"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Just one minute of forgetfulness and taking for granted that everything

and everyone I hold dear, 

is going to forever be  in a "happy" little corner of my world......... 

really stings when a cold slap by the hand of 

the twists and turns of life 

change everything in a heartbeat.

The forgetfulness part?.........is all my fault. 
In taking care of my chickens in 
the late afternoon......I forgot to put the latch onto my chicken house door.
How could I have forgotten???  I keep asking this question over and over.

Because of my "forgetfulness", 
my two sweet tiny roosters and 3 of my tiny little hens
were all killed in the night by raccoons, who found their way into the pen
and then were able to open the unlatched door. 
There will be no more "eggs in my pocket" from my chickens.
 I took my 3 remaining hens to a friend who
has chickens.  These poor 3 remaining hens were in total shock...from the attack
and now that they are okay, it is time for them to be among
other happy chickens. 
I have kept chickens for 17 years........and year after year
so many things have happened.  Coyote attacks, stray dog attacks, bobcat visits,  rattlesnake bites,
and now raccoon invasions.  I am weary of heartbreak for these 
creatures that give such joy to my day, and such pain
when they leave.  I need a break.  And I am not sure if 
I will ever get more chickens later. 
and now.............the part about taking for granted that those you 
hold dear will always be in "my happy corner of the world"
Without sharing personal and private details, 
a family crisis sprung upon us and I found myself, in shock, worry, and unbelief,
as I sat all night in an ICU ward and visited throughout a week not completely sure of the outcome.
All is well now, and what could have turned out to be a tragedy,
has turned out with good news and many thankful hearts for prayers answered. 

But with this happening, it makes me more aware
 that none of us is guaranteed tomorrow, and none of us is immune to pain or grief. 
The ones we hold dear can leave us, without so much of even a goodbye.
Life is extremely fragile in beast and man.
Life can call death upon us without a warning.
With Thanksgiving just a few days ahead,
we, this year, will have much to be thankful for.
Hold tight to those you love, through action and kind words........
always.  
Wishing you all a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.  







17 comments:

NanaNor's said...

Hello sweet friend, I'm so sorry you lost my fowl! So hard when predators get in and kill them after so much love and work from you. Hoping those left will be safe with your friend. So very thankful that the crisis with your loved one turned out so well-prayers answered for sure. I'm surprised that you were able to go into ICU. So thankful that things are better now.
Thanksgiving Blessings to you and yours,
Hugs,
Noreen

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Kathleen, I am so sorry. And I have missed a lot of your beautiful posts. I've caught up now. I loved reading about your beautiful buck and him being unafraid of you. That's a gift of God, my friend! I am so sorry about your chickens. You may remember years ago I had a blind chicken killed by a raccoon. I was so brokenhearted. The others were on the roosts, but poor little Hetty slept on the ground and the intruder found an opening in the fence just under the roof line. It was heartbreaking. I am so thankful our intruder only got one. Glad your loved one is a good report. God is good all the time, even if we cannot always tell. Love you!

Granny Marigold said...

I am so very sorry that your sweet roosters and tiny hens were cruelly killed by raccoons. It must be absolutely heartbreaking for you. I hope the traumatized three will soon feel at home in their new home.
I'm sorry too that you had the added stress and worry about the loved one who nearly didn't pull through. So thankful that they are on the mend.

lil red hen said...

Kathleen, I can feel your pain, and also share it with you. A few years back, I fed a baby calf, abandoned at birth by her mother. She was growing and doing so well until two dogs got into the pen with her. She had terrible wounds and only lived for a week after the attack. Sometimes life seems so cruel doesn't it. And then we see the hand of God working in answering prayers sent up for a loved one. God bless you and maybe, just maybe, you'll be a "mother hen" again.

Mary said...

Dear One, Just happened upon your Blog. My heart aches for you and what you have been living through as I read each word. Blessings for you to have brighter days. I look forward to reading more of your story and following what I anticipate to be a delightful read. Goodness and Blessings to You.

Nancy J said...

Kathleen, a huge loss, and to rehome your remaining girls was a good move, they will adjust and be happy there. Our daughter lost her hens to a ferret or stoat and was so sad. Yesterday our dear adopted cat Moxy died on the roadside, we are sure he was hit by a car that could not swerve to miss him as there was a twin trailer truck on the other side parked overnight. Those days in ICU watching and waiting, I am so glad the final outcome was a lot better, be strong, remember we are out here in the blogosphere, we care, and share in sadness and joy in equal amounts. A heap of love and hugs from down south where, although summer is waiting in the wings so close, tonight is wet and cold.XXXX

Faith said...

I am very sorry to hear about your flock. I hope that your loved one in ICU will soon be on the mend.

Kay G. said...

Oh, I am so sorry about your chickens! DO NOT beat yourself up about it, promise you wont!! And to have a trip to ICU at same time, please be good to yourself. You left a sweet comment on my blog, I am thankful for kind words these days so I thank you very much. xxx

happyone said...

Oh that is so sad about your chickens and so very sorry to hear about your loved one. Pray your loved one will be back to health real soon.

Lady Locust said...

Oh dear~ what a go of things you've had. I've grown up with critters of all sorts and to this day, I abhor dealing with their death.
Sorry you had to go through the dealings you did, but am grateful for you and yours that another day has been granted in this life.
Blessings

letslearnembroidery said...

The same thing happened to me.Foxes roam freely on my farm and in one moment of forgetfullness, my entire chicken population was killed by them in a single night.I could hear them crying for help but nothing I could do coz I was afraid to venture out at night.Speaking of hospitalization, 4 days ago my mother was treated for advanced stroke.She is 84.Sometimes our world just turn upside down in a moment and we become helpless.By the way,my sister gave me some chicks and I am going to start anew.Hope you would do the same.

peggy said...

I am so sorry for your sadness. That you express gratitude and hope will encourage the rest of us. I hope in the future you can figure out a way to have the chickens again. I always thought they had a soothing nature. My grandmother had them and I would walk out in the yard just to hear them talk!

Hill Top Post said...

I am sorry that this happened to your barnyard flock. Hopefully, you will put it behind you soon and brood a new little flock in the spring. You'll be needing hens for your "Eggs in my Pocket, a Needle in My Hand."

Megan Schetsche said...

Oh, I'm so sorry about the chookies! Life can be brutal sometimes. Don't continue to beat yourself up over the incident; mistakes happen and you didn't act out of carelessness, you just forgot. I'm sure you're the best chicken keeper there is.
Take a break from poultry and concentrate your efforts on something else for a while. Maybe in a few months you will feel like starting over with a new batch of chicks.
I'm sorry also about the ICU episode.
Wishing you a period of calm. Look after yourself, be kind to yourself, do something good for yourself. We need to look after ourselves so that we can look after others.

A Casa Madeira said...

Sometimes we have to give up something we like.
Around here, some birds of prey killed more than 100 birds;
I removed all the houses and I'm covering others, I don't want a nest anymore.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

I am late in reading this latest post, Kathleen, and such sadness it contained. First, about the family member who was in the ICU and that was heartbreaking to read. But the loss of your chickens was also sad news. I knew you had to be on the watch for rattlesnakes and coyotes, but didn’t know that raccoons were such vicious predators as well. I know you will miss them, but giving the survivors to a friend may help them and yourself recover.

Sally said...

I'm glad the situation in ICU is over and the person well again, thank the Lord and the dr's.

So, so sorry about the chickens; I know that breaks your heart. Keep in mind that we do things forgetfully. It's human nature. Again, I'm sorry Kathleen!

xoxo