Saturday, August 9, 2008

A Lovely Summer Evening

Sewanee's main quadrangle

I just returned from a wonderful social event. It took place across the street from my house on the grounds of Otey Parish. The step daughter of the man who sold me my house got married. I babysat for the bride when she was an infant. Her sister babysat my children when I moved back here. Both sisters grew up in Sewanee and then went off to college. Both sisters ended up transferring back to Sewanee and they both worked for me on campus. I traveled in the Caribbean with one sister for a couple of weeks about 5 years ago. They are wonderful girls and I am crazy about of both of them - although it's been several years since I've seen them. Their mother is a well known potter in these parts and in the early 70s their father started Shenanigans, the local beer and sandwich joint. http://national.citysearch.com/profile/9358294/sewanee_tn/shenanigan_s.html . The bride and groom are spending their first married night together next door in a cabin rented from my neighbor.

None of this has anything to do with chickens (although the topic came up many times at the reception). It is merely an illustration of the kind of town I live in. We are a supportive, close knit community. Many people come and go and many people remain for generations. We are proud, interested and interesting. We care for each other and ourselves. We keep coming back to Sewanee because there is something compelling here. We love it.

I am certain that on August 25, there will be a large presence of community members who agree that keeping a few chickens in our backyards, if we desire, adds to what makes Sewanee a genuinely good place.

I will be on vacation for the next week and don't know what kind of internet access I'll have. I SO appreciate all of you who read this on a regular basis. I love the "old Sewanee" stories and will post more of them as they come in. It's amazing to hear from people around the world who just find this site while searching chickens and it's very cool that so many people I've known from so many parts of my life are following this too!

Thank you all - I'll keep you posted!

2 comments:

Shannon B. Lenoir said...

Sorry to hear of your current situation. We are new to chickens and have been charmed by their entertaining personalities. You mention in one post you know of someone who takes a chicken to a nursing home and my grandmother would be thrilled if I could bring one or two of my girls to visit her and the residents of her home. Do you happen to have any contact information as I would like to speak to someone with experience?

I attended summer camp in Sewanee as a child and remember how beautiful it is. I wish you luck in your fight to save your girls!

Shannon (Collierville, TN)
www.anathothfarms.com

Katherine said...

Shannon, Here is a link to Mr Joy the therapy chicken in Charlotte. Wouldn't it be great if your chickens could make the rounds too!

http://www.mrjoy.net/dayinthelife.html