Which came first?

The chickens or the sense of peace and contentment?

Helping my daughter look after the animals on a neighbour’s croft (traditional Scottish Highland smallholding), is as good a way as any to bookend the day.

In the morning, ducks and hens are let out and fed…at dusk they are ushered back inside their various huts and shelters to be safely locked away for the night, hopefully out of the reach of predatory pine martens.

Chores done — morning and evening- it’s back home to repeat the process with my own hens. Until tomorrow…

Writer’s own picture