document kindness, life's selfless acts, beautiful moments and gentle amusements and encourage others to do the same

Lately, my partner has been less busy than usual, and after he pointed this out, this conversation followed:

Me: If you need something to do, the bathroom needs cleaning, and I haven’t had any help with this lately.

Him: Whoa! I’ve cleaned the bathroom before.

M: Yup, once in the last five years. (women remember these things)

H: Okay, what cleaner do I use? (an hour later): Hey, come and look at this!!! The toilet looks brand new!!! Look, I cleaned all the trim, too. Did you ever notice all those dust bunnies collecting behind the toilet? Well, I cleaned them out.

Then, the best part:
H: Next time we go to town, I’m buying some of that shower cleaner that they advertise on tv. I think it might work better than what we have here. And I need a better sponge…

M: (thinking, he’s planning on doing this more often, hallelujah!) Yes, we’ll get whatever you like.

Not exactly dramatic moment, but it still made me smile.

We bought some laying hens from a windowless commercial barn, which culls their caged flock every year. The hens are less than a year old, but become less profitable because they lay extra large eggs at that point, and eat more grain. Smaller eggs sell better and are more profitable.

These feathered ladies have never before seen the sun or scratched in the soil. Seeing them discover the outdoors for the first time is amusing and delightful. They look around in wonder. Where am I? Their instinct finally awakens, and they find their first bug, and eat it. There is room to run, or bask in the sun, or roll in the dirt. A dust bath is the ultimate spa treatment for a chicken. They cluck contentedly, as though they are singing.