Avian Flu -- Ground Zero

House situated on edge of Wetlands -- check.
Migratory birds resting in our trees-- check.
Ducks swimming in pond -- check.
Chickens roaming yard-- check.
Lone Pheasant patrolling back of house-- check.

Looks like we're just begging for the Avian Flu to roost at chez nous.

French chickens still enjoying liberte!

Seems we're running through a patch of all the world's plagues at the the moment:

• an expensive eight month long rectal exam compliments of the I.R.S.;
• all the attendant joys of pure, American-style capitalism, brought to us by the Refco implosion;
• the LOOMING THREAT of avian bird flu, merci to Asian-based industrialized chicken producers.

Goodness, I don't think that Hitchcock, the master of horror and suspense, could have come up with such a soul-chilling plot line.

But even though we are on the verge of financial ruin and imminent death we're still very happy and contented on our little farm . . .so physically worn out each day from gathering up walnuts that we don't have the time to fret about the looming disasters.

The new sheep are arriving next week . . .with the belier. The girls are very excited -- except for Blanche. She doesn't want any challenges to her leadership.