Think Good Thoughts

(Writing from NYC) News from up North. Richard discovered many coyote paw prints all around the various chicken coops and pens and, most worrisome, right in the yard adjacent to the goose pen. The snow is so high and firm now that it's an easy hop over any fence we've erected. The collective honks of the geese and Shmuel must have startled the interloper away, but if he comes back with friends I don't think honking will be much of a deterrent. Richard jerry-rigged some chicken wire extensions to more solidly secure the pen, but ... but ... but ... think good thoughts. That's what I'm doing. My only recourse being down in the city through Friday. I'd appreciate yours.

Now on to other thoughts.

Since my last post Richard's hatch has come through. I believe he has at least 10 new chicks. Not as pure bred as he had hoped, though. He had expected pristine Wellsommers, but it seems as if a whole lot of humping has been going on in that coop and pure bred is out of the question. We've got mutts. Cute mutts, but mutts. Richard, though, being an inveterate hatch addict, is delighted no matter what they look like.

Inspired by his various flocks, Richard did a little flying of his own yesterday on Cape Air, a vaunted 9 seat Cessena airlines, from White Plains to Lebanon. The flight was delayed due to weather than mechanical difficulties than weather again. His original flight was supposed to have taken off at 8:20 am, but didn't leave the ground until 7:30 pm. Frustrating, but at least it did take off. There for a while they were planning on limo-ing him north starting at 7:30, getting him home well past midnight and having to work the next day. The flight was wind whipped, a wild ride, especially taking off and landing. Richard was incredibly impressed by the pilot's skill, however, especially on landing when he would line the plane up to the upcoming runway only to be blown to the side several times by the mighty wind. Each time he would methodically correct his trajectory and aim her in again. A bronco ride, in safely.

That's it for now. Remember ... good goose thoughts.