Starts with J
Jumper starts with J. In the UK, and some other commonwealth countries, a jumper is what we here in North America call a sweater. To me, a jumper is a sleeveless dress that is designed to be worn over a top of some kind. In any case, I was recently inspired to try a new wine from a winery called Tussock Jumper. Each wine they produce has a different animal on the label, and in each case, the animal is wearing a red jumper (sweater). The wine I tried was the Sauvignon Blanc variety, which is one of my favourite wine grapes, and I really enjoyed it. However, with this cute label with a sheep in a red jumper, how could I even resist trying it?!
Tussock Jumper makes a whole range of different wines with cute jumper-clad animals on the labels. I'd like to try the Rose Moscato with a rabbit in a jumper on the label, and there's a Cabernet Sauvignon with a really cute penguin!
Joy
I am not very joyful today - unfortunately little Ivy, our pet rat whom I featured last week, died last night. It was a sad day for me and I am sad for her sister, Violet. Sometimes when I am feeling sad, spending time with pets and animals helps me to feel happier. So, I found some joy today when I went out to spend some time with the chickens. I have a little plastic step-stool that I take out to the coop and I sit on it and just relax and let them interact with me. There are several hens who will immediately come over and jump up on my lap. The first one is almost always Amelia. She flew up onto my shoulder the day I brought her home, and she has remained very interactive ever since. Here she is on my knee today, doing some preening.
Amelia has really lovely feather patterns. She is a maran cross breed hen.
Such a beautiful hen.
The two young birds that have been the subject of prior blogs, which were incubated by my white silkie, Whisp, are now out in the coop, and they are also extremely friendly with me. Willoughby, the little rooster, and the little hen Buttercream, both fly up to my lap very quickly, and as I pet them, they soon settle down to sleep.
Here they are shortly after flying to my knee.
Such a sweet pair. How can I not feel some joy when they are so eager to sit on my lap?
Buttercream flew up to my shoulder for an adventure. She made me smile, and that's a sign of joy.
Shortly after that she came back down to my lap, where her brother was already asleep.
Soon I had two sleeping chickens and after a time spent enjoying the antics of the rest of the flock, and collecting a few eggs, I had a much improved disposition.
Favourite
A favourite shot for this week is this one I unexpectedly snapped of a red-breasted nuthatch who had just dropped its seed, presumably by mistake. I didn't realize I had caught that moment until I downloaded the pictures. Since a person who drops things is sometimes referred to as a "butterfingers," I wonder if I can call this bird a "butterbeak?"
7 comments:
I love that you found solace with the chickens and they with you! So sorry about Ivy. I've heard that pet rats are sadly short-lived.
...who knew there were so many ways 'jumper' could to used, for me a sweater sure wasn't one of them. Here on Maui there are lot of chickens running around and the color array is amazing. What a great shot of the 'butterbeak nuthatch! Thanks for stopping by Claire, enjoy your week and please stop back again.
Your birds simply fascinate me!!!
My mom called sweaters jumpers when she came to Canada.
Savignon Blanc is my favourite white wine. And I often buy based on cute labels!
Sorry about Ivy - our pets give us joy, so it is nice your chickens maybe sensed your loss and offered you comfort. They are beautiful birds! I love a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - my favorite varietal!
I'm sorry to hear of Ivy's death. We have had many pet rats and have never been able to save them from pneumonia. Some recovered with treatment , but fell ill again - sometimes repeatedly. Ivy was lucky to have had such a happy home, however briefly. The chicken lap-sitters are great; their feathers are far prettier than any jumper.
Claitr, uout Amenia is a wide-awake looking chicken. I didn't know that they might tame. Our eight-year-old grand daughter lived in London almost five yesrs, coming back to Houston on her 5th birthday, still calls here sweaters 'jumpers'.
Was your Jumper winery in France. Google found, "Discover Tussock Jumper, a winery in Vin de France, France..."
Lastly, catfish. I grew up between Blair and Decatur, Nebraska, up in the hills from the Missouri River. About once a year our larger family gathered for a catfish dinner, having cooked the fish from the river. Here in the south the fish are filleted and coated with a thin corn flour crust an then fried. There, at least in Decatur they ate deep fried whole with the heads on. I like the Southern way better.
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So sorry about Ivy. Love your friendly and caring hens :-).
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