Minds Change`
” A picture becomes a painting when it is Framed. A story becomes a legend when it is Told. “ cecilia buys-wheeler gunther.
That is what I wrote on the blackboard yesterday.
But what I should have written was “It’s OK to change your mind.” cecilia buys-wheeler gunther.
Because it is! It is OK. I had this big plan to take Manu (the Hereford boar) Across The Way to the West Barn, until I leaned on the wall in the pen he would be living in and discovered that the posts are attached to Nothing. The whole wall is floating. Not so good when a 300 hundred pound pig decides to have a scratch. So until I can get that fixed – only small animals need apply for the space.
Plus there is Geraldine and her turkeys. I think that Geraldine is to her turkeys what a llama is to a flock of sheep. The Brains. Yesterday two turkeys fell down between two stacks of firewood. Boo came to the steps and yelped (while Ton kept an eye on the situation) and with the help of two dogs and a cat I found the turkeys in the wood heap and released them. 
Later I lost one of the turkey hens. Being of a suspicious nature I thought Boo had carried it away – he does not like it when birds flap their wings, he thinks he has to stop the flapping. His history precedes him. So I put him on the chain with a stern look and Ton and I went looking for the body of the murdered turkey.. We found the stupid, very much alive, turkey with her head stuck between a bucket and a wall in the woodshed. A plastic bucket and the wall! Absolutely untouched and alive but unable to put her body into reverse. It was just stood there – waiting. Merciful heavens, I thought. These are going to be hard to keep alive. How on earth is this species still alive. No wonder they are endangered. After I set it free I went and apologised to BooBoo. He was gracious.
Then I went up to see Geraldine but Mrs Flowers had chased her into a small space between two bales of hay and she was stuck in there. Really stuck. Hours ago stuck. It took me ages to even find her. If I had not gone looking for her she would have died in there. She was deeply exhausted – silent. I don’t even know why I lifted that bale to look under it. Mrs Flowers has not settled down. She is protecting her baby. Not good for Geraldine. 
So I changed my mind. Back Geraldine goes with the turkeys and ( recent behaviour not withstanding,) she is a cleverer bird than the turkeys – they will follow her instead and hopefully not get themselves stuck in the corners of rooms.
Does it matter if Geraldine does not bond with peacocks? I have a hard time bonding with people!
I have also built a blind across the fence so Sheila and Poppy cannot see Manu. 
And Tima escaped big time yesterday and was found demolishing corn in the field. Tane literally came and told on her! He insisted I follow him and show him how to get through the fences as well! He huffed and puffed. Tima must have eaten quite a bit of dry corn as she was very slow yesterday afternoon. I kept her walking and she drank a lot of water but she was having a hard time of it. 
All is well though.
I hope you have a good day. I think we will. Things are settling down. (for the moment – a literal moment).
Love celi
33 Comments on “Minds Change`”
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thekitchensgarden 
Gotta love those settled-down moments!
I love the idea of Geraldine being the Llama of the Turkey flock. Perhaps that should be Lama, rather than Llama? And I had a huge laugh at the idea of Tane coming to you to be shown Tima’s sneaky way into the corn field! Sometimes you just have to go with the flow of events, and events have conspired to bring Geraldine back and stop Manu going… Maybe another day.
Never a dull moment eh? Morning Miss C. Laura
Oh my goodness, I’m exhausted reading this. Feel like I’ve been chasing birds all day!!! What a life. So much energy and surprise! Love reading about it every single day.
I so agree with you, DC. This is the first email I open every day & read with my tea. When I see the headline, I think Oh, Oh, What’s happened now? Everyday is so full of Everything & Never a dull moment. I lived a country life once with children & animals & I remember how many things happened all the time, sometimes at the same time & how much energy it took to try to manage all of it. I even wrote a brief weekly column about it, but what’s so compelling about Celi’s blog is that it is daily, beautifully illustrated & told with charm, feeling & wit. I look forward to it & the comments very much. I will be abroad for 2 weeks w/o internet & will miss it & hope not too many exciting things happen w/o my knowing about it.
I just can argree with you both. Well said!
Tane
That boar will grow into his name yet. He grows as my ‘Farmy Fav ‘
Your day had me picturing a weary mother of toddlers ….
A farm is the ultimate Rube Goldberg device. https://www.rubegoldberg.com/
Turkeys, Dogs, Pigs and Peacocks – you could never be bored living your life! What’s to be done to solidify the West barn? I’m sure Jock would love to have a go at it. Pity about the miles and the water in between.
Enjoy your Sunday.
love,
ViV xox
You are such a gem to me and to so many others!
Those crazy kids. That’s what they sound like and though you are weary it sure gives you great stories!
I have to admit that I would never have claimed that turkeys actually look intelligent, but this post seems to prove that they (at least yours) are truly lacking in acceptable cognitive function. Truly the alternately-abled members of the farmy so it seems good that Geraldine can be a guide, and perhaps keep them away from any bullies.
I am not a hard hearted woman, but there are times with my fowl that I think—-only the strong (and smart) survive. I wonder, as you do, how the breed has survived all this time.
Years ago I read a book on Homesteading. There was a chapter on raising turkeys, what it said was “Don’t”! Now I guess we know why.
I have heard that domesticated turkeys are not the brightest creatures to roam the earth. But I do have to say on observing the wild turkeys here, they are rather clever and stealthy, and there are multitudes of them roaming this area. I often wonder if it is what way with people too – we’re not so different you know. When we become penned up in a small space and our experience becomes limited, we don’t have or practice the skills of surviving “out there”. Those who tap into instinct are more likely to survive. Geraldine is one of those… and she is a gift to the farmy with her gentle yet stoic ways. I laughed heartily at your description of her – “The Brains”! InDEED!! 😀
oh my gosh- good thing you are there to keep an eye on those bird brained events! Have a lovely Sunday!
This day of yours brought me to tears of laughter! The legend of the not so smart turkeys! Too too funny! Thank you for taking the precious time out of your days to share your life. I look forward to reading it each and every morning!
Robert and I read your post and laughed! Oh what a day! 😀 I think we all need turkeys in our lives to make us laugh.
Oh my God. What a story on the lost turkey. I’m glad for the outcome. What a relief. For all. Especially for poor suspected Boo. Nice of him to be gracious to you. – And then Geraldine. Oh my. That was a “stuck in between”-day for all of you.
Maybe the turkeys missed to have a mother to follow because they were breeded by the machine? So good that Geraldine keeps an eye on them… Lovely.
Oh, Celi. You are so caring. I love it.
PS – I am so surprized on the comments yesterday concerning the Llama held for garding sheep, goats or other animals. Never have heard that before…. I’m full of awe what animals are talented for.
I am exhausted for you. You have some wonderful intuitive animals to help you through all of this. Oh, my what would life be without tattle tales. The animals are so lucky you are their mom. I’ve heard that turkeys were not the brightest crayons in the box. It’s nice to see someone with almost as many last names as I’ve had. 🙂
Ah yes, that totally makes sense now about the difference between domesticated animals and their wild brethren. They simply did not ever learn nor have to rely on any survival instincts, etc. etc. So now, I don’t think farm turkeys are all that dumb after all…or ARE they?? 🙂
I think the turkey flock is the PERFECT place for Geraldine. She can be a leader and not a follower. It’s her destiny.
I’m so glad you found Geraldine & her turkey friends. Animals are so smart-Tane is the smartest kid in class today. Boo & Ton go without saying. And mommy Celia trying to keep track of all of them. Have a nice Sunday.
Robin🐥
It is so wise of you to admit mistakes. The minute Geraldine is gone from her turkey flock they get into major trouble…and she is cornered and cowed by Mrs. flowers. But now you have allowed Geraldine to “follow her bliss”! And Boo too. Glad you apologized to him. We knew he would be gracious. And then there’s Tane tattling!
And then–drum roll–the floating wall. OMG. THANK goodness you leaned against it. A major disaster foiled.
It sounds like you had a day of playing hide and seek. Did Hugo plan a secret game with all the animal inhabitants?
Now I understand the slang use of the term “turkey”… the use of “peacock” as in smart as a… fat as a kune kune… hot to trot as a piggy trotter… It’s all literal!
Pea brain? c
Now the turkeys of cartoonworld are smart. One batch of turkeys around Thanksgiving time, go around saying “Mooooo Mooooo” and others try their luck on stilts in attempt to blend in with the flamingos on the farm. Love, Gayle
Your day reminded me of the phrase my son used when trying to control an out of control party of young tipsy teenagers at his house – ‘like herding cats’…
No wonder turkeys have such a bad rep. Poor Geraldine. I’m glad you found her when you did. Tima looks lovely, but maybe she wasn’t feeling so well. Tane tattling was a cute story. I’m glad Boo was merciful.
Wonderful post. We became accidental turkey farmers this year when our existing handful of turkeys hatched out a lot of turkey chicks – we now have 30 of them! And I know what you mean about turkeys being intellectually challenged. Ours are not very bright, but they are so friendly, curious and comical that I forgive them even when they leap over their enclosure fence and wander into campers’ tents.
I believe that juvenile wild turkeys live in flocks and therefore go unmolested by other animals including snakes and coyotes. Things change when they reach sexual maturity when they fight and split up. I think the thing that keeps them alive is the ability to fly (just) into a tree to sleep. I’m sure Geraldine will bond with future farmy reared peacocks, especially the boys.
Tima and Tane had me ROFL 😉