I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts for the last few days. Partly, it’s the post-MARTHA let-down. I’d been running on adrenalin, and you know that can’t last. Partly, I’m betwixt and between writing projects. My agent is shopping a few books around. Hopefully, one or more will be bought, and with the input of an editor I can get back to work on them. I’ve had a picture book rejected for “having too many words” so I need to get back to that and cut, cut, cut. Another book proposal needs rewriting and a sample chapter finished before my agent can show it to an editor. Basically, I’m in the middle of a lot of projects. I’m not at the beginning stages with the “aha” thrilling moments of invention, and I’m not at the nuts and bolts of the final edits. I’m at the hard work stage.

But, I’m not writing. Instead, I cleaned out my file cabinets. Now there is a clear place for each project (there are nine files – I’ve had a lot of “aha” moments.) I’ve cleared off my desk. I’ve moved compost. I’ve bathed the dogs. I’ve been reading many, many wonderful emails from readers of this blog. (Thank you! I’ve been enjoying every note!) I planted lettuce.

I was about to sit down at my computer and finally get to writing work. Really and truly. But the mailman drove up with a package for me! From my friend, in England, Celia Hart. It was an out-of-the blue, unexpected Easter gift. Here is what she sent.

Chicken ornaments! Heritage bean cards! A raffia flower! All made by her. Some of this is available in her store, but you don’t have to buy a thing. Her blog is a gift in itself.

Now, I am ready to get to work. After I hang the ornaments in my office window.

Many of you are jealous that I can combine my work as a writer with staying home at Little Pond Farm. You might think that I have extra productive hours because I don’t have a commute. You might watch the HenCam and think, how idyllic!

Then again, if you were watching just moments ago (early afternoon) then you saw that I was NOT at my desk, working on what I’d promised to get to my agent (sorry, Carrie!) No, I was sprinting across the lawn to extricate one of my goats from yet another goat drama.

Ever since the goat boys were little kids, they’ve had a plastic picnic table to play on, and to sunbathe on top of. It’s safe goat furniture. Lots of goat people have them. Here’s a photo of Caper helping me muck out his stall. You can see the table in the background.

Pip somehow shimmied his way under the table. Then he tried to squeeze out between the bench and the table top. He got stuck, like a turtle in a shell. So then Pip tried to buck it off. That didn’t work, either, so he galloped madly about. Caper, smartly (for once) stayed out of the way of the rampaging picnic table.

I was in the kitchen, pouring coffee, when I saw Pip’s head looking out from under the table. I put the coffee cup down. When I saw him stand up, with the table stuck to his back, I started running. By the time I got to the paddock, he’d flipped the table off and was peering at it with this wonderfully innocent, quizzical expression on his face. He looked up at me. Why’s that upside down and over here? he asked. I’m itchy, he said. That’s why I went under the table. I gave him a good scratching, and Caper, too. Then I went in and got my coffee and headed back to my office.

But, on my way down the hall I heard Scooter gagging. He threw-up, so I took him outside, where he trotted around happily. I brought him back in and cleaned up the mess.

I am now at the computer. I am now getting to work. Really, Carrie, I am. You’ll get that book revision soon.

In celebration of my appearance on MARTHA, I have a giveaway contest! This

came in the goody bag at the MARTHA show. I already have one (or course, I mean, how can you resist something so adorable?) So, this one is up for grabs. All you have to do is send an email to me, with “chicken purse” written on the subject line. (You must follow these directions or your entry won’t end up in the drawing!) You don’t have to write a message, but I’d love to hear from you!

One entry per person, please. This contest closes Friday, April 9 at 10 pm EST.

If you don’t win, you can always purchase it from mypetchicken.com.

It’s a gorgeous, sunny, warm day. I’m going outside to plant peas – talk with you later!

On Monday morning, we packed the car, put Coco in her travel crate, bedded with fresh, pretty yellow straw (Martha Stewart-worthy) and headed to NYC. It rained and rained, but Coco, as always, enjoyed the drive. Five long hours later, we pulled up at the hip, gorgeous, SoHo Grand Hotel. I got out and explained to the doorman that we had a chicken to unload. It turns out that the doorman volunteers at an elementary school and was delighted to usher in a picture book star. He, and the rest of the staff took very good care of us.

Coco liked the stylish lobby.

She also really liked the wallpaper in our bathroom. Look closely – those are doodles of birds!

There was torrential rain on Tuesday, but that didn’t affect Coco’s mood. We traveled by chauffeured SUV (courtesy of Scholastic) to the television studios, where we settled into someones office while we waited. I had my makeup and hair done by professionals! Can you tell?

Everyone came by to meet Coco. Here she is with Lenore Welby, one of the show’s producers.

Lenore and I rehearsed my segment on the set. I wouldn’t meet Martha until the taping.

My 2 minutes of fame would be the last segment of the show. It’s taped in real-time, although sometimes it takes longer (the egg dish didn’t set when it was supposed to – I don’t know how they’re going to edit that!). We had a long wait. Coco went back in her travel crate and was placed near the door to the studio. I was supposed to stay in that spare office (there’s not one large room where all of the guests wait; we were kept separate). But, I kept going back to check on Coco. Just after the show started, I went to the staging area and she was gone! It turns out that the tucked away corner that she was put in was actually the freight elevator which was now down in the basement! We found an official-looking man wearing a headset, who got the elevator back to our floor. We moved her crate to a safe place under a table.

Finally it was time for me to go in front of the cameras. Coco was a star. Despite the distraction of chickens behind her in the coop, she posed on her toy truck. She looked prettily at Martha. I think that I strung some coherent sentences together. I’ll have to watch the show to see.

MARTHA airs at different times and stations depending on the region. This chicken show should be on April 2.