Celia Hart's blog about what's going on in and around her studio.
Art, printmaking, inspirations, gardening, vegetables, hens, landscapes, wild flowers, East Anglia, adventure, travel.

Sunday 26 October 2008

Well . . . hello! (200th post)

Three days after starting this blog we collected our four new hens from Kirsty of Hens4Homes, the under-gardeners (Ruby, Sylvie, Phoebe and the much missed Dawn), have delighted us and their many admirers ever since. Our garden, and the deluxe hen-house they live in, is big enough to accommodate more than just three birds, so I've been looking around for junior under-gardeners to join the team.

On Saturday we returned to Hens4Homes to select three birds from Kirsty's beautiful 17 week old 'Heritage Skylines' – that's a very naff name for a hybrid based on the Crested Cream Legbar. A melange of Brown Leghorn (Italian), Barred Rock (North American) and Araucana (South American). With that mix they can definitely strut their stuff!


It's been rainy and dull all day so it's been tricky taking decent pictures – but you can see their smart hair-dos!


And their super-model posture!


Over the next week or so I'll gradually introduce them to the senior under-gardeners and they'll move into the hen-house. There will be feather pulling and girlie fights before the 'pecking-order becomes re-established. Phoebe is so looking forward to not being bottom of the pile – she's already had first peck of a junior under-gardener!

To celebrate my 200th post on Purple Podded Peas I'm inviting suggestions for names for our junior under-gardeners . . .
Come one all those lurking – say hello!

16 comments:

  1. They are beautiful! Being a great fan of "Chicken Run" I've always wanted chickens called Ginger, Bunty and Babs... just a though?

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  2. Italian, North American and South American? How about Sophia, Hilary and Eva??

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  3. Hello,
    I've been enjoying your blog for quite some time and just started blogging.
    I've tagged you on my blog, if you want to drop by and take a look, no obligation, of course.
    best wishes,
    Nan and =^..^=

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  4. Ah they are beautiful! And I love their quiffs so I'm going for Holly (for Buddy Holly), Priscilla (for Elvis) or you could go 18th c and call one Marie (for Marie Antoinette). I remember when we got our two new girls and Pip, who was bottom of the ladder, joyfully joined in pecked them. Enjoy your new under-gardeners!

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  5. Working on the hairdo theme, they seem to have rather splendid beehives. So I'm thinking Dolly (Parton), Edina (from AbFab)- especially if you have one with a slightly lopsided "do", and Amy (Winehouse)for her truly outrageous modern take on the beehive.

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  6. When we had 'chooks' as they are called here in Australia, we named them in pairs. We had Thelma & Louise, Beatrice & Evangeline (House of Elliot)and Hilda & Evadne (Hinge & Bracket)etc. As you have 3, you do need a trio of names!

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  7. I looked in to your blog early this morning and have been trying to come up with some names, I am still thinking! I do like Matron's suggestions. What lovely ladies, how I would love some under-gardeners, maybe if I ever get that garden in the country, I dream of? x

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  8. Right then...here we go Celia.This is in the spirit of blogging - as an international force for good!

    pollo (italian and spanish)
    ayam ( Indonesian)
    kip (Dutch)
    Kana ( Finnish)
    polastre ( Catalan)
    kurczak ( Polish)
    frango ( portuguese)
    vista ( Latvian)

    My favourites are frango and kip

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  9. Oh, what fun! I really like Charlotte's translations becuase I simply can't come up with anything myself...

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  10. I don't know why 'Lucrezia' sticks in my mind...

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  11. If we have to have trios of names -

    Wynken, Blynken and Nod comes to mind after the children's rhyme.

    Snap, Crackle and Pop.

    Gin, Tonic and Lemon.

    Sun, Sand and Sangria.

    Oh, stop me someone!

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  12. Congratulations on your 200th post. I don't think I can think of better names that have already been mentioned. My fave so far are Amy, Dolly & Edna.

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  13. Found you via the web somehow! and very glad I did!
    You have a beautiful blog, have been enjoying reading it.
    Well done on your 200th post!
    Love your chooks...
    I won't attempt to give you 3 names, because you have so many wonderful ones to choose from already...:)

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  14. Morning. Me again. Good game this! A few more names that go in threes -

    Milly, Molly and Mandy
    Hands, Knees and Bumpsydaisy
    Wine, Women and Song
    Oak and Ash and Thorn
    (Sing Oak and Ash and Thorn, me boys,
    All on a Midsummer's morn.
    Surely we sing of no little thing
    With Oak and Ash and Thorn.)
    Long, Tall, Sally
    Tea, Coffee and Cocoa
    Coriander, Cumin and Chilli (the Spice Girls)
    Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald (or even Beryl) - because they're gems!

    I'd better go and have a lie down!

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  15. Thank you! thank you!
    thank you!

    All your name suggestions are brilliant! I'm tempted to ring Kirsty and arrange to collect a couple of dozen extra hens!

    We're getting to know the junior under-gardeners - they are getting more confident and last night they slept in the hen-house with the senior girls, warm and cosy.

    We've almost decided on names, then Veg Heaven sent in more!!!!!

    Celia
    x

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