oh, and newsflash: not a chance in hell that Percy is a girl, despite hopes and desires. we got us a big ol' rooster.

at least mercy will produce eggs. we're thinking of getting a couple more hens, when the time is right.

that is all.

Today is wonderful. I am still in jammies, having eaten a delicious bowl of leftover rice with fried eggs, chicken sausage and soy. I have mowed the back lawn, and am watering the front. I am sipping on an amazing cup of pu-erh and chrysanthemum tea, and there is more in the pot. The sun is breaking through the fog, slowly, and it promises to be a day of 70-75 degrees with some breeze. Scrub jays call in the back yard, and the chickens are chortling in their box.

Perfect.

I will putter today. I am so excited about this. I will clean up the house, and put away clothes and get laundry going. I will revel in my aloneness and the rhythm of the pets here. I will prepare for teaching my first class tomorrow night at the college. I will eat fresh fruit and yogurt and taste each exquisite bite, instead of wolfing it down.

I will walk in the freshly mown lawn and feel the blades between my toes.

N has made huge progress on the chicken coop, with some great help from our friend Stephen, who visited this weekend. It promises to be a lovely, long-term structure, fit for 5 chooks. He's truly an amazing guy, just pulling the whole thing together after studying up on some other coops online. I love that. He puts the hand in handy. Heh. I am bursting with pride about his cleverness. Man, just *think* about the playhouse he'll make when we have kids!

so, All Is Well on the Ventura front. Nice change of pace, just relaxing and enjoying and realizing it is all goot.