“Chickpea”–our friendly bantam–and I get re-acquainted.
He’s keen to know what his American cousins are up to.
“Are they early risers like me and Claude?” (our other cockerel).
“Didn’t see–or HEAR for that matter–too many cockerels in downtown Washington D.C., Chickpea.
Saw a raccoon heading for Dupont Circle at noon!”
“Aah–did you have a good time, though?”
“Dandy, thanks”.
“Cock-a-doodle dandy“?
“Very funny–Chickpea!”
“I’ll sing it if you like…?”
“Um–I have to go in and make lunch…”
“Good to have you back.”
“Thanks–good to be back, Chickpea.”
Robin Ellis 
Delightful!!!
Ha, good to see you safe back in la douce france dear Robin!! I think the cats and other animals will also be glad, hughs !!
You can tell Chickpea that I live 3 miles from Washington, DC in Virginia, and I haven’t seen a rooster, but I have seen deer walking up my street. Bears have been seen around this area, too!
I, too, live in Northern Virginia, and this past fawning season, I turned a corner near my neighborhood, and there was a tiny fawn tottering on 4 teeny-tiny legs, bleating for his mom. Luckily, he turned back into some shrubbery and met up with her (so I assume, as all bleating ceased). I had stopped my car and put on my flashers until the little guy was safe. Luckily for me, no one came zipping around that corner!
Clearly, I must amend my message to, “Say hello to the cats AND the chickens for me!” It was very special to meet you and Meredith in DC, though I have exclaimed to one and all on my Facebook that “I was a nervous wreck!!!” I also enjoyed meeting other bloggers and exchanged email addresses, so the circle of friendship continues. All best wishes to everyone of assorted species, Allyson
What a dandy looking fella Chickpea is. You are so very lucky to have so many handsome & beautiful friends to call your own.
fun to go away but always great to be home again, and lovely to see all the furry faces too. Would you and Meredith like to live back in her home town in the U.S again? We have emigrated to southern Ireland 11yrs ago, but sometimes get a hankering to ‘go home’ to the U.K. where family are. Loved your blog and photos, thankyou. Linda
awwww ! what a happy-looking Chickpea ! (and Robin too !) when we lived in the Lot et Garonne in the 70s we had some chicks, and our cockerel was called Claudius… not far removed from your Claude… Susie and I were woken at 4am by the weirdest strangulated noises and it took us some time to realise that it was our darling little Claudius who was learning to crow ! we had to leave that house and move somewhere else and so we gave the chicks back to our lovely neighbour, a magnificent and kind old crone called Madame Crebesec (always dressed in black, no teeth, voice like a foghorn…)… a couple of months later we were invited back for Easter Sunday lunch…one of madame’s signature dishes was, yes, coq au vin, and she proudly explained that the coq in question was indeed our very own little Claudius… he was very tasty and we swallowed him down manfully while trying not to look too upset ! i was 12 at the time and had already understood that the “paysan” attitude to animals was not the same as my own ! another day, our Ma was talking to her outside the house when a fabulous hoopoe came to alight in the field opposite… to Ma’s exclamations of wonder at its extravagant plumage, Madame Crebesec said, pah, no good to eat… a nice fat blackbird, now, that’s different… L xxx
A nice welcome home!
LOL. 🙂
What a delightful and original conversation! I’m so very happy and glad to learn that your voyage to the States was successful.
While here we were “enjoying” a heat of 45+ deg.C I was thinking of you both over there gripped by ice and snow… Welcome home…
Lovely photograph!
Lovely 🙂
What a great pic & “interview” to wake up to! 🙂
Glad you ‘re back, safe & sound.
Awww… Chickpea!!!
So you spotted the raccoon outside of Kramerbooks, too! We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw it waddling down the street.
Anyway, I wanted to say that meeting you and Meredith there a week ago Saturday was such a pleasure and I’m so grateful you provided the opportunity. This is a belated thank you for signing my three books and drawing, and for making meeting one of our all-time favorite actors.such an incredible experience for my twin sister Christy and me. It’s something we never expected to happen, and something we will never forget.
And I’m glad you made it home safely to Chickpea!
~ Kathy Brand
Pleasure meeting you both too Kathy–thanks for coming. Raccoons at noon must be rare as a blue moon!
Great picture.