Kite festival

Al and I managed to get leave from the kids to ride our bikes together the hour or so to Hobart over the mountain. Sure was beautiful, and the temperature change was awesome. It seemed to go from 40 degrees up the hill to minus 20 degrees as we dropped down the other side, in about 2.5 seconds. Riding down the mountain, the city was spread out below us, flowing off the mountain before stopping, teetering on the edge of the bay. We met family, friends and our kids at the kite festival, which perched on a grassy hill overlooking the water. I imagined the kite runners in Kabul, and wondered if they are still making their kites fly and dance while cutting each others strings. The Hobart version was a bit tamer, but so beautiful. Kites filled the sky and everyone permanently ducked and weaved to miss or untangle themselves from the kids strings. Family, friends, good times in an easy life. Sailing ships of the air mingled with japanese fish and elaborate eagles, while the kids $3 kites danced in an uneasy truce below them. Life is good.

born just in time

Yesterday I was about to throw away my broody chooks eggs from under her. She was way overdue, and seemed like she was about to cark it. Her comb hung low and her head rested to one side. Surely she couldn't sit on her eggs any longer and stay alive. I felt terrible that such a commited mother, sittting for well over three weeks, and running herself into the ground, was about to be pulled off her treasured eggs, It seemed that her time as a mum was over before it had begun.I moved her wing aside and picked up an egg that looked cracked. It was warm and  vibrating. I very carefully placed it down again,and peeked under her other wing. A cute small yellow head peered around her tired mum at me. Today there are three gorgeous chickens, and she is still determined to sit on the rest. Her commitment is amazing, but well worth it in the end.