And Other Heroic Animals

A slight break from the narrative of my backyard flock.

Today is Armistice Day across the world. This year is particularly significant, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the day that the guns went silent ending the fighting of the Great War.

The peace treaty was eventually signed and my own great grandfather came home in one piece.

However, my humble little blog focuses on my chickens, today I will take a break from that to honor two heroic "veterans" of the Great War.

The first is Cher Ami. The most decorated pigeon un history. Cher Ami braved artillery shells and gun fire, was horribly wounded, and still made it back to her cote to deliver a crucial message that saved the lives of many during the last German offensive of the Great War. She was crucial to the survival of the besieged Lost Battalion as they were mistakenly being shelled by their own artillery.

Here is the link to Cher Ami's story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami

Also, I am honoring Sgt. Stubby. The most decorated canine in American history. A stray pup from Connecticut, he was smuggled aboard a troop ship bound for France. During his time in the trenches, he suffered a gas attack, became an early warning system for the troops for gas attacks and incoming shells, and even captured a German spy. Sgt. Stubby was highly decorated by bith the United States and France.

Here is Sgt. Stubby's story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Stubby

Although my own Coq Au Vin would probably make a good account of himself if he were ever called to war, I'm going to keep him down on the farm!

Pumpkin Flavored Everything.

For some reason, we in the United States like to gear up for a holiday months in advance to the point that by the time the actual holiday arrives, everyone is sick to death of all of the trappings of it and feel a sense of relief when it is over.

Over the last decade or so, Hallowe'en has been rivaling Christmas in terms of retail and overall holiday ridiculousness. It begins, I'd say, around midnight on the Monday night of labor day once everyone has cleaned up from their backyard barbecues or returned from their long weekend at the beach, or what have you.

Pumpkin flavored everything hits the shelves. From pumpkin flavored pasta sauce to pumpkin flavored Clorox bleach (okay, that last one might be made up).

Not to be outdone by the Jones's, I rushed out this past mid October to pick up …

… wait for it …

Pumpkin flavored pumpkins!

Of course, my intent was more 'traditional'. I carved them for a bit of Hallowe'en decoration as well as a ready ward for the house for the night of Samhain.

Tired from work of the evening of the 30th, herself set to our task with adequate results and just a bit of blood from a minor cut or two along the way.

Here they are slowly roasting from the inside with a wee candle in each.


Well, they did their job. The added a little light to our dark driveway to welcome the wee ones seeking treats, would've been a good disposable target for young miscreants wanting to play tricks rather than having them target something more dear to us, and a good guardian to scare away wandering spirits who may have been up to no good. No miscreants, I'm pleased to say, any wandering spirits must have wandered to other parts, and the wee ones that did brave the overall creepiness where rewarded well for their efforts.

After the dawn on Nov. 1st. The flock was rewarded with a treat of their own. Pumpkins with lightly roasted inner lids.

To be quite frank, they don't fancy pumpkins. Never mind … if we have to suffer through pumpkin flavored everything, they can live with one day's feast of pumpkins. It's once a year, and the variation in their diet is good for them. Whether they fancy pumpkins or not, they did clean out those husks to the edge of the outer skin.