The new chickens have finally started to lay — one wee pullet egg a day. They’re about the size of bantam eggs — maybe half the size of a normal egg. But lovely bright marigold yolks that stand right up off the surface of the white.

It’s such a relief to be getting my own eggs again. No offense to any of the very fine ranch egg purveyors here in the valley, but I there’s no comparison between an egg from your own backyard to an egg you buy from someone.

Next chore, sending the rooster off to his new home (not a euphemism — I do have a new home for him — the rancher I used to buy eggs from needs another rooster for her commercial flock, and he’s so pretty, she’s kind of happy about it.)