Merry Christmas, Kids!

I have great news for you! It’s soooo exciting that I can barely contain myself! Guess who visited us in the coop last night? Go on. Take a guess. Give up? Santa—the one and only Santa Clause!

We hens were all peacefully snuggled in our beds with feathers fluffed and eyes fluttering when Goldie startled and sat straight up. “Shush—be very still. I hear something.”

Off in the distance we heard jingle bells ringing and a human yelling, “ho-ho-ho!” Then suddenly something BIG flew over the coop and landed in the area just beyond the garden. We crept quietly down the ramp, looked out and saw a sleigh, nine reindeer (one had a really bright red nose) and a big man wearing a red suit with white fur and black boots. We didn’t know what was happening, so stayed very quiet.

All of a sudden the man magically appeared at the coop door. “Merry Christmas! Don’t be afraid my little friends. No one moved a feather except Sunshine. She raced forward and demanded, “Just who are you and why are you in our coop?” She was fearless! The man laughed. “You must be Sunshine. My elves tell me that you take very good care of your sister hens. My name is Santa—Santa Clause. I come to visit every Christmas Eve.”

Blackie jumped forward and demanded to know if he was going to eat us. “No, no, Blackie. I’ve come to give you a few gifts. Blackie, I hear that you are learning to sing. Your mother hen tells me that you cluck and dance when she sings, Dream Baby. Very nice. Keep up the good work.”

Brownie came forward slowly and stood with Sunshine and Blackie. “Hello, Brownie. You are being very brave tonight. It takes lots of courage for you to face new people and now you are protecting your sisters. Well done.” He looked over to Goldie and told her that she’d be truly amazing this year. “Goldie, you are wonderful and kind with all of the kids that come to the garden and are a good mother to the younger hens. You have lots of love in your soul.”

Santa looked around the playpen and focused his eyes on me under the wheelbarrow. He bent down and gently lifted me up so that I could see his curly white beard and clear blue eyes. I got scared and well, you know… Santa smiled and whispered, “It’s OK Peanut, don’t worry. You’ll get over this problem as you build your confidence. You’ve had a very rough year with your injuries and have handled them with grace, courage and good cheer. Be proud little one. I am.

Santa set me down next to Goldie, waved his hand and voila—all of our favorite foods appeared in the coop. It was spectacular! There was a luscious watermelon, five crisp red apples, lots of sweet cherry tomatoes and a big bowl of chopped purple onions in cool water. Oh, my goodness! We all ran towards the food. Santa turned and was gone in a flash. Pouf. We all ran to see the sleigh take flight high in to the dark night sky. Ho-ho-ho—Merry Christmas little hens!”

Everyone just stood there looking up. What just happened. Who exactly is this fellow, Santa Clause? How did he know about all of us? Where did he get this wonderful feast from? How does he pop around so quickly? Can he bring peaches next year? I hear that they are so juicy and sweet.

After awhile, Blackie, Brownie, Goldie, Sunshine and I got really full. Truthfully, Blackie looked like she was going to explode. We all waddled up the coop ramp, scratched a comfortable spot, wiggled a bit and fell deep asleep.

Ho-ho-ho!

Farmer 1: l saw garlic in  the garden today . We all saw a bunch of potatoes on the roots of a plant.

Farmer 2: I notice that Peanut is taking mud baths a lot.

We removed a potato plant to another place in the garden. The garlic is sprouting fast.

All the chickens are in the coop except Blackie and Peanut. All the chickens are whining a lot. Sunshine is trying to get out of the coop.  

Farmer 3: I had an egg in my hand and my friend took it.

Farner 4: I like it when I get to sit next to Peanut in the hole she dug.

I like the garlic too.

Farmer Sunshine:     4ecvkygd hufvdhugkigvfidcgu fgdhchdhji hgf

Farmer 1: Sunshine loves to play with us. A boy tried distracting her with his puffer fish ball. She flapped her wings and jumped up but didn’t get the fish.

Farmer 2: My friend and I played squeak the fake rats. They were part of our garden Halloween decorations and are all over. Some kids bury them while others set them around to scare off the real live fat rats.

Farmer 3:  I played pinch my toe with Sunshine. Move your foot back and forth really fast and she tries to catch it.

Farmer 1: Peanut was limping badly so I gave her medicine this morning. Miss Ana held Peanut and I put the baby aspirin in her beak. Guess what? She didn’t spit it out like usual. Barbara was very impressed.

I am the C-H-I-C-K-E-N  W-H-I-S-P-E-R!!!

Farmer 2: The garden is decorated for Christmas. I played with the giant candy canes and used one as a cane.
Farmer 3: All of the front  beds are covered with planting blankets to protect everything from the cold and the rats. I saw muddy rat tracks on a bed. 

Barbara: Today, the kids talked to Peanut and asked her what she thought about the holiday garden.

Farner 1: Peanut would like to know why there are snowflakes and candy canes on the gate.Farmer 2 is still feeding us hens delicious nasturtium leaves.

Farmer 2: It’s pouring outside. 

Farmer 3: And it is Christmas time already. The decorations are really pretty. We saw a garden fairy last week.

Farmer 1: It is cold in the garden. The chickens are pecking a lot.

Farmer 2: The chickens are happy and molting.

Farmer 3: M”””””””  Sorry, typo by Sunshine. She is a little hungry.

Farmer Shine: “Hummmm? What is that red button on the computer?” [Peck, peck] Hrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. “It exploded!  I thought it would write me a letter or something! Now half of my play pen is gone.” Sob, sob. “This has never happened before. I”M FREE!!!!!!! Blackie come on! NO and GET AWAY FROM MY FOOD!!!!!”

Farmer 1: I fed Goldie some lettuce.

Farmer 2: I watched Farmer 1 and Farmer 3 feed the chickens.

Farmer 3: I took a picture of Blackie.