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compassion
November 2009 
What was the last compassionate act you witnessed?
Posted on Jul 30th, 2009
by 
barbara
barbara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for July 30, 2009:
Sad to say I thought about this for a long time today about myself and the only one that comes to mind is the day I stopped my car in the middle of traffic to pick up a tortoise who was crossing a busy street and carry him over to the other side. I did it mostly because I knew I could not be able to stand it if I saw him get run over. In others, I know John (Satya) is a deleriously compassionate person -- look at everything he is doing for Jeff. I know Laurie takes in stray and sad animals. I also have a few very good friends who support me when I need to whine and vent about not feeling well. I am sure there are more acts of compassion and I am going to start looking for them.
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Barbara -
I applaud what you did. I'm sure the cars behind you were less than pleased, but you did it anyway. You go, girl!
that is a great act of kindness, how sweet of you to take the time for the turtle :)
I live and travel on country roads, you can count on 1 hand the vehicles you see in an hour. Some times there are chickens in the road, no problem, they are just daring you to hit them, can't be done. In the Spring and Fall, the tortoises move and the road is a dangerous place for them. Almost never have I seen one hit, it is common practice to slow down or go around these old pokies. Nobody wants to hurt or kill one, I myself have helped one or to out of the way. Possums on the other hand have no such luck, apparently they are fair game. Okay, try this. Why did the chicken cross the road? Because there was a car coming!
you are three of my most favorite people in the world … (((hug))))
After two hours of picking and sorting pretty tomatoes from wormy tomatoes ( Farmer's Market in the morning!) that was so nice to hear. I'm starting to feel like a wormy tomato myself. Ugh! Thank God for chickens, they love 'em all. I'm just surprised they're not making ketchup by now. You can bet you're one of my favorite people too!
there is something so delightfully earthy about sorting pretty from wormy … and I wonder about the people who might eat those chickens some day and what if they knew about the wormies …
Barbara! I'm shocked! Nobody's going to eat those chickens if I have anything to say about it. I only have a small flock, only 8 of them left. The raccoons got 7 of them this Spring. I plan to add enough to have a decent little flock of 12 with no roosters. Ever. I mean how could you eat chickens named Camilla, Ginger, Snap, Ellen and Helen(the twins ), Nieves, Big Red, and Grandma. A good free-range, organically fed and grown chicken eats more protein and is much healthier than a caged chicken and the eggs are far superior to the factory eggs that you buy at the grocery store. Besides they tickle me to pieces with their actions. Some people have aquariums for high blood pressure, I have chickens. Anytime you want to come and get earthy, let me know, I'll put you right to sorting tomatoes. After all's said and done, pretty tomatoes sell, ugly tomatoes make gazpacho.
Okay … you're right … I could never eat anything that I have actually named or talked to. I can't even kill the spiders who live in my basement (they are actually doing me a favor in keeping other critters in check). And I definitely think all the chickens in the world should be free to run about and lay their eggs like nature meant them to. I live in the suburbs and some people have at least an acre of land devoted to intricate landscaping. I think they should put up some decent fencing and have a few chickens instead! When my friend plans his next road trip down south, I will give you a head's up.
must be tomato season all around then. was a one with my plants yesterday. plants are giant, but not many tomatoes on them this year.
can you tell the chickens apart from each other?
i am feeling a bit badly for the ugly tomatoes right now, if i were there, i would buy them :)
Hi, Barbara, sorry, I had to choke back a laugh at the thought of all the chickens in the world running free. There would not be many flowers or gardens at all if left up to them. A chicken's greatest joy is to scratch and they scratch all day long. I don't mean behind their ears, but on the ground looking for bugs and worms to eat, when you put down their mixed grains, you scatter it on the ground so that they can jump right in and do their chicken scratch dance. All that gorgeous landscaping would be mighty ragged in short order. Nice thought though, they were wild at one time but who knows how long ago that was, I'm sure Noah had a pair on the cruise. I think Key West has had some issues with feral chickens, they may be ruling the Conch Nation by now.
so chickens would be the perfect answer to weeds then … and grass . . . and flowers … but heck … that's what front yards are for!
Chickens are only good in enclosed areas, they would happier in a safe place, not enticing the neighbor's Doberman to blood lust. Or the neighbors to put rude notes in your mailbox.
Not to worry about the ugly tomatoes, they went happily into the kettle to make friends with the peppers, onions, and garlic to become salsa for the cold winter time. Then I can pull out a mason jar of canned Summer Sunshine to have on my enchiladas. Thanks for the laugh, Y'all! By the way, yes, I can tell them apart. They are all different except for Helen and Ellen, the twins, I get them mixed up but they don't seem to take it personally.