Decision time for Fran. We let her out of her crate, into the world, and out with the other hens, each of whom came after her for a bit. It’s time for Fran and the hens to work it out. When we came into the barn later, Fran was sitting next to the other three, a bit banged up, but otherwise good. Hopefully, they’ve done their chicken thing. But if not, we’re prepared to accept that also. When I bought the farm, I promised that this would not be a rescue facility or a veterinary facility. There is nothing wrong with those things, but that is not my choice for my life and my farm.

Obviously, these clear lines get blurred. We took Simon. We hang out with Rocky. We have spent weeks helping Fran to heal. But there is a point where you draw your own boundaries and find our own comfort level. I do not want to spend months trying to heal a chicken. It just seems out of proportion to me, given the things to spend time on in the world. I do not judge anybody who feels differently, these are personal choices. Fran is out in the world now, with the other chickens, and she will either make her way or not, and I can live with it either way. Maria too. The real world of real animals. I don’t know what the precise point is where you go over the line caring for a chicken. But this is the line.

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Had my second photo lesson yesterday with the very wonderful teacher and photographer Christine Glade of the Manchester Tutorial Center. We worked on shutter speed, going out to the highway and photographing speeding cars and trucks. I was always a bit confused about how to apply shutter speed, confusing it with light when it is about motion. She also helped me buy a camera bag that will be about 30 lbs lighter than the one I am hauling around. We talked about how to use different lenses.  I will be speaking on creativity and photography at the Mother’s Day Art Show in Greenwich, N.Y. that Maria is helping organize. Details on her website.