March 14: A Flock of Turkeys

I started painting the trim for our newly remodeled kitchen, beginning at the large bay window over the sink that looks into our front yard where our bird feeder is. I had to literally climb up onto the counter and into the window in order to paint the hardest to reach corners. While sitting in the window, I understood why the cats like to sit up there. It offered a great view of the yard and the kitchen; it felt safe and cozy, like being in a cardboard box; it was up high in the air (especially since cats like to be above everything); I really liked it up there. While I was painting, I spotted a wild turkey in our yard, not an uncommon sight, but I haven't seen a turkey in our yard most of the winter so I called out to my husband to come see the turkey. "Honey, come see the turkey." He did not come over immediately. And then I saw an absolutely amazing and even slightly frightening sight, a whole entire flock of turkeys, 13 in all. I was speechless but needed my husband to come see this, now. But all I could mutter was "Honey!.... Honey!!!" 

Finally he joined me at the window and we watched the 13 turkeys eating birdseed off the ground, dropped from the birdfeeder hanging above. There was one huge, dominant male that was probably the leader of the pack, a few other slightly smaller males (maybe his proteges), several full grown females (his harem), and 1 or 2 younger turkeys (maybe his babies). It was fascinating to see them all. I don't think I have ever seen this many wild turkeys all together. I have a few friends that are afraid of birds, and I could imagine them totally freaking out seeing this. I love birds, and even I was a little unnerved by the sight. Turkeys are not small, and 13 turkeys is a LOT of turkeys! Once they were done with the bird seed, they went over to one of our chicken coops to visit our chickens. I imagined them saying stuff like, "How do we get a gig like this? Free food and housing? A roof over our heads? Protection from the elements? No fair!" Two of our chickens were watching the turkeys watch them, and it was super cute. They were definitely curious about each other (you can tell by the way they tilted their heads at each other). Eventually they made their way down the driveway and down the road to astound our neighbors. I am still in awe of the sighting and I am delighted I was up in the window with the perfect view of them (definitely in the right place at the right time.)

By the way, the kitchen floor is almost completely done and even though I only painted the primer on the window, it already looks a hundred times better than it used to!

With delight,

♥Jamie