This week's farm news starts with a bit of a chicken conundrum. Most of our cornish hen chicks decided it was time to fly the coop, well, metaphorically speaking. They've moved into the great outdoors, aka the chicken pen outside. But we have one little fellow who has turned our chicken pecking order into a literal balancing act! This one seems to have a rather peculiar issue where she topples over each time she reaches back to scratch a certain spot. It's as if someone told her the funniest joke ever and it can't quite recover from the punchline! So, to save it from turning into a feathery weebles-wobble, we decided to let it hang back on the porch with our Easter Egger chicks for a bit more TLC.

Farmer Joe, ever the handyperson, gave their outside pen a facelift, streamlining the process of feeding and watering our little brood. They even got a shiny (or should I say, matte?) new plastic waterer, to prevent the Iron Man transformations we've been seeing with their old, rust-prone one.

Elsewhere on the farm, our white German Shepherd, Maddison, has decided it's high time to do a full "spring clean." And by that, I mean she's shedding like it's going out of style. I spent some time brushing her yesterday and judging by the fur pile, I could've knitted an entire second dog, or maybe a small herd of fluffy sheep.

Meanwhile, our independent-minded turkey hen is still stubbornly sitting on her eggs. She's picked the oddest of places for her maternity ward, but hey, who are we to judge? Surprisingly, no predators have sniffed her out yet. I guess they didn't expect her to hide in plain sight, right by the fence that cordons off the German Shepherds' playground. Let's hope this undercover mission continues to fool them!

more days. If you refuse to lodge with me, we’ll take you to a safe house somewhere, but I’ll still be the one volunteering for protection duty.”

“It was merely a stuffed bear, Wade.” She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. “Get a grip.”

“It’s obvious you don’t get it.” He stood and leaned in close with both hands planted on his desk. “I wouldn’t normally do this because I don’t like scaring people, and we don’t want details leaked to the press, but you’re a member of law enforcement, so I’ll make an exception.”

He stalked to the whiteboard and turned it around so she could see the murder board they’d put together, including the descriptions of the teddy bear gifts given to the victims and the jewelry found on their bodies. He held up an evidence bag with a charm bracelet in it. “The woman found in the park four weeks ago was wearing a charm bracelet with a horseshoe and a horse charm on them when she left home on July 9th. We’ll double check to make sure your gift was the one she was wearing, but there is no doubt in my mind it will be.”

He pointed to a picture on the murder board with his pencil. “Yesterday afternoon, we made an arrest. All our evidence pointed to this man, but he was in FBI custody when the teddy bear and bracelet were delivered this morning.”

“Oh.”

“You are in mortal danger. It’s not a simple stuffed animal. That bear is a killer’s calling card. He’s playing a sick game with you, and I have no intention of letting him win.”

As Betrayed Trust journeys through the editorial realms under Patti's watchful eyes, my energies have been redirected towards amplifying the presence of Grave Pursuits in the literary market. Despite being seven months post-launch, this thriller continues to make waves. Recently, it snagged its first BookBub Featured Deal, sparking a surge of promotional endeavours on my end. Navigating the tide of this exciting development has kept me busier than a bee during spring bloom!

In a bid to fine-tune my focus amidst these buzzing activities, I've welcomed a new member to my digital tool suite – 'Centered.' This app promises to be a beacon of concentration in the chaotic seas of distractions, much like its cousin, the Freedom app. Initial trials have yielded positive results, helping me to stay anchored on tasks. However, the jury is still out on its full effectiveness. A few more test runs are needed before I can give my definitive verdict. So, stay tuned for updates on this latest productivity experiment!

 at the time of the book's original publication, posed a slight challenge. However, once I sank into the storyline, its grip on me was unshakeable.

The book provides a potential insight into the spiritual realm, emphasizing the crucial role prayer might play in combatting the unseen forces that drive our tangible conflicts. While I'll be providing a comprehensive review upon completion, I am moved to recommend this enlightening read for those who haven't yet encountered it. Its power is already undeniable.