Cool mornings. Shirt sleeve mornings. From the kitchen window, I watch steam rise off the compost pile, wraith-like. On Sunday I found Blood, our rooster, hanging upside down from one his massive spurs; it’d somehow gotten caught in the wire of the coop, and he’d hung there for lord knows how many hours. Too many. From a distance I thought for sure he was dead but he wasn’t, it was just that he’d struggled the struggle right out of himself. So I freed him and set food and water before him. He ate and he drank, and two days later, just when I thought he’d probably make it, he died.
You never know what the future will bring.
I’ll be taking some time away from this space to attend to other matters. I’m sure I’ll be back before too long. In the meantime, thank you. I really appreciate all my readers.
Ben Hewitt 
Cool shirtsleeve mornings with compost steaming are a late summer gift. Thanks for the “heads-up” regarding your forthcoming blog’s hiatus. Eagerly anticipating its return! (Blood was one lucky rooster to have lived on Fat O’ The Land Farm.)
Don’t be gone too long, Ben.
I knew I was getting spoiled by your more regular posts lately! Grateful for them whenever they come. Peace!
Thanks, Dawn. Hope all’s well down there.
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Sorry to hear about losing your rooster. Seems as though our lifeblood can stop running as a consequence of pushing the outside of the envelope, such as the containers we find ourselves in, but that is also from where the inspiration to move seems to come.
True, true. Just watch out where you hang your spurs…
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That is bad news! We will be here waiting for you to write! Keep up!
Thanks, Clare. I’ll be back… stay tuned.
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Sorry to hear about your rooster. Thanks for the heads up on the break from the blog. Have a good one.
Missing your poignant and pregnant words Ben….already!
but have a great break anyway.
Thank you, Mirosan
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See you soon, Ben. Have a good hiatus!
Was getting spoiled again too……cheers!
Don’t leave! Don’t leave! Breaks are good…. creates demand. I was feeling feisty and made a joke that had the word whore in it, but I deleted it. Have a nice vacation 🙂
ain’t leaving… just breaking.
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Sorry about losing Blood. Finding a good rooster isn’t always easy. Enjoy your time off.
“Indomitable” from your previous post, that is you guys!! Wishing a praceful break and best of luck with workshops.
I am grateful for all the inspiration your writing has provided over the years. I drove away from your place in Stannard with some mixed feelings: knowing damn well I could never accomplish one tenth of what you, Penny and the boys had accomplished, but at the same time also inspired to keep going. Thank you and best wishes to all two-legged, four-legged and winged dwellers of the homestead.
I devoured Home Grown and have just started The Nourishing Homestead; that will help me fill the gap I hope 🙂 Looking forward to your return.