feed room, where I keep bedding for him.  His sole partner now is Buffy, the 

Polish hen, who is retired from laying and has trouble getting around herself. 

She can no longer roost. 

They have a warming light, because Butch will be six this spring. 

This scene greeted me this morning when I went in to bring fresh warm water to everyone. 

See the chickens on the other side... the "coop side"? 

And here is the other combatant, and it looks like Butch gave as good as he got. 

One of the three Elvi. 

The opening was just to the left, the corner between the wall and the door... you can see a bit of blood on it. 

There are actually two layers of chicken wire there, because I made a repair this fall.  

My guess is, I'm going to have to put some wood up to prevent the fighters from seeing each other, because as you see... they wanted to face off again. 

If worst comes to worst, I can put Butch in the nursing cage for a few days to calm everyone down, but we are supposed to dive into the twenties for a daytime high, and the teens and zero for nighttimes lows the next two nights after that.  

I'd like to keep him where he can sleep under the light. 

I'm going back out to check on them in a minute. 

On other fronts... the driveway has thawed and re-frozen and is now a sheet of ice.  To get out, I have to trudge up in my boots and open the gate, and then make a run for the gateway.... if I stop on the drive, the HHR can't get going again. 

Keith has 4 wheel on his work truck, a Tahoe.. and has no trouble, but we do not do personal business in the state vehicle. 

At least he can get to work. 

I hope everyone reading this is warm and has heat and light... so many were without over the holiday. 

We also thank God this morning for a family miracle...

Nathan and his friends Jay and Manny were playing football at a park in Garnett yesterday... and the ball went out on the ice.  Nathan tried to get it... fell through... nearly drowned... his friend Manny jumped in to save him... and by the grace of God, both boys were able to get out of the lake, despite being cut badly by the ice. 

Jacob called Nathan's mother... instead of 911, and yes, they have been explained and explained to that 911 comes FIRST.  

We are so glad their guardian angels were at their sides.