Thought It Was a Goof-up I Am Stunned

I am stunned, and I cannot write. I do not know what to write. After blogging for 7 years, I have just today broken a comments record... 30 comments! Thirty comments?! I thought someone was goofing around, or that my server was acting up, but I did not think that Chickenblog had achieved “Blog of Note” status. Maybe you cannot tell by reading this, but I am shaking and sort of babbling and laughing, and I am debating: Should I continue as though nothing has changed? Should I explain that I am easily amused and know that it is St. Pancras, not St. Pancreas? Should I reply to the commenter who thinks I write too much and try to convince him that every thought and word is essential and good, that I am really nice? Lol... Dude, if you think that post was long you should see my chicken posts.

Thank you. And welcome to Chickenblog. We are at the beginning of our family trip to Europe, a trip Geoff and I have anticipated since we were in high school. Now we are here at last, with our four children and about to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary. The thing is, it's tricky blogging from here, because I do not have my usual posting set-up. Regular readers already recognize my methods and musings, but I am feeling caught off guard about greeting new visitors and naturally when someone new is at my door I want to make them comfortable and I want to have everything tidy and inviting... uh-oh, babbling.


We made it to The British Museum. Marvelous. It's like high school, when I enjoyed flipping through the pages of my history book to look for pictures and the more tangible bits of the story. We stood before the Rosetta Stone. Not a replica. Not a grainy textbook image, but the actual tablet fragment that unlocked the mystery of hieroglyphics. The British Museum is free and has been around since 1753... before we were One nation under God... William took pictures. Max enjoyed looking for a treasure to bring home. Alex found a ball... twelve free moving ivory spheres, carved from a single piece... one inside the next and about the size of a tennis ball... we need pictures, I know. Soon.


Next we Tubed to Hyde Park, the lake and playground, the Boathouse. It's so interesting to see unfamiliar trees and new flowers. Big trees. Really big. And beautiful flowers, like foxgloves and different poppies. At the lake were geese and ducks, coots, a great heron. Even the squirrels were charming. We walked quite a bit and then we played with a boomerang and a flying floppy disc. Then I lost my phone. Then I found my phone. Then I vowed to not lose my phone ever, ever again, because that was so not fun. Then we got floored by Harrod's where food and merchandise is displayed in theme park grandeur. Then we tried to keep Geoff awake for the Tube ride back to our hotel.

Back at the hotel Alex asked about the rest of our trip. He wanted a break down on the big city vs. small town ratio. He sides with small towns and countryside. He's not keen on the traffic here, or the rush of people jockeying for real estate on the Tube. Cities. They are frenetic. The energy seems to permeate the air and when inhaled can be a bit of a jolt. I like it in doses, like the times we stay in San Francisco or visit Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, but it's not our usual pace, so I understand Alex's feelings. He thinks it's all bit too much.

Good thing we began in London, where at least the language is familiar. I think jet lag and culture shock is a lot to mange and cope with.
And today? Today we ride the train to Paris. Another big city and us without a French Rosetta Stone... oh dear. It's too soon, isn't it? Our London time is brief, and I know we are missing an awful lot, not to mention the rest of the country. Next time I want to go the Lake District, to Scotland, to that area southeast of here featured in Jane Austen's novels... sigh. Next time, right?

Before we are all aboard, we need to wake Max, gather laundry and pack. We are close to the Body Organ St. Pancras Station, which is convenient. Maria calls it the castle and she wants to live there. We are going under the English Channel. Under. Oh man that is so totally weird.

Reading and enjoying all of your comments. Thank you. Geoff promises pictures asap, so stick around.

Flossing Every Day

Embroidery floss that is... I should remind myself to play with some every day. I love the seemingly limitless color options and all the possibilities of scenes and images waiting to be stitched to life. As far back as grade school I have liked to pull a needle with thread or yarn. And whenever I go to Alicia Paulson's blog or open her book, "Stitched In Time," I am reminded of lovely and creative pastimes I could be enjoying. "Posie Gets Cozy" has many posts dedicated to embroidery and look for her free embroidery patterns... whimsical images for dishtowels.


Usually I sketch my own images to embroider, but sometimes I find one that I cannot pass up. I could not resist printing the patterns offered at "Turkey Feathers..." you never know what you'll find when you click on the button "Sweet Surprises." This is another wonderful blog for endless inspiration, in the garden, in the kitchen, with needle and thread. This is another blogger that has published a book! Vicki Haninger's "Blanket Statement" is a personal narrative, as well as a guide for sewing with wool felt and making the most of a thrifted treasure.


I wish there were more opportunities to make all the things I am inspired to make. I think it's a matter of habits... trading bad habits for fun ones. Less time channel surfing = more time to sew. Of course sometimes I go to the other extreme, ignoring everything so I can finish stitching a cute bunny with an appliqued apron. I get obsessed! Vicki shared several animals in aprons to copy and embroider, and she gave instructions for using them to make a quilt. Maria chose the bunny when I asked her which I should make. When it was finished I knew I had to add it to something, but what?


Introducing Maria's Bunny Apron! I traced the front half of one of her dresses and made my own pattern for a two sided apron with pockets. It has a drawstring tie that slides from the waist, up around her neck and back down to the other side... does that make sense? Well, however badly I describe it, the method works.


Sometimes aprons get dirty and wash day does not always come around soon enough, so we have a solution for that: Flip!


A different pocket, just for fun. Room to collect things.


Maria likes her aprons. She wears them for doing art and eating yogurt. She wears them in the garden and to the farmer's market. I think this could be a fun one to bring on our trip... she can have two looks for one when we "pack lightly."


Don't worry... I wouldn't do it, but looking at this picture I cannot help but imagine Betty in a smart little apron. Grin.


My own design... inspired by what? I wonder. Grin.
It needs somewhere to go...

And do not miss this terrific chance to win your own apron from Missy of Spring Bean Things!

I Think You Should Know

"Spring Bean Things" is having a wonderful apron giveaway! Missy is a seamstress and a generous blogger, and if you leave a comment mentioning the word "apron" in her giveaway post, then you may attain super-powers! Okay. The super-powers are not guaranteed, but you really could win a beautifully made, custom ordered apron, and if you are lucky, like me, your new apron may inspire sweet heroic skills.

Sometimes It Takes A Long Time To Get Smart


I am not saying I have become smart. But just now I figured out one little thing that makes me feel real smart. Or a bit smarter. Never mind. Every time I post I have to write all the HTML for the title and to post pictures. Either it's because I am lame or blogger is lame or Macs are lame, either way there is a lot of repetitive code writing and it tends to slow the whole process down. Suddenly it occurs to me... why not create a template that I can pull out, copy, cut and paste and use for each post? This is one of those things that is simultaneously simple-duh and brilliant-wow. Right now I am exhilarated by the brilliant-wow aspect. It only took me seven years to think of this, but just imagine how streamlined and smart the blog will be from now on!


Hmm.

I was hoping I had more to say. You know something insightful or fascinating. Something that clearly justifies avoiding house work.

Dang it.

I got nuthin'.



Can I answer any questions?

Hold on.

Let me see...

Aha!

Here we go.

Em asked, "And.... did the camel spit at you?"

Answer: No. She did not spit at me, but I am savvy about these things. Sometimes it takes a longtime to get smart, and I learned about animals that spit when a camera shy llama gave me a face full of wet DNA in 1988. It's a "funnier" story when Geoff tells it.

Katie, you heard right, "crazy sharp claws," but what about the other bit? Did you all read what Laura Jane added? "...they are also notorious for peeing on unsuspecting folk who hold them, including politicians - they're not proud!" Hilarious. This is just the kind of factoid that makes koalas even cuter in my mind.



Jess, a talented food seamstress, asked whether I have other fabric foods besides strawberries and corn?

Answer: I do! I do! Just scroll down my "Where Was I?" post and you'll find all kinds of veggies and good eats. Recently I made a mushroom and a few corn tortillas. Everyone should see your milk carton!

That's about it for questions and answers. Looking through the comments I was most happily reminded that I get some really wonderful feedback, remarks, encouragement and helpful insights. Thank You. Very much.

It took Max 4 weeks to decide he could let me see him in the class play about geology. He was embarrassed... and he explained it wasn't about stage fright, but more an issue of feeling that the presentation was immature and childish. It must be hard having the sensibilities of a 52 year old man with the experience of a 10 year old boy... just another aspect of Asperger's Syndrome we have learned to recognize and love. I am not allowed to share too much, hence the pictures of Princess Twirls A Lot doing her thing, but I can say that he sings well, speaks clearly, knew all his lines and that Maria and I very much enjoyed the class production of "Geology Rocks." And Max was a good Mountain.



That is all.
Now I am going to clean.
Unless you have a question.
Anyone?

May 19, 2002.... May 19, 2009 And More Where That Came From


In honor of the official blogiversary day I am opening with a particularly ordinary picture of our cat, Benjamin Franklin Thunder-Cat. Between making PB & J sandwiches and putting on a bra before taking kids to school, I grabbed my camera and captured morning time at Garage Mahal. I can think of a number of captions for Benjamin's look. I think it is obvious that his breakfast did not impress him. Maybe flash photography in the wee AM is unwelcome.


Gilbert, on the dining table. I see Alex has been adding more paint to his frog in progress. He is using acrylic paint. I think he's smart to take his time about laying down his colors. I tend to want to see things all done, so I rush or worse... I give up. He has a lot going on as the school year winds down, and when he's in the right state of mind he takes another pass at finishing Gilbert. It's looking good.


And what have we here? I see my baby, my Netbook, and Geoff adding some features for Chickens Abroad. Weeks ago he decided we cannot traipse around Europe without GPS. His order for satellite maps of Europe finally came in and he's just beginning to fine tune the whole operation. Is it just me, or do you find that software and new gadgets rarely, if ever, work like they are supposed to? The first time? Straightforward? Without upgrades and calls to Bangalore? In this picture we see Geoff looking for driving directions from Apeldoorn, Netherlands to Köln, Germany. It sorta worked, if you want to include instructions from Garage Mahal! Glitch. Geoff is a relentless, never give-up, never surrender problem solving Geek. It will work.

Let's take the camera outside.


Oh Fantam. Poor girl's gone broody. She won't leave the next box. Not much any way. Most days I find her all ruffled and nesty and patient. She will have to be very patient. It took Betty a long time to realize nothing was coming of her weeks on the nest, and I guess Fantam will figure it out too. I apologize to them, to my family and to our neighbors: I really did think we would be in a real house, with a real yard before the chicks became louder, messier, needier big, fat hens. As much as I wish we could put a couple of fertilized eggs in there, I finally do know better. BTW it is not always fun to "know better."


When was Mother's Day? I hesitate to open the calendar and confirm that these plants should be planted by now. The children chose these lovely specimens to revive the fairy garden. Plants and backyards are not the only thing neglected around here. Sigh.

I started this little post this morning and now it's a quarter after 7... nighttime! I have not accomplished 10% of what I set out to do. Max was in a school play and thankfully I did get to see that. The school lady (she could become a feature character in Chickenblog, like the landlord amalgamation we call "GaryBob.")... so the School Lady takes a long look at Maria and says, "Well, Mom have you registered this one for kindergarten?"

$#!* I'm sorry. But seriously. Where does the time go, and why do these things catch me off-guard? Kindergarten? The baby? And it doesn't help that the School Lady just gets under my skin with her nosy-know it all-bossy front desk throne attitude, so you know she gets my rebel up. Just saying.

The day flew by. Four and half years with Maria has flown by. Seven years blogging has gone Mach 9, and here I am caught off guard.

The best thing to be said for any anniversary is that if I am noticing an anniversary, if I am remembering or celebrating or looking back, or just breathing a sigh of relief, then I can be thankful, because I am here, alive. There's a chance something good is about to happen. At the very least I can look around and appreciate flowers and paintings and love and opportunities and kind words and big plans.

Thank you for reading Chickenblog. Have a nice night. Talk to you tomorrow.

I Like How Zoo Sounds With Kazoo


Maria is fascinated with rhymes, and sometimes she can make a rhyme, like mouse and house and sometimes not... tree and chicken. We're working on it. No, we are playing with it. She loves to recognize a rhyme, and I love that she enjoys the word play.

Another thing we are playing with is naming animals at the zoo. We were there last week. What fun. A cool morning, a blue sky and a world famous zoo just waiting to be rediscovered.


This is our blogiversary week. That is the anniversary of Chickenblog! Seven years. Seven years of rambling and reflecting. Seven years of me putting stuff out there and then getting really giddy when You write back. I still don't know what it's all about. I still feel like I am just figuring this Blog stuff out. I still have only eight cents in ad revenue and no idea how to make changes to my new and improved banner. That's okay. Chickenblog is comfortable and familiar, like a pair of sneakers you don't want to toss. Is that a good analogy? Sometimes Chickenblog feels like an outdated pair of sneakers, the kind most people wouldn't take a second look at or that I should be embarrassed wearing in public. Chickenblog is not the latest in fashion footwear, wildly popular and highly in demand. What's up with all this shoe talk? Yeesh.

Where was I?

Rhymes?
Zoos?
Blogiversaries?
The neighbor is using a jackhammer?


The neighbor is using a jackhammer. It's so close, I can almost imagine I hear my dentist telling me to open wider. It's so close it drowns out the cackling hens... now that's close!


A lot of blogiversaries are celebrated with contests, prizes, giveaways. I've had some good ones. Good prizes. Good winners. Good times. I was thinking of having a name these animals contest, but eh. I guess I am just in that kind of mood... eh... sorta take it or leave it... whatever.

Do let me know if you recognize this guy though. I was totally taken with him. I want a home edition. I think he would be a great ottoman. I had no idea they are so big. Speaking of rhymes... I had a nickname that rhymed with his name... ______-Nat. That's your only clue.


Actually I can still hear the hens. The jackhammer and the hens are going at it, and even with the windows closed the noise is decibels beyond comfortable.

I love this animal... he's an otto-something, but he would not make a good ottoman. I remember in school seeing nature films and the very best ones showed these playful guys sliding in and out of rivers. Movies at school... those were the best, and even film strips were better than paperwork and coloring in the lines. I also remember there was always one kid who knew all about the projector or the film strip player. The teacher always seemed relieved to have this geek helper around. I worked as an audio-visual technician in a middle school for a while. Yes, basically I lied and cheated for that job, and yet I managed to hold my own.


Did you sigh just now? Did you? Seriously, is it possible to look at one of these without cooing or wishing you could hold one, ignoring of course the fact that they have crazy sharp claws?


How 'bout now? They are so cute. It's ridiculous how cute they are. What if I had a blogiversary contest that went like this... the 100th commenter gets to hold this incredibly cute marsupial?! Eh. Not gonna happen. Sorry.


Here we go. This one suits me. Right here. Right now. I think about my troubles and I just start foaming at the mouth. Who cares? Whatever. I love this lady. Go ahead, ask her why she's foaming at the mouth. Ask her about her messy do, the wide hips, the extra stores of body fat. She totally does not care. Do you know what a Bactrian can do? And with good aim I might add


William forgot his notebook, so I gotta get that to him. And I think Max was supposed to take flowers from his garden to his teacher for teacher appreciation week. Teacher Appreciation Week. Never mind. Our Belgium hotel choice is not available, and the Swiss place is charging more than their website offer, no word from the London hotel, no idea where to stay in Germany... gotta remedy those.


Anyone that wants to talk about the housing market or why I hate all most realtors, email me or call. Other than elaborating on the rampant corruption and ethical vacuum that is the Realtor World, I have no updates on our house search.


lizard-wizard
green-bean
blue-true
tree-free
wire-hire
eye-pie
claw-raw
log-blog
zoo-kazoo

Some Things Good



Sometimes I wonder how I could bring us to this place, Garage Mahal, our rental palace, when I do not like it here. Couldn't I see that the floors were more slippery than wet snow on black ice? Didn't I realize that the tropically landscaped yard was small, useless and had no drainage? Why didn't I suspect that the indoor plumbing would make me seriously appreciate outdoor plumbing? Funky stained carpet is a financial drain and health suspect. Door knobs fall off, and the plumber we called insisted he could tell the landlord that the garbage disposal is "#$%^&* than @#!^" There are some scary mold places and an untraceable odors. The medicine cabinet and the towel racks both expired.

Why did I bring this upon us? The only thing I was concerned about was the sponge painted wall in the "formal" dining room. I thought I could not live with that wall longer than 6 months, a year maximum. I thought living in a big rental palace with faux columns and a circular staircase would be an interesting and easy, temporary experience. I thought I would never, ever endure more than two years or as many as three years here. When Geoff said we might stay here for 2 or 3 years, I spontaneously burst in to tears and became physically nauseous. Seriously.

Seriously. I am very unhappy. And I apologize for revisiting this theme... this theme? It's not as though I chose to keep a blog just so I could complain about my personal suburban crisis, the trials of living in So Cal during a housing bubble. Chickenblog is approaching an anniversary, and in the beginning there was optimism and industry, deep thoughts and other musings and there were trials and tribulations too, but I did not feel then as I do now. I did not feel like living in my home was a daily struggle to cope and accept and resolve to believe that someday things would be better. Sigh.

Living here, in Garage Mahal, I find that I face an almost daily struggle to cope with being unhappy here, to accept that... it could be worse? And I resolve to move forward, seeking bright spots, possibilities, rays of light, rainbows, fluffy clouds, sparkly fountains of sugarplums.


Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages, children that sing, chickens, and tacos and road trips in a car, these are some of my favorite things by far...


Last night I deliberately went looking for some good things. Things in the garden that are worth appreciating, celebrating, photographing. Things that made me admit, even if reluctantly, that it's not so bad here. Of course I count the children. And I half count the chickens, but only half, because they do not belong here and their chicken ways have gone too far testing the limitations of tropical landscaping with poor drainage.


I was very happy about the roses at Garage Mahal, until the landlord hacked them to the nubs the first time they blossomed, so now I try not to think about them and sometimes a few good ones are allowed to bloom and then I look at them and sigh.


Sigh.


Would you believe we get blackberries here? Amazing. The first year Max and Maria gobbled a total of twelve over the course of a week. The second year there were none. Now there are a lot of white blossoms, so maybe...


Every now and then one of these blows by. We can hear the flame that heats up the air. I wonder if they can see us, waving. I wonder where they land, if they were cold when they slipped in to the clouds.


Maria reminds me of all kinds of good things, like popsicles, hugs, dancing, smelling flowers, holding chickens, coloring, new stickers, bath toys, cooking together, walks, the farmers' market, bringing the brothers home from school, Family Night and applesauce. Those are some good things.

Technology and The Simple Life


So. This post is all about technology. This post is all about how I hope that something I did will generate huge traffic and lots of buzz for Chickenblog, and that I will finally take that call from Terry Gross and earn more than $00.08 of revenue from Google hits. Sure, I blog for the love it, for the purity of the process, but come on! Don't think for one second that cash and book deals would offend me. We have mouths to feed!

In the Kingdom of Blogosphere there are Queens, women whose blogs reign supreme in popularity, finesse, ad revenues and enviable success. I was visiting one such blog and found a link to Hewlett-Packard and their HP Makeover Contest. At first I was like ¡Wow! A makeover! I totally need a makeover. My feet look like Medieval peasant feet and I'm not sure how I am feeling about going gray naturally. Turns out the makeover is for computer equipment, copiers etc. Cool. Maybe I can digitally color my hair. So, to make a short story long, I entered the contest, submitting a 200 words or less story about How Technology Has Simplified My Life.

(Ahem.
I do feel slightly disingenuous writing on this topic, because while it is true that my Netbook is really fun and I do love it and I did use it a lot while I was Chicken Abroad, it is also true that I rarely ever feel like anything has simplified my life. But I did put on my optimistic, idealistic, cheeryistic thinking cap and entered the contest and if you click on the mosaic link you can see my picture there among the Queens of the Blogosphere. What a poser.)

My children are the ones that really know about technology. They blow me away. They amaze me. They are so clever and creative and inspiring. William has this tremendous patience and wonderful ability to share what he knows without being condescending or too technical. Using correct terms, he patiently guides Maria through Spore and he's taught her how to use tools in 3-D Studio Max. Most recently William sat with Maria and together they made a stop motion animation. She chose to use her Playmobile figures, and in no time at all she was independently operating the camera, using the computer and moving her characters. She made a movie! And can you see the camera hidden in the Lego contraption? That is a special stabilizing dolly that William designed and built. It keeps the camera in the same place between shots and it moves with the soundstage. Very cool innovations. Seriously.



My children, my husband, my ridiculously abundant fabric stash... these are the things that matter most in my life, so really there is no cause for disappointment, no excuse for whining. But I do have wishes and dreams, and I am hopeful that somehow I can do more to support this great family, to ensure our security and provide more opportunities, and to buy a frickin' house. Is the path through Chickenblog? Through online contests, ad revenues, wishful thinking? Maybe not. Maybe not if I don't have the savvy to include my blog name and a link in my 200 word HP blurb! Honestly, what was I thinking? "Natalie Chickenblogger?! From this I thought something would happen? Good grief. What a poser.

More Strands in the Web

After nearly seven years of blogging, and reading other blogs and perusing the Internet, I am pleasantly surprised that I can still be surprised. There is good news, and there are inspiring stories, new ideas, funny insights, helpful suggestions, silly jokes, entertaining videos, pointless ponderables... it's all out there waiting to be discovered and sharing the surprises is one of my favorite parts of blogging. Sometimes I think I could retire from actually contributing new material and just spend my time pointing out all the talents, the industrious people, highlight those that do marvelous things and humble things and hilarious things.


Last night I swept the chicken coop and did lots of toting, baling, hauling, shifting and shoving, and between trips from the front yard to the back, I would see Grandma's geraniums. Sigh. I do not like geraniums. There. I said it. Maybe I have said it before, but even thinking it makes me feel ashamed. Geraniums have so many qualities to admire... colors, full and frilly petals, lovely leaves and most of all their hardiness. But still, honestly, I do not like them. It's the smell. Mmph. Not nice. Not for me. But these are Grandmother's geraniums and she tended them and propagated them and moved them from home to home and replanted them in bigger pots, and so even though I do not like geraniums, I do love Grandmother's geraniums.

All through the blogosphere people are posting about signs of Spring and what is happening in their gardens. Alas, my garden is really Garybob the landlord's garden, so I am going to point out other gardens for you to enjoy... like the flowers in bloom at "The Big Yellow Farmhouse."
Alicia Paulson has posted all sorts of photographs and reflections on Spring in Portland.. get Cozy with Posie for garden inspiration and virtual neighborhood walks.
I honored Earth Day by sweeping fallen leaves and moving earthworms to a spot safe from the hens... Turkey Feathers enjoyed time in her garden planting seeds in the earth and inside under a grow light.
And to make all of our flowers happy some gardeners go the extra mile... I am talking about "honey super cells..." well, no. Not me. Warren, at Home Among The Hills is talking about bees and beehives and wax and silky cocoons. It's all there. It's all good.


It's almost risky visiting bloggers like Amanda Soule... supposedly I am cleaning house and doing errands, but when I see her patchwork quilts and wool needle felting... I get completely lost in a dreamy state of wishful thinking. And of course reading one crafty blog only leads to opening more pages from other talented, inspiring crafty bloggers, so naturally I found myself visiting Anna Maria Horner, her latest post reveals special news about their growing family. She says "Little=Happy" but I always find big inspiration in her art, decorating and fabric designs.


Speaking of felt birds and bees, do you know where babies come from? Do you know how to make a baby? I had to look when "Oijoyphoto, The Blog" posted Como Hacer un Bebé and I was not disappointed.

In-N-Out Europe Style



So, we have our flight in and we have our flight out, but everything in between is making us loopy. Maybe, as I was explaining to Dallas, it's because we are trying to see all of Europe in 3 weeks and for 50% off. It's all too much. Our hair is falling out. Our eyes are strained. Our brains are flipping and flopping. It's all too much. I cannot even say what the plan is at this point, because Geoff may call and say "Let's go with plan B, and scratch the second part of our original plan B, but add a second helping of that other thing we were talking about, but we'll take the bus instead of the train, after we return the rental car at the airport in the town before the big city. K?" Then I will scream or cry or laugh or something, and then say "K."


Delia in Barri Gotic, Barcelona

Confused? Me too. To make a short story long it all goes back to the Summer of 1982, when Geoff and I met and talked and talked and talked and decided that someday we would go to Europe. We postponed our trip a bit, but this is it. This is the Summer we go to Europe, and because it is 27 years later, our plans have changed... there are 4 children to bring and inflation to consider. Geoff wisely insisted on sending an advance team to figure out the Ins and Outs of traveling abroad. Mom and I went to Barcelona, Spain and Avignon, France. We got lost and we got chocolate. We walked 42 miles a day and learned to punctuate our sentences with "Vale." We took lots and lots of pictures, and agreed we need to learn more about our cameras. We figured everything out and came home resourceful, informed brilliant beacons of travel wisdom.

Ahem.

Now Geoff and I are trying to apply our dreams, my wisdom, his visions, the children's needs, our savings account and all of the allure of rivers, villages, castles, museums, trains, and Europe in to one seamless adventure, that I call Chickens Abroad.


Here I am, being savvy, at McDonalds', across the street the Sagrada Familia. Lesson learned: Expect the unexpected. My initial posts from Barcelona were long and distressed... I had not expected jet lag to be so real and I was really sad to be out of touch with my husband and children. Bloggers and friends saved the day with all of their encouraging and helpful comments, and once Mom and I got our bearings we figured a lot out. It was in these comments that we learned about the free wifi at McD's, and I have "Lusks' Journal" to thank for telling me about this. I am not opposed to burger joints, but I am an In-N-Out girl and there was no way I was going all the way to Europe just to sit in MickyD's, but now I know a soda, clean bathrooms, and a smoke-free place to sit make it a worthwhile stop. Expect the unexpected.

One thing Geoff and I expected was that we would all go to Barcelona together. Hmmm. Maybe we are meant to go back another time. Nothing is decided, but I think we are trying to see too much, go to too many places. I really want to return to Spain, but now that Geoff has me infected with travel fever, I know we can make it to España next time, and this time can be about places within easier reach of London, like France, Belgium and Netherlands. Or maybe...


Santa Maria Del Mar

There is so much to figure out. And our 1985 copy of Europe on $20 a Day is no help at all. LOL.


I did not expect to like Picasso's work as much as I did. I had never seen his paintings and sketches, the art he did as a child, from before Cubism and I really like those very much... enough to help me appreciate later works.


Next up... we need to decide where to stay and how to get there. And then when we get there we can discover all of the unexpected parts, the parts that work and the parts that do not. Good ideas and helpful suggestions are coming and in and I appreciate every one of them.


Our first day in Europe the Metro was a daunting labyrinth and I might have flown straight home if I thought it were feasible, but fortunately curiosity and hotel reservations kept us moving forward... thank God. So I have to remind myself that all of this is probably as simple as the Metro, and we will soon see that the loopyness, the flipping and flopping will all be worthwhile in the end.

Right?!

London Calling


Barcelona... the egg shop in the Mercat Santa Caterina

Technically I am still on a blogging break...who am I kidding? My brain blogs constantly... blah, blah, blah,blah... The only difference today is that I am going to ignore hungry children and the mess that is my desk, so that I can transcribe the brain's "blah-blah-blah." I am having major brain strain and I need an outlet to relieve the pressure.


Mercat de la Boqueria... I do miss having a few slices of fuet with my breakfast.

Operation Chicken Abroad was a huge success. Yes, there were false starts and some bumps, but even the challenges served to give me an appreciation and understanding for how to proceed with Part II of the experiment: Chickens Abroad! Speaking of chickens... which came first the chicken or the egg the lodging or the flights? My very helpful AAA travel agent took one look at our "plans" and suggested we... 1. Pare it down. A lot. 2. Find lodging first, because bed and breakfast for 6 is not an easy fit. We are looking for apartments, barns, small castles. 3. Buy our airline tickets.


Las Ramblas may be "touristy," but I cannot wait to go back. It is full of sights both entertaining and soothing, and any place that can offer mint this beautiful has to be good.

So I went home and studied the maps and guide books and searched my feelings, hummed, pulled the ends of my hair and cracked my toes until I forgot what I was supposed to be doing. Then I bought our airline tickets! Oh dear. Was that the right order? Not. We have six reasonably priced roundtrip tickets to London.

London?

Uh-huh, London.

But, weren't you going to make use of your Chapter I Chicken Abroad in Barcelona experience, so that Chapter II would be easy and familiar?

Hey. Hey! Don't mess with me! Those tickets were cheep cheap reasonable, and also, rumor has it they speak English in London.


La Boqueria offers everything for the appetite, and like in the markets we know from Mexico, we found delicious fresh fruit juice.

Alright, so nothing is going as planned, so far, but that doesn't mean we are on the wrong path. It's just a different path. And now my job is to figure out where to stay in Great Britain and to learn thousands of years of British history and how not to be rude in foreign countries, where to tip and when to say "England" instead of "GB" etc... Seriously, I have no idea where to go in London or how long we should stay there. I may have to figure out a way to explain to Geoff how we wound up spending a week in the Lake District and why it's delightful that we are walking the same country lanes that Beatrix Potter travelled. Sigh. Alex is pulling for the train ride to Edinburgh and castles, or "Go to a fancy well-to-do party and sip tea with the Queen." His accent is off, but hilarious nonetheless. Max would settle for a week at Legoland, Windsor. William, rational and reasonable as always, says he knows nothing about England and does not know what he wants to see. I will hand him the guide book asap. Geoff has museums and landmarks on his to-do list. Maria wants to live in a castle.


And of course you don't have to have your fruit licuado.

So, we have a lot to figure out. And we need help. Obviously. Then there is the rest of the trip, and this will include a week in Barcelona, time in Holland, which means time in Belgium, because you know geography. Geoff says he still wants to see something in France, and I say, Whoa! We are forgetting the "pare it down" directive! Okay. Barcelona and Holland are nonnegotiable. Can we do this? Yes, we can. I think so. Maybe. Did I mention we need help?


'shrooms! A mushroom walks in to a bar. The bartender points to the door and says, "We don't serve your kind here!" The poor little 'shroom replies, "Hey, I'm a fun-guy!" Look at those plump ones... don't they remind you of the Fantasia animated mushrooms? So cute.

Hey. What's up with the rail passes? You pay for a rail pass, but then tickets or reservations are a separate fee? Is that right? Are there many six seater rental cars? Should we go to Hawaii, because I am really tempted at this point. Blah-blah-blah... Brain Strain!

TI, A Drink With Jam and Bread

Irresistibly bloggable. I would have been delighted to see this in person and I am very grateful to Gretchen for sharing this spoonful of sugar... a nice perk in my day.

Navigation, Forward Momentum and Balance


Thank you. Everyone that shared their travel experiences and advice, offered encouragement or just joined me in laughing about being a Chicken Abroad... You make blogging worthwhile. Everyone that joined us in cheering for our children, for Geek Games and Robotic pursuits... Thank you. You make us extra happy with your interest and support. I deeply appreciate all of the comments and emails that come in to Chickenblog.


I have been keeping this blog since May 2002, so it's pretty obvious that I am committed to blogging, to writing and reflecting and keeping an open letter to family and friends, to making new friends in new spaces. There have been many times when I have wanted to, or threatened to, or even promised, to quit, but that ain't happening. I cain't quit you Chickenblog.


I need a break. I think I may be one of the world's slowest writers, because a lot of time seems to pass with me at this desk, neglecting everything else. I have even been told that I look less than presentable when I am immersed and absorbed in my happy pursuit... information I find difficult to reckon with, that gives me pause. Months of crunch mode, robo schedules, spur of the moment travel abroad and regional competitions... on top of all the regular domestic duties and suburban perils have taken their toll on me. As I sit here, amongst the refuse of too much going on, I realize that I need to get things in order... home and school, taxes and laundry, pets, bills, dental appointments, leaking showers, black mold, flooding yard, muffin top, gray hair, and finding my cell phone... all of it, and more, looms above my head and shoulders, makes my heart race, wakes me in the night.

I keep repeating the same six year old story about wanting a home of our own, about hating our rental palaces, landlords, and living in a perpetual state of wait and see, of unsettled living, but those issues have taken over and clouded my entire view... they are no longer merely excuses and speed-bumps, they have grown to a monumental size, clouding and obscuring my view, obstructing my path to contentment, and congesting my spirit. I feel bitter and angry and resentful and sad. I feel small.


My favorite part about blogging is two part... 1. making a record of our journey and 2. the exchange I share with readers and other bloggers. The first favorite remains and is good, mostly... when I am not immersed in a cycle of pity parties, and futile fist-shaking economy-woe rants. Lately I have not had time or made time for my second favorite part of blogging. I am behind on reading and responding, on being in tune with blog friends, and even with real friends (the ones I could walk with and hug). And I even feel behind in responding to Me, to Us, our family. I do not know how to navigate theses waters, this state we are in. I do know that we move forward, whether I am on board or not. It is much better when I am present and on board, when I push away the clouds and light a path.

I think of it like being at a party, but falling asleep on the couch. I should not be at the blog party and asleep on the couch. It's rude and unsightly. It's not interesting. My blogging experience is suffering, my home life is suffering, and maybe not posting for a while will help and maybe it won't make a bit of difference, but I am looking for balance... somewhere. A pause, a new map, a way to be present and capable and hopeful as we move forward. I am not quitting. I am pausing. Catching my breath. Reflecting.


Okay. How cool is Alex on the Segway? How cool was Steve Sanghi for sharing his sweet ride with us? The Arizona Regionals were already an amazing experience that left us elated and inspired, but Mr. Sanghi took it to a whole other level when he gave me and Alex Segway lessons.


Do you know what is amazing about a Segway, besides the ride, the novelty of soundlessly floating across a parking lot? It's easy. No, think easier than you just imagined. In fact it is so easy that if you are "trying," then you are working too hard. Gently lean forward... it is a subtle shift and not anything forceful... suddenly you are moving forward. The momentum is natural and irresistible. Stand straight up, center your weight... do not try to balance the machine... balance in your self, and you will stop. Shift to your heels, shoulders and core leaning back and the machine adjusts itself and you ride backwards. The machine responds so effectively and gracefully, that only your own resistance or over-thinking can make it difficult. It's more than reassuring to put your trust into something and have it respond so well, so kindly... it's exhilarating, gratifying and fun. I don't know about you, but I find fewer and fewer places where I can enjoy an easy and smooth ride, where my expectations are met with what I was promised. I am not looking for an easy ride, but it would be nice to have a few more experiences where work gives good results, and outcomes come close to what was promised.

Our Very Own Beanerina


I will have to learn how to find (use? set-up? log on?) wifi in Europe, because I will definitely be wanting to look at these.


Sigh.
I find the deepest pleasure in watching my children enjoy life.

Netbook Blogger... Tre Chic

Chic and Green... Geoff's reading me the Wiki article on the netbook, our mini, low power demand, fewer toxic component, will travel, blogging machine. Business Week has something to say about them too... I'm not only justifying our sound investment, I am also learning how to use this cute little machine, before Chicken goes Abroad. I should leave in the typos, so you can laugh at my inept skills.

You see, while I have been lying laying prone at night, thinking of how I might starve, because I cannot read French menus, Geoff has been imagining me sauntering into Internet Cafes and tuning in to the WiFi, downloading pictures, emailing newsy letters and regularly posting to Chickenblog. He just found a new system for me to upload images for PC/Windows use... he thinks I know what the formage he's talking about! If I never figure out how to upload images, export them and post them from Abroad, I hope you all will forgive me.

So, either I am going to try to clean the house or Geoff is going to put me through Netbook training camp. Good grief. A rock and a hard place.

We're Still Here

Yeesh. This Blog. So neglected. So feh. All my heated, fiery, posts are about housing, bailouts and me being down right despondent. Instead of ranting and getting fretful tears all over my keyboard, I have been... I've... uh... Yeah. A lot of "uh." Not pretty.


But. Yes, I am interjecting my big butt. But I have something quite new up my sleeve. Actually it was up Geoff's sleeve, and the second hardest part about his post-crunch mode re-entry phase, is his let's do something wild and extreme phase. Ladies and gentlemen, we are entering the "wild and extreme phase," though technically we have not fully emerged from "post-crunch mode re-entry phase." Confused? Yes, I am being obtuse. I do not apologize. Consider, you are only reading about this; I am actually living it.

Where was I?

Ah, yes... I am up to something and I am calling it Chicken Abroad. In the next several weeks, and probably for the rest of my life, I will be posting about travel. World travel. Chickenblog is going abroad. World travel has been in the plan since the early 80's and it looks like this is the year we are going to make it happen, and it's not just because we still can't find a house to buy and we feel utterly depressed and disgusted and want to runaway from pain and anguish and make rash decisions and spend all of our hard earned savings in a frenzy of fancy living.

Ahem.


Geoff has a unique plan, and I will be sharing it soon. In fact I have so much to share that I could fill a book. Chicken Abroad will be all about my fear of flying, and reluctance to try Facebook be out in the big public eye, in person. It will be about feeling chicken and yet daring to leave my nest to scratch the surface of the earth and see what I can find.

First, I need to see the doctor about my ear. I have a doozy of an earache, and either I have been sharing deep thoughts and brilliance or the infection has spread to the vital organ between my ears and I am as fuzzy, pained and incoherent as I feel.

What You Said
or...
Happy 1234567890 Day!


The Roll of Film digital portrait post was an experiment to explore self portraits and how I feel about seeing my own face/body and to look in to some of the issues that entwine themselves with this subject. Scientific experiments start with a hypothesis, and I did not, and I am kind of glad about that, because I realize my experiment is really more of a conversation, an explore, and I am really enjoying the dialogue that is warming up. Please read the comments.


First of all, thank you. Thank you for commenting and thank you for saying nice things about how I look. Blush.

The compliments feel good, and I also got to think about something new... I brought up the subject of "beauty," and now I am wondering about other qualities that appear in portraits... things like, intelligence, wisdom, maturity, grace, gentleness, relaxed, comfortable, strong, innocent, athletic, old, funny, creative, demure, artistic, serious. How many of these things might appear in a person's portrait, and how many of them can be construed as flattering remarks to make about a person? I am thinking about the adage that if you say "She is smart," then by omission, you are saying "She is not pretty." Maybe it goes back to my concern that we are witnessing such tremendous filtering of the qualities of physical beauty, that like in refined food, we have lost all other substance and quality. Sugar is sweet, but how far will it take you? Beauty is wonderful, but why have we diminished the value of age, experience, intelligence, strength, humor, and those elusive things we call character?


To be kind, to be sensitive, there is an instinctive compulsion to say something nice about prettiness (and I am trying to be tactful and delicate as I talk about this, because I don't want anyone to take offense about Me or You being insincere.) It's interesting that if people looked at a picture of me and said smart, rested, happy, shy, kind, gentle, humorous... I probably would hope to hear just 1 more remark about my looks. Even though "smart, rested, happy, shy, kind, gentle, humorous" are all great or interesting qualities, I would still crave that little ego massage that comes with a 'pretty, gorgeous, beautiful,' kind of compliment and I would even fretfully assume I must be unpretty if no one said "pretty." What is up with that? Is it because I am insecure, or co-dependent? Is it because I am conditioned to believe that an omission is an indirect statement? And here is what really concerns me: Is it hard to omit "pretty," because we do not appreciate, value all those other qualities?

I don't have answers.

I have an anecdote...

Our family was together in a waiting room, as were other families with children. Another boy, about 7 or 8 years old, was talking to my boys, and that boy's mother and her friend/sister were nearby. So, the little boy asked Max and Alex the usual kinds of questions about age and schools and favorite toys, and he kept glancing at Geoff, my husband.
After a bit, the boy asked Max, "Hey, is he your dad?"
Max turned to Geoff, his dad, and answered the boy, "Yeah, he's my dad."
The boy dropped his jaw a bit and said, "Whoa. How old is your dad?"
Geoff was 39 at the time.
The boy looked surprised, and he said, "Man, your dad's only 39? My dad is old. My dad's 65."
At this point the boy's mother turned on her heels and in a tone of admonishment, slightly embarrassed, said, "Your dad is not old. He is not old." She moved swiftly and with a fervor that was lioness, to defend this man's honor. As though the 65 year old father had been maligned and reproached, publicly disgraced, she stood to restore his dignity and youth.
Touchy subject, I thought. The lady doth protest a bit much, yeah? I mean, where is the insult in recognizing that 65 is old? It is certainly older than 39 or even 50. Old does not mean at death's door or decrepit, right? Her son's description did not leave me picturing his father on a feeding tube, in a rocking chair, mumbling about the Civil War. I thought it was a sad example of how we allow our words and beliefs to diminish worthwhile traits and characteristics. She could have said so much more by emphasizing the man's virility, his intellect or career, his good health or even good looks, but what was the point or truth in insisting that her 65 year old husband is young?
Why don't we appreciate Old? More to think about.


I love how every conversation can have many angles and approaches. Judy, in Kentucky, brought up the decorator phenomenon and all those granite countertops! I totally agree, just like the look alike faces of cosmetic surgery, people seem to have surrendered personal taste for the HGTV-master-suite themes that are so common and expected, they have become positively dull. Houses and people should look like themselves.


And ourselves look so good when they project a Whole person, whether we are old or innocent, brainy or athletic, brainy and athletic, tired, funny, eager, reserved, pretty, strange, unique, encumbered, struggling, liberated, confused, in progress. I wish I had more time to say more and really put my thoughts in order, so that I can be certain I am saying what I mean and meaning what I say, instead of just clucking around, scratching the surface, like a hen. And I hope You have more to say, more to share, because it's the exchange and discourse that make this enjoyable, which is why I was so happy to find Peacebang's thoughts about portraits and self image.


The images I am sharing in today's post are a mix from way back and from recent days. They are another kind of portrait of me.

Dropping In

Periodically I contemplate quitting blogging, and usually it is only a matter of needing a break or a fresh view. I appreciate the archives too much to totally dismiss the point of making regular posts. But this latest break, the week since my last post, has proven 1 thing to me... blogging is really easy to walk away from... whatever void or absence perceived is soon forgotten and very quickly filled in by other events, other stories. Nature does not like a vacuum and neither does the Internet.

I love to come across other people's posts about the why's of keeping a web log, a public journal. I find it reassuring to be reminded that I am not alone in trying to understand, justify and clarify what I share and why I share and how I share... I am not alone in trying understand my labels and how I relate to the world, the patterns I repeat, the journey... it's so good to know other people are trying to figure themselves out too. But I did need to take a break. I did not want to face, in bold printed words, my petty thoughts, my destructive ideas, my self-defeating patterns... I really needed to step away from the chance I might make too many regrettable, out-loud statements, which is kind of odd... I really admire and appreciate open, honest, whole truth kind of posts from other bloggers.


The good stuff... let's see.

1. Janece asked to be interviewed and she poured her heart in to the 5 questions, answering them in 2 posts. Post #1 rekindled my wanderlust, and I am ready to make a long, winding, sight-filled road trip to Washington State. I need a month and I am prepared to never return to dry, dull, overpriced So Cal. To be fair: it is not dry at the moment, and not really all dull, but it is certainly overpriced. (Hold on... did she answer all 5? I think one more answer is still coming.)

2. Maria is enrolled in a dance class. She loves it. She wants to be there every day. She loves pink tights and tap shoes and having her hair put up and held with clips and bows. She loves her teacher and following directions and the music they dance to. Maria is very happy in her dance class. (I wish parents were allowed in the studio every class, because I am only mildly amused waiting with the nannies and manicure moms. No, not snarky, just real.) Where does the time go?

3. William is making a donation to Locks of Love! I gave him his last haircut, on the deck at the Treehouse... that was at least 3, maybe 4 years ago, so you can imagine the great lengths he's reached since then. At the website for the nonprofit organization, we learned that he had to donate a minimum of 10", so we were very pleased to see that he had 15" of thick, healthy hair to donate and he still has just enough to pull back. Here is their mission statement: Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

I know... how about a picture, right? No. Nope. No way. He says I can take a picture of the ponytail in the ziplock bag. He's got a big heart and he's modest.


4. Alex and Max got haircuts too. Three handsome boys and a wonderful afternoon in the company of Daniel. Daniel has been our friend and barber since 1998, (D is for Daniel) and even though he retired, he still invites us over for cuts and catching up. We are so fortunate. I really cannot imagine having to go any where else, and the time spent there is reflective, happy, comfortable and good... maybe that's why I got a haircut too... I guess I didn't want the nice visit to come to an end. I gave him creative control, and a picture of a dazzlingly beautiful starlet, and he transformed my limp braid in to a sassy new do!

I know... how about a picture, right? No. Nope. No way. Just kidding. As soon as anyone cares to take my picture, I will post it.

That is all. I type slowly and the day is slipping away.

Something Good To Say

Blogging is such a compulsion for me, I don't think a day goes by when I am not thinking about posting something on Chickenblog.
But. Well, lately all of my posts have been sitting in a draft file. My thoughts, feelings and other musings have been too morose,
sad, frustrated, cranky, angry, bitter, funky and junky for daylight. I know, it hasn't stopped me from sharing before, but I find that
even my brilliant insights and reflections on the economy, our government, housing woes and the trials of being a rental
rat in a high brow neighborhood are just too depressing to print.

Yet, still, here I am. Here I am trying to think of something to share, something to extend to the world or to mark for our own memory banks.
And I got nothing. No pictures. No insights. Nothing. Do you think it's true, the old adage... if you can't say something good, then don't say anything?

Every thing I think of seems to come from someone else who is doing it, or saying it or sharing it better. So, I will fall back on the very essence and
core of what blogging is all about... creating a web... logging strands and connections between people and ideas, art, creativity, news.

Turkey Feathers has put up her banner for February, a bit early, but she's a busy talent and she
knows that some things are "now or never." This is the blog I visit
for eye-candy and reflections on life in a creative home. I am looking forward to ordering her book, "Blanket Statement." I know I won't find (much) time to start new projects... no matter, her inspiring ideas and beautiful photographs are a heartwarming tonic.

I have been abroad, in Belgium, exploring a whole new country and adapting to life far from my Georgia home... oh, wait.. not me, Dallas! Dallas, "For The Journey," is in Belgium, exploring a whole new country and adapting to life away from her Georgia home. She's brought her amazing photography skills, her sewing machine and her husband, so there are the familiar subjects I knew from her old blog, but now they are living in Europe and I have been enjoying the sights and following along as she navigates new paths.

Another adventurer I visit is Tara, of "TinyGlutton." She's a Canadian mother of 3 and she is a super quilter and skilled thrifter, living in Idaho. I love the light, bright and fresh looking quilt she posted about today. She played along in the "Interview Me" posts that "Chapter III" got me started on. Tara answered all of the questions posed to her in this post. I think the interview posts have been very interesting.

Recently I have been visiting a new to me blog called, "Wonders Never Cease." I think I should go to this blog whenever I am on empty. She posts a variety of links and her own reflections on a single subject, including a variety of related images and videos. It's like a mini explore, with tangents, of an idea, or a word, or a person, or a name... Just go see for yourself. I am realizing that I am running out of time, before I should be cleaning, cooking, driving, organizing, filing etc and I won't be able to highlight as many blogs as I had hoped, so I am not saying as much, as well, as I would like... Don't assume you know what she is going to say about a subject... ready for Change?

My time is up. I really am going to walk away from the computer and get busy with clearing messes and even making new messes.
Have a good weekend. Get inspired. Find a view. Come by and share some news.

Post # 1,296: BFTC


This could have been a post about chili, but my picture came out blurred. This could have been a post about a conversation I overheard, but I suspect you would not believe it wasn't me, talking to a paid professional. This could be a post about the Bloggie nominees for 2009, and my total indifference to the significance of that... hmph. Suffice to say, I am not feeling "squirmy." I even debated not posting. Yes, actually accepting that I don't have anything newsy or bright to share and leaving it at that. Then I vetoed posting about how I have elected not to post, again, about my same old stories with the housing market and feeling utterly hopeless and forlorn, and decided instead to just let my silence reflect my calm maturity, my evolvement. Why is that 'calm maturity' and 'evolvement' are so unsatisfying, unless people are aware and impressed with one's calm maturity and evolvement?

This is post # 1, 296. There is no giveaway. No prizes. No awards. The children are well. The adults are, well, adult, or nearly so. We have no grand vistas, vacation plans, rants, crafts, surveys, memes, quizzes, puzzles, announcements, proclamations, recipes, coupons, or tech advice. The chicas are laying, and they do not like the organic, crumble food in the 50 pound sack. The chili I made for dinner was delicious, and it's gone, which is good.

So, why am I posting, if I have nothing to say? That is a mystery. That is blogging and the Internet... sometimes it is just pointless.

Unless...


Sometimes blogging is pointless, unless, as my dear friend Campbellgirl points out, you have a BFTC.

That is all.

Looking For Goodness


Some days I get a bit entangled in the whirl of thoughts and doubts and fears that swirl in my head. Okay, most days... But most days I can unravel the mess and move forward. Other times it is not so easy. If I tell you how muddled and befuddled I am about life, details and everything, I wonder if you would nod in sympathy or shake your head in dismay? Am I just riding the same waves, swimming the same current as everyone else, or do I find myself fighting a riptide? Never fight a riptide.

Sigh.

Argghh.

I picked my camera up and went out looking for goodness. Looking for a pretty blossom or a sunny spot. Meg reminded me that not all of our moments are picture perfect, and sometimes it's just a matter of focusing our attention, or our cameras, in the right direction. Sometimes it helps to pick out the goodness, capture it, frame it, and hold it dear.

Hmmmm... I wonder if this simple analogy (the idea that we can help ourselves move forward and feel good by taking a moment to focus on our best moments and brightest views) applies to my uneasy mood about some post inaugural drivel I have come across... I am not going to go looking for any of the hardcore naysayers, but even in some very gentle and balanced blogs, I have come across comments of incomprehensible acrimony against the new administration, and against people's expressions of hope and renewed patriotism. I feel shaky and sad, to witness even small samples of fear mongering, ignorance, rude immaturity, and pettiness. I cannot fathom the beliefs or mood that spawn such bitterness. Happily I have seen far more examples of rational debate, agreement to disagree and sensible acceptance that our democracy is a blessing to admire and uphold. None of our hope and optimism about our President and the next 4 years, will mean a thing if we do not work earnestly, cooperatively and respectfully. Keeping our attitudes positive, our actions diligent and our pledges honorable, I believe we can endeavor to find and enjoy more blessings, more goodness. I want to focus on goodness... it strengthens my resolve and restores my faith, so that I can move forward.


So, some days we get a bit muddled. It's okay. I guess we just gotta pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking our day.


Some of you in the colder parts of the country, the world, may not like hearing this, but our warm and breezy days sure do make a mess of the yard... so do the hens. Gad those girls are messy! Finally, after weeks of clear skies and sunshine, we are going to get a bit of rain. We need it. I welcome it, but I do wish our yard would not flood and become even more useless than usual.


Maria put our befuddled and frazzled broom to work, sweeping the poop deck, (as we refer to any space invaded by the chicas.) No, I suppose this is not a classically pretty picture, but I consider it lovely just the same. It's volunteering. It's effort and enthusiasm. It's meeting a challenge and contributing to the greater good. A child stepping up happily to clean is really a very pretty picture.


She put aside her well loved bumby, and, in a strangely familiar tone, chastised the chicas for their messy ways, while she piled up dry leaves and old straw.


As I prepare this post I have discovered that our server had a security breach or something like that, and they've changed our passwords. Or we need to change our passwords. Something like that. This means waiting for Geoff to come home, because he is the technical contributer to Chickenblog. I have learned how to manage a lot of things to keep this blog going, but dealing with our server is not one of the skills I have mastered. I should return directly to the goodness I found with my camera, before I get entangled in frustration about the many days and nights we have been apart from Geoff, which makes me sad and pouty, which makes me think of the housing debacle, which makes me angry and bitter, which leads to a total halt in all domestic operations, which is depressing.


Yes.
A hug.
Support and kindness.


I love that Maria scoops Betty up with all the affection of a 4 year old and all the expertise of a seasoned farm girl. I love that we have fresh eggs to gather, and ridiculous hens to listen to and watch. I love that this picture makes it all look so pleasant and easy, even though it is not.


And here is a little hummer update. I don't see too much difference from 4 days ago. But I am glad to report that she is still there, still taking care of her nest. I am glad my lens and curiosity have not frightened her away. After reading Zoe Anne's comment ("Chances are you will never find a hummingbird nest, even if it is in your own back yard.") I felt extra lucky to have ever spotted the nest in the first place! She does sound like an expert hummer enthusiast!


Ahhh I feel better. A bit less entangled. A bit more hopeful. Here's a pretty picture. As for the rest, I will carry on and do my best, and try to remember not to fight the riptide. Now, let's see if the server will allow me to post any of my deep thoughts and pretty pictures. If not, then wait for it, and in the meantime imagine something lovely, and I hope you feel some goodness too.

This Is A Test

No email!
Lousy server is down, again.
I'm pretty sure this post will not show up either, but I have to try.
WHOA!
We are back in business... just as I expressed my doubt, email came back to life!
Quick! I gotta buy a lotto ticket. My luck may be changing.


Gee, now I can't think what to write.
No matter.


I better shake a leg and get the house unfunky.
Geoff might come home tonight and I don't want to scare him back to the office!


This is a rather pointless post. Fortunately, I have a label for pointless posts.

First This, Then That


It is my absolute, honest to goodness intention to answer emails, reply to comments, make some phone calls, mail mice, clean the sewing room, finish quilts, write thank you cards and send them, and to sit in a meditative state of inner grace and prayerful mindfulness that will result in a happy outcome to our epic housing odyssey. Additionally, I will wash dishes, fold clothes, sort mail, supervise baths, and be 3 places at once when necessary. I sent my Mom the robotics' schedule, which she acknowledged is "totally constant and terribly demanding." It sure is. Don't expect to cross paths with us at any of our usual social gathering places or winter balls. And yes, Geoff is still in crunch mode, so yeah. Sigh. I do have good intentions though, so you know.


Last Spring when I brought home chicks, it was with conviction and certainty... I could keep chicks in our small yard, because we were surely on the brink of being in our own home. Soon. Maybe sooner, and for sure before Autumn. Definitely by the holidays. Absolutely before rain, Winter, the New Year. Did you know that our coop-henhouse is an Ikea picnic table? It's not like we weren't using it and I just decided to salvage it for chicken housing. But once I could see the little wire cage I was keeping the chicks in was not going to work much longer, I began to see our outdoor table in a different light. I painted it and Geoff helped me add wood and wrap it in wire. It's portable, and cute in blue with red details. With our vinyl table cloth it is mostly weather proof. I hung bells all over it, which twice have served to warn me when the possum came calling. And the girls, the chicas call it home. This morning Betty looked dear and snug sitting their nest box.


Hello Lady Betty Orpington.


It is with great pride and amusement that I announce: We have 3 hens! Last week Fantam began laying and this morning we had not 1, not 2, but 3 eggs in the nest box. Frida, a.k.a. Buttercup, joined her sisters and left her very first egg. And she was so sweet and actually allowed me to give her a pat and hold her for a sec, which is quite unlike her. Maybe by Summer we will have a proper hen house and garden for them to roam. Maybe they are happy enough beneath the picnic table, adored and cared for.

An anonymous commentator left this message: "I'm jealous - such a wonderful life, chicken pancakes and all."
And this morning I said to Geoff, "I think I must have the most boring blog in the world," which, in all honesty was a bit of sleep deprived whining. But I am aware of that strange space that exists between what is wholly real and daily and trying, and what I post about in my blog and I think that space exists for all bloggers. We want to share and we want to preserve and we want to report and sometimes rant, and many of us also want to emphasize the best of what crosses our path, the brightest moments, the highlights. I censor myself. I do not post about the chicken pancake pan that sat unwashed on the stove for a day and half, or the oven door that fell off in my hand. I hardly dare to say that 2 of the showers in our house are out of commission and that only 2 toilets work, sort of. You can use the guest one, but don't put anything in it. Such a wonderful life. Yes, it is a wonderful life, a messy, disappointing, embarrassing, chaotic, creative, exhausting, blessed, unpredictable, challenging, sad, happy, joyous, stressful, comfortable, wonderful life.

Last night I made a stuffed hippo dance and sing, like a puppet show. It was late and William was sitting alone at the computer, teaching himself how to use 3D Studio Max. The show was for him. I sang "I'm the hiphopopotamus, my lyrics are bottomless..." And we both knew what I was singing, the ridiculousness, the joke. And we were both laughing. And that's one of those moments that I want to remember forever... one of those wonderful life moments.

Thank you Brett and Carey for sharing those pictures of your hilarious Chook Wagon. May I post some of those here, on Chickenblog?

And Arthur, your picture of your Lola and Betty, was such a wonderful surprise. We have Lola and Betty chickens, and in Holland, Arthur and his wife have two precious Jack Russell Terriers named Lola and Betty. I would like to post their picture here too.

Oh dear. It's almost 7 p.m. I have a kitchen to clean. Max and Maria need baths. By 8:30 I should be picking Alex up from school. And is today Wednesday? I'd better ask William to take the trash and recycling to the street. Also, Martha Stewart sent me a last chance letter, so I need to decide whether or not to renew my subscription to Living magazine. I may pass... I love the first hour with the glossy, polished, staged publication, and then it sits in a corner taunting and mocking me and my wonderful life, and I feel so unMartha, so short of the ideal.

Hmmmmm...

I'm thinking.


... I went to get bagels, and I'm still thinking.
This is a reflective time of year.
I'm thinking how lucky it is that when I got to the bagel place they were bringing hot, freshly baked bagels from the oven.
I like cranberry and everything bagels.
I like making coffee in the fancy new coffee maker I gave Geoff for Christmas.

My friend Anne has me thinking about food processors. She recommends having a food processor for making her pie crust. Anne never suggests retail recklessness and she is a good cook, so her suggestion is really stirring my thoughts. What else would I use a food processor for? Do I have room for another kitchen tool? What do they cost, and who has them on sale? Hmmmmm...

So, you saw the fez? Yes, these were very good children and they received a lot of wonderful gifts. William is sporting his very own piratey tricorn. Max is loaded down with enough Lego sets to fill his days and nights with bricklicious delight. William and Alex too. Maria has been coloring and drawing and placing stickers. She has a fresh collection of new coloring books, stickers, pens and markers and stamps and she is thoroughly blissed out by the bounty.

I'm thinking we need to have that garage sale I keep threatening, or even simpler... call a charity and ask them come by with the big truck. I'm thinking we can afford to share the love and pass on all those articles we've outgrown the need of.


Geoff was home Christmas day and he'll be home again New Year's Day. I wonder if we should do something for NYE... I never quite get the party craze for NYE, but I think it would be nice to have a beautiful dinner served on pretty dishes, with candlelight and sparkling grape juice in tall glasses. The children might like to have those paper poppers and we could make fancy hats. Maria would totally love making fancy hats. We could play "Apples to Apples" and munch pop corn, build a big fire and stay up late... like ten or 11!

BTW We love "Apples to Apples," but now I see what they are charging for it on Amazon, I suggest you buy it somewhere else. I think I paid far less at Target. Just saying.

Should I facelift the blog? I think about that. I think about adding new labels and maybe putting in a new banner. I think about taking a final bow, and then I think about posting everyday for a month and saying whatever I feel like saying, even if it's inappropriate or immature or weird or whatever.

I think about being a better person.

I think about forgetting to wish my cousin a happy birthday.

Happy Birthday Debbie. Sorry this is late. I hope you had a good day.

I think about stuff I am supposed to be doing or should be thinking about doing, or should be writing down on a list, so I don't forget about doing it later. Writing stuff down does not necessarily cause it to get done, but the added pressure of seeing it written down typically pushes me over the edge and in to action.

I think I need to be in action more often.

That last statement was just sort of blurted without much thought. Thoughtfully speaking, I am quite often "in action," and yet there is still stuff on my list that does not get done.

Sigh.

I think I will insert another chicken picture here.


The chicas are well. Maybe a bit blue in the lips. It's been really cold here. I can't actually complain about our weather. All of You tell me about your weather, power outages, ice storms, snow drifts, wind chill, downpours, frozen pipes, slush, sleet, low visibility and hail, and then I realize we've got no weather at all. But, it's been really cold here.

Was that paragraph supposed to be about the chicas or the weather?

Betty is still gifting us an egg a day. We've baked with them and shared some. I even made chile rellenos, which made Geoff cry and kneel before me with his head lowered. Maybe I should make them more often, instead of waiting a year and a half. Maybe when we have a house and garden I can grow my own peppers. This time I roasted peppers from the market, rather than use the ones in a can. They were so spicy, so fiery hot, I could only eat 1 and it made me cry. I was crying from pain and Geoff was crying from gratitude. What was my point again? Oh, yes, thank you Betty for laying eggs and inspiring me to make chile rellenos.

I think someone asked if I have recipes for the Mexican food served at Isaac's birthday fiesta. I do not. Sorry. My aunt cooked, and everything was delicious. Our family, Geoff's and mine, is full of good cooks. And I am a pretty good cook too, but I am lousy about recipes. I never have very good luck following recipes. Either I manage to follow it exactly and I hate the results or I rebel, do it my own way and discover something I like, but cannot duplicate. I learned how to cook by watching my Mommy and my grandmothers and so I cook from memory, from senses and emotions and pictures in my head. My recipes are not written down. Anne asked me for my soup recipe, albondigas, and I didn't want to disappoint her, but the idea of writing it down, thinking about measurements and process... it was actually overwhelming... so I sent her my own kind of recipe and she posted it just the way I sent it to her.


I am thinking all sorts of things, like how I really want to continue working on the blanket I started crocheting. I've filled our house with hats and scarves, and so I decided to try something new and big and decidedly light and Springy. Either it will be finished in time for Spring and sweet peas and birds in nests, or I will obsessively finish it while it is still Winter... then add it to our warm layers of quilts and cats, scarves and mittens. It is pink. I think Maria has reconnected with the prettiness of pink.

Eeeeek!


We have mice!
It's our own fault. We actually invited them in and we've been having a lot of fun with them. The cats like them even better, especially after they've been bouncing around in the catmint. A few mouses in the house is alright, as long as they don't mind being batted around, tossed and pawed, but I'll be sending the rest away.


I dreamed them up and could not wait to stitch them together. Maria loves to help me plunder the scrap pile, choosing the mousiest prints. I cut and sew and she turns them right side out.


Together we stuff the hungry mice with plenty of fluff. As I stitch their ends shut, Maria chooses and cuts yarn for their tails.


We've been so amused with ourselves and our mouse factory. When they are finished we toss them in to the nest, where they scurry around in the organic catmint, and that's when we have to keep an eye out for Chango and Benjamin! The kitties play blissfully and wildly with their new found friends.


This may finally be a sewing project I could make a tutorial for. It's easy-peasy, lemon squeezey.


*Squeak-Squeak*

While I am here, trying to accomplish all of my elf duties and pleasures, some of you are performing actual holiday miracles... creative and generous! I am at a loss for words, but of course I am going to try and say something here... My children see these packages coming in and they join me in awe. We are amazed and delighted, and we marvel at the talent and kindness of our friends. We have friends all over the planet, many of whom we have never even met in person. Thank you! Thank you for thinking of us. Thank you for your comments on Chickenblog, for sharing your encouragement and thoughts. Thank you for making the time to connect with us. Thank you for making bears and purses, aprons and doll quilts, pincushions and needle books, earrings and necklaces and more. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us... these amazing reflections of your time and skill. Throughout the year we are blessed by kindness that is sweet and unexpected. Amazing.


Last night the children discovered a new delivery of Christmas cheer, in the form of a package from Chapter III. Lesley recently posted about making coasters and I was happy to recall the red fabric she was looking for when we were at a quilt show together. She's made these gorgeous mini quilts, coasters, and she sent us a ribboned bundle. She really raises the bar with these. They are so nicely made and so lovely to look at and hold.


Wait... is that a...?
Yes, my friends know me well!
Cluck-cluck!


Lesley also sent us Winter provisions... chocolate! I have had these chocolates once before and I know they are exceptional. William, Alex, Max, Maria and I gasped simultaneously when we saw the box and I immediately declared this box sacred. Too precious for immediate inhaling or hasty consumption. We are going to wait for everyone to be home. For the house to be semi-clean, for a fire in the fireplace, Ave Maria playing on the boombox, candlelight and everyone bathed and lovely... then, and only then, will we reverently and solemnly share this very delicious gift.

I almost wish I were home alone when the box came, but truthfully, I believe good things are even better shared.


In the meantime they ask to smell the chocolates.
I am so nice to oblige them.


Yes, unusual, unexpected and delicious.... even just to smell. We'll post a post chocolate summary soon

Thank you Lesley!

Well, That's Embarrassing


I must remember not to overestimate my significance.

Wednesday night we dropped off the face of the Earth when our phone service and computer modems went *blip* and stopped working. I spent days hours many long, tedious minutes on the cellular phone trying to get to the root of the problem, and fortunately I discovered that the fault did not lie with me, this time. The damage was big and wide spread and they could not be sure when we would have service again.

In my mind I am detached... I have no dependance on these modern conveniences, these virtual realities. I can quit anytime.

No Internet.
No dial tone.
No incoming calls.
No calls out.
No email.
No blog posts.
No MSNBC.
Utterly cutoff from the real world... or...

Yeah. OKay. I see this is somewhat overstated. I was cranky and frustrated and certain that I was going to blow deals, miss deadlines, lose my bearings and fall completely out of step with friends, acquaintances, and total strangers. I was edgy, a bit disoriented. As the hours without my beloved Internet and email passed, I began to imagine my importance in a grander light... I began to consider how much I matter, how necessary I am to the flow and function of the universe. I just knew people were trying to reach me. They needed my ideas and suggestions, my wise counsel and sage advice. I felt the weight of my duty to keep Chickenblog updated, to finally answer lots and lots of emails and to finish photography jobs. I fumed and clenched my fist in angry scorn of the phone company and their silly cables. Heads would roll!

In my mind I am detached... I have no dependance on these modern conveniences, these virtual realities. I can quit anytime.

Now for the truly shocking part: Without my tools and resources, without any means of communicating or being engaged with the real world, I cleaned house and made actual progress, including folding laundry and putting it away. I cooked dinner and washed the dishes. I built a fire in the fireplace, crocheted a scarf, cleared the car, and flossed. I watched a funny movie. I churned butter, cleared the gutters, alphabetized our wines and replaced all the dead light bulbs... it's true... all of it... except the light bulbs part. Seriously, I did get stuff done and found inner peace, harmony and wisdom.

Then, early this morning as I was reclaiming my desk from debris important stuff, I accidentally bumped the mouse and lo and behold our server is back. It happened just as the sun rose above the horizon and a heavenly shaft of light illuminated the room and my heart skipped a beat. I held my breath as emails came streaming in. I counted them, the evidence of my significance and worth in the world, the proof of my existence.

23. Only 23 emails.
7 junk.
10 ads that I actually subscribe to.
3 housing listings, which are sure to lead to disappointment.
1 my beautiful mommy, because, thank God, at least I can count on my mommy.
2 from my cousin, and I better get back to her asap, because I am so happy that after 40 hours of being cutoff from all, that someone actually was trying to reach me.


After 1, 246 posts, after blogging since May 2002, I still cannot profess to know why I do it. Why do I hang out my laundry, dirty and otherwise? Why do I post the good, the sad, the ugly, the trivial, the happy and dear?

Every now and then I hope my Internet disappears, so that I can be reminded that I do not need it. I love it and like it and enjoy it. I depend on it and rely on it, but I do not need it... not everyday, not all day. For 2 days I thought I was missing something important, but it's when the service is working that I am more likely to miss something important, when I am distracted by the Whole Wide World and failing to notice my real world. This is not a total rebuke of computers and blogs and Internet... it's too good and useful to dismiss. My mistake is overestimating my place in it and paying it too much heed.

I'm glad I can talk to my cousin, that we can make a connection and make plans to get together. I'm glad mom and I are exchanging emails, discussing the details of Thanksgiving. And, with some embarrassment, I am glad I was reminded that it's not a big deal if I am out of the loop with Whole Wide World Web.

Artists in Residence

Copyright
2002-2008 by Chickenblog and it's family members
All rights reserved. Please do not use our original photos, or drawings, or reprint our writing without asking me for permission. Thank you!

For quite some time I have been meaning to add a copyright to Chickenblog, maybe even a watermark on my photographs. However good or mediocre my own work may be, it is my work and it would be infuriating to see it somewhere else, under someone else's name. And since today I am showing my children's work, I feel particularly protective.

Geoff replaced our sad, tired, broken printer, and he taught me how to use the new scanner. Taught, is a big word for what amounted to a small lesson... now I know how to push the button that says "scan." It's so easy! Grin.

Now I can share my children's art quickly, simply. I think when world events, the economy and housing woes bring me down, I will still be able to find something beautiful to share, thanks to the many talents in this home. Today's featured artists are Alex (14) and Maria (3.)


Alex


Alex


Alex


Maria

Redemption


I had to keep it real, which typically means being glaringly honest, but it's not fair to paint chickens as completely without redeeming qualities. My last remarks, about their less than glowing characteristics, was colored by having just cleaned out their coop. Er... Swabbing down the poop deck, as we pirates like to say. Gee, some things really do feel better when spoken in pirate!

The lady geek at "Farm Natters" reminded me that the chicas have much about them to love. Their feathers really do smell sweet, especially when they've been dozing in a fresh pile of clean straw. In the evening, when they're too mellow to be flighty, they are fun to sit with and hold. Their feet are surprisingly soft and very warm on the underside, their pads. And yes D.A., those fuzzy bottoms... I guess we were including that under the general heading of "funny." Ruffly, downey, ample chica b00ties are very dear. Bug eating= awesome. Dear Diane spotted another thing to love about the chicas: Their sleek feathers are pretty, and just under their feathers they are warm and downey. And thank you Chris, who is not "completely whacked," for pointing out to me that there is something spiritual about chickens and what they do for my soul. They have tiny heads and tiny thoughts and they do their best to get on with their silly day and it's a calming, amusing, endearing sight to witness. And we have to mention "dust baths." Dust baths is in the Top 5 of Reasons to Keep Chickens. A sigh of relief just naturally alters my state, even thinking of them. Unless, I've been swabbing the poop deck!

Now, don't forget: It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Ooh arggh, ye land lubbers, sail over to "Farm Natters" and watch the very important, yet dazzlingly entertaining, documentary about preventing scurvy reclaiming our rightful treasures keel-hauling the White House lawn, because food matters!

Now step in to the galley fer yer hardtack and ale... these "Cake Wrecks" be the height of hilarity, but I think the professional bakers responsible will be walkin' the plank.

Blast! The crew be stirring and I has to be setting the mainsail. We're short a man, since Chango the Pirate Cat, is recovering from an emergency procedure. Yesterday was a nail biting day. Seriously. Releasing my inner Buccaneer has been great fun, so I give ye fair warnin'... avast me hearties, I may be back for more!

Happy Reflections


Hey. Thank you. The sweet comments (and there are so many of them) about the little dream garden we planted have been such a treat. If you haven't decided to make one of your own, I highly recommend you give it a try. Or hopefully you already have a space where wonders never cease! Paul noticed that the post was labeled under "prayers" and "play," and he's right, they do go together. Play is such a creative and active act of faith, hope and love. Nikkipolani was wise to remind me that even small gardens need constant attention and even a willingness to to accept loss. Oh, be sure to read all the comments... everyone has such kind thoughts and good insights. We have been having fun and we've been enjoying the peacefulness that springs from that tiny space, and hearing from all of you has heightened my appreciation for what we have.


Right now I am taking calming breaths and trying to retain the happy, peaceful feelings. It's wonderful to reflect on all of the good and beautiful things, but I gotta tell ya, life is as hectic as ever and I still freak out a bit when I tally up all the things I am not addressing... how that list does grow! Maria and I are stealing time, everyday, to go on garden walks, visit playgrounds and do simple activities together. The boys are treasuring their time outside of school and making the most of their smarts and hard work while in school... they are doing very well, and making us prouder than ever. Geoff is preparing for crunch time, when his long hours get longer, and we will be missing him extra much. And errands, chores, meetings, correspondences, plans, hopes, aspirations, and ideals are juggled constantly. I know people who do it all better than me... I am in awe of those people. I feel like I am always behind, late, forgetful, out of the loop and playing catch-up.


I need one of those refrigerator magnets that say reassuring things like: "A Messy House is a Sign of Genius (creativity, intelligence, beauty, whatever.") Geoff bought one that says "A Clean House is a Sign of a Wasted Life." Either he's lost all hope, or he really appreciates me for everything else besides shiny surfaces. I can assure you we have no "Wasted Life" around here!


In a moment I will publish this post, then hustle over to the laundry room and pull out my uniform from the dryer, get Maria dressed and Max cleaned up. I am taking them to a birthday party. Afterwards, we'll get to the market and buy lunch foods and other staples. I need to go to the car wash, get gas and find new wiper blades. There are 1 or 30 papers, appointments, errands and don't forgets that I mustn't forget.


And I will do my best to do as many of the things I have to do, and I will not get to all of them. Sooner or later I will run smack into something really, really important that I have completely lost sight of and then... and then I can either cry, scream, evaporate and be blown away like dust or I can reflect on all the things I did right, and just sigh.


It's not that I want to embrace my mediocrity, but living with acceptance of my weaknesses is rather liberating, and it gives me the strength to stand up and try again. Reflecting on my successes, on the happy things that have transpired, feels good. Deep down good, like breathing in a forest, or coming to the surface from a long, deep swim.


I am already running late.


But I wanted to show you these big frogs, and pretty lily pads, and I wanted to thank you for reading Chickenblog and sharing your thoughts, for giving me happy things to reflect on.


Does anyone know what these are called? I think they are an alien species.


I think Maria draws cute kitties. I think I'd better get going...

Kind of Like Comic-Con


I explained to the boys, about the San Diego Quilt Show, that it's kind of like Comic-Con, but for quilts. So, naturally, they asked what I would 'dress up as.' I went as an *awestruck woman.* It's not often you will find me out in the world without children in tow, and the real bonus of the day was going with fellow quilter and blogging friend, Lesley, of Chapter III. You could say this is a Chapter III for me and Chickenblog: Chapter 1... I start Chickenblog, May 2002. Chapter 2... People start voluntarily reading the blog, about May 2007. Chapter 3... I meet a blogging friend in person, August 30th, 2008, and it's great!

What next? There's so much to consider and share and be happy about. Lesley and I met at her house and it was a curious combination of I know you very well, and this is totally familiar and wow, we are total strangers agreeing to spend the day together: how strange and wonderful. And walking up to Quilt-Con we saw Anna-Banana, who was waiting to meet a fellow quilt enthusiast and friend. Finding Anne so easily proves that Quilt-Con is not much like Comic-Con... it's far less crowded. So the fun of meeting bloggers was magnified and my pleasure was doubled. Inside the convention hall we were met with hundreds of quilts, and it was very nice to share the experience with Lesley. We seemed to enjoy many of the same quilts and to have many of the same humbling impressions of all the talented, patient and creative quilters out there.

My mind is still buzzing from all of the sight seeing, from gazing at an almost infinite combination of colors, shapes and patterns, stitched together. I am glad there were a lot of examples of hand-quilting, because those are still my favorite. And as my appreciation of machine quilting is increasing, it was great to see such a varied and beautiful collection of those quilts too. Gee, wouldn't some pictures be nice right about now? Yes, well, I did take a lot of pictures, but I was playing with my highly sophisticated camera and whatever button I pushed or setting I changed, has made it incompatible with low lighting and shaky hands. In other words... I have a lot of out of focus pictures.

Pictures are great, but the best part of my day was meeting Lesley, crossing paths with Anne, and savoring my newest favorite... Australian Sliders, with beets! Lesley is lovely and enthusiastic, she's as bright and pleasant as her blog, and I really enjoyed our conversations and exchanges.

Okay, when you take as many photographs as I do some are bound to come out alright, including the ones Lesley took, so here are a few...


"Red Wagon Panes" by Ruby Davison




"Kiku" pieced by Eleanor Sherrell and quilted by Michalee Sloan


"Dutch Treat" pieced by Charlene Hauri and quilted by Laurie Daniells, pattern by Judy Garden






Totally cool pattern by some talented person, whose name I did not catch... oops.


This is way too much fun!


Weeeee!

At The Starting Gate


Everyone is on the new school program tomorrow. We've had some trial runs, a few school visits and Max's first 3 days of school. The warm-up has been... well, it's been eye-opening. Eye-opening means that I have no idea how this is going to work, and I am anxious about logistics. Drop-off and pick-up will be daunting points, and consider the work load of adding 3 new cultures to our lives. Schools are micro-societies, mini-fiefdoms, each vying to be the center that our family will revolve around. And I look over my shoulder, when I dare to say those mini-fiefdoms are alarmingly fascist. Many solemn vows and pledges must be made. For this I cringe and squirm. 'Fitting in' is paramount, and I have even been advised to not mention we are renters... in the short-sighted minds of some local citizens, renters are carpetbaggers, freeloaders who do not pay taxes and therefore are unworthy of the bounty of this affluent community. Gee whiz, I figgered my rent pays the landlord's property taxes.

Dear Lord, please help me from being bitter and snarky. Thank you for giving us choices and options and free will, and thank you for my mini-van, whole grain Goldfish Crackers, and resilience. Amen.


I bought 2 calendars and I have them marked and labeled for all school holidays, which incidentally do not match between grade school and high school. All breaks and 3 day weekends are written in glitter ink and well highlighted with stickers. I am resisting the urge to circle pep-rally days as sick days, in advance. I remember pep-rallies. Unless you love it, unless you like to be told when and how to feel peppy, unless you crave any excuse to be away from books, reason and home, unless you just feel good about cheering, well then, it's a colossal waste of time, and irritating. I mean no disrespect to fans of the pep. It's just that some of us 'get it' the first time and then we never, ever need to do it again. Also on the calendar are reminders of tests, meetings, assemblies, functions and assorted obligations that will cause us to strongly consider returning to an agrarian lifestyle, and raising our own children, our own way.


OKay. Good things, just for the sake of positive thinking etc...
1. Alex may get to take a cooking class and join a robotics club
2. Max is excused from learning cursive, because his penmanship is "beautiful."
3. William will be using 3-D Studio Max, again... this cannot be attributed to school, but it's a strong incentive to do well in school.
4. With the boys away and busy, Maria and I will have long hours alone to plan her "princess birthday party with Easter eggs and chocolate butterfly glitter cake." Actually, party planning is a strong-suit of the boys, and Maria was upset already, missing Max, and I am sure she is going to be a sad princess when all of her dear brothers are scarce.
5. Gee, maybe #4 wasn't so good.
6. Maria and I will go to the park more often and we will find a dance class, read stacks of books and snuggle under bed-sheet tents.
7. No school next Monday!!! WooTs!



Also

I have been delighted by all of the great comments coming in, especially from new readers or readers who have been very, very quiet up until now. It's beautiful, comments. I never wanted to be doing this, blogging, all alone, without feedback. Now how do I keep you coming back? Sometimes beautiful things are fragile, delicate and easily lost. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and welcome to our kitchen table... that's one of my favorite metaphors for Chickenblog... just a casual kitchen table where we can gather and commune, where we can share our day and refill our cups. Feel free to bring a pie, or a bag of zucchini. This blog is a lot of things, like a family photo album, a journal, whimsy, scratching the surface, clucking, a love letter, whining, news, blues, and an interaction with the wide, wide world.


On a recent post, there were several inquiries about accents. OKay it was only 2 comments, but "several" sounds so cool. Judy in Kentucky and Lesley, I have an iMac and a few years ago Geoff showed me that accents and all kinds of symbols can be found in the USA flag symbol, in the upper right corner of my screen.


I click on "Show Character Palette"


It shows many options for symbols and language accents, which when selected will appear in whatever text I happen to be currently writing, by hitting "insert."


Very fun. Very helpful. Unless you are not on an iMac... then none of this will help at all.


Gracious, where does the time go? It's afternoon. We are just hanging around the house, amusing ourselves with "Laurel and Hardy" shorts, chess games, and other happy diversions.

Stealing a Moment


Amidst the jumble of empty pots and long neglected gardening gadgets sat the withered stump of an orchid that I could not bear to throw out, and yet had not taken the time to nurture either. I went through my archives, back to January of 2004, expecting to find some reference or suggestion for why I received an orchid in the first place. I knew I didn't write a specific post on the topic, but I thought there would be subtle hints in what I wrote or shared. There are no detectable traces of the orchid story. It was a gift, a kind and lovely condolence gesture, sent by Ruth and Jim. The orchid bloomed by the kitchen sink of the Treehouse for many months. Then life got complicated, you know, and after a time the little plant was lost in the shuffle. It came here to GarageMahal, but was still relegated to a corner. I have a lot of corners, where there are things, projects, hopes, and ambitions, that I am waiting to address.

Recently, while caring for the tadpoles, I started sprinkling a little rain on the barely green remnants... a pitiful gesture, I know. It may not have been generous or thorough, but evidently it was effective. The little bit of effort, the token attention that I afforded the moribund orchid, gave it sufficient means to live and bloom. With hardly any soil and nothing for its roots to sit in but a tiny drained cup, the orchid produced 2 sturdy, beautiful blooms. It's hard to describe how magical and luminous they are, figuratively and actually. I see them and think of life and survival, of love and the swift passage of time. I think of loss, and the ways we cope, manage. They bring to mind my own frailties and resilience.

Now what? I thought about taking it to the nursery and asking for the latest and greatest in orchid soil technology. Should I bring it inside and shelter it from the elements and nefarious vermin? Should I continue my neglectful method... no, I don't think so. The thing is, life is even more complicated than it was 4 years ago, when I ran out of steam, and so realistically I am not sure this poor thing will ever receive the quality of care and attention it deserves.

How much care is enough? When do we know we are doing enough?

Sewing, blogging, emails and leisure reading are all on the back burner this week. My body and personal grooming have been on the back burner for about 5 months (or 5 years, depending on what is considered enough.) Home decor, organizing and playing Hostess with the Mostess has been all but abandoned for at least 2 years. We juggle. We prioritize. We drop things and get derailed and fail to do enough, then try again. I sigh deeply.

William and Alex started at a new high school on Monday. Eventually it will be a mostly homeschool experience, but this week is full of meetings and hoops to leap through. Many hoops. Many leaps. And a lot of driving. Max starts in about 10 days. More hoops.

We are still looking for a house, and the endless loop of the search is hurting and defeating and hard. I may not have blogged about certain topics a few years ago, but remaining silent does not make the truth go away or dissipate. My hope is that by sharing the uphill climb, we will finally, some day, look back from a better place and appreciate the effort we made to get there.

Max has been enjoying his birthday week and your birthday wishes have been happily received. Thank you for your kindness.

Another post. Another session of scratching the surface of deep thoughts and other musings. Speaking of musings... I wonder what would happen if I stole a few moments to look after myself... a little sprinkle, some light, a diversion. I think I know the answer... I think I might just bloom.

Missing Cable


This weekend I carried Geoff's pocket camera with me. It's small and convenient. I took pictures, just like Anne said, at Mom's Night Out. Pictures of our friends and the beautiful garden, and Yanina's lovely table with summer lights and summer colors. I took pictures at Comic-Con, where I tried to take in the vibe and action, the characters and humor. Comic-Con has almost endless points of view to consider and I look forward to distilling some of it for Chickenblog. We stopped for a visit at Holly and Rich's and I took quite a few pictures there. The children were playing in the yard, looking cute, being active, having fun... those are wonderful occasions to photograph. In all I took more than 100 photographs. And, if I knew where Geoff's cable is I would be sharing those pictures, instead of these thrift shop shots I took weeks ago.

Curious... I know allspice is good in pumpkin pie and I like nutmeg in my oatmeal cookies, but what do you put in a fiddling cowboy spice jar?

I was tempted 21 times and for 21 reasons to delete my last post, because it was sad and personal, and it is risky to be so open. It makes one vulnerable... I really appreciate the responses, the feedback and support. For one thing, saying things out loud helps me filter and sort, and even to diffuse strong emotions, so that I can make calmer, more rational choices.

Secondly, I get good advice and an outside point of view that helps me either confirm my beliefs or waken new ideas to help me move forward.

And thirdly, and this is a good one, I really love the idea of dispelling the myths and fabricated notions of what women and mothers and families are like... in other words, I love showing the challenges, the scenes that are not airbrushed and glossed over. Without personal trainers, tidy yards, nannies, sitters, trust-funds and higher than average social and financial advantages, without a publicist and stylist, some of us struggle to find all of the right answers, to know what to do or how to do it. And even the people that enjoy some or all of those niceties, even they, struggle on occasion. I find it reassuring to know I am not alone in doubting myself, in trying to be better as a human, as a mom and leader and partner and friend.


So I risk showing my dark side, my weak points and I feel awkward and lame for it, but I feel honest too. I feel true, and when others recognize my feelings and obstacles and can relate, or can empathize, sympathize or feel a connection, then I believe it is worthwhile. A conversation begins, we can help each other, we can laugh it off, and wipe our tears and we can take heart knowing that this human experience is better shared. And the exchange is awesome. All of your comments and insights and perspectives are so valuable and interesting. It's a powerful force, feeling connected, to support and be supported, and I thank you for contributing to the conversation. Because of the comments it is a conversation, and not just me whining, and I really appreciate the exchange.

Liz, you made me laugh out loud, because you narrowed down the topics to 2 key and practically insurmountable issues. Housing and perfect fit jeans?! No wonder I am overwhelmed, right?

Nikkpolani, sexing chickens is apparently an elaborate, mystical realm that is not well practiced, because the *Help! I have roosters!* posts are rampant in the chicken-blog arenas. I am not alone in this crisis! I have yet to hear anyone say "I bought poulets and I have hens, and no roosters."

Tilly, thank you. Hooray for chickens, and hooray for people who take the time to leave a comment, even if it's just, "Hi. I am reading today." Your comment is very sweet and it feels really good to hear what you said about my posts.

Tarie, thank you for the hugs. I am sending you hugs too.

Janece, we can never hope to say it all in 1 post, or in the comments. Life is too complicated, but I just love that you shared your thoughts and experiences. I am bolstered by your willingness to be honest, and by your friendship... what you told your NY friend was good... an understanding friend is a treasure. I just know we are destined to meet face to face some day, until then, thank you. Thank you for your understanding, your support. LOL, like you, I don't know where to start or end.

Anna Banana, aren't we fortunate? I feel as though through blogging we have this rich tapestry of views and ideas and wisdom, and the strength of all these wonderful women can be shared... we can share it through humor and wisdom and even through sniffling. And we are especially fortunate that we can meet in person and have a real hug from time to time.

D.A. , you're right about Laura Jane, and I am taking it all in. Thank you for the hug.

Laura Jane, "chiqa," really? I'll take it as a sign. Actually, I don't need any signs, with a friend like you. I just need to read and reread your words and frequently remind myself of all the wise and caring things you said. I believe you are in a perfect career, guiding women through labor, delivery and recovery... you have the nurturing, gentle yet firm wisdom and experience to guide women through rough patches and narrow passages. Your skills are helpful in many more stages of motherhood than just the delivery room. Thank you. Very. Much.

Campbellgirl, it's good to let Garybob off the hook a bit... just a bit! Humor helps, but I think Laura Jane is right, and we must be kind(er) to our lovely selves. Think how kind you've been to me, and I thank you for that, and consider how worthy you are too. Why do we find this difficult? You deserve to escape the bag lady mode and to slip in to something as lovely as you are.


Most times I do not know where my post is going, where to start or where to end. Hopefully I will find the camera cable and post fun pictures and share interesting details about life, the universe, MNO, flan, comic book heroes, children, chickens, friends and everything. I like it when my mom reminds me that we are works in progress. I enjoy sharing the progress with all of you. Live long and prosper.

More Strands in This Web


Anniversary dinner coincided with Cruisin' Grand, and we enjoyed an evening stroll, taking in the sights.

Some things I'll do for a friend... what can you say with 1 word? Here is what I came up with for my friend Tarie.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? amazing
3. Your hair? frazzled
4. Your mother? resourceful
5. Your father? storyteller
6. Your favorite thing? laughter
7. Your dream last night? fear
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? home
10. The room you’re in? family
11. Your hobby? blogging
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in six years? roadtrip
14. What you’re not? confident
15. Muffins? yum
16. One of your wish list items? house
17. Where you grew up? California
18. The last thing you did? dishes
19. What are you wearing? grunge
20. Favorite gadget? peeler
21. Your pets? delight
22. Your computer? iMac
23. Your mood? sad
24. Missing someone? many
25. Your car? blessing
26. Something you’re not wearing? smile
27. Favorite store? thrift
28. Like someone? Geoff
29. Your favorite color? secret
30. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? today


Red. Reminds me of all the beautiful berries everyone has been picking and canning and sharing. Like these raspberries! Have you seen Such Things? Scrumptious.


There is something so appealing about this pick-up... it evokes country roads and picnics, meeting up with friends and good cheer. Summer and picnics, summer and hikes, summer and the company of children. Good stuff.

I enjoyed reading Amanda Soule's post about 10 things she is loving, and at the bottom she asks, "And you? What are you loving right now? I am still savoring the question.

I was passing by the "Blue Yonder" and I came away with beans for my gardening friend, Anne, of "Mom, What's For Dinner?" She can make cheese!

Jennifer has been looking back and recalling happy memories of summer camp. Those have been fun to read. She also passed along a "Brillante Weblog Premio" to me, which is very sweet, because 1. she thought of me and 2. she put me in very good company. Then Lesley passed along the same award to me. Thank you Jennifer and Lesley!

I get to nominate 7 other bloggers... 7 Brillante bloggers. There are so many! I'll share the love with:

Janece and Paul and Amira. They are most brilliant!

Also very brilliant is Amy and her busy, beautiful family.

This family does not know me, but I am enjoying the stories they tell... they are brilliant.

As though making dinner every night isn't brilliant enough, I have to shout about the brilliant woman blogging about dinner every day... healthy dinner, thoughtful dinner, dinner with leftovers, new recipes, new ideas... all brilliant.

Tarie is Brillante. She writes about her greatest loves, her family and literature, and her enthusiasm is infectious.

Recently I posted about Em and her chicken quest. I hope you saw her news piece... naturally, I feel a strong allegiance to her cause. I think she is deserving of a Brillant Weblog Premio.

"Two geeks get their farm on. Chaos ensues." Seriously! How could I not award "Farm Natters" a Brillante Weblog Premio? I was hooked from the first post I read... Goose Invasion.

Is that 7, already?


Very well, then I think I should wrap this up. The children are reading several books, alternating, and reading aloud. Maria has been very enthused about playing basketball with her brothers. Geoff and I are trying to calculate how much stuff we could pack and store in anticipation of getting out of here: No, we have no destination, but we want to make a move towards our move. The lot with a trailer was nabbed by some nitwit with too much money... I am not bitter. Repeat. I am bolstered by all of your brilliant suggestions for "introducing" the hens to the landlord... obviously this calls for some creative enhancement of something approximately probable. I thank you one and all.

Chickens and So Much More!

"I have to say, for a chicken blog--I don't see many chickens. But oh well; it's all good.
--Kate, The Manic Gardener"

Do I need a disclaimer? Should I tell my story, the origins of "Chickenblog," all over again? Is it time to revisit those Chicas... Chicas of the past and present?


Lady Betty Orpington. She's a big girl now.

In the olden days, before iPhones and Blue-Ray, I gave up handwriting letters and started learning how to email family and friends. Geoff had always been computer savvy. He used to read me Internet articles back in 1990, which is only recent in geological time, but not in the context of modern technology. So, Geoff was hip and cool, but I was a total newbie and using email was a gigantic tech-step.


Amelia, The Test Pilot. She's got her wings now!

Anyway, I was writing emails to Hawaii and Wisconsin and trying to keep family caught-up with our growing family. And it never occurred to me to cut and paste, to send the same letter to multiple people... that seemed like it would be impersonal, like cheating, and besides, I could never remember the keys for cutting and pasting. In 2002 Geoff thought it was time to update the whole communication system. He thought web-logging would be the most efficient and interesting way to share news and explore a medium that was just starting to take-off.


Amelia's feet are spotty and her beak has a Groucho-'stache. I think Betty could stand in for Harpo.


Not me. No, I am a resistant, foot dragging, fearful, shy, reluctant kind of being. I still pop my corn on the stove top and I am suspicious of new fangled things, like yogurt in a tube and online banking. Microwave popcorn is not right. Bank tellers should be better dressed than me and alive, because that is just what I am used to. I just know I've told this story before. I wonder if I am telling it the same, or dressing it up?


I was kicking and screaming, but Geoff dragged me into the 20th century. Then he pulled extra hard, and managed to get me into the 21st century. My first assignment was to choose a name for my blog. Having never seen any blogs, and still not understanding what the point of blogging could be, I felt unprepared and indecisive. I didn't feel like a person with an agenda or something to sell. I did not have a hobby I wanted to share or promote. There was no creative impulse to drive me, and so no inspired, literary, introspective, artistic or appropriate names came to mind. We had just adopted 4 chicks, the most happy and daring thing had done since having babies, and chickens were foremost in my thoughts. They were new and funny and a source of pleasure for our family, as we were beginning a new chapter in our lives. Our Rancho lives, living in a fixer-upper in the country, learning how to operate a tractor and battle gophers. Amused and distracted by our 4 chicas, I chose "Chickenblog" as the name of the blog.


I see Kate's point. There aren't many chickens for a chicken blog. And, sadly, there were many years with no chickens at all. Chickenblog is about my dreams of having chickens, it's about the whimsy of chickens, it's about me feeling giddy and optimistic when I think of chickens. Chickenblog is my letter to family and friends, a family journal, a way to connect. It's about chickens of the past, like the one we bought for a dime, when we were living in Guatemala, or the ones Santa brought us when my brothers and I were really little kids. Chickenblog is about the chickens we brought home in May 2002, and the new flock we started this year. Chickenblog is about not knowing better and thinking my blog needed to call itself a blog. Chickenblog is about me and us and our stories and deep thoughts and other musings, and sometimes I think I write like a chicken... hunting and pecking at the keyboard, scratching the surface and looking for good things, crowing and noisily clucking when I feel good or scared or excited.


I am amused when I think of how reluctant and confused I felt when I started blogging... Almost like a headless chicken. Just kidding. Creepy, I know. Sorry. (lol) I could not see the big picture or where things would head. There is a lot we take for granted about blogs now, and there are almost as many blogs out there as there are themes and motivations... it's funny to me, thinking about the early days. 6 years ago was a long time ago in the world of web logging. I wonder where we will be 6 years from now...


I know where we were 19 years ago. We were catching our breathes, grinning, happily just married. Happy Anniversary Geoff. Still grinning. Still happy. It is all good.

Undeservedly Proud*


This morning I opened my email and scrolled down until I didn't want to scroll down any more, it was a random choice, and I began responding to emails and comments. I made 36 separate and personal emails. Some were solicited, some were not, most were long overdue, and I think my efforts represent something like 2% of what I should have done in the last, oh, let's say 12 or 13 months. And while I will emphasize my inadequacies in the department of "Prompt and Polite," I have to say I feel really super-proud of myself.


If you have not received an email or comment from me today:
1. The day is young (in California.)
2. I have to keep Chango's vet appointment.
3. I have every good intention of being super and effective and wonderful.
4. I may never get around to it.
Sorry about that last bit, but it's honest and honesty must count for something.

It's like I told my friend Tarie, I am sorry if I have neglected you, but consider: You are in good company. I have been neglecting everyone, especially me.

If our good deeds are sparks, then I hope I am starting a fire.


*Now, Maria has plenty of reasons to be proud... just look at this picnic she has set out for us. She made a layer cake. See the peas? She makes most of her cakes with peas. She's such a sweetie.

Thank You. Muchas Gracias.


Writing about Mexico and memories felt like a private memorial, that I had to get out of my head. Part therapy, part record keeping, so that my children could understand me and how I was feeling. I couldn't leave with 1 hour's notice, at 11 p.m. Monday night, to drive 16 hours for my abuelo's funeral. I was sad enough that he died, and I think I was even sadder to realize I was missing an opportunity to say goodbye, to share my story and hear theirs. Having always felt some uncertainty about my ability to write effectively about my memories and feelings, and being reluctant to commit to saying things out loud, writing this post was liberating and personal. It also felt as though I have barely crossed the threshold of a part of my life, of a hundred stories, of things I know and believe, but have yet to give a voice to.

Blogging can be a lonely business. I've been writing for a while. Some posts are nearly pointless, and some posts are full of my deepest thoughts and happiest musings. As much as I have wanted to be a good writer, to reach people and start a conversation, I have mostly resigned myself to the puzzled looks from family and friends, and feeling like a goof. Receiving comments is a relatively new pleasure, and it is wonderful. Bloggers, you know it's true: feedback, encouragement, connection, community, discussions and exchanges are the fuel and frosting that top the blogging cake.

Thank you for your comments. You may have convinced me I can say things, say them well enough to start a conversation that we can all share. But mostly, because of what you shared with me, I felt like I had kind and tender company as I sorted my thoughts and feelings and began to say goodbye to my abuelo, to chapters and days that in some ways are forever beyond my reach. I could not be at the funeral, where they say it rained for days, and the lightning did not wait for the thunder, but lit the night sky with every percussion. I could not be there to hold my abuela and to share the grief, and the healing that comes with company. I have been to too many funerals in the last year, and I have seen enough death and loss to understand that support and compassion are a tremendous resource for comfort and courage. Thank you for reading about my abuelo, about things I am trying to make sense of, and feelings I want to hold on to. Thank you for responding and encouraging me, for being supportive and compassionate... it helps. I feel less alone.


I think I have been afraid to post again, because I was pretty sure I wouldn't be as eloquent or interesting as I seemed to have managed in my last post. What? I'm not too proud to admit positive feedback felt really good. Really good. So, maybe I will slip back into mediocrity and obscurity. Maybe I have the rough draft of the next best seller, but writing is like surfing. Some days you paddle, paddle, paddle and never get a ride.


And some days you catch a wave.


Perhaps every post won't be an exhilarating ride, but I am hooked on blogging, and I love looking through the archives and seeing my children, recalling the things they've done and said. I love reminding myself that there have been good days and bad days, and I am still around to know the difference.


Independence Day was a good day. I planned a long day at the beach with the children, expecting Geoff would work, as he usually has to, but he exchanged this day for working the weekend (which he usually does) and he joined us for an entire day of surf, sand and sun fog.


Truthfully, I love the fog. It was overcast, but warm, and it made it easier to play all day, without feeling scorched. We dug a private pool for Maria. Max, Geoff and William did a lot of bodysurfing. The beach was crowded and happy. We had chips and dip. I love chips and dip. We ate strawberries, we walked, we built drip castles.


It didn't stay crowded. By late afternoon the beach was deserted, and we enjoyed a very foggy walk, collecting all kinds of treasure along the way. Suddenly I decided to tile our shower with the smooth stones that cover our beaches. Not the shower here, at Garage Mahal. The shower in our own, future, imaginary, hopeful, some day house. I walked back to our base-camp carrying about 15 pounds of shower tiles. It's a start.


Someone got hold of my camera. Notice my relaxed, at ease expression?

Nothing's ever as easy as I think it should be. This day, this no-stress day at the beach was days in the planning and took hours to prepare and pack for. I was totally absorbed in making an idyllic, classic sort of celebration. I even envisioned presenting one of those clever fruit decorated flag cakes. So, you know, I was scurrying around, gathering towels, finding swim shorts, hats, sunblock and anticipating every need and patriotic whim. And finally, we were ready to head out. Stop for gas, and pick up ice, then the beach, and our beautiful celebration of freedom and family time. In the market I grabbed an extra bag of corn chips and a magazine to read while lounging luxuriously, and I kept noting how terrific everyone looked. Cute T-shirts, red, white and blue details, and snazzy summer sandals. Everyone was looking dressed for a holiday. It wasn't until then that I realized I had forgotten an important detail... I was still in my pajamas. 'nough said.


I let the children decorate the Fourth of July Fruit Flag Cake.


It was beautiful.


It was a very good day.

A Post So Happy, It Bears Repeating!

Pulled from the archives and presented in all it's glory, I offer you:

From Sea to Shining Sea: California

Happy Fourth of July and Welcome to California!
This is a post about California, in conjunction with the "Pikes Peak Promise Project."



California is big. This isn't bragging or merely stating the obvious. This is a disclaimer, because I can hardly hope to write a post that represents or summarizes an entire state as large and varied as this state. If you need a history refresher, I offer this Wikipedia link for a California overview. My post is personal and reflective, a pictorial tour of places I've seen and people I have met in California.

California A-Z


A is for Apples

There are apple orchards in California. I've been to several in Julian, where we picked our own apples, and where they are famous for their apple pies. Last year we discovered Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville, where we saw apple trees and ate Olallieberries. While in Watsonville you may want to "Drink Your Apple a Day... Watsonville is home to world famous Martinelli's Sparkling Cider. I still enjoy drinking their apple juice and remembering how much I loved having it as a treat when I was growing up. Wherever you live, it's a treat to eat locally and discover what's growing in your state and community.


B is for Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a cultural haven located in San Diego. It's home to the San Diego Zoo, museums and theaters. It's the kind of place you can go and find something to do or see, something to appreciate, no matter the time of year, no matter your budget. I used to volunteer at the Old Globe Theater, where I could see live theater and enjoy evenings with my boyfriend. We were married in Balboa Park. Now we take our children to the museums, the gardens, the playgrounds and to this reflection pond. Walking alone can fill an entire day.


C is for Cannery Row
For me, John Steinbeck's writing evokes California, the beauty and the darkness, the promise of its fertile valleys and bounty of the rich coastal waters. I learned about my home state from his tide pool descriptions and my compassion for men and women deepened from reading his stories about Cannery Row. True, Cannery Row today is a tourist destination and souvenir shop-riddled-jumble, that Steinbeck would have scorned, but if you've read his books, if you've pictured the places he painted in words, you can still find his Cannery Row. I still find it worthwhile to visit.



D is for Daniel
Daniel cuts our hair, and he has been cutting our hair for 8 years. He knows our names and remembers our interests. He's one of those people that makes you feel at home, like a part of the community. I like to set aside time enough for haircuts and for visiting when I go to Daniel's. Someone always pops in and then we get to meet someone new from the neighborhood. There are cold sodas and water in his mini-fridge and he keeps a great selection of magazines next to the bench by the window. It's so nice to slow down and enjoy the company at Daniel's.


E is for Eureka
This quote is from the California State Library web page, where they describe all kinds of state symbols: "The Greek word "Eureka" has appeared on the state seal since 1849 and means "I have found it". The words were probably intended to refer to the discovery of gold in California. Archimedes, the famed Greek mathematician, is said to have exclaimed "Eureka!" when, after long study, he discovered a method of determining the purity of gold. In 1957, attempts were made to establish "In God We Trust" as the state motto, but "Eureka" was made the official state motto in 1963." I found our "Eureka" on the side of the San Diego Museum of Man building, in Balboa Park. I guess it's been there since the Panama-California Exposition of 1915.


F is for Flowers
There are a lot flower fields in California. These flowers are growing in Carlsbad. They're ranunculus, which bloom in the spring. It's amazing to be in the center of these fields, with acres of bold color all around. The California Poppy is the state flower. I can't think of a flower I haven't seen growing in California, from commercial grower's poinsettias and the beautiful floral bouquets that are grown organically to the backyard roses, zinnias, sunflowers and bouganvilla... I love the bounty and variety of flowers we get to enjoy.


G is for Guest
Maybe you have family or friends in California. It's so nice to be a welcome guest in someone's home. We've had the pleasure of being tourists in our own state and we once were overnight guests at the historic and beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. It was an anniversary celebration, and yes, we brought the children. The Del sits between the Pacific and the San Diego Harbor, and the sights are wonderful. We rented a boat and toured the harbor, where there are fishing boats and Navy ships. At Christmas the Del sets up a skating rink, so that it's possible to walk on the sand, then ice skate, then enjoy a sumptuous brunch in the Crown Room. Okay, so this isn't something to do every weekend, but as a special treat, it doesn't disappoint.


H is for Horse
How about "H is for Humor?" There's plenty of good humor in California, and I thought this was a particularly artful example. Last year the children and I were visiting the Central Coast and we stumbled on this horse on the porch. I never tire of the drive from Ventura County along the 1 or the 101, right up to San Francisco. In between the sight of small farms, the rugged coast, the majesty and serenity of Big Sur, the rolling hills dotted with oaks... it all inspires me. I marvel at the abundance and variety that is represented in this small section of California. I think how luxurious it would be to visit the entire state, driving and stopping as the mood hits... it would be a very long, very full road trip. It would take a good deal of humor to manage it with four children.


I is for India... The Star of India
The San Diego Maritime Museum is home to several historical ships, including Star of India, and from "Master and Commander," H.M.S. Surprise. We've toured these ships with the children... it makes for a fun explore. Grade school students sometimes have an opportunity to spend a working night aboard Star of India. I've heard it's quite an experience and one that teaches tough lessons in ship life. The times we've been aboard these ships we are always struck by the tight quarters and the challenging circumstances people must have endured during long sea voyages. After the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill thousands of people 'rushed' to California from all over the world on ships like these.


J is for Juggle
I guess California has a reputation for being hectic... it's true for the big cities where people are juggling a lot of things, and staying wired. Probably places like Santa Monica are most notorious for a rat race pace. Traffic, cell phones, agents, personal trainers, life coaches, nannies... it's all there. It's fun to visit. It's fun to see the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, the Beach and the Canyon. There is a strange buzz there, an expectancy. There are paparazzi lurking, waiting, and then there are homeless people lurking and waiting. And then there are the People Magazine cover people slipping past in fast cars, strolling in dark glasses. Seen and unseen. Societal extremes are existing in the same square blocks, together and yet far apart. I get the feeling that if you could package Hope, you could sell it in Santa Monica.



K is for King
My apologies. I haven't got a king. I offer you a Queen: Niki de Saint Phalle's "Queen Califia's Magic Circle." We discovered this and more sculpture in a neighborhood park with winding trails, that went on seemingly forever. Everything was still under construction and we felt like we had discovered a magical land. They were building a fantasy of shapes and colors, all from the imagination of Niki de Saint Phalle. We haven't been back to see the finished park. I kind of enjoy remembering it in the twilight, when it was emerging and we were alone to unravel it's magic.



L is for La Jolla
The Jewel. Joya is spanish for jewel and this coastal community is quite lovely, especially from the water. We used to snorkel and dive here. Jumping from the cliffs was strongly discouraged then and it's illegal now. For a small fee you can climb the stairs from the Shell Shop that lead down into the cliff where you can look out the cave and to the sandstone cliffs of Torrey Pines and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. It's a marine sanctuary and still a wonderful place to snorkel and swim.



M is for Mariachi
California was once a part of Mexico, and it wasn't so long ago either, so the music of the mariachi is very much at home here. We like Mariachi Divas. The day we saw them performing our daughter, Maria, stood up and danced to every song. She was in love with their powerful voices, the rich music from the violins, guitars and trumpets. She danced and they played for her. Because children can be so enthusiastic, sincere and expressive, it became one of those unique experiences that is emotionally moving and happy.


N is for November
This is the sunset from last Thanksgiving. I can enjoy Thanksgiving anytime, anywhere. Like the 4th of July, it's one of those holidays that most of us, as Americans, can enjoy and appreciate together. We have our individual traditions and expectations, but for the most part the rituals are universal. For Thanksgiving it's all about the shared work of preparing a feast and then sharing our gratitude for all we are blessed with. Thanksgiving in California has all the usual trimmings. I know it's just as special in Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada, Oregon and Hawaii.



O is for Oaks
A few years ago I bought a book all about oak trees in California, and as soon as we unpack it, I want to read it and finally learn all about one of my all time favorite trees. I feel like I am not doing the tree justice by merely stating that I really, really love oak trees. I do really, really love them though. They strike me as wise and weathered, enduring. They are not smooth and welcoming, in a "climb me" sense, but I do feel invited to sit beneath their broad and shady canopy. In noon day sun or in morning mist, they stir my soul with romantic notions of Old California, pioneers, and ranchitos. If I could fly, I would be over the rolling hills and visiting the oak trees.



P is for Pipes
If you come to California, make your way to the coast and when you get hungry talk to the surfers. The surfers know where to find affordable, tasty food served by people who understand Aloha. Surfers work up an appetite, they live to surf, so money can be tight and the aloha? Well surfing is Hawaiian, so I guess they just pick it up along with the waves. We like to go to Pipes. Everyone likes to go to Pipes. The service is always with a smile and sometimes with music too, and the food is tasty.


Q is for Quiet
Mountain quiet. Idyllwild is a place with mountain views and quiet forests. We like to go there in hopes of finding snow. When we haven't found snow, we've still enjoyed hikes, playing games in front of a cabin fireplace and walking in to town for dinner. We like to meet friends there and enjoy a long weekend of breathing pine scented air and wearing wool socks. It's nice to find a place different home, and yet not so far away from home. California offers plenty of choices when you want to enjoy something different.



R is Rocks
We take them for granite! All over California, there are a lot of big granite rocks. No, I don't really take them for granted. I love them. I love the bold boulderness of them and how much fun they are to climb, cross, jump, and sit on. When our youngest son remembers this county park, he always mentions the huge rock he climbed, without any help. I hope he always enjoys that sense of power and pride that comes from climbing something that seemed insurmountable.


S is for Swami's
Dude. All long the California coast are hot little surf spots, where the locals chill and the surf is superfine. Check the surf report before grabbing your board, but you don't need to surf to enjoy the view. When the tide is low, you can visit the tidal pools. Animals are protected here, so no souvenirs, but take plenty of pictures. Watch for dolphins, and in winter, gray whales migrating south.


T is for Tall Trees
These are the big trees of Calaveras Big Trees State Park. California is blessed with big trees and big, tall trees. On the Northern California coast are the world's tallest trees: The Coast Redwoods. They have been verified to be as old as 2,200 years old, and are as tall as 350 feet. Inland, around the Sierra Nevada Mountains are the big trees, where one tree, the Discovery Tree, was measured to be 24' in diameter! We walked across the stump of the Discovery Tree, where many years ago they used it as a dance floor. We hope these trees can be left to grow, protected and appreciated.



U and V for Unbelievable Views
There is a great little mountain I know of where the views are big. It's called Stonewall Peak and if you're lucky enough to know some climbers, or you are one yourself, then you can enjoy the added bonus of doing some rappelling. My brother has taken me twice, and though I have no natural inclination to drop from great heights, I have to say rapelling is an awesome way to spend the day. Not far from Stonewall is a place where you can stand on the mountain and look straight to the desert floor below. The views from there are quite dramatic.



W is for Wild Sage
If I closed my eyes I might still know I was in California, if I could smell the sage. It grows wild and the fragrance of it is spicy, herbal, almost pungent. It is a sacred plant and used in healing and cleansing rituals... I thought I'd include a link here, but all the sites I found were supposedly spiritual and yet they all too anxiously rushed the customer to the Paypal button. My mother taught me how to gather small, personal bundles of sage, not harvest it for commercial profit, and to keep it handy, for use like incense.



X,Y and Z are for California
This van was parked in Santa Barbara, and I dare say it must have an X, Y and Z on it somewhere. It had something all over it. California... I've heard we're like granola, a bunch of flakes, fruits and nuts! That's cool. I love it here. I love the people and the optimism. I love the creativity. I love that we are home to research centers, technology and development, that we make movies and music, and waves and we ride out the storms, earthquakes and fires. It's not just for this state that my heart feels a kindred tug. All these 50 states, each blessed with strengths and grace, are good and beautiful and home. We like to feel a sense of pride for where we live and grow, and I like to remember that our greatest blessing is our union, as a country, as a society. We are more capable and more beautiful when we unite... "America, America. God shed his grace on thee. And crowned thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!"

Access!
We are here. "Here" being the Oregon Coast, grandma and grampa's house. We pulled in to the driveway Sunday afternoon. My Mommy was standing on her porch, and it was welcome sight. The chicas survived and so did we, and at last we were able to give Delia gentle, loving hugs, to see for ourselves that in time and with tender care she will be well again.

Geoff is back at Garage Mahal again. He flew south early Monday morning. We miss him already... imagine how much more I will miss him when we drive home without him. Sigh.

So. I have about 42 different things and thoughts I would like to share and record, but there are obstacles in the way. For one thing, I had to drive in to town, find a wifi cafe and figure all of that out. The children are settling in to their lunch, Maria has stopped whining about the strange pizza. Everything is "strange" when you are 3 years old and far from home, missing your daddy. The dial-up modem at the house is s l o w. (Sorry Mom, Ron, but it has to be said.) I can't post, because the cookies are disabled and the Internet service times-out in between pages. It gives me a tremendous appreciation for my mother and the fact that she manages to read Chickenblog at all.

Ironically, having 42 things I want to post about, I cannot decide on 1 subject to post about. It's hard to get in to the groove sitting in a public place, with my salad staring at me.

It's cold here... warmer today, but still colder than what we are used to.

I saw a 7 or 8 inch banana slug.

There are many, many flowers in bloom.

I came to see my Mommy, to help, to comfort. I feel like I could leave in a few days or stay the rest of the summer. You see, Ron is taking really good care of her. He is methodical and protective, nurturing. It is very comforting to me, to know she is loved and in such good care. She will need constant assistance and attention for many months. I think I am being helpful somewhat. Cooking, and retrieving this and that is good, and I plan on vacuuming, cleaning the fridge and doing some laundry, but... I dunno. I can see where we might be disrupting the rhythm they need to establish. The children are being good, and we are managing to not get in the way, but sometimes one person's idea of being out of the way cannot match another's. Does this make sense?

So, I need to find the balance: Stay long enough to help and leave before we impose, or wear them out.

Who wants to hear about the feed store at the end of the street? Alex, Maria and I walked there this morning. It's very close, and a dear place to visit. It's not at all fancy or meant to impress with first impressions, but the people that run it take in abandoned animals and to the best of their ability make them comfortable and safe, feed and shelter them. We were approached by a coal black pot bellied pig and Maria was astonished by the sight of her. She made a constant snuffling noise and lookied imploringly at us, and Maria launched in to a full scale dialogue with "BP." When BP ran along the fence line, trying to follow us, Maria pulled my hand and said, "I have to tell her sumpting." So, we paused, and Maria consoled BP, "You live here. I'm sorry. You cannot come to grandma's house. This is your house. Sorry pig."

We also met a very purrfect momma kitty and her woolly black kitten. We saw 3 rabbits and a few hens, 3 horses and a dog. The feed store is full of old things and collections, odds and ends, it smells sweet of alfalfa, there are treasures to be discovered. Walking back to Ron and Delia's Alex saw a quail, and we anticipated the buckets full of blackberries that will be coming. Now the spiny shrubs are full of blossoms, but we remember the sweet black jewels we enjoyed last summer.

Uh. What is free wifi protocol? We did order lunch and we aren't takng seats during a busy spell, but I do feel as though we should move on. Yes, time to move on. The children are looking at me a bit desperately, a bit b o r e d.

Geoff hopes I will do this everyday, but I think when he sees what we paid for lunch, he might settle for every other day!

Chickens Make Me Happy



A few years ago, missing our 2 acres and the 3 chicas we left behind, I decided to search the internet for other chicken bloggers. I Googled "chickens," "farmgirls," "cowgirls," and "garden loving, quilting, blogging women who miss their 2 acres and the chickens they left behind." I found so many lucky ladies, so many talented women, so many backyard hen farmers. It was sweet and sad. Makes me ashamed to admit, but I would pout and sigh and mumble, "They're living my life!" It's true. Sometimes I throw the saddest pity parties. But the sweet part kept me coming back for more and my appreciation and admiration grew.

I could not resist seeing what new ventures Farmgirl Susan and her sheep and chickens were up to. And I could practically smell good stuff coming out of her kitchen.


Then I would head over to "I Heart Small Farms" and posts like this would make me swoony and melancholy, and give me a yearning to know where and when and how I might find my way back to a garden of my own, to critters and free range hens. Other people's blogs open the world to me, and the best ones make me want to be better.


A good friend, smart and very well traveled, once said something like this: The highlight of any trip abroad is meeting someone from your own neighborhood. I love this. It rings so true and sweet. I remember when I was 10 years old and walking around in a tiny city in Central America. My brothers and I wandered into a barber shop, where an old (remember, I was 10) guy was enjoying a haircut. How did we figure out he was from the United States? I don't recall. But when we did figure out he was our compatriot, we were unmerciful. We could not be dissuaded from asking him everything under the sun about home. Even at my tender age I was aware that he was pestered by us, but it didn't matter... the 3 of us did our level best to get him all caught-up with our latest obsession. How could he not want us to tell him the entire plot of "Star Wars?" We were more than happy to reunite him with the bliss of American media and pop culture. OKay, maybe that isn't the best example of meeting someone from home while abroad, but it's the story I think of.


I think discovering some blogs is like traveling abroad and coming across someone that is just like me, or like the me I would like to be. I have had this lifetime of interests and quirks that I thought were mine alone, that I rarely shared anywhere or with anyone, and then in the blogosphere I kept encountering all of these people who were quirky like me. Frankly, I still find it shocking... not only are there other women who love aprons and vintage things, old sheets and mismatched dishes, crochet and patchwork, backyard hens, teacups, embroidery, taking pictures of anything and everything... not only was I finding people that shared all of these interests, passions and obsessions, but they were celebrating their interests. They are publishing, making, collecting, writing and enthusing their dreams and ideals. They are writing about creativity and conservation, about gardens and home schooling, about cooking and making and loving home and family.


Sometimes I feel like that 10 year old me, aching to connect with someone, anyone that speaks my language. Aching to share what I know, to point out how much we are alike. I feel that way when I visit "Posie gets cozy." It's like, "Hey, Alicia! I love what you do," and I am waving my arms in the air. "You and I have a lot in common. We could be friends!" I laugh out loud, because I recognize that yearning to feel connected and I know how funny it can seem too. So, when "Red Hen Studios" posts about old pillowcases and baby birds and boys and thrifting, I feel like I am visiting with a friend, a compatriot. I could say, "I like what you've done, and I've done something like that too," and she'd get it.

All those links in the sidebar lead to friends and strangers, and inspiration, to people who raise the bar, open doors, flip a switch and shine a light. The list keeps growing.

And truthfully, sometimes I still open a blog and sigh, she's living my life. I want so much and I want so little. I cannot apologize for wishing and hoping and wanting the things that I want. I can pause and give thanks for the good I do have, for the health of my children and the love of my family, for the community I enjoy in blogging.


This is one of those pauses. I have been hearing from other bloggers about the chicks and how much they want chicks, and I want to say, I recognize you. I know how you feel. I've been there. I am so lucky, I know. Laugh out loud with me, would you? Those chicks are so cute and stinky! They make the hugest mess, and I change the papers 2 and 3 times a day. They aren't half as cute as they were the 1st day, and they are growing so darned fast! Seriously, what was I thinking?! Sure, I am being daring and bold, but this might backfire at any moment, if we can't find a house of our own or if the landlord makes one of his unannounced visits. I keep having panic attacks about Benjamin taking advantage of an open door and a free moment alone with the chicas. How would that post read?: "The cat ate the birds. All are sad. Bad mom, bad." Gad, wouldn't that be horrible?! Enjoy the chicas with me and I will try to keep it real!


So, there is the 'whole picture' and still, I love my chicas. The chicks make me so happy. And there was a time when I would have said little or nothing, just downplaying my interests and happiness, but I don't want to be that way any more. On the contrary, I am seeking more opportunities to say I am living my own life! My own quirky life. My life with cowgirl boots and suburban chicks, with graying hair and thrift shop skirts, with homeschooled children, and big dreams. Gee, I just love these moments, however rare, when I feel like I might possibly be progressing, maturing, learning. And I hope you find ways to live your very own life too. It's a hoping-wishing feeling, because I think it would be wonderful if we could all enjoy the things that make us happy. So, I hope you can make some dreams come true and find friends to share your quirks with, and if we have some things in common, I hope you'll visit again and we can laugh out loud together.

So, I've Been Wondering...

Being that someone forgot to load the dishwasher and there is laundry that needs folding, I thought I would ask some questions. Then post some pictures, then formulate some deep thoughts and other musings, proofread, tweak and adjust, and generally dabble in the blog. After that I hope to accomplish all sorts of good things, including sending birthday cards to my brothers, going on a 42 mile fitness walk, getting may hair cut and styled, and finding someone that can potty train chickens. All in a days work. Uh. You do know when I am lying, right?


Now, about those questions... and really, you don't have to answer them, but if you have ideas that you must share, then please do share them... there are some things that have been running around my head and I haven't been able to resolve them on my own. I am never too proud to seek help... must come from practice!

1. Should I alphabetize my sidebar list of links? Or, I could put them in alphabetized categories. You may have noticed they are a random jumble, which might seem unorganized. Actually they are organized for me, and it's my mind that is jumbled and sees them as organized. Never mind. I just wonder if alphabetizing them is necessary or would be appreciated. It's very unlikely I will get around to doing anything about this. Did I mention there are dirty dishes in the kitchen? Lots of them.

2. Should I reply to comments in the comments section? I know, I've visited this theme before, but I never seem to resolve it in a satisfactory manner. Some bloggers are positively amazing about answering all of their emails and responding to comments... I am thinking of "Nikkipolani" and "Pink Purl" and "Lemon Tree Tales, for example.

I read all of the comments and I love them, and I am not sure they always require a response from me. So many comments have a "no reply" email and I cannot write back. If I respond to comments in the comments section, will you know to look there? It seems to work for "Nikkipolani" and "Oh My Stinkin' Heck." I know I will never have my act sufficiently together to answer every remark, but neither do I want to seem uncaring and indifferent. I love your comments. Love them!



3. Not sure there actually is a 3rd question.

4. Running out of steam here.

5. Probably should be doing other things.

6. Should Max have peanut butter and jelly for breakfast? Too late. I already took care of that one!


Maria is slicing and serving apple pie. Later, when I asked her to clean up her picnic, she rolled the whole lot in the table cloth and said proudly, "All done." Oh, dear, where does this come from? No, don't answer that. That was rhetorical.


More pie?

No chick flicks today. You should run over and see what Kim's done with Betty's picture! I think Kim and I should go in to business together and make a whole book of chicken dolls.

Now, if you are wondering about the tadpoles, I do have an update there: They are frogpoles! Half tadpole and half frog! And they are getting really hard to photograph, because they have become fast and camera shy. Otherwise, I am happy to report that the whole tadpole experiment is going swimmingly!

Flying High


This link will take you in the way-back machine to the day, last summer, when Calamity Kim sent us chicken aprons and so much more. Go back in time and acquaint yourself with Kim's talents and generosity, and then come back here, because she's up to something again and I cannot wait to share it!

So, if you followed the link, then you've seen those beautiful aprons, so full of handmade love and whimsy. Hanging beside me is the cupcake pennant. I can see the yellow felt cut-out chicken... it sits on my lamp. Kim's gifts are as fresh and appreciated as ever. We still marvel at her kindness and generous nature. Just 2 weeks ago Maria was wearing her apron in a lovely little antique and vintage shop, and she had all the women there in giddy bliss with Kim's apron and that delightful egg pocket. I credit Kim with bringing Chickenblog out of the shadows and in to the sunlight; she is a very generous promoter of other people's blogs.

And the fun continues. Calamity Kim has joined our chicky celebration, our rebellious outlaw act of bringing home chicks. I love that she wants to share in the fun of raising chicks, and hopefully we are not headed for a calamity of our own! Seriously, I keep thinking of a quote someone shared with me a long time ago: Where chickens are outlawed, outlaws will have chickens! Kim has fashioned a new apron for Maria to wear while feeding her chicks. And if we are outlaws, at least we will look good, thanks to Kim! You can expect to see lots of pictures when the apron arrives.

By now you may have noticed we are having a lot of fun with our cameras and movie making. I have never shared my other obsession, which is making iMovie DVDs. Geoff made it possible for us to share short movies on the blog. For those of you not able to run Quick Time movies I apologize, and Geoff wants to assure everyone that he is working on getting software installed that will make the movies postable and accessible to more readers. Yes, we want everyone to share in the unbridled pleasure of seeing our chicas take flight and run in slow-motion! Speaking of which...




In real time Amelia's bungled take-off looked mild and much like any of her other bungled take-offs. Rest assured no chicks were harmed in this documentary.

It Was a Short Break

Some break, huh? It would seem I am a compulsive writer. I never meant to quit Chickenblog or to stop posting for more than a week or 2. Posting is time consuming and I know I should be applying a whole lot of energy, mental and physical, to figuring out what the heck we are going to do next. My hand is unaccustomed to writing with pen and paper, so I come to the computer, to the familiar glow of the monitor and the friendly tap-tap of my keyboard and I pour my feelings and thoughts out, sort them. I think meditation and journaling would be good for me, and maybe Chickenblog is my meditation and journal. Certainly I look more productive typing at a desk, than if I would, if sat in the lotus position, eyes closed, burning incense. Even this is something I may just keep in a file, and then Geoff says, "Chickenblog is the good and the bad. Don't stop posting."

Last night I realized that our barely 1 week new chick was failing to thrive. She was so listless and small. She always was petite, but last night she looked fragile and faint. She wouldn't eat. I could barely coax her to sip water from my finger tip. Her only interest was in sitting in the palm of my hand. Pip and Betty scratched and ate, they explored their enclosure and took long drinks of water, tilting their heads back, the way they do. And Lola could not even hold her wings up; they hung by her sides, her eyes were mostly closed. She dropped her beak on my hand. I slept and woke, tossed and turned all night, lying on the ground beside their cage. I woke every time they moved. They stirred every time I moved. And every time I looked, I would see Lola, standing apart. A few times she was at the feeder, even taking little bites and it made me hopeful. Her sisters slept together sprawled like sunbathers beneath the heat lamp. The last time I saw Lola she was looking at me, and then she was gone. Geoff woke me around 5 in the morning to say that she had died. I knew she was going to die. I even wondered if I should have helped her with that.

Do you know what this feels like? To lose this sweet little chick, my symbol of daring and making our own destiny? It is a sad, sad blow to my hope, to my faith. This is an unhappy blogiversary. I am glad I chose to take a break. What could I write about today? 'Our chick died... ?' 'I finally unpacked our bedroom and moved in, and now the landlord wants us to get ready to move out... ?' Do I believe in signs? Yes, I guess I do look for indicators of my fortune, good or bad, of our destiny. It does not look good. It has not looked good for some time. That's not all together grateful. I love my husband and my children. We are not destitute. We enjoy many blessings. It's just that there has been a steady stream of setbacks, delays, wrenching events, health challenges and stresses that gnaw away at my morale. Poor Lola. Sweet, Lola. I held her up to my children as a sign that we were moving forward, that life is good.

We buried Lola in the second barrel. The first wine barrel already has some carrots and a tomato plant growing in it. I haven't planted the other one, so now we will buy flowers to plant in it. Geoff took out a wood burner and engraved the side of the barrel. Lola's Garden. I couldn't bury her in the yard here, at Garage Mahal. The yard is too full of prickly plants, and it would mean leaving her behind. I cannot bear to leave anything behind any more. The barrel looks so pretty with her name on it. I hope we can keep flowers growing in it, looking pert and bright like she did. Maria keeps asking when we can bring Lola back out of the garden, when she will be well enough to come out. We tell her Lola couldn't be a chicken any more and has decided to grow as a flower. Are there chickens in heaven?

6 Years? Must Be Time For a Break

Celebrating the 6 years of blogging puts one in a reflective mood, and hearing from one's landlord puts one in a packing mood.
Net effect: I think it's time for a little break from blogging. Well, only until I cannot resist the urge to post a chicken picture or share a quote from one of my
delightful and brilliant children.

As promised, the highlight of our blogiversary is the Heifer International Chick Giveaway. We heard from many readers, even some new names popped up, and it's been wonderful. Thank you for joining our party. Inspired by your support of Chickenblog, and motivated by our own desire to share something good with the world, we are giving 6 families flocks of chicks.

Here is what Heifer International has to say about chicks:

A flock of chicks can help families from Cameroon to the Caribbean add nourishing, life-sustaining eggs to their inadequate diets.

The protein in just one egg is a nutritious gift for a hungry child. Protein-packed eggs from even a single chicken can make a life-saving difference.

Heifer helps many hungry families with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks. A good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year - plenty to eat, share or sell.

Because chickens require little space and can thrive on readily available food scraps, families can make money from the birds without spending much. And chickens help control insects and fertilize gardens.

Enough About Me...

Favorite joke of mine goes something like this: Oh, I've been talking about myself all evening. You've hardly had a chance to speak. So, what do you think of me?


Here is the final lineup: Pip, Lola and Betty. No, it's not an illusion. Pip towers over her sisters. She looked much smaller in the store.

Besides a few updates from critters here at Garage Mahal, I want today's post to be all about the world outside our domain. And good timing too, because I am still in denial, shocked really, by Wednesday's news. Feh.

First order of business: Joy! It's all about connecting, this internet and blogging stuff. So, I read "No Ordinary Moment," which gives me art and insight, and from there I meet a new friend at "Clearing the Air" and she's got these 5 beautiful children, more art and insight, and a friend in the middle of something big: An adoption, which they have been chronicling at "The Intersection" and at their blog, where they say: "The better we tell our stories, the better we want to live them." The joy is that they have just received a green light to go to Africa and bring home their 2 children. Gee, it sounds so easy, so happy ending, but trust me it has been a long road, a real labor and I think their happy ending is really a result of their faith and dedication to making a difference in the lives of these two children. And the journey is just picking up speed. Ahead: A flight to Sierra Leone!

"Apples and Ostriches Don't Mix." Headline from the morning paper? No, it's the latest post from "Em and the Gang." Em is a North Carolina woman, "mom, wife, student, babysitter, business owner," asking, "I never have enough time for everything I want to do each day -how about you?" I hear ya, Em. I hear ya!" If I mention her awesome giveaway, you might win the apron that I covet... such a dilemma...


I promised critter updates. You've heard about our 3 chicks and my daring madness, but we haven't said much about the tadpoles in a while. They are growing. We can count about 12 of them in our aquarium-pond. The smallest ones still look like little sperm or big sperm, to be more accurate. The larger ones, the ones that were starting to form legs, now have actual back legs. It's strange, because the legs were fused just beneath the tail and then I noticed that they just sort of separated, unfolded, and now they are fully formed little froggy legs. It's so cool!


Metamorphosis is strange and wondrous.

While we are on the subject of "critters," check out this critter! As a certain blogger would say, "Oh, my stinkin' heck!" That statement will make more sense if you actually follow the link and see for yourself the big, angry opossum Heather caught in her backyard. She wrote all about the "not so cute" critter in her most recent post, and the fun continues when you read the comments her readers left behind. It seems there are 2 camps in the 'possum debate, and "DaisyCake" left some well informed facts and tidbits about opossums.

Did you know:
"*Possums date back to the days of the dinosaur?

*they are N. America’s only marsupial?

*unlike rats, (and much like cats) they are fastidious and groom themselves?

*Opossums are extremely resistant to disease. They very rarely, if ever, carry rabies.

*Opossums are sometimes referred to as the sanitation engineers of the forest. They help to keep the environment clean by consuming carion and all kinds of bugs, including ROACHES (shout out to East Texas!). They help gardeners by consuming snails, slugs, and other destructive creatures. They also catch and eat rats."

Of course, Heather makes the very good point that 'possums eat chickens, so I don't know how much good will I have toward the giant one that lives in our backyard. By the way, Heather is an amazing person, great web-designer and all around fun blogger; not limited to 'possum wrangling!

Yesterday I met a new (to me) blogger, his name is Adrian and his blog is "Baldy's Blog" He has a story to share and a message that needs to be spread. I have to warn you: He's cute looking, even bald. And, his story is hard to read. He is fighting for his life, and sharing the journey. The internet and blogging are all about connecting and so is life on this planet. We are all connected and Adrian has reminded me of this in a very heartbreaking and inspiring way. Please help me share his story so that we can put our blogs to their best use: Spreading support, news, love, information and connections in the real world.

Chickenblog Changes Weather! Celebrating Continues!
Big headlines in our news today. And if you need a respite from devastating disaster and economic news, then you've come to the right place. Our news is about the weather and about taking small steps to make big differences.


When Maria came to breakfast dressed in her swimsuit, I knew she had an agenda in mind, which she confirmed when she announced: "I'm going fwimming today!"

It's been so hot around these parts, fwimming sounded like a perfect pastime. And it has been a few years since I have succumbed to the Siren's call of cheap plastic pools. I love the hope and anticipation stored-up in a small, backyard pool.

So, we got our pool. It is striped in green and blue. It is small, yet inviting, and it filled quickly and Maria stepped in and sat down even quicker!


Even Chango appreciates the sparkling water of a backyard pool, and he came to show his devotion.


I took a lot of these pictures, but I will limit myself to sharing just 2. I love Chango, and his pink tongue and his neurotic insistence on drinking water from any place except a cat bowl.


Now, about the weather... nothing turns a heat wave into a cold front like investing in a back yard pool. It was not hot yesterday and it's far, far cooler today! Expect to be surprised, right?


I was shivering just watching them. I admire the dedication, their sheer will to have fun in the new pool. Max swam a few laps and did a few flips into the deep end, not! They stayed in for quite a while, and they came in to the house with hearty appetites, then slept very well through the night.


"In for a dime, in for a dollar," er, well, that's what Geoff said when I sighed, and said, "Maybe we should have brought home 3 chicks instead of just 2." A trio of chicks can huddle together in a great fluffy, chicky heap, and they can look out for one another, and look so cute and... okay, okay, I'm looking for excuses.


Gee, can you guess what I've done?

That's Pip showing her backside, and hunkered down in the center is Lola and snuggling in on the right is Betty aka Elizabeth. Pip is an Ameraucana, like Lola. It was a good decision... we've been reading our chicken books and introducing a new chick to a pair of established hens would be traumatic. I knew that I would eventually want to have 3, so I jumped in! In for a dime, in for a dollar.

Thank you for leaving so many nice comments, for congratulating us on our reckless mission. We are having so much fun getting to know these girls, and we know that having chickens is a bit risky and very much an indulgence, but for some families having chickens could mean turning their lives around, making improvements that could save them and pave the way for better opportunities, so I urge you to play along with us and leave comments on Chickenblog. To celebrate our blogiversary we are donating chicks through Heifer International. How many chicks are donated depends on your participation. On May 24th we will tally up all of the new comments and make the big contribution to Heifer International. It's just a fun way to combat the blues, make a difference, share the love and give back... it makes everyone a winner in our celebration.

Did I actually say "Expect to be surprised?" Sigh. Geoff just called. He crossed paths with our landlord. The landlord has family moving to the area; they are looking for a place to rent. Can you guess what comes next? I tell ya, this one is gonna hurt. Sorry, I promised only good news.

6 Year Blogiversary... Off to a Flying Start!


Here is the backstory: We are celebrating 6 years of Chickenblog with a giveaway that makes everyone a big winner. How big depends on You! Yes, you make the difference, and by leaving a comment this week, you can influence the forces of blogging joy and generosity, because more new comments = more chicks and more chicks means more families being able to provide for themselves.


So, far we have 13 comments and that has inspired us to give an entire flock of chicks to a family in need. There is time for more, so don't be shy. Stand up and be counted. Leave a comment and make the world a better place. This news makes Lola so happy... just look at her standing tall and proud.


And Miss Lola Ameraucana says, "Muchas gracias pip pip pip."



Lady Betty Orpington would like to thank you too. At least we hope she's a lady. There is only a 90% guarantee she or Lola will be hens. She is 100% cute Buff Orpington.


You can still see her egg beak... the very same egg beak that helped her hatch free of her egg.


Max insists we call her Elizabeth.


Feel free to ask us any practical questions you'd like... about coops, landlords, space... anything!
I have no answers! but feel free to ask.

Chickenblog Celebrates 6 Years of Scratching, Clucking, Deep Thoughts and Other Musings

Tomorrow marks the 6 year anniversary of the first week of Chickenblogging. Back then I was daydreaming, imagining our lives on 2 acres... the pond and goats were pure fantasy. The cats and the flourishing children are a dream coming true, something I take great delight in. Gone are the two acres and the tractor and chickens too, but in the last 6 years we've had our share of new adventures, good times, wild rides, big expectations, setbacks and it's all here... well, maybe not all of it, but mercy, there is a lot in this blog!

Either I have been touched by God, and had my spirit renewed, or I am completely daft, but I am not daydreaming any more... not daydreaming alone. I am taking action. I want to own my life, where and when I can. When I first brought home 4 chicks in a paper sack we were no more organized, prepared and brilliant than we are today. We had no coop, or even a yard with a blade of green grass. Heck, we didn't know what to expect as chicken farmers. The Jolly Green Ranchers, I called us. But we rose to the occasion and we learned and grew, and we loved it.


Max and I were looking at old, old pictures, and my son said in a sad voice, "Everything was perfect then, wasn't it?" He sighed and I knew the familiar tone of his longing. But nothing was perfect then. Yes, it was a good time, our Rancho days, having my grandparents with us, making gardens and running around 2 acres. Over time we have idealized those days, and we have been living in anticipation of our real home, the next move without fully owning this time and place... it's gone on for too long.


Max, mi'jo, these are perfect times too, in their own way. We are here and we are healthy and capable. We have so much to appreciate and embrace. Our fears and disappointments are with us, but they cannot lead us, they cannot own us.


So, by daring, by will, by faith and hope, by stupidity if necessary, this woman is taking over, moving forward and celebrating this day and the next! I don't know where we are going to move to or when, the house is a work in progress and on and on, because things are not literally perfect, but I want to finish every day thinking: This day was good. I did my best. I am happy, and we are moving forward. Thank you. Mil gracias. These days are perfect enough to me, to honor and cherish.


Now, about this anniversary. Everyone knows the tradition with anniversaries and blogs: Giveaways! Yes, great, big giveaways are all the rage, and there are so many good ones. You know I racked my brain trying to think up a good one. Something to bring in the crowds and pump up the celebratory mood. Something to express our joy and whimsical natures, something to get everyone excited about Chickenblog and the world, and being winners!


While I would love to make something wonderful for a winner, like a quilt or a huge tray of chile rellenos... well, sorry, but that's just not possible. And if I thought it would make the world a better place I would offer an egg beater or a fruit of the month club membership, but those are a bit out of my price range and not exactly reflective of my mood, my intent. I want to give away a gift that means something bright, hopeful and inspiring... a gift that keeps giving.


This is it: Chickenblog is celebrating 6 years of blogging, family, friendships, dreams come true, big plans, love and sharing, with the gift of chicks! No, not our chicas!


Chicks from Heifer International! It's up to you: To be a winner leave a comment this week, and when we tally up all of the new comments of the week on May 24th we will make a donation to Heifer International. Inspired by the number of new comments and hearing from Chickenblog readers we will figure out how many chicks to send to a family in need. This will be a giveaway to "help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant."


These 2 are staying with us, wherever we go.

Compulsive Posting

Unlike some bloggers who know when to take a break from posting, I cannot seem to resist sharing something, anything. And for this, I apologize. I have nothing to say... nothing but an irresistible urge to report the minutia of the day.


Dude, this isn't my car.
Funny, when we were 5 kids, crammed into our avocado green VW bus, I didn't think it was quite this cool. Hey family, who remembers summer 1982, the road trip and the unplanned stop in Visalia, California? Waiting for a part to come in? Good times. Mom, that was the same trip when we camped in Kings Canyon and you kept us on high alert for bears. Even though I was 15 and moody, I still have happy memories of being in the wilderness, with real trees and hiking across a huge meadow.

I just dragged the children out to the driveway of Garage Mahal to clean our ride. I love our Odyssey... so much room, so dependable and safe. In the recesses of our conestoga we found 47 pencils and pens, 2 crayons, 14 Lego parts, a pair of socks, 3 dirty socks, one black dress shoe -size 12, inline skates, knee pads, a helmet, an old sheet, 68 plastic grocery bags to take to recycling, a banana... technically a fossil of what is presumed to have been a banana, 2 jackets, one sweater, 17 print-outs of house listings, and the "Mary Poppins" DVD box, which had "Pirates of the Caribbean" in it. There was more, but I think you get the idea.

As soon as William gets out of the shower, we are going to the car wash, then we are going on a walk. Fascinating, I know.

We are having turkey meatloaf for dinner. I will do my usual thing, where I add a ton of grated zucchini and whole oats to the mix, and everyone except Max and Maria will love it. Max and Maria will get peanut butter and jelly or pasta.

Ah! He's out of the shower... we're off!
I hope You have a great Friday night.

Yesterday, After the Rain or 1,111 Posts

Once upon a time, a family awoke to an unexpected shower. The rain falling in the garden, was cold, the sky dark and gray, and the family felt invigorated and inspired by the change in the weather. There was talk of camping, or walking in the zoo. The youngest one found her umbrella and boops. And when the rain stopped, they stepped out and into the garden.


I had so much fun reading your comments and reactions to the "Pop Post" that I had to go back to the Blogger Buster tutorial and pull out a new trick. I feel so fancy. But I'd rather wear boots and gardening gloves than a tiara... just look what's popping up in the barrel garden. Those tall fellows are carrots and the wee little ones are violas.


Can you see the little seed caps at the tips of the carrot sprouts? Those delight me. And already the frilled true leaves of the carrots are emerging. It's very exciting. I know, it's time to thin them. They'll be crowded enough growing in a barrel next to flowers and a tomato plant. Joe will be happy to dine on tender and fresh carrot greens.

Did you know Carrots love Tomatoes? I learned all about companion gardening years ago when I read Louise Riotte's wonderful gardening book. It's one of my favorites.


I hope carrots and tomatoes love violas. I do.

Once upon a time, there was a kitty who lived all of his days loved and sheltered. To keep him safe from coyotes, which are alarmingly prevalent and malevolent and mean and hungry and most unpleasant, the family kept the kitty indoors.


Most days our furry baby is happy inside, and then there are days like this one when he cries and cries and cries. He watched me from the big window as I cooed to my carrots and tomato, and he made such a pitiful wail as if to say, "Nature calls me to her bosom, be merciful and let me answer. I am a fierce and wild beasty! Hear me roar!"
Really, it was just like that.


So I released the wild beasty. And he directly ran and leaped for the most beastly and wild corners of the walled garden. He sniffed rain dampened grass. He rolled in a dirty place. He attacked a spider web with beastly ferocity.


"Here kittky, kitty. Come here Benjamin baby, furry, furry yum-yum," which is the name he likes me to call him.


And this is how he answered me!


Then Maria got wild too! She waved goodbye to Alex and me, she even said "I love you, " as she drove off in search of adventure.

.... to be continued.

Dang, that Popped!

It's a bit much, don't you think?

Pardon Me, While I Muck Around...

How to become a blog of note... I was reading "Blogger Buster... "reading" may be overstating the facts. I was scanning "Blogger Buster" and the article about making posts "pop."

I am going to click "publish" now and see if this post "pops."

ready
set
go

Confessions of a Give-Away Slut


Yes, I read "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman." No, I am not going to make it a link back to her already fabulously popular 2 year old blog. No! I'm not jealous. She and Dooce deserve thousands of comments and huge ad revenues. I'm totally fine with it. Really. Incidentally, Dooce will be a featured mommy blogger on the Today Show tomorrow. Seriously, she does not need my plug.

Pioneer Woman is giving away a coffee maker today and I left my comment in hopes of being randomly selected to win the coffee maker. I make horrible coffee. Actually, I don't even drink coffee. My idea of good coffee is decaffeinated Nescafé with lots of milk. But I want to be a winner. Guess what? My comment number is the same number of the lucky woman who won a $500 gift card yesterday. I am commentator #1708. What are the odds of the random generator picking that number 2 days in a row? Zip.


How do you make long division interesting? The answer is: Elaborate tales that involve zombies. If 21 friends came to your house and they had to eat 7,000 cakes in order to keep zombies from destroying all video games in the world, how many cakes would each friend have to eat?

While I made homemade macaroni and cheese, Alex illustrated the ensuing mayhem of 21 people racing to consume 7,000 cakes while zombies are being quashed by video game characters and giant Lego figures. The mac 'n' cheese had fresh Italian herbs and grated Romano and Mozzarella cheeses over penne and I baked it in the oven to give it a nice crisp crust. When I served Maria she looked appalled and said, "I want real food."

Heck, yes, I can mommy blog with the best of them.


Here is Maria. When I write my posts and export my photos to the server, Maria likes to sit in my lap. She brings me things. Little papers, lotion, an apple, an orange peel, a red glove, a pencil sharpener, a bottle cap, stones, a bandage, and cups of tea.


Geoff promised her a pony if she poops in the toilet. A pony! It was enough to make me want to wet my pants until I can negotiate a chicken. Just kidding. I shouldn't have to say that I am "kidding," but I never know when people will decide to take me seriously. And some readers lurkers will see this as proof positive that they were right to disown me.


There's a lot I would like to say. There is a lot I could confess. I want to be a winner and I want to have long shiny hair. I want to keep a clean house, but I don't want to do the actual cleaning. I want lose weight, disdain food, regularly visit an aesthetician, read novels and retain facts about politics, economics, history and html. I want to let go of the past, live in the moment and smile in the face of the unknown.

Chickenblog Counts Down

Thank you again for voting in the photography contest. It was real close. I'm such a loser. It was fun and a nice opportunity to discover new blogs and photographers. I have to say, Dallas easily remains one of my favorite photographers and you should visit her blog for regular views of her observations of nature.


"Count down?" you ask.
Yes, I am counting days and such.

3 days until the feed store by the boy's testing site receives a new shipment of chicks. Cute, harmless, life affirming, gratifying, fun and therapeutic chicks. Baby hens. Chooks. Sigh.


8 posts until my eleventy-eleventh post to Chickenblog. Thought: Wouldn't bringing home 2 chicks be an awesome way to celebrate 1,111 posts?


24 days until Chickenblog celebrates its 6 year blogiversary! Gee it seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the 5 year blogiversary. That was when Tarie and Janece were drawing winners, but before Calamity Kim brought my blog out of obscurity. Now a whole year has rolled by and some things are much the same and some things are very, very changed. I do have a lot more friends in the blogosphere, many of whom you find over there in the blogroll.


I used to make hencakes all the time and post their cuteness every now and then. Every hencake is an original, ladled out with artful flair and loving care. All hencakes and other chicken references can be found in the archives under the Chicas label. Labels is a rather recent feature of the blog that Geoff added for me. The labels are a very helpful device for organizing 1,103 different posts.


My most recent Chickenblog improvement is a feeder thingy. Uh. Yeah, well I haven't actually fully grasped the concept, but I changed some settings in my blog that will enable savvy bloggers to add me to their feed. Is that right? Well, no, not me. I will not be in anyone's feed. Chickenblog is available to be added to... How did Katie put it? Here's what she told me: "Anyhow, publishing a blog feed allows people to use an aggregated reader to view any updates to blogs they subscribe to. This is great because I don't have to visit 100+ blogs a day to see if they were updated!" Thank you Katie! You are a very good person to know.

One more count down: Only 2 days left for the boys to be tied to desks, filling in little bubbles with number 2 pencils. The state testing should wrap up by end of mañana. Wouldn't bringing home 2 fluffy little chicks be the most wonderful way to celebrate the end of grueling test taking?

Me, Playing


Max and I are passing an octopus to a fellow tide pool enthusiast. Careful to keep our hands wet, and to return her to her rocky shelter in the pool, we marveled at the experience of holding this slippery and strong creature. She changed her colors and patterns as she moved over new surfaces.

Out of curiosity, I followed a link in "Sallad Says..." to a photography contest at "Are We There Yet Mom." The contest has no theme, although the prize inspired me to find a photograph that is a close-up. I think the octopus and hands make an interesting example of close-up photography. It was a bit of a balancing act, as I am helping Max and taking the picture! I like the cooperation and patience between the three people, and their interest and concern for the octopus. I remember our hushed voices and exhilarated emotions. The tide was exceptionally low that day and all up and down the beach people were exclaiming at the many discoveries. We were strangers sharing wonder. I took a lot of favorite pictures that day in January.

There is still time to enter April's contest, and I hope you have a chance to go see the other entries. It's fun and inspiring to see people's best shots. There are so many things in the world to exhilarates us, to fill us with wonder.

Earth Day


With the new garage screen hanging up, we worked and played in our Creativity Room. The cats and Maria can't wander to the busy street, but the fresh breeze can blow in. With most everything as organized and comfortable as it ever will be, we found ourselves enjoying the new space. And in the spirit of Earth Day, I sit a little taller knowing that we re-thought, re-used and recycled to make the best of our world.


I am beginning work on a very special quilt. Max and Alex helped me think about how I want to use the fabric we are repurposing. There was some design debate about whether to use the bright side or the backside of aloha prints and it was decided that both sides would be appropriate and pretty. Maria sat at the cutting table and made bits of the scraps I let her cut. Benjamin sat with his nose to the screen and watched birds and cars.


So, today is Earth Day. I think that it is unfortunate that when I can do very little I sometimes do nothing at all. I am conscientious about the environment. I have been conscientious since about the first grade, when I was also a devoted seatbelt advocate. I recycle and I turn out lights, we cut back, we eat less of that and more of those... the usual stuff. Looking around here I can see where we need improvement, and I know what I would love to do to make a difference, like gardening. I don't have time to explain why we should bother, so I offer you: This. Please read it, if you need reason to bother.


This barrel is my garden. There are a lot of tropical plants and quite a bit of lawn in the front and even more concrete all around the house, and unfortunately none of these fall under my jurisdiction and even my attempts to enhance and modify these have been met with a landlord's weed-whacker. Sigh.


Last year when my sweetpeas were pulled up and my violas were raked over, I cried and I felt helpless and degraded, and I did not want to ever bother again. Not here. Not at Garage Mahal. By summer I regained some of my composure and the call of the garden beckoned me to try again. Geoff brought me wine barrels, and I planted tomatoes. Unfortunately, the walled garden and area trees don't let a lot of sunlight into the yard and the tomatoes failed to heat up. They grew green and leggy, but the fruit never came.


I think gardeners cannot help themselves. I cannot keep from slowly turning the pages of seed catalogs and making wishful gardens in my mind. I cannot help bringing home green bean seeds. I want fresh cut flowers and summer salsa from hot, plump sweet garden tomatoes. Gardeners have a calling, a need that cannot be denied and so when the season changes and the signs of spring awaken our senses, we try again.


Alex and I strapped the barrel to a handtruck and moved it to the backyard, where I am hoping we will have more sun, better luck. And so, maybe this little blossom will become a tomato.


Or, maybe not. There is a lot of shade in this irrigated suburban paradise.


Is it the shade that these blackberry canes need? Between palm trees, bird of paradise and concrete walls, these spiny berry plants force their way and seem to manage quite nicely. It was June of last year when we were sampling backyard berries... only 1 or 2 at a time, but much appreciated. I am noticing more flowers this year and hopefully our dedicated picking has prompted the plant to produce more to meet demand.

I often wonder how much or how little it would take to be self-sufficient, to sustain our family. For many years I have followed the progress of the the Dervaes family in Pasadena. They are amazing. Seriously, what can any of us do with 1/5 of an acre? They have taken a "Path to Freedom" that is extraordinary and an example to us all. I cannot say that I will ever achieve that level of self-reliance, but I deeply appreciate that they are showing me what is possible. They raise my thoughts.


Our tadpoles are marvelous. We are so pleased to see them thriving and growing. We brought in a fresh supply of creek water and an additional plant. The wild celery smells so good... potent, the way wild things do. Everyone enjoys sitting beside the aquarium and meditating. Gazing at the pebbles and sand, watching the tadpoles dart and feed, observing tiny air bubbles rise and roots spread. We look forward to returning healthy frogs to the creek.


Every day is Earth Day. Every day I care about the environment and our role in improving life on this planet. I should care more and do more or in some instance less. So, I keep trying. I keep thinking and feeling and learning. These are some bloggers that care a great deal, and make a point of keeping Earth Day a daily issue:

Garden Punks

Mom, What's For Dinner?

Mrs. Crunchy

Slowly She Turned

I Heart Farms

Mama's Village

Friday Wrap-Up


Notice anything new? Uh-huh. I took my new boots walking yesterday. Red boots need regular outings, fresh air, love. I am happy to oblige them.

Gratitude:

Thank you Mamspark's for the offer of science help. My boys were so shocked at me for taking those tadpoles from their home. I think it is wonderful that they are concerned and conscientious, but mercy, it's a shame children these days have so many limitations, restrictions and boundaries. They may be safer than we were when we were children, but I like them to explore outside of textbooks. I had to convince them it was safe, ethical and even legal to scoop up tadpoles, and of course in this day and age, I am not sure it is...lol! So, if anything should happen to those tadpoles, and we all know stuff happens to tadpoles, then I will have a lot of explaining to do!

Thank you for all the encouraging comments and sweet praise for the children. Janece, you could totally be Amira's teacher. Think, who's been doing it up to now? Talking, dressing herself, feeding herself, sitting up, walking, reading!! for goodness sake, all of these skills have been learned under your watch! I take it one day at a time and I never assume I have all of the answers, and yes it is hard, but you could do it. You already are doing a wonderful job of it!

One thing that makes all the difference in the world as a homeschooling mom, is hearing positive feedback. It is an amazing boost, so thank you Tracy, and thank you Lesley and Laura Jane. I get a lot of morale boosting and support from Nikkipolani-Anne and Jennifer and from Anne.


Making New Friends:

Sometimes I get comments from people that do not include a reply email, which is one more excuse reason I don't get it together to reply to every comment. Other reasons include laziness, poor time management, life, the universe and everything. Well, I love comments, so please don't let gaps in the conversation discourage you from leaving any more comments. I read them all. I love them all. Comments are wonderful, and even if I am not answering them all, know that I am listening.

"YayaOrchid," thank you for adding me to your links.

Amy, it would be cool to get our little people together. You make good wishes.

Andylynne, I am still waiting for you to start a blog!

Y en Mexico tengo una nueva amiga, Gloria, y ella tiene un blog bonito..."En Búsqueda." Trato leer lo y quiero mejorar mi español. ¡Es deficil!


It's too easy to find something good on the internet, get distracted and then lose all memory of that great site, wonderful blogger, interesting article... well you get the idea.

I wonder if "BigBucketGirl" is still reading. Hello, BigBucketGirl. I love that you made crayons.

And "Judy in Kentucky," I hope you're still reading, and I hope you have started a blog too. Thank you for introducing yourself. Your comment was such a treat...
"Hi! I am one of your "other" readers who have not spoken before. I like reading your blog and enjoy the photos. I never know what it will be... buttons, chickens, kittens, cowboy boots, family gatherings, and I especially love the photos from Hawaii.
I am a "baby boomer" who lives with my husband and three cats. We have a daughter and three-year old granddaughter in California. I am new to the cyber-world, just got my laptop recently, and love all the sites to see and people to visit on the web. I haven't started my own blog yet cause I don't have enough know-how... but wanted to say "hi"." I read this and grin, and blush, and sigh.


I have a suspicion that my Friday Wrap-Up won't get posted until Saturday. Writing this is taking some time, and I need to take care of a few things... I'll be right back. In the meantime, you have the option of playing with something I found thanks to Marisa's link in "Quilt Otaku." Here it is: This is a link to a super time waster, click at your own risk.

LEGOLAND, The Pause That Refreshes


We spent a brickrageous afternoon exploring LEGOLAND California. Holly and Nick and Izzy invited us to join them and they shared their spare tickets with us. Thank you! And we must thank our oh-so awesome Legoland connection, Ms. D, who keeps the family well stocked in spare passes. Someday I will post about our whole happy Legoland history; we have been going since opening day, when Max was just a baby. We are quite fortunate to have this family favorite within an easy drive... it's a good match for us. I need to go back through the archives and sort through the many Lego and Legoland posts... for now the links in this old post are broken... yet another project to fix, someday.


Speaking of "other projects," I am in my usual state of behindedness and have not accomplished a fraction of what I've meant to. Ironically, I have such lofty and idealized visions of how I want to do things, that I often never even leave the starting gate... uhmm, am I mixing metaphors, or just being confusing? What I am trying to say is: I do not get stuff done. And furthermore I do not get stuff done on a really grand scale, a shameful, ridiculous, seemingly unkind grand scale. Sigh.

For example: A few weeks ago I dragged my lazy butt to the mail box and waiting there was a most unexpected package, and I was so touched by it, I got teary and emotional. I was already in a weepy mood, but now I felt loved and weepy, which is much better than just weepy. It was from Tami, of Lemon Tree Tales. I don't know what inspired her but she sent me a crafty-home magazine and a beaded chicken key ring and a stuffed chicken doll pattern. I determined I would let her know the full measure of my gratitude, that I would thank her for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and for the wonderful timing of her cheering gift. And I think about this everyday and then one thing leads to another and then somehow days have become weeks, and I am starting to feel like a disorganized loser... blah, blah, blah...

OKay. So, I am behind, and that was just 1 example of my ineptitude. Geoff is going to suggest I try being less apologetic and down on myself, but I really think "ineptitude" is the fitting description, so I'm sticking with it. I will add this much: I always tell my children that it's never too late to try again, to never give up on making things right. I really want them to realize that all is not lost until we stop trying. Shall I apply this to me? Yes, I think that would be good.


Tami, your care package made me so happy I cried. I read the magazine cover to cover and the chicken key chain is hanging by our front door. The day I found your gift was a hard one and I was immersed in a major pity party. Your thoughtfulness snapped me out of my funk and made me glad. Thank you Tami. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


Maybe this shot is a good one for a life's ups and downs metaphor. Just kidding. Holly's arms are in the air and William is beside her. Max and Nick are braving the front seat of the Technic Coaster's big drop. I have been on this one 6 times, and it's not the drop that freaks me out, it's the wild mouse at the top. The little car is balanced on the narrow track and it zig-zags above the park... urp!


Ahh... I am sighing, because this is like a milestone in our Lego Family Life. Maria's first horse ride as a knight. She's waited to be daring enough to make this adventure.

Lately Maria has added the word either to her lexicon. The amusing part is how she uses it.
"I'm hungry either." = I am hungry too = feed me
"I love you too either." = I love you = hugs and kisses
"I'm not like cleaning it, and I am cleaning it either." = I will not do my part. = I can be just as lazy as you


I'm almost positive I've posted this image before. Chickenblog is almost 6 years old! No wonder it needs updating and archive organizing. 1,088 posts! Whew, that's a lot. The Lego mosaic is really big. It's a funny, familiar story board, that tells the story of a late night request for a cup of water. Parents of children with Legos know this pain all too well.


Actually, I have become quite masterful at navigating the Lego floors around our house. It's no secret that I love my Lego Maniacs. On this day Alex got to participate in a Junior Master Builder contest. I think that besides fun rides, amazing Lego figures and scenes throughout the park, the greatest part of Legoland are all of the opportunities for people to play and create.


It's a fun park. There is a lot to see and do. And even the little ones enjoy themselves.


Towards the end of our visit we sat together and played at the tables, where there are generous bowls full of bricks. It was a nice way to cool off after running around the Hideaways on Castle Hill.


I asked her, "Maria, what did you make? Show mommy."
"Oh," she said proudly, "It's my boat."
I said, "It looks like a chicken."
"No(ohohoh). It's not a chicken either. It's my boat."


Alex asked, "Maria, did you make that?"
"I made this either."
"Oh, that's good. It looks like a bird."


"It's my boat. It's not a bird either."

And now I am going to pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again. Never give up. Never surrender. I am behind and late and remiss, but I am not through trying either.

Meet Rooster

Last Fall a very small chicken came to live with us. We named our found parakeet "Steve" and we have grown accustomed to his concerts, his trilling songs and pips. But he has not grown so accustomed to us. He doesn't trust us. He doesn't want to perch on our fingers or hop over to greet us when we try to engage him in a duet. HIs best friend has been his mirror. If I had the room, if this were my house to mess with, I would build him an aviary in the garden, and since that is not an option I decided to bring him a friend. Steve has a room mate. A perch pal.


Say "hello" to Rooster.
He is quiet and just as shy as Steve. For a few days Steve stopped singing and I thought I had made a horrible mistake. We didn't want to lose the amusing whirrs and whistles from our Aussie bird. Now Steve is singing again and I think he is happy. I think they are both happy.


Benjamin? What are you doing you furry beasty?
Benjamin is a birdwatcher. He actually looked astonished when he first focused on the sight of 2 birds. A dedicated birdwatcher. He sits beneath their cottage faithfully, everyday. Patience may be a virtue, but lust is not. He really should announce himself or find another hobby. Poor unsuspecting birdies.

When posting to Chickenblog I am always curious about who is reading Chickenblog. I know from comments who comes around regularly. I know from email and from personal remarks people who visit the blog, and then every now and then I am astonished to discover other readers. I have about 20 different emotions and reactions upon hearing from someone that they saw it on Chickenblog or when they disclose something (inadvertently?) that they could only have known from reading the blog.

Well, of course I realize that this is a public forum, so I cannot rightly say that I am surprised and yet I am surprised. I am surprised that more people don't say "hello." I am still trying to work out what the other 19 emotions and reactions are, because, really, blogging and blog etiquette is whole new frontier. It's funny, I say a lot less in person than I do on Chickenblog. I guess I am more shy than not. I like to listen. With so little feedback coming in, I sometimes forget there are readers, or at least I feel like I "know" who I am addressing, and I am less concerned about total strangers (presumably they move-on when they find nothing of interest.) But when a family member says, 'I saw it on your blog' and I had no idea they read the blog, well it feels really awkward and strange to me.

Don't be shy. Say hello. Chickenblog is our front porch, our kitchen table. It's deep thoughts and other musings, an outlet for my ramblings. Things are not always neat and tidy here. I try to keep it real. Uh... on the other hand maybe you think I am nuts or weird and maybe my values clash with yours and meeting in the cyber world would only lead to uncomfortable and anxious feelings and doubts about the nature of the universe as we know it. That's cool. I can be okay with leaving things as they are.

Everyday Life 30 :: 23


My thoughts are too rough around the edges, still taking shape. And, as this is not Wordless Wednesday, I think I should offer you some links.

1. Music. Sweet music. If you live on the East Coast you have many options for seeing Daniel Littleton and Elizabeth Mitchell in concert. The rest of us will have to settle for this little studio performance.


2. Humor.

This was a little something we amused ourselves with last week.
Maybe it works... he's been home 3 nights in a row! Now that he's home, we may have more time to play together, but we should not get addicted to TETRIS, again!

3. Nice Blog. There are so many.
Recently I have been enjoying the beautiful photographs at "Sallad Says..."

This one falls in the category of: "Sigh. She's Doing What I Wish I Were Doing." It's a mixture of admiration and envy that applies to anyone with their own home, chickens, a garden, or the motivation to effectively, successfully pursue their dreams.

And, speaking of pursuing dreams... I just love Laura Jane's stories. She is an interesting woman, doing interesting things.

4. Invest. When my check comes I may invest here. I am not sure it's what our President has in mind for saving our economy, but it suits my ideals.

5. Thinking of Phil, Bill, Hans, Gretchen, Alison: This Fatty's for you! OKay... I don't know if it's a good one or not, but it is nominated for a Bloggie.

Now back to my own thoughts, and debating whether or not to shower before I go to the gym.

Everyday Life 30 :: 22


They say we had record rainfall, but I'm not so sure. Usually a lot of rainfall brings our pond in through the backdoor and into the kitchen. This is low tide. There was certainly plenty of wind. Yesterday it was blowing north and clashing mightily with cold front that came from the Pacific Northwest.


Here is Joe. He didn't seem to mind our weather. Being a 7 year old bunny he's seen many good storms.


Maybe the sun will come out and we can watch Joe hop on the lawn for a while.

In the meantime, I have some everyday kinds of errands to run, like getting groceries and sending a package to Grandma Nancy. We have school work to do, and schedules to fine tune.

A thought: Do you find that conversations with women with children are disjointed and full of great lapses, long pauses, incomplete statements... that basically conversations can go unfinished for days, even months at a time? I think many moms recognize this, know that having children means having distractions and interruptions. I don't blame children or implicate them in a conspiracy of selfish or rude behavior. I am only observing that attentive mothers, busy women that are responsible for children do not often have the luxury of completing sentences, expounding on theories or providing elaborate feedback... not every time. Happily, between sympathetic women, there is an understanding that this is true, and we can actually manage very well weaving in and out of conversations, answering pressing queries 2 weeks after they were posed. It's our gift. We multi-task. We have patience. We know our deep thoughts and other musings will surface eventually, and will be understood and well received by other distracted, responsible, caring women.

What I wonder is: How well does this translate in emails and through blogs? I do not answer every email or respond directly to each comment. Do readers know that I read every comment? That I am listening and thinking appreciatively about the generous and thoughtful remarks and feedback they send to my inbox and to Chickenblog? I feel as though I have a dozen or more half finished conversations hanging in the air everyday, and there are a lot interesting points brought to my attention that I may not find time to appreciate for weeks or months. I cringe each and every time it dawns on me that I have neglected to get back to that conversation we were having last month, or to reply about the *whatever* you asked me about. You cannot see that Maria jumped in my lap, when I was reading your wonderful post about *____* and I really did mean to leave a comment congratulating, consoling, sympathizing, cheering, commiserating, or LOL-ing.

I so admire the bloggers that in one way or another respond to all of their readers. It's very impressive to find responses to my comments and wonderful to receive nice, newsy emails from friends, and if I haven't got back to you, I am sorry. Really. If I were as good as my thoughts, you would all have fruit baskets and hand written letters from me on a quarterly basis. Instead just picture me trying to keep my head above water, thinking of ways to feed 4 children, working to lose weight, clearing the kitchen drain, teaching algebra and grammar, answering the phone, sorting mail, driving here and there, making appointments, keeping appointments, intervening, interjecting, objecting, making peace, whirling peas and kissing boo-boos. That is Everyday Life. LOL

Everyday Life 30 :: 11
A Thankful Thursday


Maria is flitting around the house and declaring with an earnest and delighted air, "It's Christmas." She repeats it, as if she knows you might be doubtful. "It's Christmas."

We made it to the Park yesterday, where we had a thoroughly educational, stimulating, affirming, healthful and happy excursion through the Railroad Museum, the Botanical Gardens and all around the artists studios in Spanish Village. We ate our sandwiches beside the giant fig tree. It's such a blessing to be surrounded by opportunities, to take full advantage of meeting people, seeing the world, playing, exploring, learning new things and realizing there are other people with similar interests too. I am never disappointed by our adventures and excursions. Balboa Park is obviously a gold mine resource, but we find satisfaction, value and appreciation in a multitude of destinations.


You know, I would not mind if it were Christmas. I've had my fill of shopping and other consumer hang-ups, but I could go on listening to Christmas music and it would be fun to get a whole new round of greeting cards and family news. I would love to continue creating and playing, exploring themes of winter and wonder. I have not been able to take down the evergreen wreath on the gate. I would miss the hit of pine that fills my senses every time I walk passed it. And I have not finished saying thank you to everyone that extended their love and kindness to us during the holidays. We received so much... it's almost embarrassing, but the whole truth is: I love it. I love gifts and surprises and cards, and treats and packages. Giving and receiving, and saying thank you. Thank you!

My friend Jennifer made this pretty little doll quilt, with the antiqued red fabric with snowflake doily print, and the vintage tree dripping with icicles. I love it. I love the delicate lines of hand quilting and the I love the made with love and skill feel of it. Her blog, "Infinity More Monkeys", is a place of quiet distinction where thoughtfulness, beauty and inspiration mingle. I am looking forward to the Alphabet in Nature photo project she is taking on.


Remember my Quilted Joy? Last summer when I joined the Doll Quilt Swap, I had no idea I was going to gain a sweet friend in the swap. Pamela, of MamaSpark's World gave me my beautiful "Spicy Chicken" doll quilt and ever since I have had the pleasure of seeing even more of her amazing quilts and following her adventures on her blog. She leaves me encouraging, happy comments on Chickenblog. And then this too... fat quarters! Fat quarters with farm scenes, which hello? couldn't suit me better! That was them in the wash yesterday and now they are folded and waiting for me to play. Oh joyful anticipation!


It is a Thankful Thursday. Thinkful too... I am thinking of all the Everyday things waiting for me to attend to, and so I must sign-off. Thinking of you, thanking you too. Have a wonderful day.

Life is Motion

Everything is moving. And I've noticed everything will move, whether you agree to ride or not. Resistance is futile, and like on an amusement park ride it may even make matters worse... resisting, that is. Better to just surrender and flow. Oh, wait. That can't always be right. I can't "go with the flow" when it's about injustice or when my values are compromised. Never mind. Deep thoughts are one thing, but trying to encapsulate a method for living into a bumper sticker philosophy is ridiculous.


Everything is moving. Some days we ride. Some days we stay in our pajamas and eat pancakes for dinner. That's better.


This is a peek of a little something I am putting together for my Sweetheart.


This is Maria playing with a DS. She can draw an image and then delete it, or duplicate it, or send it to another DS. Mom? Mom, what could I do when I was 3? Yesterday she was cutting out little faces she drew, then she cut out feet shapes and put faces on them too. Happy Feet. Looking out the window at breakfast, Maria said, "The birds are flying on the rain, and the clouds are getting wet."


Lego has a Mars Mission theme. It's been out for a while, but it is new to Max. He loves it. He took his Christmas money and his allowance (and his mommy) to the store last night and added a new set to his collection. He stayed up late, working next to me in my bed for company, and assembled everything. This morning he shared all the intricate details and his exuberance.

And now for some Links. The Web would not be a web without links.

If you are ever in the mood to discover design ideas or delightful ways to waste time, you need look no further than "How About Orange." Jessica Jones has led me to all kinds of interesting quizzes, ideas, tutorials and games, and her latest suggestion looks very good. Colorful, design inspired office supplies... that so totally appeals to the optimistic office bee in me.

Geoff has a special way of communicating with me. He sends emails with news links and other, lighter, topics. In the subject bar is the only clue about what he is thinking. The subject that came with this link was "hehe." The fate of the planet hangs in the balance... how will you vote?

He shared this one with me too: Click it if you love Christmas music, talent mixed with humor, and you can bear to hear one more holiday medley. I think Anne shared it too. I get to hear her sing this weekend!

OKay. That's it. I gotta get myself in motion!

New Year
Gee, nothing convinces you it's a new year like the first day back to school. Sigh. I was as ill prepared as Alex and Max. How can our family time, our freedom, our holiday hoopla be over? Wearing their new watches, bathed, and armed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I walked my two boys to their classes. Max is convinced he is not a good student. Alex cannot bear the thought of another *elective* drama class... all of their electives are mandatory. How many days until Summer? The advent of Summer!


Some days in January you might believe it nearly is Summer. The sky is clear, the lawns are green, only a light breeze makes a sweater a comfortable option. We spent the first day of the new year having lunch at a friend's house. Their front yard is a sprawling playground of flower beds and sunny spots that are ideal for chase, coloring, spreading out and reflecting on the ups and downs of life in suburbia. It was a sweet way to spend a lazy, mellow day.


After 3 Kings Day I will put away the very last of our Christmas symbols and memories. I just love seeing the Christmas cards gathered on the living room wall. I will bundle them together with a ribbon and add them to past Christmases. It's supposed to rain tomorrow which is our only indication that it is still winter, otherwise, with decorations packed and the tree turned to mulch, it could be any time of year. Don't you agree we should impose ourselves on someone and show up at their mountain cabin? We need snow! We need a bracing, icy, snowy winter with a sled ride or two, maybe some ski lessons, frosted window panes, ice skating, sleigh bells. Sometimes blogging is merely thinking out loud...

Looking Back, Looking Forward and Fine Tuning My Game Plan

I am taking notes, getting sparked, finding motivation and feeling ready to clear out the junk that impedes progress, health, creativity and joy. Inspiration is all over, and I am really excited about the new year... whether it began yesterday or starts first thing after midnight tonight. The best part is that I have an internalized drive to shake things-up, re-shape myself, and make things better... not perfect, just better. And hopefully by making these public declarations and really committing out loud to resolutions I will stay committed. I also hope to make the most of the support and encouragement of my friends... so many of us seem to be in similar states of thought and action.

Before I totally discard my former self, I am going to follow Marisa'a lead: She's made a list of ten accomplishments she is glad to have made, and she is inviting others to make their own lists and post them before the new year. I have been thinking about my accomplishments, the things I have done in my lifetime, and one thing I have concluded is that there is no need to completely discard Me... there's some righteous stuff in my composition.
In no particular order... 10 Things I have Done
1. Survived kidney disease.
2. Gave birth to 4 wonderful children.
3. Found, lost, reclaimed the love of my life. It's still a joy.
4. Jumped from The Clam... 3 times!
5. Rapelled in total darkness from Stonewall Peak. In the dark. At night. First time ever. It still freaks me out.
6. Drove an RV from California to Wisconsin, and back! (Ruth and Corm can put this on their list too.)
7. Made quilt(s)... fulfillment of a dream.
8. Brought home chickens... fulfillment of another dream.
9. Every road trip, train trip and our 2000 family cruise
10. Backpacking in the Sierras with family friends when I was 14.


Now, I want to look ahead and think about what else I can accomplish. Kim is making big plans too and I like her thoughts about "habits." Uh-huh. I need to lose some habits and let some good habits take hold of me. And though I squirm and whine at the thought, I know this means introducing myself to Discipline. Hello Discipline. My name is Natalie. I'm flakey, and half-bakey, and I really need you in my life. My new habits will include (again, in public, so I humiliate myself into action:) Exercise, delegating house work, learning new skills, managing my time, spending less, eating less, whining less. That's it, more or less.

Wait! One more thing! I also want to Create in 2008! Tami's Motto for the new year is an awesome one and I totally agree that this year must be dedicated to creativity. And I love how she has incorporated her list of new habits with her creative goals. She has a list of Actions and Benefits, and it's good to see how seemingly unrelated habits, like exercise, actually benefit our creative goals. Very Inspiring! I really want to join her, and I want to make my interests a more respected and intrinsic part of my life... not that Me is the only topic of interest for the new year, but I feel a bit like Jennifer. I want to be a better person in 2008 too. I think it's because I know I am a role model, and if I can make myself better and feel better, then I will have more to offer my children, my husband, my community. The world is looking so hurt and bleak and I can't turn it around by myself, so I will be a teeny-tiny ripple and I hope it can grow and grow, and turn the tide.


This guy is making repairs on a ginormous balloon... it's a ride at The Wild Animal Park. One rope at a time he is ensuring that the balloon is secure and safe. A lot of people are counting on him. His job is probably daunting, a bit unnerving, sometimes tedious, maybe fun? Some people like heights and challenges. I bet it takes a long time to check every segment, to keep track of all those lines. Maybe by the time he is finished, it's really only time to begin again.

Now it's time for me to begin again. I don't know if I will get it right, but I am going to keep trying. Happy New Year! I wish you success. I wish you the will to keep on trying!

Theme-less Thursday
Fellow bloggers are you sending Christmas cards?... with photos?... and newsy letters? I love those! I am running out of time to get my cards signed and in the mailbox, and I am really frustrated about this. It's the same every year: The ideal vision of a perfect Christmas, with happy faces next to every checked-off item on my to do list, and then the sad realization that I cannot do it all. It's so much easier when I roll over and give-up, with some dignity. But instead I am getting snappy and cranky and grinchy and I am really starting to panic that I may be visited by Krampus (I learned about him from Jennifer, but for the full story Google him. Yikes!) I addressed and stamped 40 cards, and I could sign them and send them, but I am still attached to the idea of writing and enclosing a letter and printing 40 pictures to send along. There's no time. There is no time! Sorry, that was for my benefit.

Maybe I haven't written a letter and printed photos, because it's so much like what I do several times a week here at Chickenblog... I don't have much more to say in a letter than I have already written about in the blog. Seriously, it would be really redundant and quite possibly annoying, boring and pointless too. I don't want to be redundant, annoying, boring and pointless... not at Christmas, not any more than usual.

That settles it: I am going to sign our names, and write a quick little Love or maybe a doodle heart, and then seal and send. Done. Simple. Move on.

Thank you. You have been a tremendous help. You know who you are...

Back to The Cutting Board
We bake during the holidays and we decorate too, but there is one family tradition we have not visited in 7 years, not since we discovered Max is sensitive to artificial dyes and additives. It's a tough allergy to cope with, since the stuff is everywhere. I am always looking out for options and opportunities. Last year we found candy canes with natural food dyes, and one year we even found undyed cotton candy at Disneyland... that was amazing. It's not that candies and sweets are a necessity, but when you are deprived of them they become 100 times more enticing, and there are even regular "healthy" foods that add dyes, so suck.


Ahh the Mother of Invention... where there is a need to feed, a mom finds a way. Don't gag. We actually iced our cookies with broccoli. Yup. Broccoli in a blender, with milk and confectioners sugar, and a drop of vanilla. Weird, I know, but it looked good and tasted good, and I think if we were icing Christmas tree cookies it would have been really cool looking, because of the broccoli-pine needle bits!


And best of all Max got to enjoy and eat the classic Christmas cookies seen in so many family photo albums from Christmases long ago. We made the icing thin enough to paint on the cookies, which is a really, really fun way to decorate them.


From strawberries we made pink icing, and they didn't need vanilla, because the natural strawberry flavor was so yummy.


Purple icing? Blueberries make beautiful, delicious purple icing. A few years ago I found a company that makes a few sugar sprinkles in natural purple and orange... we've rationed these expensive treats until now. Maria was a little heavy-handed in her method. Art can be so subjective!


You can hear me laughing, right? This was just busting me up.


We had so much fun. We made such a mess. We had so much fun.





Hey, I just heard from Jennifer and she did some pondering and head shaking, and when she finally came out of her shock, she decided she really could use a digital camera. Isn't that great? She doesn't have a digital camera. Jennifer this little camera is going to change your life!

And Laurie? Laurie, get ready for some fun in the kitchen! Honestly we all love the apple tool and the other goodies are all favorites too, so I think your family is going to have a great time. You know, in about 3 or 4 days you should buy a huge bag of apples, wash them and be ready to play.

And the Prizes Go To...


This could be the last contest... it's so stressful. In an alternate economy there would be 43 winners. Thank you so much everyone that came by and hung out, everyone that took a chance. I've had a good time meeting new people, and I always enjoy exchanging thoughts and laughs with my longtime blog sisters... are there any brothers out there? Just wondering.

Two names came out of the hat sack: Congratulations "Infinity More Monkeys!" Would you please let us know if you would like a (refurbished, but still really awesome) Sony digital camera... it comes with a charger, handbook, strap, memory thingy... geez, I should have got Geoff to write something fancy! Or, perhaps you are leaning toward some kitchen favorites, like the handy, little serrated peeler and the always awesome apple peeler, corer slicer... I just started wondering what it would do with a potato.... cool... When Jennifer chooses, then we can cheer for the runner-up from "Old School Acres!"

OKay... something's come-up, so I'll talk to you all later...

Maria said "Oh, no. I spilled a little."


Then she realized it was no problem, and says "Cat tea party!"

Last Chance


Be careful what you ask for... now that's a lesson that comes around periodically and reminds me that sometimes we do get what we ask for! Day 1 of the contest brought 42 comments, and only 3 of them were Kim's! I don't think anyone has worked harder for a fellow blogger than Calamity Kim worked on my behalf, and no, I did not bribe her. She's naturally sweet that way. I just loved hearing from everyone, discovering new blogs and finding out what interests other bloggers and blog readers. I realize some things: It would be scary to get hundreds of comments and it would be ridiculous to get thousands. I am looking for connections and friendships, not overwhelming popularity. I felt eager to make an exchange with everyone that left a comment, and I realized that introducing myself to 50 or 80 or 20 more people is a daunting task on top a day that is already full. Each of you is special and talented, and I loved finding new blogs, but I would feel terrible if I had to skim comments and neglect comments, if they came in such huge quantities every day. How do those other bloggers do it? Mercy.

Well, it's not too late to step-up and introduce yourself before the end of this contest deadline. I doubt there's 40 more people lurking out there, but you should know I am excited about the cool stuff we have to give away, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss an opportunity at winning oh, say, a digital camera... or one of my favorite kitchen tools. Didn't I mention Geoff loves electronics? Yea, he and James went to a sale on Sunday and he came home with this cute little pink, digital camera.
"What?" I asked him incredulously.
"For the contest," he says. "It's refurbished, but I thought, one of your readers might like a pink digital camera."
OKay. I probably haven't ever mentioned that he is more generous than I am. It's true. He's very, very generous. And I am very, very lucky. Tee hee.

Here's how it's going down: All names that come in before I log-on tomorrow go in the hat, and in the morning we are going to pull out 2 names. The first person gets to choose either a Sony Cyber-shot 7.2 Mega Pixels Camera or a Chickenblog Favorites Kitchen Pack, including the apple peeler-corer-slicer. Runner-up gets, you know, what the first person didn't choose, which is still really cool, trust me!

There. I think I am supposed to be making dinner and looking sternly at children who are supposed to be doing homework. Nah... I can't look sternly at them. Do you know what's happening right now? Maria is sitting beside me and going through a stack of books, one page at a time and talking to the pictures. William is working on grammar. Alex is reading to Max... they are engrossed in Eldest, and Alex reads it to his brother every night. The house is peaceful, warm and comfortable. Good stuff.

Oh dear... more ways to avoid cleaning the oven and dusting the knick-knacks...

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

Celebrating 1,000 Deep Thoughts and Other Musings: It's Chickenblog's Favorite Things Giveaway!

Well, here it is, the 1,000th post.
The 1,000th time I turned my back on alphabetizing our CD's, or cleaning the oven.
The 1,000th time I felt sure my whirls of pisdom pearls of wisdom were worth publishing on the world wide web.
Gone are the the actual chickens that inspired the name of the blog.
True, some posts were absolutely pointless... btw if you have a dial-up modem don't bother with this link.
Other times I managed to capture a day or a moment and hold it a bit longer, appreciate the bliss of it, and then share it. Sharing stuff has been a major impetus for starting and maintaining Chickenblog.
By the way, I had to look-up impetus, which brings me to another point: Chickenblog has been a learning experience, a challenge, a means to learning new skills... whoa, has the blog come a long way! I still depend on Geoff for my technical support, but at least now I have learned how to post pictures, and make links, so that the sharing part is, hopefully, more interesting, engaging, and compelling, and fun, and good, and stuff.
Uh, sorry about that. I know, sometimes I say too much... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
But, saying something is the whole point of blogging and it's been cathartic expressing my points of view.

Are you still there? OKay. Good. This brings me to feedback. I love comments, and interaction and hearing from people who are browsing, reading and/or immersing themselves in Chickenblog. And it's no secret that I have begged and pleaded, bribed and groveled, all in the name of making a connection. It all goes back to sharing. I miss my family, and friends, and friends that are like family, so I have always seen Chickenblog as a tool for getting connected. Recently I have made many new connections with other bloggers, which has been a lot of fun. I have made friends and discovered that a lot of people like to sew, cook, read, garden, take photographs, give thanks, pout, mumble, blow-off steam, reflect, talk about their children, travel, and share. Thank you for leaving comments, for emailing me. Thank you for your support and points of view. Thank you for your gifts, and swaps, for linking to me, for playing along. Thank you for blogging too... you bust me up and inspire me, and teach me a thing or two.

When is she going to give something away?

Hey, I heard that!

I really wanted to make this contest/giveaway unique, original, special.
Guess how many blue lights are on our Christmas tree
A "caption this photo" contest
Defy the landlord, raise 3 chicks, teach the chickens to type and let them generate a random list of entrants, then let the chickens choose the winner
I'm thinking of a number between 1 and a 1,000
On the back of a $50 write your name and send it to....

So, I've been spending way too much time thinking about this and I've come up with something wholly uninspired and pedantic. There will be a drawing on Tuesday, December 11th for a Favorite Things Giveaway.



I love a lot of things, like my apple peeler-corer-slicer thing... it's so cool! Another favorite thing is my Messermeister swivel head peeler. Ooh, this kitchen gadget is awesome. A favorite thing of the whole family is Trader Joe's pumpkin cake mix. We add whole oats and grated organic carrots and make yummy muffins. Mmmmmm muffins. Favorites... hmmmm... I like Hawaiian cruises, rain drops on roses, whiskers on kittens, "Elf" on DVD, wild rice soup and crusty sourdough bread with a field greens salad and light dressing. Geoff says, he likes electronics, and the boys like Lego bricks. They really like Lego bricks. Maria likes her imaginary friend Jack... he lives behind the suitcase and prints money. Chango likes to drink milk from cereal bowls, but I don't think we can make a prize of that. I may have to pare down the list a bit...

OKay. We all have favorite things, like winning stuff. So, if you like winning stuff, then leave a comment before Tuesday, December 11th and include your favorite Chickenblog post or topic, for a chance to win a few of our favorite things (one entry per person.) In the meantime I will be shopping around and collecting prizes. The most comments ever on Chickenblog is 14, and I think that included 2 or 3 from me... if we break that record I will draw 2 winning names from the "hat". More comments= more favorites!

Saturday Morning Post Update
More influence than O. Winfrey! More creative than M. Stewart! She's Doll Quilt Crazy! She's a Shining Princess! She is Calamity Kim of the Craft Cottage, and not for the first time, is she making me blush, with her kind and praiseful commandment... sending readers and record breaking traffic out here to my little Chicken Coop. Thank you Kim. You really, really share the Love. Thank you x 1,000!

And Wow! Hello new readers, and long time friends. I hope you are healthy and happy and giddy with holiday anticipation... I gotta go bake some cookies right now, then sew a few more goodies, maybe feed the children. I am glad you came by... thank you!

Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine

We've been very busy, here at Garage Mahal. The children are studying, and immersing themselves in seasonal magic... singing carols, tracking down favorite ornaments and decorations, faithfully counting the days 'til Christmas one chocolate at a time. Max and Alex are mostly healthy, though Alex seems to suffer while in the new classrooms at school (it's very fume-ish in the new building.) William cleverly skipped all the colds and coughs.. smart boy.



Today Maria had her well visit at the doctor's. She is well, and small. People insist she looks big for her age, but her height and weight are well below average. Hearing is good. Vision is good. And she has plenty of sweet skills. Good. Good. Good.



Geoff is immersed too... in work, so we see less of him. He and I share funny 3 a.m. exchanges, where I tell him what the kids were up to and he asks me to remind him to do this or to please check such and such. I don't know how much of these conversations we actually retain.



Me? I'm juggling. Domestic goddess. Queen of the Winter Wonderland. Tutor, plumber, medic, chauffeur, cook and baker, dishwasher, manager, voice of wisdom... it never ends. I improvise and fake it. I relish the successes, and I deflate just a bit every time I realize I've left the house without brushing my hair, again. Two steps forward. Five steps backward. Covering old ground, making new tracks. 'Tis the season to feel pulled in every direction.



Do you know what's been fun? Sewing.


Stitching, snipping, cutting and playing. I've been making little things, like this super gratifying soft tree, which looks oh so cute in seasonal colors and prints. Quick and easy is my theme, because time is precious, and my machine is less than reliable on larger projects. So, I've made scarves, and a sleep mask, and I even finished some wips that were years in the making, like the cubes I started a year and a half ago.


I also finished Max's quilt... the one he designed. I couldn't resist hand quilting it and also adding appliqued frogs, so of course it took a bit longer to finish than I had hoped. Oh, but it was so worthwhile... Max loves it and sleeps entwined in it every night.



Do you know what else has been fun? Packages, surprises and bloggy generosity. Amazing. Really, really amazing. Tami, of "Lemon Tree Tales", is a doll maker and an illustrator. In September she introduced a new fairy to "101 Fairy Lane" and she invited readers to name her.


Just for participating in the fun she sent me an ATC -Artist Trading Card- of Valerienne Rose. Both "Lemon Tree Tales" and "101 Fairy Lane" are full of examples of Tami's talents in illustration, story telling, and sewing, and it's an honor to receive a sample of her beautiful work. Thank you Tami.


And there's more! I've been hanging around and soaking up the fun at "Spring Bean Things" Missy is a mom, and she sews and she's funny and she blogs and she's a mom... what can I say? We can relate. Us bloggers love our milestones, so Missy was happy to share her happiness about reaching 50 posts by having a prize drawing. Prizes? Free handmade items from a talented woman? Yes! Sign me up! If you haven't figured out that bloggers are kind, talented and generous, then you are missing out. I was very lucky to have my name drawn from the hat, by her very cute 3 year old daughter. And today, I got to open a very big package from the talented Missy. An apron! Love it! Maria is wild about the pockets and can't stop commenting about them. A kitty cat tissue holder! Very handy, especially lately. And a dress, a very extra special addition she slipped in for Maria. Does Maria's expression say enough? She L.O.V.E.S. this dress. Loves it. And honestly, she got compliments for her dress all day. It was so sweet how many people commented on her "cute dress," her "pretty dress" and even, "Oh, did you get your Christmas picture taken today in your pretty dress?" Thank you Missy.



What did I write about for my 50th post? Let's see August 23rd, 2002... oh dear... nothing too dignified. I was doing battle with my arch nemesis the Clogged Toilet. Pardon me. Hey, you can count on me to keep it real, right? Well, now I am about to celebrate my 1,000 post, and when I do I hope you will come by and take a chance at winning something good. I've been thinking about some of my favorite things in the kitchen... and other things I love and want to share with a lucky someone.

Arrgghh... my server moved. Again. This is a test to prove that everything is fubar... I hope I am wrong.

Don't Be Jealous
... because I have new photo software... no, not Photoshop. No, not Adobe Illustrator. Never mind. I have a few more tools on the iMac, and I've been monkeying around for fun.


Check out the dreamy, soft focus edges!
oooh ahhh


This was a color image and I took it to B&W with the touch of a button!
(Hey, he's wearing my shirt!)
oooh ahhh


Alex's dragon has been colored enhanced!
oooh ahhh


I didn't do a thing to this picture!
oooh ahhh


Max added puppets to his Christmas list, and I added a fancy, dark edge!
oooh ahhh


I didn't do a thing to this one either, but I sure do love it!

I am also posting from my new iMac... tee hee. Don't be jealous. This was a very necessary investment. I literally wore-out the first iMac... it was sputtering and choking whenever I sat down to download more photographs. Now iMac One will be a dedicated homework machine for resident scholars, and Big Mac will be my new friend and companion management tool.

BTW I am 9 posts away from 1,000 and I am aching to give something away. Any contest or prize suggestions? I will take all under consideration, which is not the same as a commitment.

Giving Thanks

My last post has generated so many kind and thoughtful comments, I feel... I feel stuff I don't quite know how to express... It's pride, and honor, and gratitude and astonishment, amusement. Thank you for your praise and encouragement and feedback. Thank you for the world's kindest, most generous "Imaginary Thanksgiving Dinner Invitation"ever!... (and I accept... please set imaginary plates for 6 more, and save me a drumstick, please!) I know there are more elaborate blogs and blogs that get a few more visitors per hour. I have never focused on a particular theme or agenda, except to say this is what's happening with us, what's new with you? All I have ever wanted of Chickenblog is to share and to hear from interested people, so that a conversation could develop, so that we could enjoy an exchange. And now I have a terrific journal, which our own family enjoys and references, and I have more friends, new acquaintances, fellow bloggers, moms, crafters, cooks, gardeners, family and I just love hearing from all of you! I am lucky.


Immortalized in poetry, remembered fondly for carrying us safely to many destinations, across borders, in snow, heat, rain, off-road and across river beds: Our Big Blue Whale. Born in Wisconsin in 1995 and adopted by our family in 1997, Big Blue Whale was more than a mode of transport, it was a shelter, a safe haven, a wild ride. It endured many adventures. It never disappointed me... I always told Geoff that my expectations of it were so low, that it could never fail. I drove it for 6 years, and used it to make our big move to El Rancho, and on two adventurous trips to Mexico, + countless other road trips, and home improvement missions.

For the last couple of years I have begged Geoff to give up the Whale... the weird steering, bad smelling, self accelerating, weak brakes, door jamming, heat failing beast, with the busted driver's seat. The Whale gave us the best that it could, and now it has been donated away. May it bless its new owners with safe rides and good times.


Thank you Blue Whale.

Looking Back: Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four Pretty Good Posts
See that long list of dates in Chickenblog's sidebar? Those aren't randomly generated, they aren't pay per view ads... those represent the times I couldn't help but express my deep thoughts,


Max, Alex and William: December 31, 2002. Hawaii

share family news,


The Boys with Deanne: May 4, 2003. Legoland

congratulate friends,


Holly, Nick and Rich: June 13, 2003. El Rancho


pass along recipes,


Anne and Max: October 24, 2003: The TreeHouse

announce a birth,


Alex and Tamsyn: March 30, 2004

beg for help,


Sam, James and Deanne: December 21, 2004

feeling the love

or promote world, and local peace.


Geoff, Maria and Natalie: March 27, 2005

I never imagined I would keep it up for this long or that it would matter to me as much as it does... I certainly dragged my feet, when Geoff suggested I start a blog. My first post was just a fanciful daydream, meant to convince Geoff that I would give blogging an earnest go. In those early days, blogging could be supremely aggravating... oh, wait, it can still be supremely aggravating!


William, Geoff, Maria, Max, Nancy, Alex, Rich, Sophie, Lily, Nick, Phil. Kayla and Holly: June 12, 2005. The TreeHouse

I am glad Geoff insisted I blog. We have a colorful journal of the last five years, with photos, and remembrances, silliness, frustrations, and a lot of happy reflections. I am glad Holly makes tasteful banners, so Chickenblog can look polished and inviting. I am glad that, very recently, more than 2 people have discovered Chickenblog and they have joined the conversation, shared the laughs... blogging is so about dialogue and connections. I am glad that my friend Anna Banana is blogging too... she and I appreciate how cool it is to keep track of things that matter and to amuse ourselves with stuff that probably matters very little.


Alex, Alison, Dominic, Bill, Max and William: June 30, 2007

All this gladness cannot be contained... Geoff has been nudging me: You better get busy making a 1000th post contest to celebrate. I was remembering my very first contest, when I asked readers to identify something the cat coughed-up... that was April 26, 2003, but no one took a chance at my grand prize offer (too bad the Grand Prize was a pony and a Hawaiian cruise... too late now.) But now we can have a new contest, and I will think up a new grand prize, so sharpen your pencils, put on your party hat, and be on the look out for the 1000th Chickenblog post.

Now What?!
FTP and Blogger seem to have kissed and made-up, but now my server is making us insane, by sending back emails... So, if you can't email us and you're wonderin' *What up?*... know that we are working on it.

I hope to actually make a post with deep thoughts and other musings today.

What is Up:

Blogger is trying to fix the FTP trouble. I can still read comments and hopefully all of this will be figured out soon!

Grumble, Grumble
Are you seeing what I am seeing?
My server has changed yesterday's post 12 times and won't publish it the way I wrote it. Sometimes text drops out, sometimes pictures don't show up. So far there are 7 comments, and on my computer it says 0 comments. Technical aggravation! Argghh. The worst part is confronting how very deeply I am obsessed with blogging and having everything work 100% perfectly now. Right Now! You understand, right?

Finishing October

I ought to have a separate label called "Shocked" and under its heading would be all the posts that express my amazement about the lateness of the month, or week or day... seems I am always caught off guard by the passage of time. It's Later Than You Think could be my theme song. So, anyway, I am taken aback, surprised, turned around... October is nearly through? Oh my.

OKay. Who needs a costume? William asked for a black dress shirt that will be suitable for Frankenstein's Monster; something in keeping with the literary description of the creepy fellow. Alex's costume is nearly complete, I think... wait, I seem to recall a strip of elastic I need to attach to his head dragon's head. And for Max, I need to get to a feed store and buy a flake of straw. Maria... she says she wants to be a "Cutie Bug!" I think that can be open to interpretation, so I hope she is happy with whatever I can manage in the next 24 hours! Pictures, yes. I will take lots of pictures.

Last week, when we came home from our very exclusive evacuation center, we were greeted by 2 parcels. One from Hawaii and one from Oregon. Seems the grandmas were in sync and they both had Halloween on their minds. I cannot describe the pleasure we derived from those care packages... it was as good as a party and a wonderful distraction from our fears and anxieties about the fires.


My mom sent Maria little tulle tutus, and Tutu sent her a bracelet and a necklace. We also received gag gifts, like a fake cigar and a chewed wad of gum prop, Halloween pencils, paper plates and a tea towel with a pumpkin cookie cutter. Tutu added her traditional chocolate covered marshmallow treats, which the boys jokingly say can only be found in Hawaii. Thank you grandmas and grandpas! We love our treats.

Interesting crossroads... I am struggling with a decision about what is appropriate and what is inappropriate to discuss in a blog. I know that very personal or emotionally charged subjects are considered taboo for some, especially in a family blog or when read by people not as comfortable with the whole blog genre in the first place. Yet some people would actually find it remiss of me not to mention an important, or significant event or passage... maybe it would seem indifferent of me or insensitive of me to not acknowledge sad news. And lately I have left quite a bit unsaid, preferring to respect privacy, and perhaps I should continue in this mode. However, I make this blog a chronicle of our lives and a means to connect with family and friends.

And so I must mark this day, quietly, though publicly, and extend my deepest sympathy to my cousins. My tio passed away last night... it is my cousins I am thinking of, their loss, and I am sad too... once again caught off guard by the passage time, and full of memories of our times together as children, playing under the watchful, loving eyes of our parents. I pray for their comfort, that they may feel the warm embrace and loving kindness of family and friends, near and far.

Loose Ends and Split Ends


I am going to pretend that people frequently ask me questions... well, some people have asked me questions, so I am not making a huge leap of imagination here. Anyway, today I am going to answer questions.

What's with you and chickens?
When Geoff suggested I try blogging and I had no idea what I was getting in to, and chickens were foremost in my list of amusing pastimes, I chose "Chickenblog" as my working title and it sort of stuck. As this is post #958, I guess I am committed to my working title.

We do not have chickens. We have a bird, a parakeet, that we call Steve... he's smaller than a chicken and he's more trouble than chickens, but we like him anyway. We had chickens, and we loved them very much, and when we thought we were meant for a different destiny we sold our Rancho and the dear Chicas stayed with the new owners. (BTW I called them chicas as a play on the word chicken and the Spanish word for girl.) Sigh. This is all a very tender subject, because I want chickens still. They are funny and dear, and ours were very affectionate and amused us immensely. I love to watch chickens and hear them... they make me happy and I can't wait to have the freedom of keeping chickens and a garden all our own.

Will you share the albóndigas recipe?
Yes. Well, eventually I will. I don't have a recipe... not in the classic sense. It's one of those things I make and just know what to add. Geoff thinks my cooking is tasty, but a little nuts, because it's always random. I am not trying to be mysterious or elusive. Wouldn't it be great if we could just get together and cook? That would be awesome. Next time I make my meatball soup, I am going to take pictures and make measurements, sort of, and when I have something resembling a recipe, I will share it.

Next question?
Anyone?
Gee, it felt like there was so much I was neglecting to address. Er... maybe it's the housework I've been putting off and not questions about my true feelings and deep thoughts. I would like to thank everyone that leaves comments at Chickenblog. It's so nice to hear from people and I love your praise and encouragement, compliments... (True Story: Stay-at-home moms thrive on praise, encouragement and compliments.)

These Boops Were Made for Walkin'


Like her brothers did, Maria wears her boots all the time. Max wore his to my brother's wedding. Alex wore his almost every day through kindergarten. Red rain boots, yellow rain boots, blue rain boots, frog rain boots... rain boots worn until they come apart and cannot be worn any more. After a while they had to give them up, since no one makes colorful boots in Mens size 9 or 11 or 14... too bad. Maria is in her glory days, when there are many sizes of rain boots yet to be worn.

When I woke up to the sound of rain, I knew just what I wanted to do: Get Maria in her boots and take her on a rain walk. There are few opportunities to actually have use for boots where we live, so we have to make an extra effort to meet opportunity and enjoy! Naturally we could not find her boots, not right away. How do these things happen? Half-way up the stairs her frog boots sat, waiting to be found.

"Boops!" Maria exclaimed when we pulled up her socks. She put on her boots and began her search for an umbrella. All week long the umbrellas have been horses that she rides up and down the halls, around the family room. Today she was going to finally see what else an umbrella can do.

It smells so good when it's been raining. Someone was keeping a fire, and the faint fragrance of chimney smoke mingled with the smell of damp, fallen leaves. There is some other smell I associate with rain and I want to say it is the clouds themselves. Billowy clumps of rain laden, grey clouds have a wet, clean smell.


You can't always convince 6 people that an early morning walk in the rain is a good idea. That's alright. Geoff, Maria, Max and I went out to greet the brand new day. The night before, Maria stopped to stomp on every fallen, crunchy leaf. This morning the leaves were plastered to the sidewalks. No crunch.


I know real winter is bitter, hard, cold! I know it means shoveling snow, difficult driving, days without sun, falling limbs, and cold, but I can't help wanting to live with seasons. My brain lists all the practical points and my heart just says, "Oh, it would be so lovely."

And now it's time to share what I've been finding in the Blogosphere... even though promoting other blogs only improves the likelihood that fewer people will come around here, I cannot resist pointing out interesting bits and pieces and adhering to the spirit of blogging and the internet, which is building a network, making connections... link, link, link.

First, a gift from Gretchen, who was here last night. She gave manicures to the ladies of the house and then shared a link that has been keeping her grinning this week. Maria asked us to play the dancing bird again and again... about 12 times. And you know what? It was funny every time.

The internet is full of shorthand and I don't always know what all the acronyms are... like what's______? (Update: I had to remove an acronym that is apparently not appropriate for a family blog. Live and learn. LOL) I know that a WIP is a Work in Progress. I have lots of WIP's. I did not know what an ATC is until I found a link: An ATC is an Artist Trading Card. Cool. Fun. Might like to try that.

Now where did I find the ATC link... ? I think it was at this blog: "This is How We Shine." Someone in New York is raising 2 boys and unschooling and loving life and she's sharing her observations and story. Also cool. Also fun. Makes me glad about our course too, since we've been unconventional from time to time.

Julie, of "Red Hen Studios," may know Anne of "This is How We Shine." Anyway, they are sort of neighbors, and in the blogosphere we can all be neighbors. I love popping over to visit "Red Hen Studios" where there is art, photography, reflection and another family with four children. Today is post 101 for Julie and she's celebrating. Stop by. It's a friendly place.

A movement is taking shape... or maybe it's well formed and I am just catching on... anyway, there is a challenge out there to celebrate a China-Free Christmas. Now, I am all for skipping fancy plates... oh wait, not that china! They're talking about 98% of the stuff we find in our cart whenever we shop. Whoa! This is a tough one people. I like the idea very much, but I am intimidated by the difficulty of accomplishing this challenge. Where are Legos made? I cannot sincerely commit, until I confirm that Legos are made in Denmark. I bought a can of beans at Trader Joes... it was from China! Beans! So, I found out about this at one of my favorite blogs: "Infinity More Monkeys," and she heard about it from "Me and My Storey."

Now Max and I are going to play UNO. Have a wonderful end of weekend. And come back, share your thoughts.

The Big Back-Up

He did it. Geoff saved everything worth saving. A few files were too mangled to retrieve... no big losses. But don't assume it was easy-peasy or that we weren't freakining out. The thought of losing 1,000's of photographs and music and files, data, school work, memories... it induces terrible anxiety and bad smelling sweat. Geoff worked almost the entire weekend on data recovery for 2 different computers. It takes patience, good intuition, experience, and did I mention patience? Please, save.

If I could, I would post photos from our dinner with friends, or one of Maria sitting with her animals, reading them a book. While Geoff monitored buzzing hard drives, I sat beside him and made progress on 2 quilts... they are still WIPs, (Works In Progress) but they've come a long way since Friday. I look forward to sharing the quilts in progress, and a picture of Alex's art; he's drawn a fascinating depiction of homework getting the best of a scholar.

So, I guess there was a time when a paper and pencil sufficed for staying in touch and a photo album held the best of our family photographs. I claim to be more old fashioned than not, but my close call with memory loss, and being away from email and posting and reading blogs forces to me to admit that I love my modern convenience. I depend on this computer. I rely on the internet and appreciate Microsoft, Google, Amazon, email, Blogger, Apple and Macs... the whole enchilada. And the foremost reason that I love it is because it is a profoundly ideal tool for staying in touch with family, friends and the world... it brings me shared moments, news, resources, answers, art, music, inspiration, maps, ideas, and poetry. What a gift.

Now I will heat dinner, bathe children, clear dishes, start some laundry, floss, and reflect on the good things. I hope you are enjoying the good things too.

Save, Save, Save!

No, this is not a sales ad. This is a reminder to everyone, like me, who remembers that backing up precious files and photo libraries is crucial and yet rarely gets around to actually doing the job. Our mega-mighty, super-tera, infinite memory hard-drive died. Like a brilliant ER doctor, Geoff jumped on its chest and spent hours doing hard-drive memory resuscitation...HDMR. When he could get a pulse and small chunks of memory files were moved to the donor hard-drive, he would use his compassionate bedside manner to coax the feeble hard-drive into giving up just a few more bits and bytes... "Come on! You can do it. Hang on... hang on!" Hours and hours of guidance, coaching, monitoring and delicate, delicate operations.

My contribution? I was the grieving spouse... wailing, wringing her hands, pacing the floor, flipping through back issues of Sunset magazine from 1989, sipping lukewarm coffee from the vending machine, calling immediate family... I was a wreck.

We aren't out of the woods yet. The old hard-drive is in and out of commission, sometimes grinding and sputtering incoherently. This morning we Geoff is trying to recover music files and iMovies. After a fitful night, mourning the losses and calculating what might hopefully be saved, I have come to a place of acceptance. There is comfort in knowing that there will be some recovery and we did put a lot on discs at one point and another. Also, I am keenly aware there are bigger issues out there, tougher burdens to bear, and with this in my mind, I say a word of thanks for the blessings in my life. My heart eases, and I add my hopes and prayers for some dear people I am holding in my heart, wishing well.

Save. Back-up. Count your blessings. Love and be loved. Greet the brand new day. Repeat.

No Lettuce, No Peanut Butter

Foiled again!
What do you send for lunch when the staples are low? We have jelly, but no partner and we have roast turkey, but no greens. It's too late to boil eggs.

Alex just groaned, "It's school picture day." We are late, he hasn't showered and he's trying to get books into his school bag. A loss? Maybe not. We were none too impressed with last year's pose in front of a backdrop of plastic pink and purple flowers. True... each kid was shot with a cargo net crammed with cheap, fake flowers in the background.

Lunch. Lunches. Balanced, interesting, filling, school lunch. School Lunch Challenge. And I know about the blogs with the daily photographs of cutely packed, tofu crammed, veggie strewn lunches, with fruit cut in the shapes of the 9 8 planets. Feh.

1 Hour and 23 Minutes Later

I stopped at the market after dropping the boys off at school. On the way to school Alex and I had a talk about how much homework needs to get done the night before, and not the morning of. Life: It's a process, right? At the market I got leafy green lettuce, 2 pie pumpkins, some yogurt, Amy's California Garden Burgers, corn bread mix, mineral waters, and two ready-roasted chickens. LOL I just remembered Janece's post today and I realize I am being terribly common!

Time to save the day with a cute-cute picture:


Nothing common here. My nephew is a honey. He celebrated his first birthday in August. Can you blame me for wishing we were neighbors?


We saw Daniel last week, and the boys got haircuts. Two of them got haircuts. "Finally!" says Alex. I am trying to work-up the courage to give Maria a trim. I am not opposed to cutting her hair... I just don't want to make a mess of it. After years of cutting hair for 3 little boys, I am reluctant to give Maria her turn.

Oh good grief.

You know Geoff showed me something last week: My hits. Deep in the recesses of my server are pages and pages of statistical facts about visitors to Chickenblog. How many visitors per day, where they came from, how long they spent at Chickenblog, most popular labels-topics, which days I had the most visitors. It's all calculated down to the second. And it's all kind of fascinating and then it becomes a little unsettling, because I realize that for years I was basically talking to myself, and only recently have there been more hits, but still there are not as many comments compared with the number of people reading the blog... It leads to doubt, insecurity, suspicion and feelings of conflict, turmoil and befuddlement.

My busiest day? I knew, even before he showed me, that it would have to be about the time that Anna Maria mentioned me in her post and awarded me the BNRPA. She sent 500 people to Chickenblog! 500! That's more visitors than cumulatively have visited the blog in 5 years, or something like that. Anyway, I sort of wish I had something fantastic going on at the time, something to keep 'em coming back for more, devoted. What? Face it, bloggers love company, and I am no exception. It's about exchange and community and visitors! And a secret longing to be discovered and published and buy a comfy country home and have chickens in the yard and never run out of lettuce again!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!


heehee... I am laughing at myself. This morning is as beautiful as most mornings, but sometimes a little personal joy can make everything extra shiny and bright, like when one of my favorite talents in the blogosphere makes a really nice mention of me. Seriously, I may be a bit full of myself for a few days, since I am a recipient of a BNRPA! You may not be familiar with the Beautiful Newborn Red Pepper Award, but around here everyone is going to be hearing all about it, all day! Thank you Anna Maria!

And check this out: More BNRPA award winners!
Meg of "Montessori By Hand"... looks awesome!
Linda's blog...so inspiring!
"Fiddlesticknitting" is introducing a rosebud of a baby! Welcome to the world Satya.
"Happy Loves Rosie" is peek across the pond, where Hayley is raising teens and making art.


We had a family day, out in the world. So nice to be together and seeing new sights. The Model Railroad Museum was a huge hit, and no wonder, what with lovely trains puttering down tiny tracks and little scenes of farms and cities. Trains are so appealing!


While the children and I learned about "0" scale and teeny-tiny "N" scale, Geoff was waiting in line for tickets to the Natural History Museum... specifically we were there to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. We got in, and it was an amazing experience, which I am still processing... "Wow" and "Cool" are rather shallow commentaries on such a profound, historical and spiritual occasion, but Wow! Cool! The entire exhibition is an amazing culmination of history, science, art, politics, geography, archaeology, preservation, diplomacy and God. I was especially moved to see the Psalms scroll and this passage:
133:1 A Song of Ascents; of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

133:2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard; even Aaron's beard, that cometh down upon the collar of his garments;

133:3 Like the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever.


Of course, when you are two years old, a little museum time can go a long way. Soon it's time to get out and run around!


Life should be a balance of learning about a long time ago and life right now.


The museum showed many ancient and fascinating artifacts from Israel and Qumran. I liked seeing the dishes and little artifacts that reflected daily living, home life. Their lives are so distant, and yet present. What will remain of this day, of our lives, 2,000 years from now?


Nice to be reminded to savor the day. The blue sky, healthy children running around rose gardens and splashing fountain water.

It's Only Tuesday

When I leave comments on other people's posts I try to catch errors before I hit publish. But, of course, I don't always catch my little typos or poor word order. When I would leave a comment with bas bad spelling my body would be swept over with a wave of shame and embarrassment. I would fidget and feel panicky, and imagine that the host would realize I am terribly flawed and incapable of communicating effectively, properly. Now I don't care. It's so much better this way.

When I stop and consider that this year is slipping into autumn and that we are half-way through September, it stuns me. How swiftly time passes. It is inconceivable that we are approaching The Big Three (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.) This morning it was cold. Cold. Maybe 62 degrees. Brrrrr, right? So, if I am so incredulous and alarmed by how quickly seasons come and go, then why do I grumble that it's only Tuesday? Why am I so anxious for it to be late Thursday, even Friday? What's my hurry? Where's the fire?

It was brought to my attention that we are "living Chickenblog," like it is some pervasive, all consuming entity. It kind of shut me up for a while, as I tried to gather their meaning or intent. I grin; this post probably only confirms their beliefs... which is what exactly? I'm still not sure.

Don't miss the fun! Tomorrow is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Oooh arggh mateys! The children and I were warming-up last night and making all possible pirate references we could think of. Then we decided to honor Robert Louis Stevenson by thinking up our very own piratey names. Us scurvy dogs were laughing and swabbing the poop deck all night! Max now goes by Marlin Bite and I might be callin' meself Scratch... say it aloud in a piraty voice. Cool, huh? What be yer pirate name?

Am I Quirky?

I have been tagged for a Quirky Meme by Calamity Kim. So, I am supposed to share 6 of my quirks. I had to go to the dictionary: "A peculiar trait." Also: "Idiosyncrasy" and "Eccentricity." Then I had to think. Hmmmmm

Lately I feel less and less eccentric or unique. The more people I meet and listen to, the more blogs I read, the less I see myself as a special individual. Which is not the same as saying I am not special... I just mean there are a lot of eccentrics with peculiar traits, so many in fact that it makes me feel rather common, typical, unquirky. All my life I have had ideas and dreams, little hidden desires that I hoped to act upon one day and everyday I come across more and more people fully embracing the things I've been hoping to do, and living out loud the secret wishes I've been making.

Are memes really supposed to make you ponder and think deeply? I don't think so. I also don't think I have any good quirks.


Now if I could get a pair of kittens to ride along with me in a sling, that might be a bit quirky. I could wear a big hat, mine would be a cowboy hat, and I would casually as you please walk around town with kittens at my waist. Or a hen. I could be a chicken lady. In a stroller, or sitting by me while I drive around running errands.


This isn't quirky, I don't think. When I see dreadlocks, my scalp itches... no, not my scalp... more like my brain. My thoughts itch and I feel it in my scalp and I get a compulsion to shave my head and run my hand all over my head. Just saying.


Is this quirky? I like other people's dogs better than my own. Well, ya, we don't have a dog. Sometimes I really believe I want a dog, but I know if I had one I would be very distressed. Dogs need a lot and I never feel like I am giving them enough, so that their little dog faces stare up at me and I live with a horrible sense of guilt mixed with regret, in spite of the fact that I love them. I love other people's dogs and I like to pet them and feed them and I love to hear them drink water. I love Molly and Toby, Sam, Jasper and Pippin, and all the dogs riding in cars hanging out the window and soaking up the sun in the breeze. Other people's dogs are the best.


Through art, Alex expresses his desire to break for lunch.

A lot of people have said I am crazy quirky to home*school. I cannot over state how much I love my children and love having them with me. I miss them when they are at school. I want to learn with them and share the day and new experiences. I want to see what they see and laugh out loud with them. I wish home school was the perfect, ideal place for all learning, but I appreciate that they need to see more and do more and find their own paths. I will never regret our school days together.


How about liking funny faces, grouchy faces, even blurred photographs, is that quirky? Not so much. I like Maria's pout. I even liked it when the babies cried sometimes. If I knew they were safe, clean, fed and they were just having a cry moment, I liked it. They get so expressive and they are so powerful and I just love hearing the effort. Then I love to scoop them up and embrace them. Sigh.


Dreams don't make us quirky, do they? Recurring dreams about places, like Mexico, where I used to go as a girl. No, that is not quirky. Never mind.

Let's see... peculiar...

I like the taste of bell peppers, but I will not eat bell peppers. I flavor dishes with bell pepper, but pull the little suckers out after cooking.
I always sleep better when my feet are clean.
That's it. I've shared enough. As much as I write and post on Chickenblog you might not guess that I am a quiet person, more shy than outgoing. What I would really enjoy is hearing from lurkers, family, friends. Do you know what a lurker is? If you read Chickenblog and never say "hey" or make yourself known, or make comments, then you are lurking. That's cool, but just this once why not say hello and tell us something about yourself. Do you have a peculiar trait? What are your quirks, or just one quirk. Please. Life is so much better shared.

Saying Thank You and Stuff

If Geoff comes home to show me (again) how to make award badges, then I can post the one bestowed on Chickenblog by Tami of Lemon Tree Tales. She declares me worthy of a Nice Matters Award and she said very nice things about me and Chickenblog. This is what a "nice Matters Award is about:

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world. Once you've been awarded please pass it on to others who you feel are deserving of this award."

Tami put me in very good company, as she also nominated Pink Purl and Calamity Kim, two very nice women, I am proud to call friends.

Tami, thank you for saying I am Nice and because I think you are nice, I should just turn around and second your nomination for Nice Matters. Can I do that? Why not.



I would also have to second the nomination of Tracy at Pink Purl. She is the essence of good cheer and encouragement. It's a nice treat finding a comment from her, because she has so much kindness to share. Have you ever visited her Etsy shop? I loved her handbags, from a distance, and when they went on sale this summer I was unable to resist making an order. Now I have a charming strawberry book tote and a pink one that's going to surprise a friend! Her work, the details and quality are even more impressive in person, and I have to thank her for making the package extra special with some unexpected extras... very nice I tell ya!

My sidebar is full of people who are nice and who matter, and who know that nice matters, but usually these awards are limited to 5 nominations... not easy. I would like to make special mention of the woman who taught me how to make an apron. Louise of "Lululollylegs" made a very nice and complete tutorial of apron making. You may recall that I made my very first apron with her help, and then the apron made it to a fundraising auction... double niceness!

More inspirational niceness came from