This is one of those “Dear Diary” blog entries that I’m writing as much for me and posterity as it is for your viewing pleasure. I received an invitation to attend the Royal Poultryville Ball at P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home in Arkansas this month and the story-line read better than Cinderella! While it included a handsome, charming gentleman and a Greek revival palace, it had the added bonus of heritage breed chickens, 175,000 daffodils and 650 acres of farmland. Notably absent were chores, fussy shoes, curfews and wicked step-sisters.  The Chicken Chick in Poultryville began on an idyllic spring day in Arkansas…  

Mr. Chicken Chick and I flew into Little Rock and drove straight to Moss Mountain Farm to meet P. Allen Smith and his team. The Poultry Workshop was scheduled for the next day, but the producers wanted me there the day before to film some television and radio segments with Allen. The free-ranging, dust-bathing Buff Orpingtons were the preliminary welcome wagon, which made me feel at home immediately. Moments later, Allen’s assistant and producer/director warmly greeted us, offering an umbrella, hat and/or sunscreen. After the winter we had endured in New England, I passed on all three, opting for maximum sun exposure at my voluntary peril.

We were invited to enjoy exploring the property while Allen finished filming elsewhere. The following photos were from our self-guided tour. I wish you could have been there. Meet Amos. He’s a Buff Orpington rooster who kept a watch on his free-ranging ladies far from Poultryville, near the Garden Home.