As I stated in my profile, this town has a slightly odd feature. We have wild chickens. Burmese Jungle Fowl, or Gallus gallus if you want to be precise. They go by a lot of colorful names, some too colorful for delicate ears.



They were introduced by the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources in the 60's for sportsmen to hunt, like quail or pheasant. Question: Why would a Department of Natural Resources introduce an "un-natural" species into an area? But I digress. Flocks were released up around the Ocmulgee River and these little critters made their way over several miles back to town. How? In a burlap bag in the back of a truck would be my guess. Nobody will fess up to bringing them to town and you can't find one up on the river unless you bring it yourself, fried of course, for a picnic lunch.


If you know anything about chickens you know they can be destructive to flower beds, and they produce chicken poop. They crow on their own schedule and could give a rip if it's the first morning you have had to sleep-in late in six months. Not their problem. They are blamed for causing traffic problems and I've had to stop for mother hens and chicks on several occasions. Not a problem for me. But you can imagine how people would come to dislike 'em. Well, hate them actually.
Ever so often the controversy comes back up and someone will start a petition, yadda, yadda, yadda. I refused to sign one a co-worker brought to work because I love the things. She gave me that look. You know, the "leper" look. Even with all the aggravation I defend the birds because chickens are not the worst thing I have found in my yard.
Over the years this is what I have had to deal with: trash from every food joint, liquor store, and grocery store in the county....baby diapers....someones pill stash....1 30-round clip and assorted ammo....1 stolen and destroyed jeep complete with the addict that stole it....1 young man in the middle of an overdose (it was pouring rain and freezing cold)....1 large jar of pickle relish (thrown all over my car)....1 alcoholic neighbor with post-hole diggers....a flock of buzzards....about a dozen dead fish (that's where the buzzards come in)....1 large, evil-looking white domestic hog (hubby could not understand why I didn't shoot it. I didn't shoot it because it was not mine to shoot and Winn-Dixie sells pork chops)....2 very large limousine bulls....deer, coyotes, rabbits, and an armadillo (or possum-on-the-half-shell)....2 rottweillers ripping another dog to shreds....2 red pitbulls trying to dig my cat out from under our shed and several large holes that they dug and the plants they destroyed....assorted snakes....1 four-wheeler complete with small children using my yard as a dirt-track....a large section of a neighbors fence, not her fault....teen-age boys checking out my teen-age daughter....members of every religious group you can think of....salesmen....about 8 of our finest deputies....1 of the town drunks and his very drunk father (I had to threaten him with a call to the Sheriff)....c.d.'s and cassette tapes....assorted children....crack paraphernalia....2 vehicles from the party next door....1 deputy sheriff who could not believe he was standing on the wrong steps....1 very confused older gentleman who was trying to get into my house....peeping toms.

Wild chickens? NO PROBLEM! As you have just seen, it can always be something worse. And how many towns have wild chickens? If I'm not mistaken one of the Florida Keys has some and I think there are some on one of the Hawaiian Islands. You'd have to ask Gecko about that.
God allowed us to have something a little different here. And maybe we should just sit on the porch swing, sip iced tea, and watch one of His little creatures with her chicks, or a colorful rooster struttin' around. Just living a simple life. We can all use a little "simple" now and then.



In the meanwhile, ya'll "cluck" on!!!!

I was reading on Mr. Ornery's Corner about winter sports misshaps and it took me back, waaaaaay back ..... You don't need snow and ice to screw up. I've proven it.

Many years ago my Ex and I went to visit his brothers' family in Thomaston, GA. Someone came up with the idea of going to Sprewell Bluff (pronounced "spurl" by the locals) on the Flint River. Ex had told me about it and I had always wanted to see it, so off we went. It's a truly beautiful place and I was having a great time. Until....
There are several trails and a few sharp drop-offs to the river below, really scenic. Ex decides to explore "off the beaten path".
Now at the time I would have followed him anywhere. See how we get in trouble, Girls?! So I started to follow him down toward the river on a very steep trail. I forgot to consider a couple of little details. Like slick-soled tennis shoes, pine straw and pea-gravel.
By the time I realized I was in trouble things (meaning ME) were already out of control. Picture skiing downhill, really fast. And someone had placed a pine tree in my path. It truly is amazing how FAST the mind works! I thought "If I can grab hold of the tree, I can stop."

WRONG.

Oh, I grabbed the tree alright but all this did was cause me to whip AROUND the tree. I lost my grip on the aforementioned pine and now I'm sliding BACKWARDS. I'm also bent over trying to dig my fingernails into terra firma and wondering if I was going off a ledge into the river. And I'm picking up speed.
I suppose Ex heard what he thought was an avalanche and looked up to see my backside barreling toward him.
Bless his heart, he caught me!! He might be regretting that now, but he had to haul me back up the trail by my waistband. I couldn't seem to get my feet and legs to work anymore.
Of course his folks saw the whole show. Damn. All his brother said was "There are bears in these woods." What that has to do with his sis-in-law careening down a slippery slope, I have no idea. So I snapped back that if there was a bear in those woods he didn't have a hair on his a**! Mountain goats maybe. Bears, no.
My hands were skinned up, my heart was pounding, and my dignity was a little bruised.
I'll still go on nature trails but I'm more cautious now. My dignity won't survive much more!

The Day After Thanksgiving.... I do hope that all of you here in The Stream had a wonderful holiday! We ate too much, laughed a lot, and just enjoyed each other. Not one fuss or squabble! And I am still the Queen of Oyster Dressing! Not a big deal but I will take accolades however I can get 'em. They don't come often.....

So I'm standing in the kitchen finishing my Mothers stuff that she wanted to take to my sisters house, we've managed to turn over a can of pineapple (in heavy syrup), rake chopped onions onto the kitchen floor and I am in the middle of the how-in-the-world-will-we-get-dinner-on-the-table-before-Friday rush when daughter #1 waltzes into the kitchen with her hubby and daughter in tow, and announces that grandchild #5 may be on the way. Well I just stood there babbling, which is what I was doing already. Positive on the first E.P.T. And this morning she comes by to tell me the second test has turned out the same. They are happy and we are too. I'll throw the confetti after the doctor confirms it! A new baby! It's gonna be tough them but they are fantastic parents and of course we'll help however we can. AND AT LEAST IT AIN'T ME!!!!! One, well, two reasons to be counting thanks still today!

Time to drag my inner-tube back onto the bank of the Stream, and try to look like I'm earning my keep....

Ya'll be sweet!

With the holiday season comes the holiday stress. You cannot have one without at least a little of the other. Decided to post some holiday help:

1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.

2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.

3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.

4. No one knows your secret place.

5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.

6. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater.

I use a co-worker for this little trick and it makes me smile!

First a great big "Thank You" to my youngest for the new background! I never would have figured that out! Thanks, Baby!

Thursday is almost here and I think we are almost ready for it. It only took two trips to town and three stores to get everything and now my mother vows to never go off with me and my two girls again! We just had too much fun! We might be banned from Wal-Mart and Harveys however......

So let me wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!! Stay safe if you travel, kiss all the kids, and when the holiday is over give thanks one more time for every good thing that's come your way....