Why Did the Chickens Cross the Driveway?

To check out our 3 year old, obviously!

It really amazes me how curious our chickens are.  They will follow Pierce to the moon.

Especially Foghorn and Leghorn.

They just love them some 3 year old boy.  They must like drama.  Or maybe it's the tie-dye.  After all, who can resist a good tie-dye?

And let's not forget Priscilla.  She's the one who keeps jumping in our car.  And look at her.  Just biding her time for a wagon ride....

Our chickens have been so much fun so far. 

Maybe one day they'll even lay eggs (sigh).

That's so Un-Fair!

For July 4th we decided to head to the fair.  We got everyone sunscreened up, topped off bellies, and headed out.  Thirty minutes into the drive Paul said, "Where is the Salem Fair, anyhow".  My answer?  "In Salem".  This resulted in several phone calls to friends to find out it was at the Salem Civic Center, where we had figured it would be all along.

Paul and I decided to do a walk through first, see the sights and take Pierce on a few rides, before going to see the really good stuff - all the animal exhibits, quilting shows, and blue ribbon pies that are the meat of any good country fair.

Pierce first requested to ride this helicopter because why?  Because Diego rides in a helicopter, of course.  Prices at the fair are steep these days.  $4 per person to ride this thing.  I remember when I was a teen we'd go to the fair for the night and $20 would cover all my rides plus a funnel cake.  Not anymore!

After that was a little train followed by the Super Slide.

Then on to the bulldozer train:

And last but not least, a little rollercoaster with mom.  We were surprised he picked this out.

After 3 trips around, the coaster pulled to a stop and Pierce practically leaped out, exclaiming, "I'M ALL DONE!"

So, rides out of the way, it was now over 90* and scorching hot, and we were ready to go see some exhibits.  We entered the Civic Center and saw rows of more propaghanda than exhibits.  Need to buy a new mattress?  You will now be pleased to know one can be purchased at the fair.  How about a new cell phone?  Sunglasses?  Want to find God?  Yes, folks, you can do all this and more at the fair this year.

But wait. 

Where were the rows of prized cows? 

The scrubbed pink piglets?

The jars of zesty pickles and canned onions?

Elvis's funky-feathered chicken cousins?

Where were the crocheted doilies, and best in show crazy quilts?

Sadly, they were not to be found.

Indeed, our entire raison d'etre at the fair was a huge let down.

Mattresses, not maple syrup, was all we could  find.

All I can say is....

That's so Un-Fair!

Muffin Tin Monday - Mommy Had a Craving

It's Muffin Tin Monday again.  Pierce had skewers of olives, fake crabmeat, and string cheese, a banana on a stick, and homemade mashed garlic potatoes.  I had a craving for those mashed pototoes.  With the skin left on red potatoes.  Are you a skin on or skin off potato-fan?  These sure hit the spot!  Pierce devoured every last bite except the mashed potatoes.  Go figure.  Oh well, more for Mommy.

Want to participate in Muffin Tin Monday? 


Now let's talk about my chickens for a minute.  I'm thinking all ten of them came from bad eggs.  You know, the type of devious, no good, low-laying sons of chicks that you don't want in your neighborhood.  See, they should be laying by now.  Particularly Horace.  But oh no.  Either they're hiding the eggs or they're holding out. 
Have you ever heard those stories of criminals in jail that stuff contraband so far up their you-know-whats that the guards can't find it during a search?  Criminals that can be subjected to 14 doses of laxatives and STILL won't let that contraband out?  Well, I'm thinking our chickens could give those criminals a run for their money.  Because they sure aren't giving up the eggs.  Maybe this week will be the big week?

Recycling Brown Paper Bags for a craft inspired by Chief Seattle's Words

Pierce and I wanted to find a way to make a craft from recycled brown paper bags.  We found inspiration while reading the book Brother Eagle, Sister Sky by Susan Jeffers.

This is a beautiful children's book, rich with pictures and the words of Chief Seattle as adapted by Jeffers to become preschool-friendly.

Just a few thought-provoking quotes from the book, which is poetic as much as mystical:

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not simply water, but the blood of your grandfather's grandfather.

You must give to the rivers the kindness you would give to any brother.

The earth does not belong to us.  We belong to the earth.

This we know:  All things are connected like the blood that unites us.  We did not weave the web of life, We are merely a strand in it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

Just a small taste.  If you care about the earth, go to the library and read this book to your children.  Share with them what value our world of nature has.

And then follow it up with a little recycling fun!

Painting brown paper bags:

Pierce picked out the colors himself.

After drying, cut out shapes for eyes and mouths and wings.  Pierce colored the wings a mixture of colors.  We looked at some of the totem poles online of Pacific Northwest Native American tribes.

We gathered chicken feathers (we have no shortage of those right now) to add a little flare.

You could make your totem pole as tall or as short as you wanted.

A really fun craft with a much deeper lesson.

Happy 4th everyone!

June Fitness Recap

So how am I doing in my training for NYC? 

Last month was a good month in general.  The best part is that I made good of my goal and got to the track 5 times in June!  And trust me, it was hotter than hot some of those times but I was there anyhow, sweating it out. 

I ran one race, a half marathon, which was hot and slow if you recall.  I got through it with just a few scars from a fall ;-)

On a down note, I took an entire week off this month except for a short 3 mile track workout.  I have some excuses, related to a medical procedure I had done (everything is fine) but I don't like excuses.  Bottom line:  I could've run if I had wanted to, but I didn't---- and if I had to do all over again I'd likely make the same choice, because that was the healthy choice.  So I'm letting that go.  Month-end mileage for June was 95 miles, plus 5x weightlifting and 4x yoga.

Not bad.  I'll get there.

Paul got me these for my birthday:

These are Vibram Fivefingers.  KSOs to be specific.  One of those things I wouldn't have bought for myself, but loved to receive as a gift.  They make it seem almost as though you are running barefoot.

Because running barefoot changes your stride, you have to start with them very slowly to adjust without injury.  So I've just been doing teeny little runs with them.

I have to say, it's fun.  Like running as a kid barefoot.  You can feel the sensations of grass and gravel underneath your feet, yet it doesn't hurt.  And they are so light.

I don't think I'm the type of person who is structurally sound enough to run big races (like marathons) with these because I can be a little injury prone.  However, they will be fun to use for shorter distances.

In July I hope to continue with the track workouts, adding distance to my repeats, and pass the 100 mark for my monthly mileage.  Plus, I've signed up for 2 5Ks.  They aren't my cup of tea, but they sure make for a good speed workout!

What are your goals for July?

Memory Lane Friday - Fourth of July

Memory Lane Friday is a time to write about your memories to preserve them for your family.  Each week is a different topic, but you are always welcome to write about any memory-related story you like and link up with Mister Linky.  The topics are just suggestions :-)

This week's topic is Fourth of July.

When my great grandmother on my mom's side of the family passed away, an old trunk full of pictures was discovered.  My grandparents told me to go through and take any pictures I liked.  I didn't really know who any of the people in the pictures were (except for a few with names scrawled in pencil on the back) but I love old pictures, so I gathered a handfull to keep.  One of the pictures I took was this one:

I don't know who the children are in the picture.  I do believe that it is a train in the background, behind the fence.  I love the display though.  Were they cheering for a parade?  Was it a ceremony for soldiers returning from war?  Or was it an Independence Day celebration?  I don't know, but it certainly looks as though they were having a grand time.

On July 4th my family would typically eat watermelon and set off a few backyard fireworks.  You know the type...those cobra snake things, sparklers, etc.  One year, though, my dad got something called The Screaming Bees.

Virginia has strict fireworks laws, and they can't shoot off the ground if they are used at home.  In fact, only "fountain fireworks", sparklers, pharoah serpents, pinwheels and whirligigs are permitted.  If you want the good stuff then you have to go to South Carolina.  Anyhow, I don't know if we got a defunct killer screaming bee deal or what.  But that thing shot off and the bee rockets were screaming and my dad took off running.  We were all kind of stunned in the aftermath.  Ah, good times.

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Next week's topic is 'A Game'.  Board games, yard games, computer games, a specific homecoming football game....put a name to your game memory and blog it!

Vintage Recipe Thursday - Shrimp Creole with Cheese Rice

It's been a while since I've done Vintage Recipe Thursday.  It isn't for lack of trying, actually.  I made a couple of different recipes and the truth is...they just weren't blog-worthy.  I only put recipes I really like on the blog.  But last week I decided to try again.  As usual, this is from my grandmother Lin Lin's 1978 copy of For the Love of Cooking.

The recipe?  Shrimp Creole with Cheese Rice

1/4 cup butter

1 cup coarsely chopped onion

1 cup diced celery

1 small clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp. flour

1 tsp salt

dash cayenne pepper

1 tsp paprika

1/2 small bay leaf

4 drops of hot sauce (or more, if you're me)

1/2 cup diced green pepper

1 can tomatoes

2 cups cooked shrimp

cheese rice (recipe follows)

Melt butter in skillet.  Add onion, celery, and garlic and cook slowly until tender but not brown.

Add flour and seasonings; stir until blended.  Stir in green pepper and tomatoes.  Cook 10 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.  Add shrimp and heat.  Serve in casserole lined with cheese rice.

Cheese rice:

3 cups water

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups uncooked regular rice

2 cups shredded pasteurized process American cheese (I confess I just used mild cheddar)

2 tbsp finely chopped onion

1 tsp prepared mustard

Bring water to boiling point; add butter, salt, and rice.  Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, until tender, about 20-25 minutes.  Stir cheese, onion, and mustard into hot rice.  Line hot 2 quart casserole with cheese rice and fill center with shrimp creole.

We opted not to dirty a casserole dish, instead just layering rice in individual bowls and putting the shrimp on top.  Man was this delicious!

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