Delaware Blue Hens

by Chirp And Bloom

If you have never heard of a Blue Hen, then you are obviously not from Delaware.  Delawareans are a small but proud group.  The Blue Hen has a  history that goes back to the revolutionary war.  On December 9, 1775, the Continental Congress resolved that a military battalion was to be raised from Delaware, then known as the Lower Counties on the Delaware. Thus, the Delaware regiment was created. It was a group composed of eight companies representing New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties.  The second company was composed of men from Kent County and was under the command of Capt. John Caldwell, who was an avid fan and owner of gamecocks. The troops often amused themselves by staging cock fights with a breed known as the Kent County Blue Hen.   This breed was distinguished by its blue plumage. The "blue hen chickens" and Caldwell's  Kent County company both developed quite a reputation for ferocity and fighting success."The Blue Hens' Chickens," and that name was formally adopted by the Delaware General Assembly in 1939 when the Blue Hen Chicken was named the official state bird. It is one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States.  The University of Delaware mascot, known as YoUDee, is also modeled after the bird.  The blue hen is not a recognized breed of chicken currently.  The University of Delaware's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources does maintain a breeding group of the Blue Hen Chicken on the campus farm.                               

Delaware has many artisans and a number of groups that feature them.   Delaware by Hand and the  Delaware Etsy Street Team are two that I am an active  member of.  Recently, the Delaware Etsy Street Team  was reorganized under the leadership of Marsha Neal of Marsha Neal Studio.  Recently, photo shoot sessions have been organized.  One is coming up next weekend at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware.  Katy Rose Photography and Design will be there to photograph for a reasonable fee.  Anyone who sells online knows how important and challenging photos are.  Recently, I just figured out that I needed to purchase some close up lenses for my digital camera.  I can't believe that it took me so long to figure this out.  I think that the main reason for this was that I just wasn't aware that there were lenses available for a digital video camera that takes stills.   I am excited about getting these lenses.  I feel like I have resolved my lighting issues and now these lenses will help with the close up issues I have been having.  For those who are just starting out in photography, I recommend that you take advantage of a professional!