Stepping up to the plate, or Night of the Zombie Rooster!

I felt like Dorothy, stepping out of her house after landing in Oz.  The fact that the temperature on Saturday was NOT subzero was disconcerting.  But very welcome.  The sun even came out.  I am cautiously optimistic that we will have at least a week of relief.


I worked from home on Thursday and half of Friday - Thursday, because it was double-digit below zero without factoring in the wind chill.  Friday, because I had my annual physical that dragged on for half the day, and it just made sense to go home and work, rather than travel another hour plus to the office.  Late afternoon, I trotted out to the coop to top off their feed and check for frozen eggs.  I walked in to find Fritz had been beaten to a bloody pulp by the big asshat rooster, Red.  It was the final straw.


I will admit that I usually push off these unpleasant but necessary tasks on my neighbor.  Frankly, he doesn't enjoy it either and I figured it was time for me to yank up my BGPs and step up to the plate.  Yeesh.  I waited until it was dark (WARNING:  IT'S GOING TO GET GRAPHIC FOR A PARAGRAPH!!), put my headlamp on, grabbed gloves and my air rifle, and headed out to the coop.  Just so I couldn't chicken out (pardon the pun), I marched in, grabbed him by his ankles, marched outside, threw him down on the ground, put my foot on his neck and shot him in the head.  Holymotherofgod!  I had forgotten about the spasmodic results when one has offed a chicken - I swear to the goddess he was coming after me!  I ran around in circles, squealing, while his carcass gyrated after me.  Mercifully, it didn't last long, but I went straight in the house and had two glasses of wine to calm my nerves.  It is not a job I like, but sometimes it has to be done.  He had become very aggressive, attacking me every time my back was turned, and turning on Fritz was the tipping point.  I sure hope Fritz doesn't turn into a jerk.  I do not want to experience Return to Night of the Zombie Rooster.  It has taken him a couple of days to venture out of the coop - he looks left and right, as if waiting for Red to jump him.  His head is healing and I am sure most of his feathers will grow back.  It's too much drama.


*****
It was an unusual weekend of ups and downs.  Luckily, the ups were way better than the downs.  My middle sister got away from the Parents (well, Dad) for an overnighter with me.  The dogs were delirious and even Slimmie was getting in on the attention and love.  Poor Butter Pat was completely worn out from trying to grab ALL the love, ALL the time.  We tried a new local Mexican restaurant and it was fabulous!  I do so love spending time with her.


Efforts in the kitchen were not as rosy.  It is very frustrating to try and make a decent pie crust that's gluten free.  Without gluten to hold it together, you get this:

Shattered!

For the sake of convenience, I typically use King Arthur Flour's GF pie crust mix.  The end result, although totally aggravating and crumbly, tastes good.  Once you piece it back together.  This weekend was all about eggs - quiche, Scotch eggs, egg salad.  Oooh, I thought.  How about I whip up a loaf of GF bread for my egg salad sandwiches?

"Someone" left out the yeast.  Sigh

I did finish my sister's socks and am working away on my last two pair.  Then I think I will take a sock break for a bit.  If I can help myself.

Loved, loved, loved the yarn.

I am on my fourth pair in this pattern - Hermione's Everyday Sock, for those who are wondering.  They are very thick, comfy, warm socks and I know there are some cold nights still to come.  I bet more than three.


This week, I am going to tackle the back room, again.  And start laying out my garden.  I am so ready to get out and dig in the dirt, but it will be a while until I can actually see dirt.  I've got to take advantage of this respite from the brutal cold, to get some things shorn up for the next round, coming up this weekend.  Spring is going to be mighty welcome this year.