Happy Mother's Day!

This is for all the mothers out there, whether you have traditional children or furred or feathered children, this is a post about motherly love. We see passionate mother love on the farm during calving season....

"Don't even THINK of messing with my baby!"

Mothers love a cuddle even when you are a grown cat.

Mothers set a good example by pitching in to clean up the chairs alongside their children instead of just telling them to do it.

Sometimes it takes a mother to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.

"I know, baby, it's a big world out there but you can't stay in the shed forever."

Sometimes your mother guides you in dangerous tasks, such as lighting the tiki torch.

"No Levi, once it is lit you may not pull it out of the ground and chase your sisters around the pond!"

(Sometimes mothers have no sense of humor.)

Sometimes it's a grandmother who you trust totally to hold you out over a pond and not drop you in it.

At least not on purpose.
Sometimes the child or children you love doesn't even share your DNA, imagine the little red frizzle hen's surprise when she miraculously birthed triplets early this morning out of one egg.

"What the hey????"
It was touch and go for awhile, the shock was so great, she pecked a couple of them which did not endear her to them.
"Well, this is a fine how do you do! We should have stayed at Bomgaars!"
So I tucked them under her for some quiet contemplation and went to do chores. When I returned and coaxed her off the nest, I was relieved to see they were all still alive. I spread some feed on the floor which the little red hen started gobbling greedily. That got the chicks excited and soon they were all scratching their tiny feet in a flurry and pecking at the morsels of corn. 
The chicks were very curious and would come up to the hen, study her face, then gently peck around her beak. I was ready to grab her if it looked like she was going to commit chickicide, but I need not have worried. After a bit she returned the nibbles, I think that is acceptance. Even the chick that grabbed one of her bright red wattles and pulled hard, only elicited a screech, no retaliation. Things were looking up. I put them all back to bed and went off to church with confidence.


"Hi Mom!"

 When we arrived home, she had left the nest and had her three, now accepted babies, in the far corner of the blue jay cage. The babies were scurrying around, ducking in and out of her feathers as though they had done it their entire life of about 6 days.


If I had to guess, this is the little red hens best Mothers Day ever, hoping the same for you.