Napoleon the turkey, snowy feathers on snowy ground

            This is Napoleon the turkey. Isn't he a lovely fellow?

            Napoleon is not fond of humans, unfortunately. He has no wish to be petted, nor does he want to sit next to you in the sunshine and enjoy the day. But that's all right. Not everybody has to be cuddly.
            In the morning when I open up his barn, I call out, "Napoleon! Pretty turkey, come out so I can give you breakfast!" He always answers with a bright and cheery turkey chuckle, then hops out of his little turkey-sized door and does his morning breakfast dance. He always sings to me, trilling and chuckling. I try not to get too close, because he likes to snick his head through the fence and steal my hat. Then he parades around with it like a dog, shaking it until he realizes it's no good to eat and drops it in the snow.
            As I'm scooping up his meal and breaking the ice out of his bucket, I talk to him in a high sing-song voice so that he knows I'm working on it. It's hard for him to stand and wait for his food, so he keeps dancing and talking to me until it's ready. It only takes a minute, but to Napoleon it's ages and ages!
            Most of us get a little raggedy this time of year. Fur is ready to shed out, feathers are getting worn and dirty. But somehow, Napoleon has kept himself clean and neat all winter. His bright feathers are as white as the snow. I wonder how long that will last once the snow has melted and the mud comes to replace it? For now, here are a couple more pictures of him, fluffed out like a giant snowflake.