Remembering lost Animal Friends

My dear old chum, my chihuahua, who lived to almost 20, was a darling.

And tho he would, in that Chi way, not tolerate many living things other then his close family, his 'wife' (my darling Italian Greyhound Sophie)and chicks.

I'm not sure why he so loved little things. Maybe, in some way, he realized, "I know what it is to be a tiny thing, but I am ferocious, I am a Tiger in a puppies skin, therefore I shall protect you"

I've always kept chickens. More recently, say last 10 years, I've kept quail as well. And I still hold true that the best way one goes about welcoming in Spring is with setting seeds in trays in windows in February and setting fertile eggs in incubators at the same time.

This cannot help but get one excited for the coming Spring and hopeful for tomorrows as well as relish in the Now of today. I always say Gardeners are the most hopeful people who can live both in the past present and future with the most level heads; one has to at all times recall past mistakes and accomplishments, be always doing right now, and planning for the seeds to be trees and the eggs to be chicks and of course, when Monty lived to be his chums.

It's odd, once they reached maturity he would lose interest. He wasn't unkind or even, like I've seen many an ill-behaved dog , out to attack, leaping and barking at the poor dears in their run. No, he loved them as chicks.

Today, going through old footage and photos, I found the series of shots I took with Monty and Leto. Leto was my self blue Cochin bantam hen. I hatched with my own hands, well technically with my incubator, but she was one of those which I helped out of the shell, against most advice not to do so, I still find every year that I have one that just needs a bit of help; that was Leto.

I didnt' know she was to be a hen, tho I hoped.

In fact her name Leto is from Greek Mythology as Leto was the goddess of motherhoo.

We hatchers of eggs almost ALWAYS hope that all eggs will be hens, unless we are trying to get a flock of a particular breed we wish to continue onward...I've tried with Cream legbars, but that is another post for another day.

Monty and Leto were darling. Of all my chicks, and there have been many believe you me, she just had a special place in his heart. When she grew full size (which for a bantam is not very Full but still a bit bigger than Monty) she was still gentle and became the best "mother hen' I ever had.

I could put anything under her and she'd hatch it. I think if she could have sat an ostrich egg she'd have mothered it to the ends of the earth.

She was so tiny here she is hatching next to tiny quail's eggs

The lovely thing about Leto when she had a brood was she was fierce a protector (save to me, whom she also loved) and Monty. My little chum would follow me everyday into the hen house, many would scurry, tho he'd never chase simply walk quietly and proud sniffing here and there, but Leto would allow him near her and whatever brood she was mothering.

I think she just always recalled the soft pillows and blankets of the house, the warm laps and scents of afternoon teas with me and of course the soft gentle caress and kiss of Monty.

They are both gone now, but they live on in fond memory

I can still see, in the Springs I still enjoy, my little chum perking up when he would hear that first chirp chirp in the incubator. I hope one day to have another little dog chum, but not yet. Right now my heart is still full of Monty and Leto and so I feel his little spirit with me when I go out daily to the chickens.

So, here is to lost chums, whether they have 2 legs, 4 or feathers, we miss them all and we salute them.