The Tale of Four Chickies

Once upon a time there were four chickies ~

Flora Diora

Violet

Tippy

and

Buffy

They were the daughters of Miss Charlotte.  Now Miss Charlotte was close

friends with Thelma the chicken who was the next door neighbor of that

notorious and tenacious chicken chaser known to the brood as 

MR. BENTLEY.

"Now girls," began Miss Charlotte, "I want you to begin to think about

where you will roost when it's time to fly the coop.  Try to find nice homes

for yourselves in a good neighborhood of course.  But whatever you do,

stay out of Mr. Bentley's garden!"

So the chickies went out in search of real estate.  Violet settled on a two story

bungalow birdhouse.  Tippy was happy with a single level bungalow.  Buffy,

for whatever reason decided that a basket would make a cozy roost.

Flora Diora, being quite uppity, decided on a high rise cloche condo.  

Tres chic!

Unfortunately none of the chickies took their mom's advice since all four

abodes were in the confines of a metal tub in Mr. Bentley's garden.

The moral of this story is ~

find a good real estate agent who knows the in's and out's of your area.

Okay big chicks ~ let's fly over to 

Marty's Cloche Party

Honest Bentley, this is just a silly story I made up.  There are no little

chicks planning to roost in your garden.

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

What's Your Decorating Inspiration?

I am experiencing (as are many of you) the after Christmas let down.

While the cottage looks all warm and cozy with all of the Christmas 

decorations still up, soon it will all come down and everything will look 

a bit less cheerful.

What to do to spice up the couple of cold and dreary months ahead?

Decorate!

All of the reds in the Christmas decorations have made me realize that I want to

use more reds in my accents.  Red and white.  Happy and clean and uplifting.

Oh and chickens.  My heart was stolen by my neighbor's chickens.  I never

knew how very fond of them I could be.

David and Bentley have prevented me from having a few running around our

yard ~ but I can still enjoy their presence in other ways.

My Mom has decided she would like to have some chickens.  There is a little cottage

just one block from my own that is for sale.  It is a really sweet little place.  Mom's

neighbors have been moving into assisted living facilities (neither of us want that for

her) and she may be ready for a change.  If we bought that little cottage for her she

would be close to Bentley ~ AND she could have her own chickens and a 

chicken coop.  I am going to share a sweet design I found on William Poole's

site of a Grandma's cottage.  The one down the street is very, very similar and we

could make it the cutest little cottage!

So once again ~ chickens are inspiring!

Oh and one more thing before I let you go.  Stop over and visit our BFF

Brenda she found a wonderful source for crafting fabrics.  She bought the 

cutest rooster print you all must see.  I don't know about you, but little

sewing and crafting projects just relax me and make me feel all warm and

cozy!

AND ~ I am about to start painting my kitchen hutch.  It's currently blue with a 

white interior and Laura Ashley fabric covering the shelves.  You know the one,

you have all seen it.  Well, if I get the nerve it will be painted red with white

shelves.

Okay Bentley ~ send everyone your biggest grin and a wave too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

**Weekend Chicken Update**

**News Flash**

Chickens like weeding!!!

Our neighbor, Dr Amy and the girls are participating in some

weeding between the rain drops we are having.

See Bentley ~ Don't you think we should get some

chickens too? No??? Don't you think it would be

great to have our own chicks??? No???

Oh well ~ it was worth a try!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

** Coop News Newsflash!!**

Thelma's coop mate ~ Aretha has been missing for the past

week. As I told Bentley ~ "She flew the coop"!

However, Aretha was found today nesting on top

of 16 eggs!!! She decided to nest between 2 garages

in the alley. Apparently something scared her

and she came back home!

The neighborhood hunt has ended and we can all

rest comfortably now that Aretha is back home!

Back to our regularly scheduled post.

Be gentle Bentley, Aretha is exhausted!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Love

There's a New Chick in Town!

Thelma the chicken has been prevented from coming over to our cottage ever since Bentley decided to be the Winner Winner of a Chicken Dinner! She is safely in her yard next door. So since we can't have a live chicken living in our garden, I found this cute little one at a garage sale. I have decided to name her Thelma II.

I will say though, that the real Thelma sure looked cute perched on the arm of the vintage rocker on our front porch!!

Yes Bentley you may peek through the fence to see the real Thelma, but you are not allowed to pull out her tail feathers!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Chick Magnet

I bought this cute little rooster lamp at a thrift shop last week. Do you think he's a "chick magnet"?? Is that the reason why Thelma just can't stay away?

What do you think Bentley?

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Barn Chick in Training ~ or The Return of Thelma

Here I am in my red cowgirl boots. I am a "Barn Chick in Training". I am getting some real "hands on" experience today. My mission: Return Thelma to her coop next door.

Yes, that's right, Thelma and Bentley had another altercation on our front porch this morning. Apparently she has decided she would like to live permanently at Ash Tree Cottage. Bentley has said no!!

Now that Bentley is safe inside, or should I say that Thelma is safe from him, I will fulfill my mission. I have filled up a little bowl with pumpkin seeds. Since I am only a "Barn Chick in Training", I'm not sure if chickens eat pumpkin seeds or not, but it's all I have. Off I go on the hunt for Thelma who is somewhere in the garden ...

There she is ~ under the wisteria arbor. Hi Thelma! Look what I have for you!!

That's a good girl! Okay, I'm going to pick you up and put you back in your own garden! Okay gals, that's Lesson No. 1 in Barn Chick Training. Approach the chicken slowly, wearing red cowgirl boots and bearing gifts. Hey Karen, I hope that this qualifies me as a real "Barn Chick"!!

Okay Bentley ~ your cottage garden is all yours once again!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

*** Chicken Newsflash!!!***

I am interrupting this White and Wordless Wednesday for a Special Report!!! One of my neighbor's chickens has hopped the fence and is sitting on the arm of the rocking chair on the front porch (she can't sit in the seat because yet another phone book has been delivered and is assuming that coveted spot)!! Needless to say, Bentley is inside looking at her and is very aggravated about the whole situation!

Further updates as they happen. Thanks for tuning in for this brief interruption. Back to our regularly scheduled post!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo