Changes

Once we had two young boys, a flock of about 12 chickens, 4 turkeys, 2 heifers, 3 dogs, one cat and a grandma living at home.  Now we have one dog and eachother.

We used to see quail scooting into the chicken yard to help themselves to the feed.  Now we have a bird feeder and the doves scratch around on the ground underneath it.  Doves are funny.  Have you ever watched doves?  They land way back from whereever they're going, and walk the rest of the way.  Sweet Hubs and I used to like to sit  at a waterhole behind a former house and watch the doves.  They'd swoop in, land in a big group about 20 feet from the edge of the water, and walk in.  They bob their little gray heads when they walk and just crack me up.  As much walking as they do, you'd think they would have drumsticks like a chicken.

I used to keep an eye on the chickens because of predators.  Now I pay attention to the doves.

We grew a big garden every year for many years.  Now we have one about the size of your office conference table.  Our lives are slimming down.  The house isn't bursting at the seams anymore.  The refrigerator is finally big enough.  I only cook a few nights a week, rather than just taking Sunday off.  I can do all our laundry in two loads, three maximum.

It's all very strange.

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