Day 952 Donuts with a Side

 

Who wouldn’t love a frosted, sprinkled donut on St. Patrick’s Day? I set out at 7 am to pick up some delicious treats for my daughter and her family, thinking the kids would love a fun snack before heading off to school. It brought back memories of my own childhood, when a sprinkled donut was the ultimate treat. I used to indulge in them all the time, but I try to avoid the doughy delights these days, trying to keep my girlish figure in check.

A new donut shop recently opened in town, and I can honestly say they have the best donuts around—seriously! However, someone might’ve warned me about the price hike. I couldn’t believe how much they’ve gone up in the last five years! I know folks have been complaining about the cost of eggs lately, but at least eggs have healthy nutrients. Still, the rising cost of donuts (and everything else) is hard to ignore. Our morning favorites are no longer as affordable as they used to be.

As the day wore on, Tim ended up working late, so there were no wild St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans for us. Honestly, I didn’t mind. We had our fair share of festive fun over the weekend, and I’m never one to argue against an early bedtime. But as always, just before calling it a night, I took a moment to check on my chickens. I always make sure they’re safely tucked away in their coop before I head off to bed.

But, as I peeked out the window, something unusual caught my eye. One of the motion sensor lights flashed on, and in the light, I saw a skunk—yes, a skunk—darting right into the chicken coop! My heart skipped a beat. I quickly ran downstairs and called out to Tim for backup. We both dashed outside, ready to face the possibility of being sprayed if that’s what it would take to protect our girls.

Now, you may be wondering, do skunks eat chickens? The answer is yes, but they generally go after smaller chickens and, most alarmingly, their eggs. By the time Tim and I made it outside, the skunk was already inside the henhouse. Tim flung open the door as I rushed inside to grab a flashlight. Somehow, we managed to shoo the skunk out without getting sprayed! We quickly secured the door and then inspected the edges of the coop, searching for the point of entry. Sure enough, we found a small gap where the skunk had burrowed its way underneath. Without wasting a moment, we filled the hole with rocks and bricks to prevent any further breaches.

I’m so grateful for the serendipity of the moment. Had I not glanced out that window at that exact time, who knows what might have happened to our chickens. It was a close call, but thanks to a little quick thinking (and some help from Tim), our girls are safe and sound.

In the end, we didn’t have the St. Patrick’s Day celebration we’d planned, but we sure did have an adventure that will be hard to forget. Sometimes, it’s the unexpected moments that make life interesting.

Here’s to hoping tomorrow’s donut cravings don’t come with a side of skunk!