Summer Begins

May 15, 2010 by
I don’t judge the start of summer by any particular date or outdoor temperatures. Nor do I claim it begins when my tomatoes are of a certain height or when the raspberry patch reaches a certain level of prolific productivity.  It does not start, for me, on some lingering solstice when the sky spins with an eternal twilight and the thick scent of wildflowers on the mountain slopes makes my lungs slow and romantic.

I mark the start of summer when he leaves. 
It ends when he comes home.

I just sent him to Winthrop, Washington to attend 2010 smokejumping rookie training — to jump out of air planes and fight forest fires. I just sent him on what might be the adventure of a lifetime and quite possibly to the most difficult physical (and mental) experiences he’ll ever have in life! But I won’t be outdone in this realm and I plan to have my own adventures this summer.  Lots of them.  My head and heart are in excellent spaces, I’m feeling light as a feather.  


I stake my claim on this season 
and will draw from it 
only the 
very 
best 
good.







Bon voyage, best friend and lover.


My heart is steadfast.
And I believe in you.
Wish him luck!
Send him positivity, prayers and strength!
See you about, chickadees!
xx

Filed Under: fire fighting, smokejumping, summer

Happiness is a Warm Chicken

May 14, 2010 by
Oh what a week.
Oh what a week I’ve had.
It started with the death of Vesper and it’s ending with some holiday time for a tired bird!
Before I zip off into the great blue yonder, I want to introduce you to the new ladies and let you see how Judith has grown!

All the girls are spending the day and night out in the chicken ark and they seem to love it!  We’ve been letting them free range in the yard as well when we have a moment to supervise.
After the tragic passing of Vesper, Judith seemed very distressed and we knew she needed to have some poultry friends again so we zipped off to Idaho Falls and claimed two new ladies from the flock of the poultry professor of Idaho State University (he really knows his chickens).

We were planning on securing one friend for Judith but I couldn’t resist one more sweet little hen and we came home to The Gables with two new ladies:
Winona the White and Rhonda the Red.
Rhonda is an exotic lady (literally) and will lay me pointed eggs.  She’s quite a debutante and in a fabulously lazy fashion, she’ll spend all day in bed sipping champagne and eating small scones.
Winona is actually an ameracauna!  This is the same breed that Vesper was!  She’ll lay me blue, green or pink eggs and is one truly wild little girl.  She has a strong personality and is fiercely independent which makes her the leader of the flock.  She’s quite striking.
Rhonda and Winona are six weeks older than Judith and so little blondie chickie baby looks like the runt of the flock — she’s still so sweet and soft and friendly.  Judith is my chickeny delight.
And I promised you images of the chicken ark!  So here they are!  RW designed our ark himself and I think it’s a pretty spectacular chicken abode.  As you can see, in this photo, both ends of the ark flip down so we can herd the ladies into the sheltered nesting box or into the open space after they’ve been out strolling or playing croquet in the grass.  The long wooden bars on the side of the ark allow us to pick the entire thing up and move it to various locations in the yard which guarantees that the girls will always have fresh grass to nibble on and their….byproduct….will fertilize whatever yard space we set the coop down on.
The sheltered nesting box also features a small air vent so that on warmer days the girls will experience a nice breeze coming in and out of their indoor space.
Winona really delights in perching on that upper roosting bar.  Most of the time, if the girls are inside, they’re all lined up on this roost.  Comfy.  The entry door to the roosting and nesting area features a sliding door so I can lock the ladies in or out or I can leave it open and let them come and go freely.
There are a couple of perches in the open coop area for the girls too, in case they want to get their toes out of the grass and take a peek at the mountain view (which is somewhat visible, in this photo).

They’re right at home in the ark and RW did such a lovely job of designing and building it!

In other news, a mourning dove has decided to build a nest in a nearby tree.  She perches on our grapevines in the sun when the morning light is softest and strongest.  I think she was sent to me, in this time.  For this time.  I watch her from breadth of our kitchen window while I take my coffee or tea and feel very peaceful.  Indeed.

Last night, I decided to start reading the most beautiful and disturbing book I have ever read in my life.  I finished it in a couple of hours and then fell asleep.  When I woke up, the morning seemed brilliant and the fresh paint on the walls of the bedroom seemed to capture the pale reflection of a handful of colors.  I thought that perhaps the unsettled feelings I’ve been holding in my heart, this week, had seeped up and out of my bones and were drifting about there, against the texture of the ceiling, like a fine mist.  I opened the windows to let in the day, the mountain wind, the scent of the plum blossoms and something reached into my home, gathered that mist up in a pair of able hands and ushered it out of my life.  

Friday puts anchor down in this peaceful harbor.
Take a row boat to shore and stroll into town on those sea legs.
We all deserve rest and comfort.
xx
The Noisy Plume

PS  Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the post from yesterday.  You’re the brightest beams.
Filed Under: chickens, plume gables

Under the Sun

May 13, 2010 by

Standing tall under the sun.
Seeking out the light.
Singing to those last strains of sunset as they fall 
over the edge of the West Bench.
Looking to the hills (where does my help come from).
Knowing I will be sustained.
Knowing I am not meant to carry more than I can bear.
Finding gladness in the cascade of beauty around me.
I will not be moved.

One of a kind.
Hollow formed sterling & citrine.
Made for a woman who needs to feel bound in peace.
Maybe, made for a woman like me…

Thursday comes in with a steady blue sky here.
The sun rolls away all the clouds.
I’m barefoot in the grass with the tulips resting their nodding heads against my knees.
Have a beautiful Thursday, my friends.
May there be peace in your hearts.

Love,
Quilianna
Filed Under: flowers, New Jewelry, peace

Three Small Pleasures

May 11, 2010 by


1. A bowl of rhubarb.
2.  A good dog.
3.  A fresh haircut.

Sometimes I just need to start small
and work my way back up to the euphoric largeness of
gladness one small pleasure at a time.
The tiny things always manage to shine through,
even on the rainiest days.
Indeed.

And you?  
Three small pleasures?

Filed Under: farley and penelope

New Baubles and a Tragic Tale

May 10, 2010 by

Good Monday to you, sweet neighbors!
I’m doing a shop update today and these are my offerings!
All of these pieces will fall into the Etsy shop like rainy smatterings throughout the day since I have to work around a handful of appointments in town.  Your patience is appreciated, as always!

In other news:
Send me happy thoughts today,
I fear that tragedy has descended upon Plume Gables
and I’m a rather sad to announce that my beloved Vesper, with her curly feathered cheeks,
has gone to chicken heaven.
Poor Judith is so terribly lonesome.
Oh woe is me.

xx
*sniff sniff*
The Saddened Plume
Filed Under: chickens, New Jewelry
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