Now that the last batch went so well (chickens that is, in the incubator), the Farmer’s Wife feels as though she has this all-figured-out. She can hatch chicks with the best of them. So…the incubator is given barely a day to rest before it’s reloaded–this time with twenty-one fresh-from-the-chicken-eggs (boy, are our girls tired). The timer was set. The egg-turner switched on. Water was added daily, and twenty-one days later….nothing. Twenty-two days later…still nothing. Twenty-five days later and one egg began to quiver. The Farmer’s Wife watched it excitedly. There was to be a beginning after all! Several hours later the chick emerged, flopped around, and finally, laid still on…

The Farmer’s Wife is sipping away at her coffee (which is a frequent occurrence at this time of day) when her eyes zero in on a certain movement. A small black ant freezes where it stands, sensing it’s mistake. But it’s too late. Whack. The Farmer’s Wife lifts the swatter and investigates the remains. A dozen previously motionless tiny black forms scatter this way and that. Whack. Whack. (x12) The carcasses are shaken off into the garbage and the Farmer’s Wife now begins stage 1:; Know Thine Enemy. She scans, looking this way and that, lifting and moving jars and canisters, pots and pans. Her eyes go to the Cupboard,…

Beyond the Farm, but still a part of it, there is a woods. And in that woods there is a creek and trees and all the animals who live there (Who and what they are we will never know, because they refuse to introduce themselves. They simply scamper away and hide every time a certain Farmer’s Wife attempts to begin herself, leaving their footsteps as the only clue of who and what they are). The Farmer’s Wife (again) stands on the edge of the creek and looks longingly past. So many potential friends! And they are RIGHT OVER THERE! “What are you doing?” Her Mother shrugs, still looking. “Do you…

The Farmer’s Wife knows a thing or two about making pies (and she should, she’s been making them for ever so long). And others have begun to notice. Why that’s a mighty fine pie some could be heard saying and something along the lines of: Boy, I wish I could make a pie like that. On one particular day, after one particular person said that exact thing, the Farmer’s Wife got a very particular idea. Why, SHE could teach people how to make pies! And that is just what she did. She posted a sign for all to read: Come and lean to make the very best (truly the best)…

Nothing goes the way it’s supposed to. Jonah is already at his locker when the girls spill inside. His locker is the first in a long line, right inside the door. So. Mae’s excellent spying abilities aren’t needed. AND, as if that were not enough, NADINE steps forward ready and very willing to distract Jonah. Hannah and Polly look at Nadine. They look at each other. And. No. One. Does. A. Thing. Except Brian, who walks in and starts talking to Jonah. The two move toward the locker room. Nadine sighs heavily. Hannah steps forward, ready and more than a little willing to remind all of the PLAN. How it…