Peep the Explorer

Part II of a three part series chronicling Peep's departure from the Big Apple and her return to Connecticut.

So after a relaxing Saturday afternoon in the sun, Peep and I left the shore behind and arrived back at The Farm. It was about as far as you could get from her city apartment. Peep had lots to explore.

There were apples.


There were clovers. Finally, something she'll eat!



There was a certain sheepdog, Cassie. She seemed to take quite a shine to Peep.

And Peep seemed quite comfortable as well. (And yes, that's me sounding like a seal).


There were cats.

Minnie, a particular predatory cat, took a decidedly different interest in Peep. After stalking Peep from behind doors and couches, Minnie adopted the "I'm so innocent" pose.

Peep was too smart.

So far, so good. Of course, you'll notice she hasn't met the chickens yet...

Bird Song of the Day: Maybe Sparrow - Neko Case

Peepless Brooklyn

Part I of a three part series chronicling Peep's departure from the Big Apple and her return to Connecticut.

A friend recently envisioned Peep's return home:

I have no doubt that you will raise Peep to be a strong and confident chicken, a bird of uncommon street smarts and technological literacy, and that she will one day return to your mother's farm in triumph.

Dear readers, I'm afraid that this eloquent prediction failed to materialize. The story of Peep's departure will take more than one post, but I'll skip ahead far enough to report that Peep is back on the farm and that Brooklyn is a lonelier place for it. I'm thinking of adopting enough of these cuties to create a mess-free aviary.

But back to the story. The weekend started off well enough. Friday night, Peep said her goodbyes to Brooklyn and all the treats she will miss. Her roommates were sad to see her go, but Peep was stoic. I loaded up the Jeep, which was parked on the corner of my block in front of a brand-new wine bar & restaurant. So new, in fact, that they were having an opening night party there. The guests, lounging on the outdoor patio, seemed amused by my trips to the car, first with my head obscured with an unwieldy bag of laundry, and then with an enormous peeping cardboard box into which I was singing the ABCs. They laughed and smiled, sipped their wine. No one offered to help. Brooklynites.

So we hit the highway and left the borough behind, arriving at my childhood home in just about three peep-full hours. The house was quiet; Peep received an enthusiastic welcome nonetheless. Peep reading her sign. I think my Dad could have a second career as an artist :)

Bird Song of the Day: Hundreds of Sparrows - Sparklehorse

Rise and Shine

Peep doing her morning calisthenics.

Last weekend, while driving through lovely Alpine, NJ with a couple good friends, I saw a sign that said "CLOSTER RECREATION COMMISSION". Now, in my crazy, currently subfunctioning brain, I read the sign to say "LOBSTER RECREATION COMMISSION". The idea of such a thing -- lobsters playing tennis? weight training? playing bingo?!? -- made me insanely happy. This lasted about 15 seconds. Then I realized that the sign referred to the town's name, not the crustacean. Oh well.

At least I have a chicken who does morning stretches.

Bird Songs of the Day: Ben Gibbard - Earth Angel (The Penguins cover)
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 3

As You Wish, Princess Peep

Peep is pretty much queen of the Brooklyn castle these days. Here she is surveying her domain from her perch (my knee).

And she's been getting quite the education. In recent days, we've graduated her from music to literature. After the wood chips ran out, I had to switch to newspaper to line her box. Seeing as I don't get the newspaper, I had to resort to the next best thing -- my half-read, ice coffee-stained New Yorker cast-offs. I made sure to start with David Denby movie reviews, but I spared Sasha Frere-Jones the indignity.

She's also been catching up on all the novels published in the last two years. We just finished The Brooklyn Follies; Didion's The Year of the Magical Thinking is the current selection. She's pretty impressed.

Note: I had an adorable picture of Peep reading, but sadly my camera -- like everything else in my apartment (grill, ipod dock, four lights) -- has stopped functioning. Apologies!

In other news, I attended two fabulous weddings this weekend. One included butterflies and peonies, the other donuts and the most whimisical animals-made-of-sneakers (ostrich below). Peep was with me in spirit.



Bird Song of the Day: I'm a Cuckoo - Belle & Sebastian
and, (gladly) upon request: And Your Bird Can Sing - The Beatles

See How She Runs!

After a night of wedding dancing, I came home exhausted. Peep, on the other hand, was ready to go:




Bird Songs of the Day: Counting Crows - Start Again & Come Pick Me Up

Winged Life

Upon request, a picture with some perspective. Peep has grown a great deal, but she's still not that much bigger than my hand. Her personality, on the other hand...

Peep has officially learned to fly. Well, as much as chickens can fly. Take this sequence of events, as witnessed by my impassive television:

- Nell eats take out sitting on foot of bed, so she can watch a Sex and the City rerun and keep an eye on Peep. (Yes, roomies, it was the roosters-on-the-roof episode :)
- Peep pecks around on the floor.
- Nell munches.
- Peep begins to eye Nell.
- Nell is oblivious.
- Peep launches herself toward Nell's legs (propped two feet off ground against bureau). Peep lands successfully. Nell winces but is so overwhelmed with pride that she can't begrudge Peep a few scratches on the shin.
- Nell leaves Peep to perch on her ankle, continues eating noodles.
- Peep launches herself at Nell's face. Peep manages to land on Nell's chopstick-clutching hand. Chaos ensues. Noodles are everywhere.

I guess there is a reason (besides pub menus) that chickens have wings.

As for the fourth, Peep had a great time. She enjoyed a good five hours outside her box exploring the apartment. She can't get enough of those floorboards!

She also helped me bake some cupcakes.



Not too bad for a chicken.

Bird Song of the Day: Sing, Little Birdie - Shearwater

Peep Phone Home

First things first. I added a roosting pole to Peep's house. Apparently learning to roost is very important. It took Peep -- brilliant bird that she is -- only two hours to learn the trick. Now she's perching (and pooping, but I'll gloss over that) everywhere. I'm starting to feel as if I'm only a few chicken steps away from marooning myself on an island off of Brooklyn.

You'll also notice that Mr. Rooster has joined Peep's apartment. Last night I came home to the sound of Peep's peeping, but no Peep. She was snuggled right underneath her new man. Quite the hussy.

Now, on to the big news. Peep has an iPhone! She's officially a city bird and most likely spoiled for life. And thanks to a certain awesomely generous company, I get to enjoy the phone too.

Here's Peep examining her new toy:

(Note: this picture was taken with my old phone. Here, you can see the iPhone was on camera mode; the picture on the screen is my gorgeous red Ikea "Alve" secretary. Peep likes it.)

And here's the iPhone's point of view:



Bird Song of the Day: When Doves Cry - Damien Rice