The Prissy Chicken Memoires

Don't be a hater, because we're famous...

2008-12-16T19:31:00.005-06:00

What in the world could that title possibly mean? Well, I'm glad you asked. Today was a snow/ice day, and although I will HATE it when we have to make them UP, I LOVE them TODAY!!! I got SOOOO much done, I embroidered all day (mainly for other people, but that means, I'll have them all done when I need to do my OWN!!!) They have already called school for TOMORROW too, so just THINK what I can get done!! Hopefully, more sewing AND some baking!! But I digress... you are wanting to know why I've talked of fame...

So, my friend Beth calls today and says, "You OWE me one, just so you know." Now, you need to know about Beth to appreciate this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE her, and she truly is one of my dearest friends, but one may wonder why we are friends at all. She is very athletic, I bake. She is thin, I bake. She is EXTREMELY organized (is starting her own business with that by the way), and I bake. You may see the pattern here. Once I sent her a video clip and forewarned everyone to whom I sent it, that they would cry. It was about a little girl, whose brother had been gone a long time for some kind of chemo treatment, so when he got home, she had shaved her little head to give him her hair, and I mean, when I watched this clip, I SOBBED. You know, the body shaking kind of crying where you can't see the computer screen through your blurred vision. She emails me back, "If you want me to cry, you're gonna have to do better than that!" OK, now that you know about Beth, I can continue with my story. So I bite, and I say, "Now remind me WHY exactly I owe you?" She says, "Because I bought your chicken today at Wal-Mart and it was more expensive". (we also went through our Dave Ramsey class together, so I know that she was pained by doing this) Well, I assure her that Wal-Mart does not carry Perdue chicken, and she told me it wasn't Perdue, it was "Harvestland". Well, sure enough, Harvestland is a private division that Perdue provides chicken to. Again, knowing that she would not have that knowledge, I say that there is no way that she had done me a favor, as she didn't know anything about the chicken she was picking out. She said, "OH, but I DID. Ted (her SF husband, happened to be shopping with her today) saw this chicken, and HAD to get it because of the name that was on it. He INSISTED on buying this chicken!" Still not too impressed, but thinking maybe he and Shane had discussed Perdue being under a different label, she tells me, "He wouldn't get any other chicken because this had SHANE'S name on it". I say, "Yeah, right, whatEVER" and she insists, "SERIOUSLY, Shane's NAME is on the package." I hear Ted in the background (they are in Wal-Mart from what I can tell) and he is insisting that Shane's name is ON the package of chicken in the store, for all to see. She asked me didn't I know this, and I assure her that I didn't, and I am going to have to SEE it to believe it. Well, ladies and gentleman, may I present to you... A chicken that used to live at my house, but now lives in Wal-Mart for the highest taker. Actually, this picture was taken by Beth, so this particular bird is not available... Can you BELIEVE that?!?!?! I had NO idea!! My friend Theresa later calls, because she talked to Beth, and she too, didn't realize she was friends with a famous family!!! HAHAHAHA

This was almost as good as feeding the queen!! I'm posting the picture of the bird from the store, to show you guys too!! We were quite thrilled, although I DO think they should have thrown the word "Jerri" on the label SOMEWHERE... Thanks Beth for the pictures, and Ted, for loving Shane enough to INSIST on the chicken... He hunts here, so I guess he figures he should support us, so we don't lose the farm, and he lose his hunting spot!! :)

I thought you'd all enjoy that fame story, and thanks for reading a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

And then there were 6...

2008-12-11T21:46:00.007-06:00

My dearest chicken farmer called me today at school. We chatted for a moment, and then he said, "I have some GREAT news!!" You can imagine my thoughts... He got a raise? Perhaps won the Powerball? How about he wants to get someone to clean the house? Well guess which won of the above he said!! NONE!!!!!!!!!!! That's right! Not a one!! He proceeded to tell me that when I got home, I'd be excited to see that we were SIX horses richer. WHAT?!?! Did you say HORSES? Did you MEAN to say "$5 million DOLLARS richer?" Nope, he said horses... You can imagine how the conversation went after that, but the gist of it is one of his buddies knows him PRETTY WELL. Just kidding, a friend of his has these 5 horses, and they keep getting out of this fence where he keeps them. Well, they are tearing up the neighbors stuff when they are out, so they are threatening a lawsuit, so he had to find a place for them ASAP, until he could get his stuff done. Yeah, bring us your down trodden, your pit bulls, your kittens, your HORSES... "Give 'em to SHANE... HE'LL take ANYTHING!!! This is a picture of the pregnant mare. YES, you read that right, let's throw that into the mix as well. Now, for Shane being such a good friend, he's getting to keep the baby. SO?!?! Really? I know, you gotta love him... but come on... FIVE HORSES? I didn't even go out to the stable. I told Graceson to take a picture, and I'd come and look at them when it was daylight and warm. Then of course, let's not forget Lucky!! Shane said that whene they let the others out, he GALLOPED as fast as he could over to them, blowing and snorting, letting them know whose casa they were trodding on.
I will tell you that I do really like Lucky, but as for "his people" that are now visiting, I'll let you know... They aren't saddle broken, so it's not like they serve a purpose. When you come down to it, most don't. Last week, Lucky was at the gate, and Shane was putting up the lawn mower into our shop. One of the goats that share the pen with him, walked up behind him. He wasn't interested in her being there, so he picked up his back leg, and ever so gently put it up against her side, and pushed her away. He didn't try to hurt her, he didn't kick, it was just a "push". That's just his personality...
In the mean time, have a GREAT night and thanks for sharing a moment in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

You're a mean one...

2008-12-10T22:56:00.006-06:00

You are about to see, perhaps one of the cutest things you have ever seen. OK, ok, I am to never use "cute" and Garrett in the same sentence, so I will rephrase, you are about to see something really FUN!!! In youth, Bill never wants anyone "NOT" to go on a mission trip because they cannot afford it. So, to help them out, they have the opportunity to work each week, and instead of getting paid cash money, it can go as a credit in their accounts toward a mission trip. Tonight, he had a contest. The contest was simply to dress up as your favorite fictional Christmas character. Sara talked to me about an idea, and we went with it. Now... at 5:30 this morning, if you had asked, I would have told you that it wasn't going to work out, because I thought Garrett had strep, he was up 4 times last night getting sick, and he was about as green as his costume when I woke him up. I got him into the dr. by 8:45, they did the rapid test, and it came back negative. His dr. wasn't confident that it really WAS negative, so he decided to grow the culture overnight, and gave us some antibiotics anyway... Now... fast forward 12 hours.

Garrett and Conley dressed up as the Grinch and Cindy Lou Hoo. As you can see, they were the BOMB!!! Lilli even got in on the action, and she dressed in drag, as his dog Max, with the antlers and a Santa coat. I felt like, they were without a doubt, the best dressed, but alas, the judges didn't agree. They did, however, get 2nd!! That is o.k. though, because EVERYBODY needs trip money, and ANY is better than NONE!!! How this came to pass... (besides their mothers saying, "you'll do this") is that Garrett and Conley are great friends. They will argue just like he does with Gra, but he would fight someone for her too. No matter how many times I tell him, he is convinced that they are related. I have told him and Gra too, that they are NOT, but they both agree that I am wrong. They share an uncle and an aunt, so therefore, they MUST be kin... There is no other option. It doesn't matter that Garrett's UNCLE is married to Conley's AUNT, it still counts... Just ask him (AND Gra as well!!) (They are the TX Fowlers that you've read about) You can also see my friend Anty from youth. This is more of a close up picture of Lilli dressed in drag, pretending she's a boy. Anty was excited to be "making" the blog!!

Tonight was dress rehearsal for the Christmas play at church. If you aren't doing anything, you should REALLY make a point to come to one of the performances. They will be at 7 pm on Friday, 6 pm on Saturday, and 3 pm on Sunday. You won't be sorry if you do!! I've always thought that Graceson got her "drama" part of her body from me... Come to find out... it's her FATHER!! He is officially part of the "drama" team I guess, since this is his 3rd play!! Last year he was a shepherd, and he can man handle those farm creatures, like they were small cats. He also had a bruise on the top of his foot, where the goat that he led up on stage stomped his foot, since the shepherd's of Jesus' day were barefoot. He is a shepherd again this year, however the first night, he will be in "another" position. He came home the other night, and told me that Charlie was going to be missing, so just for Friday he would be the "Rabi"..............................

I gave you a minute to figure that out... Our church is: Hillcrest BAPTIST Church, so I am pretty sure in our Christmas production, we wouldn't have a Rabi, which is a Jewish leader. I thought it was QUITE funny!! I asked him did he mean he was going to be a "Magi" and he agreed!! I am a behind the scenes girl for the performance. I actually call myself "Jesus' nanny", although there was never such a person noted in the Bible. Mary is on stage, when an angel comes to her and tells her and Joseph what is going to happen, and then shortly, she is holding a baby, then in another scene, "kid" Jesus goes on stage. Our baby Jesus is named "Cash", and he is really precious. I get him to Mary, and then get him from her, get kid Jesus to her, take the baby around back, then come back and get kid Jesus, take him around back, eventually get the baby back, and deliver him to the opposite side to go back out on the last song. Our "grown up" baby Jesus (kid Jesus) is Jiles. I have never been around him before tonight, but he was SUCH a sweetie. His mom's blog is listed on the left, "Journey to our Baby". He was SOOO good behind the curtain, and just stood there, holding my hand, waiting to go out. You would have thought he was 14 years old, as good as he acted.

And in case the above happenings didn't make for a good day, I had a meeting after school and I won a DOOR PRIZE!!! Man!! An oil change, opry tickets, and a gift certificate? If you can tell me how to find my lucky numbers, I need to get a Power Ball ticket!! :)

There are so many things I could write about, but I am beat. I wish I could blog every day, but it is just not feasible with getting up everyday before 6 a.m.! Maybe if Shane ever insists that I quit work because we are loaded or something, THEN I can post daily!! Until then... I'll just update as I can!!

I hope you ALL have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! ALSO... Graceson's choir performance is the FOLLOWING Sunday at 6 pm if you are interested. She has a solo, and we have listened to the practice cd so much, that I am certain that Garrett and I could BOTH be her understudies if we needed to be!! Talk to you soon!! love to all!! Jerri

WHAT a great week!!

2008-12-02T22:05:00.002-06:00

I hope that all of you has had as nice of a week, as I have!! I say "week", not starting as of the day before yesterday, but since my last post!! It has been busy, but LOVELY!!! Of course, I was off for FIVE days last week, and although we're ALWAYS off 2 days each week, those EXTRA ones just are the BOMB!! You remember my YOGA from Wednesday night, well... you don't need a calendar to know that I go back TOMORROW!! I am going to try and do better about not opening my eyes, while they are supposed to be closed, seeing if everyone else thinks that they are looking like a big dork. It could certainly be relaxing if you can get past the silliness you feel from doing it. The part where you sniff up one side of your nose, then let the air out the other while holding the side you just sniffed from, made me as dizzy as a cat!! I guess I am not used to being "oxygenated"!! (is that a word? maybe I should go into one of those O2 bars the next time I'm at Opry Mills!!) I WAS sore for days, but I am looking very forward to going back tomorrow! Wednesday, I washed clothes, got a lot of stitching done, and seemed to have cooked one thing or another, all day long... That day was so so, but it was still marvy because I was HOME!!! Thursday was a GREAT day!! I have so very many things to be thankful for and about! We ate at Shane's moms, and had T'giving at my mom's on Saturday morning with breakfast!! Isn't that a great idea? You can only eat turkey so many times...

While at Shane's folks, his dad broke out his MeMaw's old "TENS" unit. You know, it is one of those things that you hook to yourself (like with those heart monitor looking pads), and turn it on. Well, I always seem to have a neck ache, so I was ready to try it out!! He hooked it up to my neck, and turned it on. OK, no big deal, how can it help? It just felt a little like the prickly needles when your foot goes to sleep, and they are poking you until the feeling comes back. Since it wasn't that bad, I guess he thought he'd let me see it a little higher... HELLO? I am a newbie at this... be gentle... He cranked it up to I am not sure what, but my neck started twitching, I was hollering, and it had it bent all over, with my ear to my shoulder, and I couldn't straighten it up. It WAS a good hurt though, but I had NO control!! We turned it down a bit, and I will tell you, I would LOVE to have one of these machines myself!!! After I took it off, my neck was SOOOOO much better, I couldn't BELIEVE it!! I even went back the next day and hooked it up voluntarily!!

Friday, I don't remember anything specifically that stuck out. Saturday, however, was EXCELLENT!! Shane and I went to the Melting Pot for our 16th anniversary!! YES, SIXTEEN years!! Am I old enough to have been married that long? I really don't think so. He must have had to get permission from my parents to marry me at the age of 10, but I'm not sure!! Before dinner, we went to Opry Mills and did some shopping. The GREATEST thing about going shopping with Shane, is that he VOLUNTEERS to carry the bags!! What a guy!! So, after making our rounds at the mall, we went to the restaurant. While we are sitting at our booth, the manager comes over and asks us if we enjoyed it. We assured him we had, as we were moaning from being so full, and he asked us which anniversary it was and blah blah blah. (they ask you if it is a special occasion when you call for the reservations) He came back a few minutes later, with a gift sack and said, "I looked at your reservations (you make them by phone number), and I see you've come here for the last 3 anniversaries. Since you've been so loyal, I wanted to give you a bottle of one of the dressings you ate tonight, and a bottle of the garlic and wine seasoning!!" OMG!! People NEVER just randomly give you stuff!! How super!!! We leave there to head towards home, and decide to stop in at Circuit City. We have been saving for a tv, and got Christmas money from the folks instead of a gift this year, so I thought we were just stopping to get an idea of what we'd get. We LEFT with a 52" flat screen!! I had no IDEA that Shane was such a "barterer". (I called him something else, but don't want to offend anyone!!)

Sunday was a great nap day, and I got some more embroidering done (you know the Christmas season is upon us, so between my gifts, and everyone else that wants things done for people, I stay pretty covered up). So Monday, is BACK to the grindstone. Graceson and I are on our way to school. (Garrett had the stomach bug again, so he stayed home in the bed). We were listening to "The Beaver". (I listen to several different stations every morning. When Shane worked at the police dept, I got in the habit of listening to WHOP, the local radio station, because I knew that if I didn't hear his name on it, then he had made it safely and uneventfully through the night, because he used to get off of work AFTER we left for school. Now, I just listen to it for the weather, and out of habit. THEN, when I get in the car, it is on the Beaver. I usually listen to WAY FM, a Christian Station, but I can only pick it up until I get about 5 miles from home, so I switch it over to the Beaver, and it stays on that, until I am headed back to town and get its service. Well, the "Beaver Brain Buster" came on, and everyone was answering and no one was getting it right, or getting the answer that I knew that it was. The question was, "What are people doing less of now, than they did 20 years ago?" My answer was "recycling", but I wasn't getting through, so it didn't matter. Well, I finally get through, and it rings and rings and rings. I keep saying, "recycle, recycle, recycle" in my head, so I wouldn't forget it. I guess I am next in line to be answered, because I hear them talking on the radio while it is ringing in my ear. All of these guesses, and no one is answering it correctly. Then, the guy says that you see something about this every time you turn the tv on, and the woman said that people may be doing it less because it's so expensive. (I'm still repeating the word "recycle" in my head like Rainman, and they PICK UP!!) The say, "Beaver, do you have a guess?" I then shout out, "DIET!!" WHAT?!?! Where did that come from? I was going to say RECYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Fletch says, "YOU're the WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I won 2 tickets to the Grand Ole Opry for this Saturday night, and a certificate to get my oil changed from a place here in town. Shane was SOOO much happier about the oil, by the way... So, they tape our conversation, and put me on hold to play it on the radio, and will come back to me to get my information. Well, evidently the "Beaver" is all they listen to when they are loading trucks at UPS, because while I was on hold for the Beaver, Shane called FIVE times!!! I did call him back after I got off the phone, and his buddies had all heard me on the radio. HOW FUN!!! I guess I should have bought a lottery ticket yesterday!!

Today, was a super busy day at school, but THEN, we had our Christmas party!! It was SOOO much fun!! First, we went to Mary Jane's, one of our teacher's homes for appetizers-it was LOVELY, and then we went to the Carriage House for our meal. We played the Left/Right game, and just had a great time socializing. The talking was probably the best part!!

When I returned home, THIS is what was waiting for me!! You knew about the TV, but the part I hadn't told yet, was about this entertainment center!! The Pottery Barn people called and said that they'd be here between 5 and 8, and when I got home, they'd been here!! YES, I LOVE their stuff, and would love to be able to just open the catalog and get what I want, but that is really not an option because of their price. BUT... for whatever reason, I thought I'd call and check on my "points" from my credit card. I mean, I signed up YEARS ago for this "point" thing, but never really thought I'd use it. When I found out how many I had collected, I couldn't BELIEVE it!! There were a BUNCH!!! They sent me a catalog to see what I wanted, and I chose a gift card to PB!!! How great is THAT? Now, it certainly didn't cover it ALL, but it made it LOTS better!! In the catalog, the shelves were filled with baskets, but I couldn't bear to pay an extra $250 for 5 baskets, so I am just going to have to hope for the best that I can find some in the measurements I need!

Chickens go out over the next 2 days, so I am getting ready to go and set up one of the houses for catch. They are catching at 1 a.m., so I will go up at 12-12:15, and raise all of the water and feed lines, unlock doors, etc., so that they can be caught. The next catch is at 5 a.m., so Shane will get that one ready right before he goes to work... They always catch at night, but the hours this time are about to kill us both!! It's ok though! I can sleep when I'm dead, and that's what Red Bull is for!!

Well, I hope you all have a WONDERFUL night, and thanks for sharing a WEEK in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

2008-11-27T00:29:00.007-06:00

What a crazy, busy, beautiful day it has been!! It was sunny, and fairly warm. Warm enough to swing with the kids for a little while in just a t-shirt on the back porch!! We were out there, because I was helping Shane put the cover on the swimming pool. YES, it IS very late, and it has been "officially" closed for a few weeks, as far as the pipes blown out and plugged, and chemicals in and all, but I MAY have had to stay on Shane for a few days to get the cover on, so finally, after I agreed to help/do it, then he was ready to get it finished up!! Go figure!!!

The above picture is of Kristi Johnson and I eating lunch this past weekend. (It was the first day I broke out the Christmas sweater!!) She was in for her nephews birthday party, so we decided to try to hook up to eat and catch up. It was a GREAT time! We ate at Livingston's butcher and deli shop, and it was quite tasty, and it was a little hard to eat, with all of the talking we had to get accomplished in the short amount of time we had before her party!! We have been friends for a LONG time, as she is best of friends with a cousin of mine, but connected as of late, through the "blog world"!! If you don't read her blog, it is certainly worth the read. It makes me tired reading all that she does with her 4 children. They are #10 on the list to adopt a FIFTH child from Ethiopia, so she CERTAINLY is inspiring!! You can either click on at the left of my page, or you can click http://weloveourlucy.blogspot.com/ and get there too!! Thanks again Kristi!! When I dropped her off, I went by my friend Beverly's and got to hold baby Cooper for a little while, so that made all things wrong in the world, right!!

The picture to the right is to show you another project that I had this week. If you will remember from a previous post, this is the pit bull that adopted us. Well Sadie obviously was the princess at her old abode, and every time she came in, she found our princess Lilli's little bed, or even her kennel. This is a pillow for her that I made and it is more appropriate of a size!! I did something today that I have NEVER done before, but I have decided in this day and age, and with community happenings in the last month, was necessary. Last week, a glass company came to school and replaced my windshield... IN the parking lot!!! Is that a service or WHAT?!?! When my boys went to TX to visit Cary and Shanan, they brought me home a gift. It was a crack in my windshield. Well, what started out as 6 inches long, ended up completely across the windshield after it got cold the first time here. Well, it WAS great, except that after it was replaced, it must not have sealed properly or something, because the sound of wind was whistling in SO loudly, that you couldn't hear the radio good without turning it up a bit. So... short story long... they came BACK to RESEAL, but they came to the house instead of school. When the guy called this morning to tell me he was on his way, I told him to be sure and call me when he was in the driveway, because I had a dog that I needed to put up before he got out... Can you believe I did that? Whenever we get out of the car, she is barking her head off, and runs to the garden to let the weeds know we are home... I am going to do that from now on though. I found when Shane had the K-9 with HPD, bad guys and people in general were a LOT more afraid of his dog than his gun.

We've certainly had a busy week, and certainly a busy day, but it was a FANTASTIC busy day because I was OFF!!! Friday night our friend Tony celebrated his 40th birthday with surprise party that was a great time, and then I went to see a local production of Beauty and the Beast Saturday night. I know my friend, Ali H, reads this from time to time, so I want to make sure she knows and everyone else knows that it was GREAT!!! I LOVE to watch her dance, as it looks so effortless when she does it. I, on the other hand, look more like a frog in a blender, so GREAT job Al!! THEN... I got started on Sunday, with my HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS!! The whole fam LOVES them, and Shane has gotten somewhat spoiled to having them atop sweet potatoes. YES, they ARE a pain, and YES, you CAN get jet puffed at Wal-Mart for less than $1, but there is NO COMPARISON to the tastes!! I promise!! I am up so late tonight, waiting for the sweet potatoes to get done baking, so I can get them mashed and ready for tomorrow's casserole!!

Tonight I also went to my first night of YOGA!! I was really thinking, "How hard can this be?" But let me assure you... I KNOW now, and I am already SORE, and I haven't even gone to bed yet, so imagine tomorrow!! Belly dancing ended last week, and I am doing this with some of the same girls from the photo in my last post. It is not NEARLY as loud, but JUST as funny. The instructor seems nice, but is very serious. Everyone was supposed to be breathing and chanting, but I was looking around, seeing if everyone was "breathing and chanting" with their eyes closed... YES, some of them thought it was as odd as me!! One exercise, we were on our bellies, arched our backs reached behind us and grabbed our ankles, and then lifted our knees. (We were supposed to look sort of like "O's" I think... We were supposed to relax between counts, but I was afraid if I let go of my ankles, I wouldn't be able to capture them again, so I just held that position until it was over... not fun...

THEN, I got home, and while I was watching "What happens in Vegas" (I brought Shane and I and the kids home a movie from Yoga), I monogrammed our stockings. I am going to put our name on the tree skirt too, but didn't get to that yet. I did one for mom too, because I am planning on her spending the night Christmas Eve, she just doesn't know it yet!! (GOT IT MOM?) This skirt and stockings are from Pottery Barn and I LOVE how they look!! Last year AFTER Christmas, I got them on Ebay with other people's names on them. I carefully picked out the other names, and sewed ours on top. YES, it was a pain, but I saved SOOOO much $$, I couldn't resist!!!

Well all, I have to get in the bed... (AFTER I get the potatoes done)... I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving, and remember all of the things that you have to be thankful for today, and every day of the year!! love to all, and thanks for sharing a WEEK in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! Jerri

Random thoughts

2008-11-18T22:39:00.005-06:00

I could try and tell you what has gone on in the past few weeks that I haven't posted, but I think that would take a BOOK's worth of space, so I'll just hit a couple of the high lights!! Before I go any further, I have to take a second to shout out to Bridget and Ladonna!! I want to thank both of you girls for taking a moment to sign in, so that I know that I am not writing to cyber space!! Come back anytime, and if you know of others, encourage them to sign in!! ALSO, if you will notice, my last post had ELEVEN comments!! That THRILLS my soul- so keep commenting!! This first picture is of a few of my favorite people, with whom I have spent the past several Thursdays. Yes, it is my belly dancing group, and for the 6 of you that voted, I'll give you more details in an email!! This class is over, and they are offering an "advanced" belly dancing in January. Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure that I am "advanced", but I don't know if it is in the belly dancing way, if you know what I mean!! We felt VERY official, all the way down to our scarves, covered in coins, so that we could hear ourselves jingle...

Another event that has taken up a bit of our time is the chili festival for school. I have included a picture of this, so you can see what I spent some time doing that evening. If you know anything about me, you know that I am hot natured, so I can assure you, that by the end of the night, I thought I may spontaneously burst into flames. The good news is that I didn't!! I helped with several things for the festival, but I am adding the picture to the one I mainly did that night. The kids had an opportunity to tape the principal to the wall with duct tape. It was a HUGE hit, and she really did "hang" there until we cut her down!! I didn't really see the fam that night, but I feel like they had a good time. Shane, I'm sure, sat in a corner with his buddy Ted, solving the world's problems, and discussing very important hunting issues.

I also had a conversation with Shane last week, that went something like this: S- "Guess what!?!?!" I am hoping it is something like "I've finally played the lottery, and I got the million dollar powerball", but never fear, it was NOTHING like that!! So, Jerri says, "What?!?!" (again, not have a CLUE it is going to go the way it does) Shane- "Mr. Coker is giving us a COW!!!" (ok, here is excitement, that I can't seem to read, nor understand) J-"A COW? WHY does he want to give us a COW?!?" S-"Because she's PREGNANT!" J-"Again, WHY does he want to give us a PREGNANT cow?" S-"Oh, because she has mastitis, and won't be able to feed the calf" So I say, "And we WANT this cow?" S-"YES, Mr. Coker says she makes pretty babies, and we can have her AND the calf!!" I then say something like, "You mean, the mama cow, and the DEAD baby calf, because she can't feed him" and he says, "OH, we are taking her, so that we can BOTTLE feed the baby. The kids can feed the baby, and then when we sell her, they can get the money." (Now, this may be a good idea, if I thought that would HAPPEN. I am certainly not a prophet, but I know how this is going to play out. They will feed the baby about 1 week, get tired of it, and GUESS who gets to feed ONE MORE THING here... I think we both know!!!

The final picture I thought I'd throw in for fun. As you know, our newest family member, seems to have been used to being in the house at her previous home. If you remember, a few weeks ago, I posted a picture of her in a little ball, trying to sleep in Lilli's bed. She is obviously used to having a bed of her own, because of where she tried to sleep one day last week. Garrett grabbed the camera and snapped a picture of her in the kennel where we put Lilli when we leave, or when she sleeps at night. She looked like Houdini, trying to contort herself in way that was comfortable, but she stayed that way for HOURS!! She seems to have weaseled her way into our hearts and home, so enjoy the picture!!!

Well, I am spent, so I must get in the bed. I actually embroidered my FIRST Christmas present tonight!! I thought I was really ahead, but it wasn't for a gift *I* was giving, so it doesn't really help me, but it is at least something I won't have to do later!! I hope everyone has a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

Part of our Halloween costumes

2008-11-12T22:39:00.006-06:00

OK, I am going to take NO MORE than 3 minutes to blog. I am exhausted, and I can think of so many things in the last couple of weeks to talk about, but I have been too beat by the time I get a moment to type about it, and I am equally as tired tonight!! I thought I would show you what a few of my dear family members were for Halloween. First of all, I need to tell you that as I made the whole fam stand still for a picture, my camera DIED, so I had to get someone else to take a picture of them. I am HOPING that I find someone that got a picture of Garrett, and I will post it as soon as I get it! He was Joe Dirt, complete with a mullet, and looked very close to the real thing! Then you have Gra, who decided that she wanted to be a clown! Well, I had a friend's clown costume, and we had rigged a hoola hoop on the inside, so she looked very real! NOPE... that wouldn't DO, because it didn't "FEEL" right, don't you love OCD? So, I had to MAKE a clown costume. The one you see at the left is the result of me staying up until 2:30, and my mom adding the sleeves the next day while I was at school! Then, to right, you will see old Shaney boy, donning his hair and tatts. To show you the difference and Shane and our family's personalities, I have also added the picture of our family in TX, wearing the EXACT same tattoo sleeves... Same tatts, different Fowler boys... see the difference? A picture is worth a THOUSAND words!!
SOOOO, I am going to bed now!! I hope you all each have a GREAT night!! I've got LOTS of things to talk about, if I can ever find the time and energy to do it!! Sign into my guest book if you haven't or leave me a comment!! Have a great night!! Thanks for sharing a moment in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

Is it time?

2008-10-28T23:49:00.004-05:00

Is it just me or do you think it is time that Shane fix the horse pen fence? It is about TWENTY degrees outside, and our heat is not working. I am wearing gloves, a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a toboggan, and that is IN the house. The kids heat is working fine upstairs, buy I am afraid by morning, it will feel like Antarctica down here!! So I am getting ready to do my nightly routine and go to bed. Part of that routine includes letting Sadie in to sleep in the bathroom (her hair is pretty short, AND, if someone ever broke in, I am pretty hopeful that she'd kill them), and letting Lilli out one last time. I let her out, and she starts growling. I can hear something that sounds like a tyrannosaurus eating tree tops, but I am not ABOUT to turn on the light. Just about then, something at the edge of the porch triggers the motion detector on the light and it comes on. This is what scared me to DEATH!!!

YEP!! That is Lucky!! He is the same horse you saw a few days ago that was in the front yard! He was returned to his pen, but VOILA, he is a bit Houdini like, I see!! I got my flu shot today, had my hair cut and colored, and got to see precious Cooper Thomas Fort tonight. He is a GORGEOUS baby!! I could have sat and rocked all night!!! I am beat, and better go and find the Sand Man!! I hope you all have had a great day and thanks for sharing a moment in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

Tag- I'm it?!?

2008-10-27T22:52:00.003-05:00

OK, I am not exactly sure how Kristi decided that *I* was worthy of tagging, but alas... here I am!! Here is the "tag" and the guidelines to follow. I will tell you 7 things you may or may not know about me, and then I tag 7 people to do the same, and I add their list of sites, in the event you'd like to see what their 7 bits of personal trivia is!! OK... let the madness begin... Let's see... 1- In college, I was an AOII (that last letter is supposed to be Pi, by the way), and an AGR little sis. I LOVED going to college and being Greek. I had a hard time in college at first, and I can't be sure that I'd have stayed without it!!

2- I wish my Dad had known my kids and Shane. Sometimes 1 of them will do something, and it will make me think about what he'd have thought about it. This month marks the year, when I have now been without him longer than I had him...

3- I can still do the splits. I know... fat and all... strange isn't it? And furthermore... HOW did I discover that I maintained that skill?

4- My inlaws have "traditions" at Christmas, that I prefer to call "rules". Each Christmas, we go to Shane's aunt's for Christmas Eve. Only the "INLAWS" do the dishes. It is not a secret. The adult females will even say, "I don't have to do the dishes, I am not an inlaw". THEN, in case that's not bad enough, you are assigned a table. The "head" table is for the matriarch, patriarch, etc. Well, Shane is the oldest grandchild, so since MeMaw died this spring, he is slated to move into the room with the head table. Now, I didn't say, "WE would be moving to the head table", I said, "SHANE". OK, AGE wise, Cary would be next after the next person died, before I would, because he is older than me, so Shanan and I would be in the next room, while Cary and Shane would be eating somewhere else. Shane and I have already reviewed this situation. He moves sans me, he GOES sans me... I don't think it's too much to ask to eat with your wife of the eve of Jesus' birth, but that's just me. OHHHH, and one last "tradition" is that you get in LINE to fill your plates, according to birth order as well. What this means for mothers of young children, is that you cannot fill their plates while you are getting yours. SOOOO, I would be behind Cary, who is behind Shane, but Garrett and Gra, even when they were little, couldn't eat, until I filled my plate, went and set it at my "name tag" and then got back up and got in line where their ages would place them. I didn't have hot food for about the first 8 years of their lives!!

5- I like to embroidery. I added a picture of some burp cloths I did tonight. If you'll remember the surprise supper we had for my friend, Bev, a few weeks ago, they are for her. They didn't decide until about yesterday, what they were going to name this sweet baby, so I haven't been able to do anything with his name on them until tonight!! I am going to hold him tomorrow, Lord willing, after my cut and color!!

6- I rode "The Zipper" at the fair without knowing that I was pregnant with Garrett. I guess that explains a LOT!! That was the LAST time I have been on a fair ride, and that was in '95!!

7- I lasted 8 seconds on a mechanical bull in Mexico. I was with Paige Parker and our kids, and Terry and Shane were out SCUBA diving, so I thought I'd live on the edge!! **Note to self** if I ever am stupid enough to get on one of these creatures again, wear a jogging bra!!

OK!!! What do you guys think? That wasn't too painful!! I am now going to "tag" 7 folks, and see if I can learn some fun stuff about them too!! Have a great night and thanks for sharing some random moments in the life of the prissy chicken's life!! love to all!! Jerri

Journey to our Baby!!

4 Colley's & A Baby

The R Family Diaries

Hair Today

http://serendipitysunrise.blogspot.com/

Bringing Lucy Home!!
Our Texas Fowlers

Free range chicken... I mean HORSE

2008-10-26T23:19:00.005-05:00

Living in the country, you are never sure what you may see. You'll see this picture, and think "Ah, a lovely picture of a horse, grazing in the field, it's picturesque, it looks as if it's sunset, or maybe sunrise". OK, you probably won't think ANY of those words, but roll with it, k? Anyway, YES, that would be such a pleasant picture to see when you gaze out upon your field, but alas... that's not where I was gazing!! This is the view from my FRONT PORCH this morning when I let Lilli out. YES, that IS our horse, and YES, he DOES have a field, but he wasn't in it. Lucky decided the grass was greener I guess, so this is where I found him this morning!! Free range horse? I guess!! Now, at least there is just one of him, because there have been MANY times, that Shane would be off state trooping somewhere, my neighbor would call or come down, I'd be on my way to Concord Baptist Church in a dress, and have to hike it up to my thighs, to get my legs across the 4 wheeler to chase the 55 GOATS back into their pen when they got out. One as opposed to 55, is an easier task!! Here is another fun photo that I snapped today!!

This is a picture of Sadie, our dog that adopted us. It was no secret when we got her, that wherever she was before, she was a princess. How she landed in Fruit Hill, we'll never know, but she is TRULY a sweet heart. At first, I was a bit nervous about her being here, but now, it feels like she's always been ours! Tonight when I went to the car to get my jump drive and a few books out of it, She was laying on one of the shelves on a book case in the garage just shivering. It is supposed to get to almost freezing tonight, and each time the door is open, she DOES try to get in, so I thought I'd let her in and see what happened. She went IMMEDIATELY to Lilli's bed and circled it about 3 times, before twisting her big self into a position to lie down. Now remember, Lilli weighs in at 4 1/2 lbs. and I'd say Sadie is about 65 lbs. She didn't even CONSIDER the floor!! She just laid there and looked at Lilli while she was being the big "Alpha dog" and barking like a maniac. Lilli hadn't been in the bed all night, but I think she is going to hate Sadie before it's all over!!

Well guys, I am beat... Shane and I divided the houses today, so I only walked 2, but the boots KILL my feet!! I hope you all had a GREAT weekend and have a SUPER week!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Love to all!! JA

And the winner is...

2008-10-25T22:39:00.007-05:00

Again, I want to thank EVERYONE that gave me chicken recipes. I DID try all of them, and although they were all VERY good, I think Sara's was just a LITTLE over the top. Of course, when you have cream cheese AND whipping cream in the same recipe, can it be bad at all?!?! hee hee Here is a picture of the prize that she won. I don't know if you can see what it really is, but it is a make-up bag with smaller bags that velcro in and out of the middle section... It's pretty cute, if I do say so myself!! Of course, the next picture is of Sara HOLDING the bag after I gave it to her tonight... Please, if you have other recipes, I'd LOVE to try them, as we are ALWAYS looking for new ways to fix the almighty "yard bird"!!

It's been a great weekend, but I wasn't too sure how it was going to end up, after the way it started! Thursday night, I made the executive decision to start the belly dancing class, and thanks to the 6 of you that voted!! I will send you the pictures that I take to your personal email addresses with my take on the whole thing!! All of you silent readers will just have to wonder!! :) :) ANYWAY... I rode home with my windows down and my moon roof to the van OPEN about 1/2 way. No big deal, I closed them when I got home and locked the doors... EXCEPT... I FORGOT about the roof part. AGAIN, no big deal, unless the cat gets on the van and jumps down into it. OR, unless it RAINS all night!!! When we opened the doors to go to school, it was DISASTROUS!! There was about 1-1 1/2 inches of water in the cup holders between the 2 front seats, water was STANDING on our seats, and EVERYTHING was wet!! No time to wet/dry vacuum it up, so off we went. Of course, it was FREEZING this particular morning, so I had the seat warmers on as well, as we were SOPPING up all of the water with our butts!! When I got out at school, you could see the steam coming from my back side. It was quite a sight I am sure!!

Although the beginning was a little rocky, so far, the rest has been good! Tonight we had a video scavenger hunt with our Sunday School class! First, we ate at the Woods' house, then we got our envelopes with our team members, got the rules, got our lists and video cameras, and we were off!! Husbands and wives couldn't be on the same team, (which is always good to make sure there is no not getting along), and we began our adventure!! My team members were Lisa, Ty, and Tim!! They were all a LOT of fun!! We even ended up at fellow blogger's house Rhea's, for her husband to sing, "I'm a little teapot" for us!! Everyone had a GREAT attitude, and it was just a GREAT time!! I will have to admit my faux pas, and I was MORTIFIED by it! One of the items on the list was "Find a deacon on the list who has been married for over 30 years. They must kiss on camera, and say how they have been able to stay together that long". Well, we all thought of one, and we looked his number up in the phone book. I call and begin the conversation with, "Hi, is this Mrs. Haile? This is Jerri Annette Crenshaw Fowler" and continued on. She asked me again who it was, and I continued with what we were doing, and what our task was. (I KNEW these people knew me, because I graduated with their daughter, had been to their house before, the works!!) At the end of the conversation, the woman says, "I'm sorry, but you must have the wrong number. You must want the OTHER Mrs. Haile. My husband is dead." She was very nice, but I felt SOOOOO bad. Not only did I tell her my FIRST name, but she also knew my middle, maiden, last, church, and cell phone number!!! Don't you LOVE being a dork? I am very good at it! I will have to take her cookies or something this week!!

Well, I am going to get in the tub before getting in the bed. I hope everyone has had a GREAT weekend and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! JA

P.S. Sara, Amy, Shanan, Anissa, Traci and Kristi-I'll send pictures from our next class!! Thanks again!!

Does this new feature work?

2008-10-23T22:07:00.003-05:00

OK... still not enough votes to go public, so I'll give it a few more days. Belly dancing, or no belly dancing? There is supposed to be a new feature that I have added, so that instead of having to go "ALL the way to a different page" you hopefully will be able to post a comment just below the blog entry for that day. I can't see it-I think because it is from my own computer, and it recognizes me-so I don't know if I have successfully added the comment feature below it or not! I guess time will tell! Have a great night, and let me hear from you if I haven't!! love to all!! Jerri

Please take a moment to vote...

2008-10-22T16:57:00.002-05:00

This will be brief... A friend that I work with is trying very DILIGENTLY to get me to attend a class with her. It is a 4 week class that is offered at the college. It will be on Thursday evenings, and I will know at least 6 of the people in it. I need your opinion(s) as to whether or not you think I need to participate in it...
The class is... wait for it... "Beginning Belly Dancing"!!! Now, I can assure you that I have no belly for dancing, but it is supposed to be a GREAT exercise, and I am sure that the photos and memories would be a HOOT!! I have one of those Ole St. Nick mid sections... but alas... I am still considering it!!
Here is what you vote for... tell me why or why not I should or shouldn't! From my IP locater that is on this blog, I figure I have about 50+ regular readers... I *AM* planning on taking pictures, whether or not I am IN the class, or just go to "visit" it!! IF you comment and let me know what you think, I will send you the pictures whether or not I go!! If I have a LOT of comments... then I will post them publically HERE!! :) When I say a LOT of comments, I am thinking at least from 20 different people!! SOOOO>>> I'll let you know the verdict!!!
2nd verdict.... Sara Sweeney is my new chicken recipe queen!! If you didn't snag her recipe when she posted it, you don't KNOW what you are missing! The chicken enchiladas were the BOMB!! I have a monogrammed make-up bag for you Sara!! Thanks to everyone for giving me new recipes and they were ALL great!!!
love to all! JA

Shane and I make pretty babies...

2008-10-21T21:05:00.003-05:00

Did I say BABY? WHAT?!?! I don't HAVE any babies, but is this one of the most handsome young men you've ever seen or what?!?! This morning he was invited by his principal to an event called the "Eye Opener" Breakfast. If you know about this, please feel free to correct me, but I am going to try and explain to you what little I know about it... Our school district is supposed to have an "Academic Index" of 100 by the year 2014. Garrett, and several other 7th graders were chosen to go to represent the "Class of 2014". WHAT?!?! He's going to GRADUATE? Isn't he just a baby? How did this happen? I guess that it is probably GOOD that *I* wasn't invited to the breakfast, because I don't think I realized until it was explained to me this morning, that he was GOING TO GRADUATE? How did this happen? What was I doing when he grew up?! I know, it is a little funny, even though I have tears streaming down my cheeks as I type this!! That, by the way, is his "football look". You know, the tough guy, frowny, intimidating face. Fortunately, he doesn't frown as much as his FATHER, who I had to ask on our wedding day, when he was standing across from me with his frown, did he like me?! SEVERAL of the Fowler's are "frowners", but he is not as much as some of the others!!

Now, you MAY be thinking that he dressed up for the breakfast, but NO, that wasn't it!! His principal told everyone to dress today in red, white and blue, because tonight was the championship game!!! Well, everyone did, EXCEPT for the football players, who had to dress UP!! I LOVE that!!! That is SOOO "Friday Night Lights" like!! By the way... it's GREAT to have the GOLD FOOTBALL!! Winning is the best!! The score was 32 to 8. It could have been a wipeout, but the coach decided to put in the "little guys" for the last quarter. That made Garrett angry too. I guess if I was the MOM of the younger guys, I would have been pleased as well, but this was the first time several of them had been on the field. I can assure you that Logan Co., only had their 8th graders in, so I may have been a little nervous for my 7th grader to get out for the first time, in a championship game. OH YEAH, I DO have a 7th grader!! :) NOW... in relations to... the other team... one of the coaches... in relations to... say... me... used to be... MY PRINCIPAL!!! If you are reading this... and you knew him, you'll be giggling by now!! To pass the time in teacher's meetings, we used to sit, and make tally marks for the number of times he said, "In relations to..." and I am telling you, it would be no less than SIXTY, in an hours time, NO KIDDING!! After the game, the parents went out on the field. He saw Garrett and asked him if he used to go to Millbrooke. THEN, he saw me, and figured it out!! Did I tell you how GREAT it is to have the gold football?

To give you an idea how excited I was about the game, I left my driver's side door OPEN!! The ENTIRE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, if we were in the old Walnut Street Stadium, all that would have been left in the parking lot would have been tire marks!! All was well in the van though when I returned. I guess I was so worried about getting in, that I never THOUGHT of shutting my door. I think this is the first sign of Alzheimers. It is called "Early Timers". Well, all in all, in the words of my old principal, Mr. Thweatt, "It's a GREAT day to be a colonel!!" By the way... Amy Colley, if you are reading this, tell your husband that the stadium needs "non specific 'pump you up' music"! We are warming up, getting ready, and they start playing "Eye of the Tiger"!! HELLO? Colonels are here... jump back... no TIGER music, K?

Well, I have a few things to sew. I don't want to forget to holla back at Anita for signing into the guest book!!! Thank you SOOO much for signing it! Tell your friends to also!! Even if they don't read it!! HAHA Just kidding, but if you DO read this, would you PLEASE sign the guest book for me? PLEASE? I like to think that I know who is out there reading, and although Cagney and Lacy can catch a stalker, and we have "ways of making people talk..." I'd appreciate you making the effort!! Also, you don't have to sign in with a picture if you don't want to, if that's what's keeping you!!

Have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! Love to all!! JA By the way... I bet you thought that *I* was Garrett's biggest fan. I have uploaded a picture of our "gansta" dog in the hood, I mean HOODIE... In the second picture, I even happened to catch her when she was licking her mouth, as if she were hangin' her tongue out, "gansta style"!!

P.S.- I just wanted to say to all of you that read this, to send up a quick prayer on Matthew L's behalf. I just read his mom's post tonight, and he needs ALL of us to pray for him and his family! Thanks so much!!

Cagney is home... did I ever leave?!?

2008-10-15T22:21:00.010-05:00

Hello friends!! It is official!! I am going to make myself not blog every night!! When I do, I get a comment here and 1 there, and they are from my same faithful friends!! I seem to write my heart out, and noone writes back (except those of you that comment REGULARLY and I LOVE THAT!!!), so, I am going to cut back on posts, which I am hoping will INCREASE the comments, like it did last time!! We'll see how it goes!!

If you'll notice the title, you'll see that Cagney is now my new code name. Lacy, my partner in crime, or rather SOLVING them, is still at her home in TX, and I am back in KY. When we got home, Shane had fixed a roast and mashed potatoes for us, (wasn't that SWEET?), but then as of today, I am pretty sure that my whole trip to TX was just a dream. Back to normal... as if I never left Kansas, I mean, KY! Baby chicks are coming tomorrow, so the day was filled with preparation for their arrival. I received the honor of scrubbing feed pans today. I got the last 500 or so done. These are pans from last flock, so they have been soaking in a disinfectant solution, and then I have to get all of the "last flock's yuck" off of them. Between the cleaner, and the UV rays of the sun, where we stack them to let them dry, I am pretty sure that a person could eat off of them, although I wouldn't advise it. If they could find a way to make this stuff non toxic, I am pretty sure it could kill cancer, polio, colds, and plantar warts. It is some good stuff!! I had to take Garrett to football practice, pay some bills, scrub the pans, do some laundry, etc., and it felt like I had never gone!! As for the Cagney comment, I can't say too much about it, but Shanan and I are some TOUGH investigators, and make a lovely team. Cary assures us that he is Law and Order, but we are old school, and I think age ranks beauty in this case. Surely, if speech ever fails me, and I don't get the job being the Wal-Mart greeter, I see P.I. working out for me...

This first picture is of when the boys were going to TX. They went the weekend before Gra and I went. We don't travel well together, so we went separately! HAHA (Just kidding) I didn't realize that they had the camera in the car, but they took a few photos of their journey. They both had a great time, and really enjoyed the game and especially getting to visit with Cary. Shanan and the girls rode back with them, as they had been home the week before. I am guessing that Shanan took the next picture, because it looks as if Shane is telling everything he knows about whatever topic they were on at the time. I will tell you that 12 hours or more is a LONG time to be in the car. It is even LONGER, when your passenger is in the very back, watching movies, and singing their church musical! Of course, Graceson doesn't WEIGH enough to sit in the front, so I entertained myself on our trip in MANY different ways. I listened to a sermon on the radio about the rapture, I counted cows, llamas (yes, I passed several different llama farms), I had many deep thoughts about armadillos (which basically, from what I can see, are possums in travel trailers), and numerous other things to pass the time!! This last picture of the billboard is another one I found on the camera. I am not sure which one of them took it, but I am sure that they were thinking they were witnessing? Who knows, but here is the billboard that they photoed!! Last, but not LEAST, is the picture of Lambie, and it appears to be Shane picking Lambie's nose. I know, I know... they never grow up!! Garrett got lambie when he was ONE for his very first Easter from Aunt Beetle. Lambie has been washed, repaired, stuffed and restuffed more times than I can remember. When Lambie gets a hole, we patch it. When Lambie gets filthy dirty, we wash it. I keep thinking that Lambie is going to finally DIE, and Garrett asks if I can sew it up AGAIN. Lambie even went to with Garrett to KY Changers. I was sure that big, bad football playin' Garrett would not have wanted his buddy to even KNOW about him much less SEE him, but I was obviously wrong. Bill told me that we were probably going to have to burn Lambie, as much molesting as the animal had at Changers by the other boys in the room, but Garrett wouldn't DREAM of throwing it away!!

While the GIRLS were in TX, we decided to go to the movies and see "Beverly Hills Chihuahua". It was really cute. It was actually Bella's first movie, but I know that the bigger girls loved it. We had a really great time while we were there. Shanan even COOKED for me!! She fixed me nachos that were DIVINE!! I even took a picture as proof of it!! What I WILL say, however,

is that I am not sure if she has been cooking for a LONG time, or if she was previously such a good cook, that she doesn't want to show me up!! This store that they have called "Braums" has some chili that Cary LOVES. Shanan wanted to fix it for me. For those of you that are from here, I am sure you have had Ferrell's chili, and know how it comes in somewhat of a "stick". You add a little water to the frozen "chunk" of chili, and as it melts down, it turns into the chili we have all come to love. WELL, this chili was frozen in sort of a square shape. (the package reminded me of a folger's coffee bag that is vacuum sealed, if you know what I am talking about). Shanan read the directions, and began the preparation. The instructions indicated to add a small amount of water to the bottom of the pan and add the chili. SHE DID!! She put the water in the pan, and then put the WHOLE package of chili (I am talking COMPLETELY wrapped), into the water to wait for it to boil I guess. Once I composed myself from laughter, I showed her how to cut the package OFF of the food, in order to reduce the fiber addition from the added packing. She swore that she just thought that it was a boil in the bag product like the Jolly Green Giant's corn. I told her that I understand how she could make that mistake!!! NOT!!!!!! Anyway, Shanan, when you read this... remember that I love you dearly, and LOVED the nachos!! I know you were just checking my skills!! :)

The football game that we went to was GREAT!! Shanan noticed how my football knowledge has really improved since the last game I attended with her. I even used a few words that were football related, and used them at the right TIMES!!! Cary's team was playing his old team, where he'd coached for 7 years, so I think that the victory may have been a little sweeter than normal! Shanan was certainly hostess with the mostest, and here she is taking us to the movies. We stayed up late each night working on our "investigation", but then we would lay in bed and talk for another 2!! By the way, she passed her LAST test today, so I guess she is official!! Congrats and thanks again for everything this past weekend!! One last side note, and then I have GOT to go and fold some laundry... again... did I ever leave? While we were there, Graceson just HAD to go shopping, as she had a little money in her pocket and she HATES our mall. We go, and I decided to pick up something for Shane that I never do. I always try and get a little something when I am out of town for them, hoping that they will look forward to me coming home... if not for ME... then for the gifts!! Anyway, this time, I got him some cologne called "SoCal". It is actually the smell that you smell each time you walk by a Hollister store in the mall. I liked the smell and am hoping he will wear it. I say that I am HOPING, because there is a story. Shane USED to wear Eternity for Men. Let me tell you, I LOVE(d) it when he wore this, and I actually got it for him when we started dating. Well, soon after we married (did you notice this time frame) he stopped wearing it. When I asked him WHY he no longer wore it, he told me that it gave him heartburn. WHAT?!?! Don't DRINK it... WEAR it!! SOOOOO... we'll see how old Southern California works out for me. Now, he won't HESITATE to put on "Dead down wind" deodorant, or "I'm a deer on my period" spray to go out in the woods... I think that stuff it WRETCHED, so SURELY he can overcome, you think?

I hope everyone has a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all! Jerri

What's this? A Post?

2008-10-02T20:15:00.002-05:00

This is what I have learned... I may or may not get a comment or 2 from my 2-3 friends that I know follow this blog pretty regularly... When I DON'T post, I get MORE comments. I think I have found the happy medium!! Wait a few weeks between posts!! :) Actually, it has been very difficult to post these last 2 weeks, I seem to have been covered up with one thing or another. I haven't even gotten on the blogs I typically follow, so I have GOT to get back in the groove, because I feel so disconnected from them!!
I really don't know where to start, so I'll try to skim through the last 2 weeks, and add details later. In a 2 week period of time, Gra got the stomach bug TWICE. Yes, you read that correctly... How does that happen? The second time, when they called me to come to the back hall because she was throwing up, I was most certain that they meant to call someone else. I mean, YES, I have been there for over a decade, and Gra has been there for 6 years, but I thought someone STILL must have been confused, because you just CAN'T get the stomach bug TWO different times, in that short of a time. W-R-O-N-G!!!!!!!!!! Bless her little heart. She is back to normal, but she had a time for a while!
Shane's grandfather passed away last Sunday. I lost my grandfather when I was about 6 from my mom's side, and I lost my Paw, who's farm we now live on, when Gra was 6 mo. old. Shane is 39, so that is just incredible to me that he's had him as long as he has...
Shanan came in with the girls. They were in for a week. It was great to see them, and it is remarkable how much those babies change each time I see them. We had dinner over at Sara's the Friday that she got in, and it was so much fun!! (Michelle, if you're reading this, you are such a hoot! and Sara, thanks for the invite!!) The girls rode back to TX with my boys, so I am sure that was a walk, I mean RIDE to remember. I think it went fine EXCEPT that it took them 16+ hours. Now, PART of it was that there was a wreck and they were stuck in traffic, but the OTHER part of it was they were lost... HELLO? They had Garmin IN the car, but yet... they didn't PLUG HIM UP, until I insisted on the phone!!!!!!!!! I guess it's just me, but I'll tell you, that bad boy would have been on from my DRIVEWAY...
Speaking of Shanan, her blog is going private. There appears to be an individual that would like to attempt to make a jab here and there. I may not know WHO they are, but I certainly know WHAT they are. Their agenda is crystal clear, so I guess there is beauty in the transparency of it. You can take care of what you can see, it's those hidden agendas you need to worry about!! SOOOO, with that being said, if you follow Shanan's blog because of mine, and would still like to continue to read hers, if you'll let me know, then I will send her a list of my friends that I can vouch for, that are coming from me, along with your email address. You'll have to be approved to view, so send me an email if you'd like for me to do that for ya!!
FINALLY, while my boys were gone, I had a "situation". While I was still in town, my mother-in-law called to ask me where I was. It seems that our house alarm had gone off, we weren't able to be reached, and they contacted her. EOC told her that they had dispatched a unit and everything looked o.k. Well, I know that sounds well and good, but you see, about 5 years ago, our alarm went off. We were at church and county was dispatched. They called and left the message that they had gone all around the house, and everything was "all clear". YES, but they went around the WRONG HOUSE... They went around the house that was EMPTY... the one where the basement is caved in, where my grandparents lived, and we lived until this house was finished. The house where goats had gotten in and left small black reminders all over the floors... You get the picture. Now, if I were a policeman that walked into an EMPTY house with goat ca ca on the floor, and thought that someone was paying a monthly fee to have an alarm set up on it, I MAY have to give that some thought, but that's just me...
When I got home, my front window screen was cut, and the window was up about 1 1/2 inches. Now, the screen may or may not have been torn before, but I KNOW that the window was down, because the alarm would not have set when I left for school that morning. Do you ever wonder if you could shoot someone in that situation, when you are faced with protecting yourself and your children? I don't wonder. Is that bad? Have I lived with Shane too long?
Well, I have laundry to do!! I hope you all have a wonderful night!! I expect LOTS of comments, or I'll wait another 2 weeks to write again!! love to all, and thanks for sharing the last 2 weeks in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! Jerri
P.S. I found out yesterday that my favorite exercise tyrant is putting WOG on hold for a while, since there was really only 1 youth committed to it... Was all that pain for nothing? Because I KNOW, that I am not just going to do it on my own for FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT A DAY!!!!

2008-09-24T21:33:00.002-05:00

It has been quite a day. Graceson was well rested, so she woke up and was so pleasant. That ALWAYS makes for a better day for EVERYONE in the house and those around her!! :) (Gotta love her though...)
Today at school was an o.k. day for me, but it was certainly a stress filled one. You could cut the stress in the air. Tomorrow is the big "walk through" from all the powers that be. Yes, as long as you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, there is nothing to worry about. It still makes you nervous though, and I don't care how good you are. When someone is "critiquing you" they can always find things if they are looking for them. Does this make you better? Sure, if you embrace it and change it. Is it ever something you look FORWARD to? Not at ALL... SO... think of us tomorrow. I am pretty sure, that if you could cut the stress in the air today, tomorrow you'll be able to taste it!! Hopefully by Friday, the level will start to recede!!
THEN... I walk into church tonight, and it was SOOOOO "freeing", for lack of a better word. Tonight was the last night of revival, and it was certainly spirit filled. It was as if the Lord was saying, "I'll hold on to the stress for ya. If you need it back when you leave, it will be waiting outside". The evangelist focused more on the youth tonight, and one of our youth recited an AMAZING poem that she had written. It was EXXXXXCELLLLENTTTTT!!! GO ANTY!!
I think our message on Sunday that was delivered by our youth pastor, helped to prepare me for today's. He said, "I am going to help you figure out what kind of Christian you are. Are you a "get" Christian or a "got" Christian?" If your buddy says to you that he just got a new boat, it is supposed to be the perfect weather, and he wants you to go to the lake with him on Sunday, do you say, "I can't go, I've GOT to go to church, OR do you say, "I can't go, I "GET" to go to church." OMG!!! What a revelation THAT was... I would have answered the "got" but I AM going to do better, since it has been brought to my attention!!
You'll remember that a few days ago, we got the midnight hour call, that said that the bobcat driver had hit the end wall of one of the chicken houses. Well today, our flock supervisor told Shane that they were probably not going to pay for it, because they are worried that people are saying things happen, so that they can get their stuff repaired on the company's dime. HELLO? Their number is still on the caller ID at midnight!! WHAT?!?! I think they may have lost their mind a little. The flock supervisor said to one of the repair managers, "Shane may or may not be able to get through to the manager, and he may get a little loud, but they'd sure rather talk to him, than to Jerri". WHAT?!?! What is he trying to say? Have I ever yelled at him? Should I be offended?!!?!? Should I feel privileged that he thinks I won't let people walk all over us? I'm not too sure, but I am getting a script going on in my head... just in CASE I have to talk to the big dogs...
Mom got home today!! She is brown as a biscuit, and if she wants them published on the WWW, I will post some of her pictures of her fishing adventure!! Welcome home, Haze!!
Have a GREAT night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! Love to all!! Jerri

busy, busy, busy

2008-09-23T16:33:00.008-05:00

Kristi asked where have I been? The better questions is, "Where do I START?" It has been a busy last several days, so I am going to give you a quickie run down, and then go to bed!! I guess the first thing I did Friday night was have a couples get together for a friend of mine who is having a baby in a month. Her name is Bev, and she INSISTED that we were to do NOTHING for her because this is her THIRD, but her ONLY boy!! OK Bev, I submit, whatever you say!!! HAHA I told her I was having everyone over for Shane's birthday, but VOILA, it was a couple's thing for HER!!! I think she was VERY surprised and I LOVE that she didn't know!! (Now, Shane really was having a birthday on Monday, but that had nothing to do with the dinner, other than to get her there!! We did play a game where I bought these little teeny babies in the cake section of Walmart. I then froze them all in water in small dixie cups.

The rules were simple, you wanted to be the first one to give birth to your baby, but you couldn't run it under hot water OR bite the ice off of it. It had to thaw. You wouldn't BELIEVE how aggressive the men were at trying to deliver their babies. QUITE a hoot!! This is what I made for the winner...
Now let's move on to Saturday. This weekend, the rest of the flock went out. Here are a few photos of the birds at 49 days old. They will weigh in right at 5 lbs. or a little over. If you'll look back at some of my previous posts, you'll see their growth from the day we get them, until the day they come and catch them back. One of the pictures, I thought was SOOO cute, because Shane was trying to take a picture of the bird while holding it. It made me think of all of the teenage girls, that had rather hold out the camera to take a picture of themselves and a buddy, that to simply have someone else take it!! I have succeeded in documenting the stages of our chicks to adulthood, so I guess my blog is complete!! I need to think about whether or not to keep on writing, since you now know all that goes into (well not ALL) the chicken's life cycle after hatching!!

By the way, we got a called at almost midnight from the catch crew manager. He was calling to let us know that one of the crew members was new and learning how to drive the forklift with the crates full of grown birds. It seems he should have had a bit more training before he went live on air. The man (I think his name was Vin?) was calling to let us know that he had ripped the end out of one of the houses. GREAT, just one more thing!!

Sunday revival started and we had a youth workers meeting. I am responsible for getting the food taken care of when we have these. I ended up feeding around 50ish people spaghetti. I was in need of a nap, but Garrett had to get back for a CORE meeting, and then revival started that night.

Monday, was Shane's birthday!! Happy birthday my little hottie!! I won't tell you how old he is, but I will let you know he's only 364 days away from the big 4-0!! We got home late that night too, because Graceson had softball, and of course Garrett had football.

Tonight, they both had games so it was my turn to go to the football game and Shane's turn to take Gra. We won, by the way, both kids!! After getting home, I had some embroidering to do. I put an initial on a dress for the girl that does my hair. She is getting her baby's one year old picture in it barefoot. Is that precious or what? I added that to, just so you could get a visual!! NOW, I'm beat!!

Cary... if you are reading this, scroll down, pause the music, and see if the you tube video will come up of the Browning Springs game, where the refs were in the other teams' pockets. It took FOREVER to upload it, and it is only about the last however many minutes. I have to do the whole thing in stages, and I didn't feel like doing it ALL today, but will try to do the rest for you later. I believe this is the very last though. I haven't watched it yet, but I am sure that the crowd is unruly as well, so beware!! Have a great night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

CALGON>>> TAKE me AWAY!!!!!!!

2008-09-18T08:59:00.002-05:00

Look at this! It is a post, and it is before midnight!! I am thinking that I probably should have stayed in bed this week, STILL!! Hopefully that feeling will pass soon!!
Of course, I get "off" when I don't get home in the FOURTEEN hours since I left it, and this week, that will happen EVERY SINGLE night!!! For the middle 3 days, I had things I had to stay for at school, so I didn't have time "midday" (after 3, to darken my door). You'll also remember my lovely "mishaps" on Tuesday. I think I have more to add to the list, but then again, I think you would call them blessings!
First of all, the reason that I am typing right now, is because I am at Mom's, waiting for Shane to get off of UPS, get some 7-Up and soup, and come here. Then, he'll take Gra home. She complained about her stomach hurting the whole way to school. I assured her she was fine, she probably had to use the bathroom, you know the drill... WELL, she didn't get through morning assembly before she started throwing up! I also have this feeling that Shane will not be nearly as accommodating as me, but we'll see!!
You remember my Tuesday (football game, arm, Jennie Stuart), and you know about my today so far. WELL, I haven't told you about my yesterday!! I was going to write last night, and I just didn't have the spirit to! I turned in pretty early for me! ANYWAY, Gra and I were going to meet the boys at church, because Garrett went on to football practice, even though he couldn't do to much but run... SOOOO, they take FOREVER to get there, but I finally see Garrett. He says "Hey" and goes to find himself a seat. NO biggie. I keep waiting to find Shane to make eye contact with, and he never comes in the door. I keep waiting and waiting, and finally ask Garrett where his dad is. I mouthed this across a few tables, as Bill had already started talking. NOW, THIS is how I know that Garrett is a MAN in training. He acted JUST LIKE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He takes his GOOD hand, balls it into a fist, and acts like he hits his bad hand. So I ask him "He HIT someone?" He said, "No, the car." I then say, "He hit the CAR?" He then says, "NO, he hit another car, he thinks ours is TOTALLED!" WTH? "WHAT?!?!?! Was this information that you may have needed to SHARE with your mother? Were you EVER going to tell me? Were you WAITING for me to ask if you'd had a wreck before feeling the need to even MENTION it to me? AND............. HOW did you get to church and WHERE is your father?" I am pretty sure that all of you mothers reading this right now know how that conversation went down exactly.

It seems that Shane called another dad that had just left practice to get him to run Garrett to church. He told him to be sure and tell me when he got there... My phone was on vibrate in my purse, and he also called Ted and Bill, but their phones were obviously silent too! I then leave and go over to where the wreck had occurred. It was on the street where the high school is where they practice. This woman pulled right out in front of them. I mean, she was stopped, looked both ways, and then proceeded. It seems that she called her husband/boyfriend whoever he was, and had him bring a carseat to put IN the car before the police arrived. A little too late, wouldn't you think? Everyone was fine, I just don't know about the car. Shane thinks that the insurance will total it out. I followed him home at running speed with our flashers on, with both front tires tilted in, and singing a high pitched tune. I get him to our road, turn and come back to church, to get the kids...
That's 3, right? We should be covered now, right?
Well, I just finished filling out some forms that I have to pass out when I get back to school, so I am going to put them into groups, so they'll be easier to handle! I hope all of you have a GREAT day, and I think tonight, I need to have Calgon take me away! love to all!! Jerri

4 mishaps and a blessing

2008-09-16T22:19:00.005-05:00

OK, are any of you that are reading this old enough to remember the commercial, "If I don't get my American Ace coffee, then I'm going back to bed!"? OK, I think I missed out on the coffee this morning, and I probably should have just crawled back under the sheets. Let me start with my morning. I awakened in a GREAT mood, and excited about what I was going to wear to school. I had proudly planned to wear my "Colonels hoodie", because today was the big Homecoming and game day for the middle school. We played Hopkinsville Middle School, and as everyone knows, they are our big rivals. I am in my closet ready to put on my sweatshirt, but I hadn't gotten it down yet. I have 2 rows of closet shelves, and one is about waist high, and the other one is much higher. All of my winter clothes are on the top, and summer on the bottom, you get the idea. Knowing I needed something from the top, I simply grabbed the sleeve of the sweatshirt with intentions of it sliding happily off of the hanger, and me skipping along on my merry way. INSTEAD, I tug and tug until... KAPOW... the hoodie flies off of the hanger, the hanger spins, hits the wall, and then boomerangs into the bridge of my nose. This was a mishap...

So... after school FINALLY arrives, and I go to my mom's to change the fish bowl's water. (by the way, she caught a SHARK today, so if she sends photos, I will gladly post...) After I get everything done, it is time to take Gra to piano lessons. I get into the car and realize that I had forgotten the phone, and it was at Gram's. I go ahead and take Gra to piano, drop her off and head back to get my phone. When I "re"arrive at her house, I search the kitchen over and cannot find the phone. I decide to pick up the land line and call it for help. Guess wherer it was... IN THE POCKET OF MY HOODIE!! Mishap #2

So while there, I realize I need to take the Herbie Curbie to the road for garbage pick up. You see, I wouldn't have to take it, except that it was over half full of leaves, straw, and other debris from the swimming pool where the wind storm had filled the pool, and we tried and remove the worst of it. I was on the cell phone, and I had a small bag from inside. The lid was open, I held on to the small bag of trash, and I throw my keys into the herbie curbie bucket 'o fun. Have you ever SMELLED the stuff that comes out of a skimmer basket? NOW, imagine it in a typically unpleasant place, and think of getting to almost stand on your head, to reach the bottom of it, which is where they fell to. Mishap #3

Tonight at the football game, I got to hold sweet, baby Ella Kate. She was all decked out in her Tigers attire, all the way down to her orange and black hairbow, so essentially, I was holding the enemy, but it was SOOOO worth it!! She is PRECIOUS!! While holding her, a little boy in front of the wooden bleachers decides to start throwing rocks, well, one hit my ankle and came VERY close to EK's head. Obviously, if his mom was watching, she wasn't making him stop, so the teacher in me came out, and I fussed and fussed at him. Either mom agreed, thought I was crazy, or wasn't watching, because she never appeared, and he stopped throwing rocks! I sort of jumped/scooted when that happened, and guess what happened to me? Obviously, I have not been going to WOG long enough to have buns of steel, because my back side was well receiving of the splinter that I STILL have there. True story... I have never had a splinter in my butt before, and quite frankly, I am afraid it is going to have to live there, because I have no idea how I am going to get it out!! It typically takes me 2 hands to get out most splinters, and that is when they are somewhere on my FRONT side, so how I will hold a mirror, twist around, see, and then get it out, I have not figured out. Mishap #4

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST>>> the BLESSING!! As you know, big game... town rivals... Homecoming crowd... you get the picture. We spanked them 30-ZERO by the way!! Right now, I want to shout out to my bud Theresa for coming to the game. I was a little nervous, so I am sure I wasn't great company, but at this time, I at least didn't have the splinter in my butt, which sort of affects your mood as well, but I digress... Garrett was playing both defense and offense. While on defense, there were these 2 boys that were double teaming him, that I would be willing to bet DROVE themselves to the game. (now remember, Garrett is in 7th grade). No kidding, this one kid was every bit as tall as Shane, and probably the width of both of us. He knocked him around pretty good. You've seen it on the NFL, the falls where the guys do a backward roll up over their helmets? THAT kind of hit. One time, either Garrett had knocked down, or been knocked down, but as he was pushing himself up with his fingers, a kid tackled him again. When he got up, I immediately knew he was hurt. He finished the play, until the next break, or time, or something, and the referee was over there. Not too long, and the coaches were too. Sooo, the 1/2 time horn blows, and I can see Garrett with the coach and then I see the coach looking up in the stands. We were in the top row, and I stand up. He motions me down. I go down there, and he insists he'll be fine, he wants to go back in. Butch, one of the coaches tapes his hand up, and he plays the ENTIRE REST of the GAME. By the end of the game, when the tape came off, the hand puffed out like bread rising. I made the call, and we headed to Convenient Care. I am thankful that we did, but the BLESSING is that it is not broken!! He said that he has a severe sprain (it is already blue palm side), and it has to be immobile for 3 days, no practicing for the rest of the week, no writing until Friday, at which time he can start moving it again. In the picture above, you can see his little hospital bracelet still on his arm. He rated his pain an "8" on the pain scale of 0-10, so I am pretty sure that I gave birth to one of the toughest 12 year olds I know. Another blessing that I saw tonight was when I came on the sidelines. The coach was calling me over, and when I went, boys circled all around us, the sweetest kid (and he was an older classman, big guy) told everyone "Ya'll need to get back, he needs to talk to his mama". I LOVE that boy, and I don't have any idea which one it even was!!

Soooo, if you have nothing to do, run on over, and you can help with this splinter... Otherwise, have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life... Blessings to all!! Jerri

Errrr... Richard Simmons?

2008-09-15T22:58:00.002-05:00

I had no idea what I was going to post about tonight, and then it occurred to me like a vision!! Today was my third day of WOG (women of God) strength training. Now, I'm not sure that it is making me strong, but it is CERTAINLY making me sore!! Nikki throws in something new each time, so it is NEVER boring!! Back breaking, maybe, but NEVER boring!! Today, I felt a little like Billy Blanks, because we were doing a little kick boxing, or if you were to watch my technique, you may call it, "One legged flamingo having a seizure" moves. So somehow, Heather, another girl that comes each Mon/Fri and I got to talking about Richard Simmons, and would you believe that he was on Letterman tonight? I am still up, because I am waiting for my wash to get done. Garrett only gets to bring his jersey home the night before games, and I assure you, it is funk nasty. I am not sure where the coach keeps it when he strips it off of them after the game, but I feel certain it is in the armpit of a camel. GAG... And the pants and pads... OH don't get me started!! Can you not have hygiene AND play football???? So whenever Garrett gets the chance, he always wants to bring it home for a good Oxy Clean soaking, and a little Tide and Downy thrown in... but I digress.
Heather and I talk about Richard, and I confess that he and I used to share the same hair style. Yes, I had a permed 'fro in the SECOND GRADE!!! What was my mom THINKING? SURELY a 7 year old does not have enough discretion to make the decision to perm or not to perm. FYI, I have no intention to ever post those pix by the way!!
Today we added a few weight machines in the mix too and the Bow Flex was one of them!! I have seen the commercials for Bow Flex, and I am pretty sure in 6 weeks, at only 20 minutes 3x per week, I should weigh about 115, and have the body of goddess, according to the woman that is showing her results. Of course, the commercial didn't MENTION that she started OUT at 116 lbs, and she is a trainer for a living...
Tonight my S-I-L posted on her blog how she is a runner. Let me go on record by saying, "I am NOT". I tried it, I HATED it, I didn't feel invigorated, or liberated, I only felt as though I needed to throw up. It made me sneeze, it made my eyes water and nose run, and it was about as much fun as rolling in hay when you have hay fever. Unless a big dog, or a bad bad man is chasing me, I see no cause to run. EVER. PERIOD. It wouldn't matter if I ran with a runner, ran alone, or was running toward a big cheeseburger, the result would be the same... NO THANKS!!
Well, I need to go hang up the jersey and see if I can wash some of those retched pads! Tomorrow is the CCMS vs HMS game!! Gra won both softball games tonight, FYI!! Have a super night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! JA

2008-09-14T00:16:00.003-05:00

Today has been a great and BUSY day!! We just got back from Clarksville. We went to the movies there to watch "Journey to the Center of the Earth". It was 3D, and we ALL loved it, but even *I* got dizzy a few times during it... Of course, our local theater didn't have anything that I'd let the kids watch, so that's why we went south!!
GUESS WHAT?!?! I actually went BACK to WOG!! In case you didn't read my previous post(s), that stands for Women of God strength training. It is every Monday and Friday, and after Monday, I thought I was going to DIE!! This time was SOOOO much better! She told us that this coming Monday she is going to start us on the machines, so I am a little "skeered"!!
Today I mowed for many, many hours!! I mowed every WEEK during the summer, but now that I am back in school, I just can't get myself motivated to commit to doing it on my regular schedule, because there are 400 other things I need to be doing. Well, I PAID for putting it off! I was SOOOO nasty from all of the things that flew in the air from it being so dry, and the grass/weeds being so high. Several years ago, I dug up some tiger lilies from the old house that were my grandmothers, (she's been deceased 12 years next month) and I replanted them around our propane tank. Well, they have now spread, and are HUGE! They haven't bloomed for over a month now, so I thought it was time to go ahead and take them down. Well, if you have these flowers, you know that the stems of them dry out while standing there and get rock hard. I didn't think anything about it until I started cutting down the foliage. As I did, it would hit the tank and start pummeling me. I thought I was just going to have to duck for cover, as it started hitting me like stray bullets. Dumb me never THOUGHT about mowing in the opposite direction of the tank, or pulling those bullets OUT of the plant before I ran them over!!
OK, I have SUCH a funny mowing story that this made me remember while I was ducking and dodging today. I'll share and then go to bed!!
This has been probably 6 years ago or so, but is a true story! I feel certain if someone had been filming me, we would have won the grand prize on America's Funniest Home Videos!! I was mowing and the kids were in the back on the trampolene. For whatever reason, I decided that I was going to mow the yard diagonally. Now, keep in mind, that NOONE, except for the deer and the antelope, would EVER see the directionality of my yard, but I figured, "If people in town do it because it looks better, then I will too!" So, I am mowing the yard, and at one turn, I notice that there is a rather large deer in the field beside our house. Now, to get to this field, you had to through an old fence row, and then a row of trees. Obviously, the dogs spotted it around the same time, and took off in that direction. At that moment, I was so happy to be living in the country, no one to bother us, the dogs to have a place to run, you get the idea...The dogs that went were Moe (our dog that died in July, and Rocky). Now Moe was a dog that was the "Alpha" dog on the farm. No one would mess with him, he was scared of no animal, and just a great, majestic looking dog. Rocky was a pure bred boxer. Shane got him out of a puppy mill/meth lab that was being run out of a local hotel room. When he made the bust, there were 10 puppies and 1 momma and male dog in the small hotel bathroom (and I assure you, it wasn't the Hilton). I LOVED Rocky from the moment we saw him (we got on the list to adopt as soon as they got to the pound, and had first dibs), but I am pretty sure, with the intelligence that he showed us, that his mom may have also been his sister... SOOOOO, the dogs are gone, I'm happy to be in the country, my kids are playing safely in the back yard (I zipped the guard up around the tramp so they couldn't fall off), and all is well. (Now remember, that I am going diagonally, and I am in the middle part of the yard by now, so I am staying in the same direction for a while). I see Rocky coming back from the field, and he is in a DEAD RUN.. I look around, and shortly behind him, I see the DEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT? Rocky runs around the front of the house, and around the garage. When the deer hit the pavement of our driveway, he slipped, regained his footing and took off. I was sure that the deer would get to the back, get frightened by the kids jumping on the tramp, and take off toward the goat pen, which is the field behind our house. NOOOOOOOO!! I am still on the same line I was on (remember, long and diagonal) and Rocky is rounding the other side of the house, with the deer on his heels! Rocky keeps looking back and keeps running. He runs around the house again, and then I guess in his little pea brain head, gets an idea. We have a large wrap around front porch, and he jumps up on it and cuts back across it. Be darned if that deer didn't do the same!!! I am not believing this, and just WISHING someone else would see it, so that they'd believe it when I told it. Around this time, Rocky sees ME. I guess he thinks that I can do something for him. You can almost SEE him get the thought, and he takes off running toward the mower!! I am screaming at him to go away, and waving my arms, and I guess he just starts thinking I am screaming "Run to Mamma" because he just runs faster. In my head, I am thinking that deer KILL people when they hit their cars, and I am not packing my gun, so unless he just lays down in front of the mower for me to mow him down, I have nothing to help either of us with... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... *I* whip the mower around (it is one of those open ones, where you turn it with the handles, and it has a zero turn radius, which just means you can turn it pretty fast and accurately, and I head off in the opposite direction). Now picture this... I am on my mower going as fast as it will go, followed by a mentally challenged dog, followed by a big honkin' deer. I am screaming things, and none of them are nice. At this point, I was as scared as I can ever remember being, and I am wondering what I am going to do when I run out of yard and have to turn. THEN>>>> it happens. Moe gets back from the field, he sees the odd wagon train, he starts running toward us, the deer sees him, and darts off. (This is just one of the examples of the things that Moe did that made us/me love him so) I honestly gave him credit that day for saving both Rocky's and my life. So, as you can see, mowing is truly an adventure at my house, and I learned that you just never know what will happen here in the country. Someday I will share the copperhead in the house story!!
For now, I must go and brush my teeth and read my Sunday School lesson, even though I'm in youth!! have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love and blessings to all!! Jerri

will I go?

2008-09-12T00:12:00.002-05:00

As I was looking through some blogs, I came across this one and thought I'd share the contest with you. She is giving away a photo printer, so I posted the address in case you may be interested!! The link is below:
http://therfamilydiaries.blogspot.com/2008/09/pay-it-forward-contest.html
Here is my question to YOU... do you think I'll go to WOG workout tomorrow or not? I'm icing my feet RIGHT now, by the way... We'll see!! love to all!! Jerri
P.S., I have tried 1 of the chicken recipes, so far so good!! I will reserve my judgement until I fix them all though!!

What a 10 year old looks like!!

2008-09-11T20:21:00.005-05:00

OK, so I saw this outfit and I LOVED IT!!! It actually has matching tights with big honkin' flowers on it too. I was VERY afraid that she wouldn't like it or wear it, but she did LOVE it!! The first picture is of her looking sweet, and the next is of the "glasses" that she has been wanting. No, she doesn't have a prescription, or NEED them, but that is BESIDES the point, because she thinks they're cute! Today at school, Shane brought Lilli for her birthday. Lilli visited with the class while we had brownies and ice cream. Tonight Garrett had a football game in Hopkins Co., the county over. From what I gathered, the umpires calls SERIOUSLY favor that county. One of our guys had to be taken off the field on a stretcher, by AMBULANCE, and the other team had to be TOLD to take a knee, while our boys, were on theirs praying. What is THAT? Garrett played both defense AND offense tonight, and Shane said that he did outstanding. He said that they were double teaming him and the boys were HUGE. I think what miffs me about the whole thing, is that the boys will get it all taken out on THEM tomorrow, when I can assure you they didn't WANT to lose, and they can' t help the calls or the coaching, know what I mean? Shane said that that's the way Hopkins Co. officials were when he played too, so he says that's nothing new. You just hate it for the boys and what it's teaching them. They grabbed face masks, hit from behind, you know, dirty stuff... I guess this is a life lesson, you just hate it for them!!

OK, I know you are all wondering about my big ole sore self. Well, it still is!! Arnold Schwarzenegger has been contacted, and by tomorrow afternoon by work out time, "I will be erased". In case you don't know, the movie "Eraser" has him in it, and he takes care of making sure people are safe, by erasing signs that they ever existed... They won't even NOT know I'm there!!

Well, I have a little embroidering to do, I just wanted to leave you with an email that I got today! Have a great night!! Maybe tomorrow is my DAY to feel human!! love to all!! Jerri

"It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we Didn't see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my Six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walking carefully to the woods, running back to the house. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn lying on the ground; obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, other drops...and more drops...and more suddenly joined them. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride. Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. Those miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another. I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to send it out. To honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

*~THAT'S GOD ~*

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?

He speaks to you through the Holy Spirit Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to Talk to?

THAT'S GOD!

He wants you to speak to Him. Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?

THAT'S GOD!

There's no such thing as coincidence. Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't afford.

THAT'S GOD. .

He knows the desires of your heart. . Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it?

THAT'S GOD! He passes us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

The 3rd day is the worst day... they didn't lie

2008-09-10T22:36:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I will post a picture of what it looks like to be 10. Yep, 10 years ago to day, I was doing a little "nesting". She was a scheduled C-Section, so I was busy trying to get everything done that needed to be done, before she arrived. I was at school 10 years ago tomorrow morning, at 4 a.m. I am thinking that I beat the cafeteria ladies. I had to be at the hospital at 6, so I wanted to get all my stuff in order there too. Now... fast forward 10 years... She wants "glasses". Not the "I can't read, so I need glasses" glasses, but the, "These are a fashion statement, they are cute with dark rims, glasses". Yes, I got her a pair at Claire's. (they're actually FROM Garrett)
While out birthday shopping today, guess what revelation I had... I thought... Would I work out BETTER and not get as sore if I had workout clothes? I pondered this thought for a minute, and then realized that it hurt to bad to think and walk, so I just tried to keep going... Maybe I'll think about it again later. I was really VERY blessed today, as close up parking spots seem to become available RIGHT as I was coming up to them. I mean, the ones RIGHT NEXT to the handicapped ones. (which I will tell you, from the people I saw today scooting out of their cars and JOGGING into Target, *I* am the girl that needed their tag so *I* could park there!!) Honestly, if you had seen me from behind, you would think I was Mr. Wiggins from the Carol Burnett show. I shuffled, as not to get TOO crazy, and MOVE and make myself feel worse than I already did. A couple of times today, I found myself thinking how I was over it, and then I'd move, and remember that I am still a slug. I have mastered the art of standing to pee now, though, so if I continue to scream when I go to sit down, I am just going to have to stop sitting forever! I have always heard, "They say the 3rd day, is always the worst after surgery or workouts". I don't know who "they are", but I do know that "they" are RIGHT!!! Geez! Something MUST be broken to hurt this bad!!!!
Deanna, another girl that was at the "work out session from you know where", called me tonight to give me a "motivational speech" about being sure to attend Friday. I mean, girl laid it on THICK, had me convinced to come out of my witness protection program to be there. THEN, she tells me "But I won't be there, I have something to do". WHAT? I will tell you that if any of you ever watched "The Biggest Loser", that Jillian has NOTHING on Nikki.
I'm tired, but doing everything I can to keep from going to bed, because my bed is high on a good night, when my thighs aren't sore. I am just not too sure, unless I bring the pot that I use for canning and turn it upside down beside my bed to climb on, how I am going to get up into it!! I hope you have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

Witness protection

2008-09-09T22:28:00.004-05:00

Did you guys think I was going to be sore today? WELL>>> this morning, when the alarm went off, I was amazingly SURPRISED!! I wasn't hurting! I was going through my head what I'd wear (it was picture day, so I had to fix the hair too...) and was ready to begin my day. I was good! NO problems!! THEN I MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!! Exactly WHO threw me in front of the train in the middle of the night?!?! Remember how bad the "how low can you go" potty was yesterday? I didn't go ONE time today at school, for fear the janitor would have to come and get me off of it because I couldn't rely on my legs to stand from that position. No kidding! Now Garrett, the sweet boy that he is... would occasionally, poke my thigh and say, "that hurt?" OH, his time will come. He'll have a football bruise, and I am ON it!!
Now you KNOW, I love me some Shane, and I THOUGHT he loved me too, but I am not sure if tonight he was trying to comfort my aches or kill me. Graceson had another game tonight (yes, we won again) and we were driving separately, since I hadn't been home since morning and Gra had piano lessons for the FIRST time this school year with our FAVORITE piano teacher, Mrs. Claire. Shane asked me to run through the drive thru and get him a few double cheeses before I came home. When I got home, he had run me a bath in the big tub. He was so thoughtful, that he even put some of this Beauty Control bath oil in it that Anissa had given me one Christmas. I didn't have a lot left, but you are only supposed to use a few capfuls at a time. It smells minty, and it is supposed to "be an antioxidant and remove your body's toxins". MAN, isn't he sweet? WELL, I am not sure if he used the REST OF THE BOTTLE, or what, but guess what happened when Jerri's naked foot hit the floor of the bathtub? Well, the RIGHT half of my body went East, guess which way my left side went! Nikki told me to stretch today, but I wasn't ready for that. Then, you have my friend Anteneshia, who was at the work out yesterday, making sure that I am coming again on Friday... HELLO? THIS is the reason I need the witness protection program. Between Shane and the exercise, I am going to end up dead!!
Now, raise your hand if you remember the flattening iron hitting the toilet water!! Well, I decided that it had long enough to dry out, and besides, today was picture day! I NEEDED it! I plugged it up. It sounded like the low roar of a fluorescent light, so I felt like it was the last second of moisture that remained in it. A little later, Graceson hollers from my bedroom that she smells something that smells on fire. WHAT? I RUN (OK, I didn't run. I hurt too bad) I walked to my bathroom, and it wasn't on fire, but it MELTED the ends of the heated plates, and the the 2 plates would no longer meet in the middle. I will assure you that there is no beauty in a straightener that won't touch. It was kind of like putting your hair in a heating vent in the floor. It did NOTHING!!! Off to Sally's for me!!
SO, I am going to read just a second and go to bed! No school tomorrow!!! OH YEAH!!! I think I would love Sundays SOOOO much more if Monday didn't follow, ya know? Tomorrow we don't have to go, so I am TICKLED!! I have embroidering and birthday shopping to do! Gra's birthday is Thursday, I think it is TIME that I got her some gifts, what do you think?! I hope I can move!! Well, love to all, and if you can't find me, it's because the feds have changed my name to Buford, and I am moving into my double wide in the everglades! Have a great night! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Jerri

Anyone have a catheter?

2008-09-08T22:00:00.002-05:00

Hello all. I cannot begin to tell you how completely AWFUL it is to be blogging right now... As long as I don't move anything but my fingers, it is not too bad, but if I have to lean over, or answer the phone, or pick up the dog... OMG!!!
Today after school, I went to my very first "Women of God" workout... WHAT was I thinking? I mean, my body fat and I have become GREAT friends, so why should it want to leave? It was from 4-6 this evening at our church, and the head Hitler in charge let us out at 5:30, probably for fear that I may fall before I got into my van, and then I'd have to live their on the floor until spring.
You know how they say the 3rd day is the worst day? If it is, then please have someone sing "It is well" at the visitation, ok? I'm already thinking about how I am going to get the kids up from my bed in the morning, since I normally wake them up, because I feel SURE that Garrett will have to HELP ME!!
Graceson had a game tonight, (which she won, by the way, GO GRA) so Shane came by and got her from football practice, so I could "finish". I HAD to change before I headed to the ballpark, for fear that someone would think that I had snuck a baby goat into the park from my smell of the sweatiness in my t-shirt and shorts. I also thought that it would be a good idea, to go ahead and "tinkle" so I wouldn't have to at the game. I couldn't BELIEVE that when I went to, someone had lowered the commode seat a whole THREE INCHES!!! After I got that far, and my thighs were trembling, I just had to fall the rest of the way. (I forgot to tell you that we STARTED the work out with walking lunges after we stretched...) Just in case those or the squats weren't bad enough, we did this prisoner-of-war torture technique, where you get on the edge of a bench then get your legs out from it where you are suspended, just being held up by your arms, and then you "dip" down, and have to push yourself back up to safety, but you are facing outward, so it is sort of backwards! On my way home, when I was having to turn the steering wheel on some of our 90 degree curves, I almost submitted, and just let the wheel fly!
When I finally arrived at the ballpark, I sat on about the 4th row up on the bleachers to keep the scoreboard. BAD IDEA!!! I thought I was going to have to stay there, trapped, because my legs couldn't step down, until the seasons changed. THEN, tonight when I was getting ready to shower, I noticed the beautiful dirt ring necklace that I wore to the ballpark from all my major sweating. I wonder how many people noticed my new jewelry and never mentioned it?!?!
Just in case I didn't feel bad enough, I started wearing my retainers again last night, as my teeth are moving again, and WHAAPPOOWW!!! The ONLY part of my body that isn't hating my guts at this second is my eyebrows, but that is subject to change... NOW you know why I need a catheter. It just hurts too much to move. Nikki, the instructor/trainer/meanie DID call me and check on me and was very encouraging, even though I must doubt that she believed all that she said, but she was SO kind to call me, even though I may have occasionally shouted out that I hated her!! I am thinking that I will change my cell phone number by Friday, because when she sees that I am not there, she'll understand that I just called in dead!! Have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a torturing day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! I am pretty sure being out of shape is more comfortable than trying to fix it!! love to all!! Jerri

boys and girls... SEPARATE!!

2008-09-07T16:37:00.010-05:00

Yesterday, the boys and the girls went their separate ways. Our friend, Tony H, had a couple of extra tickets to the UK game. I am pretty sure when he asked if Shane and Garrett wanted to go, Shane didn't have to think about it even for a moment before answering "YES!" Well, we had to be a little strategic, to make sure that both of us weren't gone for too long, since we have chickens in the houses. I was out like a light when they rolled in last night, but they both told me that they had a great time!! Thanks Tony!! The first picture is before they head out, with Tony and Garrett. Doesn't that stadium just LOOK fun? The other picture is of my boys in the stands. They came home with a 6 pack of ALE 8 (actually, it started OUT as a 6 pack that they were bringing home for me, and when they got here, there were 3 left...) I think, from the story I was told when they had just came in last night, and I was still half asleep, that Shane got hooked on these when he was at trooper academy in Frankfort, and it is a drink that is found in that area. (we don't have it here) It is sort of like a fruity ginger ale. I thought it was good, but... don't tell Shane... It didn't have the wow effect on me that it does on him...

SOOO, while the boys were off at the football game in Lexington, the girls were in Paducah. We left a LOT earlier though! One of the ministries for our youth is called "Material Girls". They get together, and craft and sew. Sometimes for themselves, sometimes for others. Yesterday was a for themselves trip. Graceson got to go, because they needed me to drive the van, and the boys and both sets of grandparents were out of town. Each girl got a placemat, a sewing machine, ribbon and some fu fu trim, and they made themselves a purse!! She did very well, and had a GREAT time! She certainly thought she was grown, hanging out with the youth. When we were finished there, we headed to the mall for lunch, and then they had time to go around shopping a little, before meeting back to head to Hobby Lobby. They all seemed to find "SOMETHING" they needed at HL!! I am afraid that Gra now thinks that every time the big girls get together, she gets to also, but she'll be there soon enough! Youth starts at 6th grade... The last picture is of the purse that they made. I really thought they all did a good job!! I don't know how impressed they are with themselves, but in person, it is REALLY cute! I suggested she make them for teacher gifts for Christmas and we could put their names on them. She didn't think that was the greatest of ideas... Wonder why? As you can see, Conley has her eyes covered in the picture above. Is she shy? Does she not want to be on the blog? Does she not want this picture to come back to haunt her when she is famous? Maybe her purse is lopsided? Who knows!! HAHA These are just a couple of the 7th grade girls that were so nice to Gra while she was there with me. I know when they were out "shopping" without me, they got in one of those picture booths, the comes out in a film strip with 4 photos on it... OH to be young!!

I must finish up and get some laundry in the washer and finish up some things I have to get turned in first thing tomorrow morning! By the way, I got a prize Friday night at Monte Carlo for having the very fewest points. I mean... I think I was about the only one that didn't break 1000. OH WELL, go ME!! I got a prize anyway, and it was chocolate!! Have a GREAT night and I hope you have had a restful Lord's day!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

The FBI calls it a clue...

2008-09-05T16:18:00.005-05:00

The FBI calls it a clue that you need to go BACK to BED, when you have to dig your expensive flattening iron out of the toilet, and it is not even 6 a.m. Yes, to answer your question, it WAS plugged in, it was hot, when I got it out, it sounded like bacon frying, and yes, I was afraid of getting electrocuted, but what were my options? But NO, I need to get up and start my day!! Great... school was fine except that I went on a field trip to the Indian Pow Wow. Had I forgotten about the sign I had received that morning? Well, if we had just gone, and JUST had our kids, it MAY have been bearable, but instead, every elementary school in the district, practically, was there. Now, I am as far from OCD as the east is from the west, but I found that ALL I did today, was count to TEN because that is the number of children I had in my group! At one point 3 of my boys went with the other group from their class. No problem, right? Well, I had told them that they needed to stay close enough to me, that I could touch them if I wanted to. When I could only count to SEVEN and not TEN... OH RAIN MAN!!! My last field trip comment, is that if you have ever gone on a field trip as an adult and loved it, then you were only responsible for your OWN child... I need a nap!!

The above picture is of Graceson and Halle Rhea at HR's birthday party. It was a carnival theme and HR's aunt was there to paint faces. Isn't that AWESOME? Gra didn't want to wash her face, but I made her!! The picture below is at a sleepover, where the girls were doing a routine to Taylor's Swift's "You should've said no!" It was quite the show!!

Well, have a GREAT night, I am off to make a chicken broccoli braid and then to play Monte Carlo at our SS teacher's house! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all! Jerri

You know it's going to be a good day when...

2008-09-05T05:50:00.002-05:00

You know it's going to be a good day when you start your day off by dropping your straightening iron in the commode!! Yeah, it was on... Stay tuned and let's hope it gets better! Have a fantastic day!! Jerri

It's raining!!!

2008-09-04T22:32:00.003-05:00

It is RAINING!!! That is certainly "blog worthy" as it is certainly a blessing!! My yard is about the color of a football, but by tomorrow, it will be at my armpit I am guessing!! Graceson had a game tonight, so I was very glad that they finished playing it before the rain really started. They won!! She walked both times that she got on base, but you would have thought she hit it out of the field!! I will say that once she GETS on base, she is on third before you know it! I am guessing it is because she is so aerodynamic, tiny, and close to the ground! When her team shirt came in (we are the Red Sox), it was a size "YL". She about popped a gasket. There was another little girl whose shirt was a little tight, so her mom and I talked, and after the game, we grabbed the girls and hid them in the corner of the dug out so they could switch shirts. Well, as modest as Gra is, you would have thought I had asked her to walk naked across America, and I thought I was going to have to PHYSICALLY take the shirt off of her. She hesitated like you do when you don't REALLY want to get in the pool because you are afraid it is cold, so you wait, and then get ready to jump in, and then stop and wait again... only to get your courage up, and stop, yet AGAIN! The other little girl was like "OK, here ya go" but I am afraid that I am going to cause Gra to have to have therapy, and no one saw her little naked back but ME!!!
Garrett had f-ball practice, but they didn't practice, they had study hall, because 80% of the players were having "grades" trouble. They had to go to study hall as a team. I guess I am not so team minded, because I am kind of feeling like if you go to the trouble to actually STUDY during the week, and the occasional weekend, and MAKE good grades, then when your TEAM is failing, THEY should go to SH ALONE, because you ALONE made your efforts all along. Obviously, my husband and Garrett's coach disagree with me. Shane says they'll get theirs next week, when they have to run during practice while the kids with grades get to practice. AGAIN, WHAT? Why not just DO that? Oh well, I know, I know. That's why women aren't football coaches I guess...
The "other princess" that resides here HATES the rain. If it wouldn't make you think I was a weirdo, I would take a picture of Lilli, when she goes out to potty in the rain, or when the grass is wet. She goes a bit "Matrix" on me. That is where she is balancing her whole little body (all 4 1/2 lbs. of it) on her to front feet, and her back legs are hovering above the ground, for fear she may get a little wet. Why is it that everyone that is 4 ft or smaller that lives here such divas?
Well, have a great night!! love to all, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! God Bless!! Jerri
P.S. By the way... how 'bout that Palin's speech last night? I was a bit impressed!!!
P.S.S. I signed up last night for a fantasy football league... any suggestions? I have NO idea what I am doing!!

New colors-whatcha think?

2008-09-03T23:14:00.002-05:00

No big post tonight, because I am going to go to BED!! I have a couple of things I MUST do first, one of which is to say ola to everyone, and then a couple more things... Gra lost a tooth today! She practically "worried" it out of her mouth as much as she was messing with it!! Tonight in youth, or youth pastor did a "fear factor" sort of activity, and picked a youth and an adult to go up to the front. He then busted out the smoothie maker, and dumped into it a jar of pickled hotdogs, a cup cake and pepsi. Blended it up, and then the first one to drink their cup full was the winner. Of course, they needed spoons too! It was hard to watch! Shane would be one that could do that, Garrett and I could NOT!! Of course, Shane is my guy that I just KNEW could make it to and through "Survivor" and win us a million dollars, and then of course, I would quit work to go on all of his tours and interviews. I thought our video was AWESOME, but I guess not great enough for the judges!! We went into the bottoms on the farm, and he had on a flannel shirt with a hidden bite sleeve underneath it. At the time, we had a police dog that was the K-9 unit for HPD, and I was off camera with the dog. Shane says, "I have been surviving here out in the woods, and haven't had any troubles, except for snakes, ticks, and an occasional wild dog". At that point, I give Chucky the command to attack, and you see him flying from the side and attacking him. It was GREAT, but obviously our plan to make million(s) didn't work out THAT way!! By the way, it was all I could DO to get him OFF of Shane. He didn't have his collar on, because we wanted him to look "wild", so the guy who was taping wouldn't help me, because the dog was scary, and I couldn't pull him off, so I had to get his leash around his neck WHILE he was growling and tearing up that hidden sleeve. SKEEEERY, I tell you, but I thought SOOOO worth it, with the dancing sugar plums of dollars skimming around in my noggin imagining our great win!! NOT!!! But I digress...
What do you think of the new colors on the blog? Too much? Not enough? Get a clue and go white? Tell me what you think!!
Well, I'm off to bed now! Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life... God bless! Jerri

A quickie post...

2008-09-02T22:33:00.002-05:00

No pictures tonight, just a few words and then BEDDY BYE!! Both kids had games tonight. If you remember from a previous post, Garrett was worried about their success because of all of the players that quite, including their awesome running back. Their score... FORTY FOUR to SIX!! Yep! You read it right! I was trying to make it stand out in number form, and didn't know how, so thought I'd type out the words!! 44 to 6!! Tonight was Gra's first fall softball game. They won too! 6 to 4, and it took every bit of the 80 minutes that they have to get the game played. One inning she played second, one she played third. I think that both of those positions freaked her out a bit! She has only played outfield up til now, and it certainly made her nervous! (Not to mention her mother!) Also... I learned tonight that their batting helmets are also supposed to have those guards in front of them, that sort of make them look like football players! Evidently, by this age, we are worried about their teeth, because of the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the pitchers! What a great mother I am... I had no IDEA I was supposed to have this, so she DIDN'T, and had to borrow one of her friends. Let's just hope it was a good friend that was lice free!! (that is always a concern when you work with elementary friends...)

On a different note... my mom is leaving for what seems like YEARS to go south for the winter (not really) and she is going during prime hurricane season. Yes, Gustav missed where she is going, but Hannah and Ike, or Ivan, or Ishmael, or WHATEVER his name is, are lining up to be next. When those bad news bears hit warm gulf waters (the water is measuring in at low to mid 90's) it is not fun!! SOOOO, pray these little tornadic ocean episodes dissipate before hitting the U.S.!!
Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! God bless you all!! Jerri

Pot Pie and Pearl

2008-09-01T19:13:00.004-05:00

OK, those 2 things really aren't related, but they are the pictures tonight!! My mom decided that she was going to enter a recipe at the very end. Not only did she want ME to take a picture of it, but she wanted me to also type up the recipe for it!! (I think she thought she had it in the bag, because I would also be able to EAT it right then, without having to do it myself!) Well... don't worry (I'm really only talking to the 4 that fix chicken... :o) ) I already told her that she couldn't win. Why? Well, today IS the last day, but that's not why... I *think* I remember saying it couldn't be a recipe that I already had, and I do have that. It really is DELISH!!! It has a pastry topping that is cheesy and buttery. In the pix, you'll also notice she was showing off a bit by using a chicken cut out too!! If you look really closely, you can see to roosters facing each other in the very center of the topping. Anyway, it was YUMMY!!!!!!!!! Thanks for supper mom!!

The next picture is of my only living grandparent. I call her "Granny Pearl". My mom is taking her to my uncle's on Wednesday, so she is at my mom's for a few days.

Graceson starts softball tomorrow night, and her games will be on Tuesdays for sure, so Shane and I are going to have to take turns going to football and softball games. I hate to miss either of their games, but I don't know how else to do it!! Garrett has another game tomorrow night, but they had about 8 players to quit last week, because the coach made them run for missing practice. One of the quitters was the star running back. Why would he mind running? Anyway, Garrett thinks he'll be back, but... probably not in time for TOMORROW'S game, and he's worried about how they'll do... I'll keep you posted.

I want to give a "holler out" to my peeps that signed into the guest book!! That would be my friends, Anteneshia, and Anissa! I am SOOO glad that you both signed in... FINALLY!! Anteneshia, if you'll remember, fixed me up with a "My Space" page, and Anissa tells me that she reads the blog often, but NOW I have proof!! hee hee! It is a lovely picture of both of you and I REALLY love it that you signed! If you are reading this and haven't signed yet, do it RIGHT NOW!!

If you decide you want/need the chicken pot pie recipe, you'll have to call me, because I don't have the energy to type it up for here!! Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

KY Joe-I'm a dork... no news here!!

2008-09-01T00:40:00.003-05:00

OK, I need your opinion on something... and when you hear what it is... you will know that I am a dork, but if you know me, that won't surprise you, just amuse you!!
I have to have 15 hours of CEU's to keep my speech license for the state of KY. For several years, I went to Louisville or Lexington to get those our to the speech convention. In case I get audited, I have to keep proof that I have them for 3 years, but after that, I can dispose of it. WELL, I was going through some things the other day to pitch... and I came across something...
This particular year, "Survivor" was the theme of the conference and it was about the 3rd season of the show. At the time, I was following it CLOSELY, because Shane had submitted a video, and I just KNEW he would get on!! One of the speakers was.... wait for it... wait for it... KY JOE!! You know, if you watch it, the older guy, he was a teacher from KY. He was SOOO nice, and a great speaker, and ended up being voted off #5, as he insisted that if it was between he and Elisabeth (she is on "The View) now, to vote himself off. She was then number 4, but I digress. SOOOO, back to today, I am cleaning out some things, and I find this booklet from conference, and GUESS WHAT I HAVE... I have his AUTOGRAPH where he signed it on my agenda/booklet from the conference. Here is the question, so please leave a comment and tell me what you think... Do you think it would bring anything on Ebay? I can't decide if I should give it a whirl, or just pitch it, because I have no idea if there are freaks out there that followed it, and would pay for this autograph, or not, and honestly, how could I ever prove it was his?
Well, I am off to bed. I just HAD to write this before I forgot, and then never thought of it again! Have a great night!! Chow for now!! Jerri

An hour an 15 minutes to go~~

2008-08-31T22:42:00.002-05:00

Today's been a GREAT day!! I had bed babies at church today, and got to love on some sweeties!! I LOVE having the bed babies at church. Shane thought it would make me want to have MORE babies, but having 5 at a time, actually did the EXACT opposite!! I get to kiss on them for a couple of hours, and send them home. We came home, and then I napped... FOR TWO HOURS!!!!!!!!! What?!?! I had lesson plans I needed to be typing, because 1 page of them took me HOURS on Friday, but hopefully, once I get them all redone, they'll be DONE!! ANYWAY, it was a GREAT nap! I got up, did a little sewing, and fixed something that the boys LOVED!! My boys LOVE shrimp, and normally, I just saute them in a little butter. Today, Shane said he wanted it "thicker". SOOOO, I decided to put my butter in the pan, add garlic, salt, pepper, and a little flour. After I mixed that up really well, I then added a little cream to make a roux (I am not sure how to spell that, it is like a white sauce, that you can use as a base for cheesey dishes), and then just threw in those puppies. It was SUCH a hit with them!! Just thought I'd tell you how just in case!!
Well, I guess I only have 4 people that read my blog AND cook chicken!! I am going to post the 5 recipes I received. I am going to try all of them, and will get back with you as to the family's fav! It will take me a couple of weeks to try them all, as I won't do it 5 nights in a row!! hee hee
This is Kristi's recipe for Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplins'
**First i put boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into halves in the crock pot ( I used two packs). Then cover with one large can of cream of chicken soup(I use family size), one bag of frozen chopped onion (this is just easier and faster than using fresh onion you have to cut), 1 stick of butter cut up, and some salt and pepper....then cover well with water. The trick is the water...if you put too much water then it will taste watered down and won't be gravy like at the end of the day...and too little water will make it dry out and stick to the bottom. I cover it all well with water...atleast half way up the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours ( or more if you aren't coming home before then...just make sure it doesn't run out of water)...then the last 30 min. you will take the cheap canned biscuits (I use about 2 or three cans of biscuits) and tear in halves or thirds and drop it on top of the cooked chicken liquid and cover again and let puff up for about 30 min....
Here are Shanan's 2 recipes
White Chicken Chili
2 cans white beans
1 can mexicorn, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, zesty chile flavor
1/2 onion chopped
PERDUE chicken breasts, cooked and diced
2 cups of water
2 packages of McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix.
Mix together and cook in crock pot. I serve this with sour cream, shredded cheese, and crackers. Good when it is much cooler outside than it is right now!

Chicken Artichoke Salad
2 cans white meat chicken (does Perdue make chicken in a can?)
(I guess you could use Purdue white meat and cut it all up!)
Artichoke hearts, drained and chopped or cut up into pieces
sliced celery
chopped red onion
chopped walnuts
light mayonnaise (You could use a little mustard too.)
salt and pepper
curry powder
a couple of squeezes of lemon juice
Mix all together and chill in refrigerator until it gets good and cold. Eat on bread or with some crackers
This recipe is from Sara - She is the ONLY local chicken eater, and is Shanan's sister
CREAMY CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion chopped
1 can chopped green chilies
1 pkg of cream cheese-soft
3 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken(I use whatever chicken I have-breast, tenders-just make sure its Perdue)
Flour tortillas
2 pkgs of Monterey Jack cheese (I usually buy the blocks and grate it myself-just makes it better)
2 cups of WHIPPING CREAM!!
Melt butter in skillet-saute onions til tender, add green chilies-saute for a minute or two. Stir in cream cheese and chicken-cook and stir constantly until cheese melts
Spoon the desired amount of chicken mixture onto tortilla, roll up tortilla and place in a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish. Repeat til all mixture is gone, Sprinkle monterey jack cheese; drizzle with whipping cream Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
I salt and pepper my chicken mixture-alot of times, I double the recipe because it is great warmed up. Serve with tortilla chips, salsa, and cheese dip
Finally-this recipe is from my Aunt Beetle in Illinois
Crunchy Chicken
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Bake: 1 hour at 350
8 chicken breasts, halved
2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic (pressed)
2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup butter, melted
Wash chicken and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend cracker crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken in melted butter and then in crumb mixture to coat. Arrange in shallow pan. Pour remaining butter over chicken and bake for one hour. Do NOT turn chicken.
So there you go!! I had a picture to post tonight, but I think this is long enough!! I am SHARING the recipes, even if you didn't post one!! I can't wait to try them all!! I'll let you know the results! If you try the recipe first, let me know how it goes! Have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Love to all!! Jerri

Happy Un Birthday!!

2008-08-29T21:05:00.006-05:00

OK, So Gra's birthday is not until Sept. 11th, but you see, Grammy will be gone, for almost a MONTH, while her birthday "occurs" so we had a little "not your birthday" birthday dinner last night with mom cooking. It was YUMMY! Gra picked the menu, and she did a FINE job if I do say so myself. She wanted roast and gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, fruit salad, rolls, and an oreo cake for dessert. Yes, that may be an overkill, BUT, I guess she thought Gram should pay since she wouldn't be here!! haha OH, I almost forget the rootbeer in "bottles" (that is very important) to drink. The above is a picture of Garrett breaking into song singing "L-is for the way you... LOOK...at me!" into the rootbeer bottle. I added this song a few days ago, and he just randomly bellows it out for me, with no prompting, for no reason!! One of the gifts that Grammy gave Gra was Taylor Swift's cd. She also gave her a couple HSM 1 and 2 musical cd's. Garrett has already insisted that we can NOT listen to these on the way to school, or any other time he is in the van with us. OH, he is SUCH a boy!!

Now, the next picture is of her blowing out her candles. Of COURSE she would NEVER want the numbers 1 and 0, she would want 10 separate ones. She'll be the one in the nursing home, that wants 115 of them on her cake for her 115th birthday, and will count them to make sure that noone tried to cheat her out of any of her candle!! Trust me! I know her!! It was a very tasty cake by the way!! The whole dinner was a great time! Garrett was so glad that he chose THIS over the middle school dance, as he said the food was "way better" than the dance would have been fun. I am afraid he won't be keeping that opinion for much longer, so I'll take it while I can get it!! I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend, and I'll write more soon!! Have a great day and thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

On my way to bed...

2008-08-27T23:06:00.003-05:00

I have no reason to post this picture, other than to make you smile! Graceson took it, and it is Lilli in the little fox hole she made for herself on the couch! You always have to be careful when you sit down, for this very reason!

I added a video above that my friend, Beth, posted on her my space. I am not trying to be "just like her", but I know that if you are not on her friend's list, then you can't view it, and it is pretty profound to watch. It reminded me of something that happened YEARS ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was going to town with the kids, and of course, if you know where I live, it is never less than a 20 minute drive ANYWHERE on most days!! Anyway, as we are driving along, the kids are chatting, and Graceson could not have been any more than 3. If she was 3, then Garrett would have been 5. I was only half listening to what they were discussing as I was driving along. All seemed to be good and fun, when I happened to look in the rear view mirror at the EXACT time that she pointed her tiny finger straight at his face (they are both in car seats at the time), and she said, "Did you tell me NO?" THAT is why this video is so important for you to watch. There is not a DOUBT where her little 3 year old self heard that phrase, and it wasn't Barney. I need to be more mindful of what they hear and see me speak!

I'm beat! Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life! love to all! Jerri

Washed by the water!!

2008-08-26T20:57:00.004-05:00

Graceson was DEFINITELY ready to be "washed by the water"! I REALLY hope that the song comes up when the blog is opened!!

A special thanks goes out to my friend Tony for taking this pictures and then for sending them to me! He is out of town, but with a little begging, and promise of some banana pudding, he hooked me up with the photos for my blog friends!! If you'll look at her robe, it almost looks like the outfits that karate kids would wear! You can see in the picture of the child on the steps how that robe is big and long and flowing. This little robe looked to be about a size 2, and one of the other kids didn't get a robe, so she said she'd wear this so he could have one. Isn't that sweet? It didn't really matter anyway, since it was underwater, but I will tell you when it was wet... I had to PEEL it off of her!! I also told you in my last post that I didn't realize that we would be going up there with her, but I will tell you that was the best seat in the house! You can see (by my boobs in the photo) that I was right beside Bro. Bob and then Shane was right up against me. What you see in the water is the seat that everyone sat on, except for Gra, because she was not tall enough, and it would have made her ALREADY be under the water when the service began!!

It has been a great evening. CCMS had their first "real" game (full time and all) against NDMS, and they won 40 to 0! Garrett was first string, and got a lot of play in the 8th grade game, which meant he didn't get to play alot in the 7th grade game. That's o.k., he preferred it that way, I think. He is an offensive guard, which was explained to me, is one of the guys that is trying to keep the other teams guys from your guy that has the ball. He was "guarding" this moose of a boy, that looked like he drove HIMSELF to the game. I wanted to call the other coach, and see if there was a smaller fellow he could put across from my son, but that didn't seem appropriate! This afternoon, I spent about an hour at the Toyota dealership so that they could fix a "recall" on the van. It seems that they recalled the hatchback of the "trunk" part of the van. No big deal, right? Well, it is hydraulic, and automatic to lift and close, which is all good when it is not recalled, but when it IS... you have to get in the weight lifter, world's strongest man position, with one foot in front of the other, open it, get it about a foot or 2 up, then bounce so that your opposite foot is in the front, and repeat until you get it lifted above your head. (Remember, it is pushing AGAINST you trying to close, at a fast rate of speed). So, I holler at the kids to hurry hurry, fast fast when they are getting things, or groceries or bat bags out of the back, so as no one loses a limb!!

I got the "My Space" page to work, although I am looking like a nerd with all of these people at 500+ friends, and I have about 5!! haha OH WELL!! ALSO, I wanted to give you a head's up that my aunt sent a chicken recipe. This is my aunt that has never been told that she WASN'T Martha Stewart switched at birth, so the HEAT IS ON!!! Get those recipes in!! I hope to have a lot to choose from! Monday is the last day!!

I hope everyone has a blessed night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

what a GREAT night!

2008-08-24T23:13:00.004-05:00

I will post pix as soon as I get them. Tonight was Gra's baptism. It was SOOOO special. They do something at our church, that I didn't realize, and that I'd never seen done, but thought it was AWESOME. The parents get to go to the back with the children as they are being baptized. OK, I thought this was just so that we could help them dry off and change and such. NOOOO!! Shane and I actually got to be RIGHT beside the preacher when he put her under the water. I cannot describe that moment in time. It was PRECIOUS!!! That really isn't descriptive enough to tell you how I felt, but I can't come up with a word that would share it. It was humbling, but exciting, it was a relief, and such a blessing, all rolled up in one moment that I got to see from the best seat in the house, and I wasn't sitting at all. (that was, all that I COULD see, through the tears that were running from my eyes!!!) Graceson was pinging from the walls all of this afternoon, waiting to go to church. She was so very excited, and yet incredibly nervous, all wrapped up in one. They told us that they DVD'd the service too, and that we'd get a copy, so if I can figure out HOW to show that to you, I'd love to!! Have a BLESSED night! Mine sure has been!! JA

One last thing... one of my youth friends, Anteneshia has created me a "My Space" page, because I "needed" it!! If you have one of these, would you please add me as your friend, as I have none!!

A quick photo...

2008-08-24T16:09:00.003-05:00

My friend Amy, went to the game yesterday. She took a few pix of Garrett, and uploaded them to Snapfish, or whatever the program is that she uses. I thought I would NEVER be able to get it to here!! I have been working HOURS (literally) to get the photo into my blog!! So... here you go!! This is a picture of my football hero!! His name is Garrett... but I call him "Bubby". His number is '51', which is significant because it was also Shane's number in high school. I "HEAR" he was a pretty significant football presence in his day, although I know if I had known him then, we wouldn't be here today!! :) (you know how that goes!!) A couple of my youth girls are supposed to be making me a "My Space" page to keep connected. WHAT?!?! How does that connect you? I am not sure, but will let you know! I am pretty sure I won't have a "friends list" as everyone else does, because I don't know how to get one!! Anyway, I'll let you know how that goes!! I'll try to post of the baptism too!! Have a great Lord's Day and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

Update on the chick's size

2008-08-23T20:55:00.006-05:00

(I got the pictures to work FINALLY!!!)

Shanan has been reminding me how I haven't really posted an update on the birds here lately. Well, they are ALWAYS around and in need of something (kind of like your kids), so I never really think about it, but she is RIGHT!! Here is a picture of the birds now. It is 17 days old in this picture. If you'll look back when they JUST had fur, and now, they are at their "teenage" awkward years, still a little furry fuzz on their heads, spindley feathers, not "cute" baby chicks, but not yet pretty chickens. They will leave us when they are 49 days old and weigh around 5 lbs. Last summer, when we had jumbos, we kept them for an extra 10 days, and their average weight when they left us was 9.75 lbs. Now, THAT is a bird, I don't care WHO you are!! :)
Today was Garrett's first football game, and I missed it. At that same time, Graceson had softball tryouts, and you can guess who got to go with which child... The good news is that there is another game on Tuesday and that they won today's game! He played guard for the offense and he started for the first 1/2 of the game, until they put in the 2nd string. Now, I am just repeating what information I was given, and although my football knowledge is limited, I feel like that is good news!
Last night, the boys went to a football scrimmage and Gra and I spent the night at her friend Jessica's for a girl's night out. Evidently, it was her sister's birthday, and Jessica got to invite a friend too for the party, and so the girls and girls' moms had a big time! You KNOW she was tired today, when she crawled in my bed to take a NAP!!! She wouldn't DREAM of taking a nap, she's too big, ya know, so when we slept for 3 hours, that would be a clue that we were BOTH whipped!! Thanks to Monica and Jessica for inviting us!! We took bon bons, and they were YUMMY!! They were VERY easy!! You take a package of oreos, and pulverize them in a food processor. To the crumbs, add a block of softened cream cheese. That is your filling. Shape into balls, and put in the freezer for a little bit. Heat your dipping chocolate according to the directions on the package. Dip the balls, and put on waxed paper. Put back into the freezer for about 30 minutes. OOH LA LA! And that's it!! Where are YOUR recipes? The clock is ticking, and right now, it is neck and neck between Kristi and Shanan, since those are the only two that have GIVEN me recipes!!! HINT HINT!!
Tomorrow night is Gra's baptism!! We are all too excited!! If you're in town, we'd love for you come!!
Have a GREAT night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! JA

Random blessings!

2008-08-20T21:32:00.003-05:00

Instead of adding to my earlier post, I thought I'd just add a new one! Wow! 2 in one night! Of course, I haven't even turned the lap top on in DAYS, so I felt "OBLIGATED!!" HAHA Just kidding!! Before I list my random blessings, I need to give props, and shout out to TWO more friends that have signed in to the guest book!! Of course, I couldn't see it because the new BLANK computer doesn't have adobe, but I will be able to once I reinstall everything, MAYBE!! Thanks goes to Beth M for signing in! She has been helping me get "started" with my new duty at church, of planning/fixing/buying/etc., meals for the youth workers when we have to feed them. I'm still clueless about it all, but I'll learn fast ! MAYBE!! Next, the shout out would HAVE to go to my people, Sara!! I saw her yesterday standing in line at Wal-Mart for Gra's and my prescriptions, and she only recently understood how tickled I get when someone signs it! She is a great cook, so if you see a recipe she posts, you'll surely want to try it!! NOW>>> on to the blessings!!!
1) Graceson will be baptized on Sunday!! She accepted Jesus at the first of April, but had to go through a class at church, "I'm a Christian now" before getting baptized. She was scheduled for June, but I was gone that Sunday to KY Changers, so I insisted I couldn't miss it! She's been very patient, but is VERY excited! It certainly is a relief to have that assurance for your babies!
2) My principal saw how I was feeling like dukie today (not to be confused with chicken poop) and insisted I leave. I ended up sleeping at my mom's for 5 hours. I needed that!!
3) My aunt sent me a package that I got today!! They are 2 of the CUTEST outfits, that I think she has decided looks too young on her!! Only problem is I hope they will conceal my Depends!! HAHA (see previous post!) Isn't it a great day to get a package you weren't expecting and it is a gift?
4) I have been saving up for this picture!! I normally wouldn't spend this on some random decoration for the house, but I LOVED it! I am just grateful that I didn't have a TEN letter last name! I let Graceson help me pick out the pictures for it, and we had to struggle to come to an agreement, but we finally did! Don't you LOVE it? I just really do!!
5) Shanan PASSED her test!! It was stressful, but at least THAT portion is over! It gives her a peace of mind, knowing that she did the right thing by not going back to teaching this year.
6) Garrett's first football game is Saturday. Anyone that knows me, knows that I know JUST ENOUGH to be dangerous, but I am learning more and more each game. I also love watching whatever it is that my kids are playing, so... let the games begin! He will be starting on the 8th grade team, which is exciting for him, being in 7th grade.
7) Gra has been taking care of me the past few days. She has set up the vaporizer, brought me a drink, gotten me medicine, insisted I lay down... isn't that sweet?
8) Cough medicine with codeine... that's all I need to say about that!!
9) Desk top computers!!!!
10) Husbands that are good sports!! Tonight at youth, Shane was the adult chosen, and there was also a youth picked. They had to take a cow tongue with their teeth, and see who could throw it the farthest. Yes, it was real, just out of the package!! EEEEEEEWWWWW! I'm sort of glad I felt yucky enough to come home. I don't know that I could have watched it tonight and then kissed him goodnight!! :)
I think that is it for today. I feel rotten, and I am starting to feel the cough medicine. I encourage everyone to think of 10 blessings that has occurred to and for them today! I have started to learn if you LOOK for them, they'll get easier to spot! Have a great night! Sweet dreams!! (and as Graceson used to say, 'Night night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite! And if they do... hit 'em with a flip flop!!' love to all!! JA

GREAT NEWS!!!

2008-08-20T20:32:00.002-05:00

The guy called today that had my computer!! If you will remember, it has been in the shop since MAY SECOND!!!! YEP!!! That is WELL over 3 months!! Well, I get it hooked up, and everyone and everything on it is GONE!! Again, YEP, caplooie, vanished, syahnarah!! I called and spoke with "Habeeb" from my email provider, which talked me through getting outlook set back up, but he told me I'd have to do a mass delete, or it would try to upload 14,000+ emails, and I am only allowed so many downloads per day, and it would slow it down to a crawl (and it is PLENTY slow in the country all by itself!) SOOO, if you emailed me in the last, say FOUR months, please resend it, as it is out there in deleted land!! I've got a call in to the guy, and I am PRAYING that he backed everything up!! I had 20 or 30 little icons on my opening screen, and today there are 3. I had 1000's of songs, pictures, web addresses, embroidery patterns and sites-GONE!!! Of course, now I don't have a single email address anymore either, so if you'd be so kind as to send that to me, I'd love to add it!! I've said a little prayer hoping that he has it somewhere, but I am kind of doubtful, since it did take him nearly 4 months to get it to me! :)

I left school early today, as I was feeling a bit like I'd been hit by a train. I am on my 2nd day of a Z-Pack, and hope to be able to tell a difference very soon! I find that I have been coughing so much, that my stomach muscles feel like I have been doing a 48 hour long version of "Abs of Steal" with no results!! When I cough, I need 3 hands, because I don't know whether to grab my stomach, my mouth, or my head, that feels like it is going to fly off each time I cough! Also, (and I realize that this is more information than you were asking for...), I find that I wish my bladder was COMPLETELY empty each time I coughed as well. Is this my age, or just the severeness of the cough? Am I going to need Depends by the age of 40? I pray NOT!!!!!!!

Also, before I forget, my friend Sara S, tells me that I need to post an ending date for the recipe submissions. Is this the teacher in her, perhaps? Girls (and guys if there is anyone out there that reads this that is not female) I think this is because she is planning on submitting an awesome recipe at the wire to surprise us?!?!?! She really is a good cook, so we'll see! SOOO, to make Sara happy, I will tell you the chicken recipe deadline! It is going to be LABOR DAY!! The Monday that we recognize the holiday, will be the last day you can submit a chicken recipe to go in the taste test for the prize! I will ALWAYS love any recipe you send me, but these are just to get the cool prize!!
Blessings to all, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! JA

Fondue, French Dips, and Drills

2008-08-17T18:09:00.002-05:00

I have had a GREAT weekend!! Yesterday morning, Garrett had football practice. Shane decided he was going to take him, which meant I had an extra hour to sleep!! That CAN'T be a bad day! Graceson had to go to town to work at a Pancake Breakfast for K-Kids. That is just a "kids" version of Kiwana's Club, which is a philanthropic organization that does various projects in our community. She got ready pretty early and was just messing around here and there while I was getting up and moving. For some reason, I walked into our foyer, and noticed our coat closet was open a little. Not thinking too much about it, I shut it and heard "Hey!". I open it all the way to see Gra, on top of some blankets, and snuggled up with Lilli, the dog. I asked her why in the WORLD she would be in the closet. (this is one of those closets, you know the ones, that house EVERYTHING you don't need at the moment-winter coats, jackets, gloves, hats, Pampered Chef boxes I don't use often, you get the idea!) She told me... wait for it... it was TOOO funny and cute... "I am having an earthquake drill with Lilli". SOOOOO, if we ever have an earthquake in Fruit Hill, and you guys cannot locate us, check the closet!!! Isn't that a scream?

Last night was date night. Shane and I went to the Melting Pot in Nashville. Now, I will assure you that this would not be a typical date night of a blockbuster rental and popcorn, but we thought we'd live on the edge, if just for the night!! It was SOOOO yummy!! In case you've never been, it is a fondue restaurant, and it is VERY expensive, so save up and go hungry!! We were going to go to the movies too, but I had to get back and cook a few things, because I had to fix lunch for the youth workers that had a training this afternoon. I fixed French Dips, and I think they were a hit as far as I could tell! A few of the people asked me what the "au jus" was for, so even though I WANTED to say it was for cleansing your fingers between bites, I wasn't a smarty pants outside of my head, and told them it was for dipping their sandwiches! Next time they'll know!!!

I have to give a yell out to a couple of people that signed the guestbook for my blog! Kelly Putty is a blogger that I follow, and she and her family are adopting from Ethiopia. Her link is to the left if you want to see their progress. They go and get him in a few weeks! Rhea signed in, and she TOO, is adopting. She is adopting from Korea, and her blog address is also to the left if you want to see where they are in their process. She actually goes to my church, but I didn't know her until she started reading Shanan's posts, then came to mine, posted, and we ended up going on the same retreat for youth workers at church. Funny how small the world is, isn't it? Kelly is Kristi's sister, and she is also adopting. If you see a pattern here, I'm just fond of their posts. Unless God REALLY shook, rattled, and rolled me, I don't see adoption in our future, they are just friends that I love to check on. My dear Graceson would have to have such therapy, that I don't know how she'd survive! She'll be the first to tell me that she never wants any more brothers or sisters to live here!!! Oh well, go take a look if you ever need more things to read, you'll enjoy them!!

I hope everyone had a great Lord's day, and got refreshed for the week ahead! Have a great day, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! JA

What a great day!!

2008-08-14T20:45:00.004-05:00

I added a video (hopefully above, I won't know until I post this and look!!) that my friend, Beth, sent me the link to today. I can SOOOO relate to what this woman said!! I think everyone I know, struggles with this from time to time, and I need to be reminded OFTEN, it's not about me. Of course, we'd ALL like a LITTLE praise now and again, but I realize that I am not seeking it from the right person. It's not HERE that matters!!! I'll leave it up for a few days before I take it down, so if you get the chance to look at it, I think you'll be glad that you did!! Thanks Beth for sending me the link!!

-It's been a GREAT day!! My PHOTO got posted on my S-I-L's blog, as she posted her recipe(s) for my chicken recipe contest. The pressure is on girls (and fellas)!! Seeking all new chicken recipes! There's a prize for the best one!! You can click the link in my favorite blogs below, or you can go to http://shananfowlerfamily.blogspot.com/ to see her recipes and her beautiful family! She's also taking a HUGE test next week, so any prayers sent up on her behalf would be MOST appreciated!!!
-We had SPAGHETTI sandwiches for supper!! They were GREAT!!! This summer I was watching a cooking show, and this guy fix spaghetti paninis, and they looked awesome!! I thought I'd try it. I pressed some garlic into some butter, spread it on hoagie rolls, toasted them, heated the spaghetti, then put it together, topped with Parmesan, and BAM!! Try it with your left overs! You'll be pleased! Of course, Dr. Atkins, if he wasn't dead already, would DIE from all of the carbs!!
-I was in a meeting today where I got so tickled that I made a mental note I'd post about it. In this meeting we were talking about test scores, and about the scores following the child, and if they scored at this level in 3rd grade, and they went down in 4th grade, then it was reasonable to think it was the teacher issue, as the capability of the child had already been measured. Another friend in the meeting, we'll call her "Tator Tot" (you know who you are), says, "So puberty shouldn't affect their test scores". Well, that was funny on SOOO many levels, and I am not sure why she ever said it. Being the humorous one I think I am, I said something to the effect of, "Oops, I have boobs now, I won't do well on this test". I guess you had to be there, but that was just one more reason that I had a happy day I think!! I know, I'm twisted!!
-My son and I actually COMMUNICATED!! That is getting harder and harder, and tonight at our supper of carbs, I MADE him talk, and he actually is acting like he may like me a little right now!
-My friend Beth, (the same one that sent me the link for the you tube video), offered to write my study guide for 2nd Timothy for me!! We have all been assigned different books from the New Testament to write a study guide for, so that the youth can read the New Testament before January, and she said that she has more time than I do... Wasn't that AWESOME?
-My husband asked me out on a date for Saturday! Now, he tells me he'll work out something for the kids, and we'll see, but it's a start!! He even wants to go see "Mama Mia". I am pretty sure he doesn't want to actually see the movie, but he knows that I want to, so that may be why. I'll have to think about that!

SOOOOO, those are just a couple of my blessings today!! There are too many to type, and probably many more than I even noticed, but it's a good start!! Have a great night and send me your recipes!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Love to all!!JA

2nd verse same as the first

2008-08-13T22:44:00.002-05:00

A LITTLE BIT LOUDER AND A LITTLE BIT WORSE!! I mean, 2nd POST... OK, I was on my way to bed, and I thought I'd drop by a few blogs I read for a sec before hitting the hay. The pressure is ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend, Kristi, not only has submitted HER recipe for our chicken contest, it ALSO is a crockpot recipe, she posted pictures, AND she used PERDUE chicken!! I would take that as a challenge!!! If you get a chance, drop by her blog, you'll be amazed at all she does!! She has 4 babies, 1st grade and under, is adopting a baby, has play dates, lessons, family field trips, throws parties, and cooks for others!!! I'll tell ya, it makes having 100,000 chickens look easy!! You can find her at: http://weloveourlucy.blogspot.com
She is well on her way of winning the contest (right now, that is because she is the only person that has sent me a recipe!! heehee) I have a cute prize by the way!! You can post to the blog, or send it to my email, or something else if you have another creative way!! I can't already fix the recipe, and no Shanan, it doesn't have to be something you created on your own!! (love ya) Have a great night and NOW I'm going to bed! love to all! jerrinette@gmail.com

a mouthful of socks...

2008-08-13T21:50:00.002-05:00

Well first things first. I need to "holla" out to my people and thank Ali for signing the guest book!! She mentioned that she thought of me because she wore her retainers to work. You see, I too, have retainers, and one night, we both wore them to church. Well as cute as she looks in hers, I just look old and dumb, but the fact remains, we both spit when we spoke to each other. The bad part about it is that yes, I sound like the girl on Drake and Josh, or whatever the show is, and I teach "speech". Now, just WHO would want ME teaching their baby how to make an "S"? The chickens don't seem to mind... BUT...

Today we had a teacher's meeting that was sort of long, so instead of going home between school and church, I just went to my mom's because she cooked supper for us. This was "Grandpa's recipe", but she's never really perfected it before. Tonight it was the BOMB!! Way to go Hazel!! Every time I ATTEMPT to make sauce, Gra will be the first to ask, "Is this supposed to taste like G-Pa's? Did you put peanut butter in it, Grandpa did. Did you do this? Grandpa did" (you get the picture). I just want to say, "Let's go to Olive Garden" when she is so painfully honest! My mom really is a good cook, but I will tell you something she used to do, that has left me forever scarred... When I was in elementary school, I went to UHA, so I had to take my lunch, as they didn't provide lunches at school. I guess one of my favorites, as I can remember having it fairly often, was potted meat and GRAHAM CRACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT? Graham crackers? Potted meat? Are you kidding? And guess what else... to this day, I cannot even TASTE the mess unless it is on a GRAHAM cracker. That is future counselling bills!!! It is a wonder I didn't get my tail kicked on the playground for that mess right there!!

Well I think I am going to try and get in the bed early. I am a bit whipped. After church tonight, I went to Wal-Mart because the DOGS didn't have any food. Forget that I haven't been BIG shopping since we got back from vacation, but the DOGS needed something. What is wrong with this picture? Also, Shane went to my mom's after church to get spaghetti, since he and Garrett came straight there from football, so I only actually talked to him for less than 10 minutes today. (that has nothing to do with me being tired, I just thought I'd share that for some reason)

I hope you all have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all!! Jerri

White Jerri, White Jerri, What do you see?

2008-08-12T16:30:00.004-05:00

I want to send a great big shout out to my buddy, Janie!! She keeps me in line everyday!! I'm glad that you came and peaked at the blog, even though I know you're not from Owensboro!!

Calling all chicken recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, let the contest begin... I need some new recipes!! Of course, I have full time access to chicken, so ideally, the recipe would have chicken in it. I have to have never had it either! If you send me the recipe that I decide is the fam's favorite, I will send you a surprise!! :) And don't worry, it won't be alive!! HAHA I'm also always on the lookout for good crock pot recipes, so I would love for you to send those my way too!! I find that when I put something on for supper, before I go to school, and I get home and all I have to do is fix the veggie, or bread or something, I am in the BEST mood!! Typically 8 days out of 7, I DON'T do that, but those occasional times I DO, always makes for a happy Jerri!! Email any recipes to jerrinette@gmail.com

The last several days have been busy ones for me, to say the least!! School started as you all know, so that in itself makes me tired, trying to get back into the swing of getting up at the crack of dawn!! Then, this weekend, I had a youth worker's retreat at church. We went to the lake and it was a great, great trip. It made it very evident how small we are and how BIG God is!! Of course, we didn't go to bed early there EITHER, so that added a little "tired" to me. THEN, after church on Sunday, there was a going away party for the youth intern, so we went to it. After getting home, and getting Gra into the bed, then I headed up to the chicken houses. There were just some things that we HAD to get done. I went to one house, and the boys went to another. THIS is how I got the title of today's blog!! Have you ever read the book "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?" Well, that's EXACTLY how I felt Sunday night!!!! White Jerri, white Jerri, what do YOU see? I saw ONE raccoon, ONE opossum, THREE dogs, FOUR mice, and 27 THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED chickens looking at ME!!!! Of course, it is dark dark, and I LOVE the dark (not at all), and when I am pulling up to the houses in my van, there is a raccoon running down the road between the houses, heading for the woods. While IN the houses, I not only saw the chicks, but I also saw the mice. I am guessing that 3 of them must have been blind, and the 4th's name was Annie Sullivan, but regardless, I do NOT like mice. THEN, on my way between the houses to start on my next one, there was an OPOSSUM!!!!!! That is like a giant rat with bigger teeth!! Did I mention I hate mice? Well, 'possums are no better, and perhaps worse! I have a possum story about when Garrett was younger that I will share when I am not on my way to his open house at school!! (I found out about it on our way to school this morning-gotta love that preteen communication!!) You just honestly never know what you will see when you walk outside at my house!!

I am sorry that it has taken me a few days to write!! I have been trying to get on for 2 days, and something is going on with the laptop and connection. I am at my mom's writing right now. The last time I checked, there were over 7000 emails in my account, that I haven't been able to read because my desktop is in the shop. I can't get the guy to return my calls, but I am going to continue bugging him until I get him!!!

Send those recipes my way!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

Moms are great...

2008-08-07T22:19:00.004-05:00

Guess what GREAT thing happened to me today? My mom fixed my family supper. I am talking, she sent me home with a basket full of goodies, and all of the extras!! It took a person as strong as a chicken farmer to carry it all, and it was DELISH, so Mom, if you're reading, it was the bomb! Thanks so much, it was a lovely surprise!! Also, I want to send a great big shout out to Mindy for signing in to the guest book. Thanks girlie! I also can't forget to mention "Amy and the Colleys" (ya'll sound like a singing group from the 60's! hee hee) Let's pick a day to go to the movies!! Thanks for signing!! If you are reading this, and your name isn't in it, PLEASE sign it for me! I just want to know who might be reading my silly random thoughts of the day!!
I figured I better jot a note tonight, because tomorrow night, I have a youth worker's lock-in, somewhere... I don't have anything in particular that I need to share, just some random bits from my day. One thing I did today, was order an "Uppercase Living" "saying" to go above my bed. I had it narrowed down to 2, and the one that I did NOT pick, said, "Always kiss me goodnight". The one that I picked said, "Together is a wonderful place to be". You are going to know now that I am a dork, because when I typed it the first time, I typed "Together Everyone Accomplishes More" and then reread it, and realized that I am, indeed, a moron. I actually had to go back and look to remember the saying, because I had the 'team' saying in my head!! If you've ever seen it, it is words, or a design, that looks like it is painted, but it is vinyl like, I believe to put on the walls, or whatever you choose.
Now, I am about to share some information with you, that you have been wondering about, ever since you came upon my blog. You ready? Here it is... The #1 song, on the day I was born, was "Brown Sugar", by The Rolling Stones. Now come on, how many times has that come up in your conversations? I'm sure daily. In case it has, you can go to this website:
http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/SelectMonth.htm and you will be able to type in your month, day and year, and find out this very important bit of info. It's great info to have at parties, I'm pretty sure...
Well, I am going to go read a tiny bit and hit the hay! I have some work to do on the blog, but don't feel like it tonight. Be thinking about good chicken recipes, because I am thinking about a contest!! More info to follow!! Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! love to all! Jerri

Just some random notes...

2008-08-06T21:24:00.006-05:00

OK, TWO posts in ONE day!! That should do for at LEAST a couple of days, right? Just a couple of random things racing through my mind that I wanted to share, before I lost them forever...

This is a bag I embroidered for a friend. This is for one of his clients, or friends, perhaps. I wanted to pass his name along, in the event you ever needed a consultant to decorate or REdecorate your house. He owns Bob Lancaster Designs, and he has GREAT taste!! I've seen pictures of rooms he has done, and they looked like they were straight from a magazine. We will see him someday in a big deal magazine, after his work is showcased that he did for the "Vanderbilts" or someone like that. Just remember you heard it here first, and if you ever need his services, I can hook you up!!

NEXT, I forgot to tell you something VERY important about our day!! Shane didn't have to go to work this morning, so for our first day of school, he fixed us breakfast!! Guess what it included? ORANGE JULIUS's!! When is the last time you had one of THOSE? I am not sure if he used to work at the kiosk in the mall or what, but these were the BOMB!!! It was such a nice little treat, because I will assure you, that when the kids and I are making a mad dash around the house in the mornings to get to town on time, it consists of pop tarts and cereal bars. Gotta love the sound of the blender in the morning!! What a guy!!

Finally, my Aunt Beetle INSISTS that I go to the movies to see "Mama Mia". Anyone interested that is within a day's driving distance of me? She says it is DEFINITELY a chick flick, and nothing I would EVER want to see with Shane. Let me know!!

Have a great night... and thanks for reading my random thoughts!! love to all!! Jerri

The first day of school!!

2008-08-06T16:39:00.008-05:00

Where did the summer go? I can tell you a dozen things that were going on, and another dozen things we did, but now that it essentially over, it seems it didn't take any time for it to come and be gone! Today was the first day of school for the kids, and yesterday was my first day. My 7th grade baby. When they get this old, they refuse to listen to anything you say about clothes! Both of my kids assure me that I am SOOOO "old school" and I just have to agree. Although, I don't think that either of them look bad, just old!! I look at the pictures of my nieses and remember: Wasn't it just yesterday that I could dress them alike? Wasn't it just last week that they were that size ? Now, they wouldn't be caught DEAD in the same COLOR, much less the same "theme".
Then, you have my FIFTH grader!!! How did she get old enough to be in 5th grade? What am I going to do when she is not with me at my school anymore?

Yesterday, I just had the funk all day. I was just sad how this was her last year with me, and how they were both growing up, and how the thought of her being in middle school worried me so much that I couldn't even go there in my mind without the tears flowing, and blah blah blah. Beverly, a friend of mine, said that I am going to have to get over that, because I am going to be so sad about it, that I am not going to enjoy the year I HAVE, and she was right. THEN, last night when I was doing my devotion, I came across this:

In the world, you have trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus will take care of her, much better than I can. When I worry, then I think that something in His plan is imperfect, and I am doubting Him. Don't get me wrong, I honestly worry about Garrett too, but it is a different worry. He weighs in at 130 lbs, whereas she is topping the scales at 45 lbs. (I thought she got her size from me, but it turns out, she only got the size of her EARS from me! Remember, I am an anorexic in remission (just kidding!)) I worry about his choices, I worry about her safety... BUT... I am going to TRY my very hardest to put that aside, so I can ENJOY that I get another year with her at my school. I may have to be reminded I have said this, so feel free to do so!!

I wasn't sure that we would get to school at all, because I thought we were going to be TRAPPED in Wal-Mart trying to pick the "perfect" folder for specials. HELLO? Put some paper in a Wal-Mart sack and call it a binder. Of course, she had to ADD to the list because she saw all of the "Back to school" goodies out everywhere, and just COULDN'T do without that PRECIOUS bottle of liquid paper... WHAT? We are going to TRY and pick out our outfits a week at a time this year, and see how that goes. I'll keep you posted!!

I need to go and check on supper. We are having chicken... IMAGINE THAT... Actually, I think it was Henny Penny that we are having tonight... JUST KIDDING!! We don't name them, and we don't slaughter our own, so it is not a big deal to us at all!! We LOVE eating chicken!! Also, please feel free to share any recipes that you might have!! Have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Love to all! Jerri

Hail, Hail, the flock's all here!

2008-08-04T22:43:00.005-05:00

I'd like to "holler back" at my friend, Paige, for signing

in to the guest book. She takes care of getting my first born to that scary place called "middle school" each morning... Thanks Paiger!!

It is official, the rest of our babies arrived today. In the first picture, you will see all of the crates beside then man in the house. They are filled with babies. Depending on the day of delivery, sometime they will arrive by bus, and sometime by 18 wheeler. Today they came via the 18 wheeler. Of course, when they call and say that they are coming on the "chick bus" you get the picture of all of these babies, with little lunch boxes, sitting on the seats, and singing. (I know, I'm a dork...)

If some of the chicks look like they are in mid air, it is because they are!! They are emptying all of the crates so they'll be in their new home!! Today is the day that when you go in to the house, they still like humans and flock to you. If you sit on the floor, and tap it, they'll surround you and climb on you. By tomorrow, they scurry like mice when you walk in. Funny what 24 hours will do!! As you can see, it takes a little while to get all of the 27,300 babies "emptied" into each of the houses. In no time at all, they'll lose their fur, and begin to look like a chicken!! I told you that they will run from you from this point on, but I will add, that if you have to run in to check on something, and you are just going to do it really quickly in your flip flops or something, it is important that your toenails aren't painted!! I went in one night for something, I had red polish on my piggies... and oh dear... I think they thought there were 10 fat lady bugs that had found their way into their home!! I don't make that mistake any more!! :o)

I think it is official. I think I may be considered, "A blogger". Now, don't get this confused with logger, a person who cuts timber, and CERTAINLY don't mistake me for a "jogger", a person who exercises!! School officially starts for me tomorrow!! I know that I will have to cut down my blogging, at least until I have my desk top back, as it is SOOOO much quicker. As of Aug 3rd, it was THREE months since my computer went in the shop!!! WHAT?!?! Does he not know how much I miss it, and it misses me?!?! SOOOOO, my question is this... If you happen to read this, for whatever reason, do you think you had prefer me to write every other day, or the 3 days of the weekend? If you have an opinion about this, please share it!!!

One last thing... My S-I-L and B-I-L insist that they can BOTH do the cherry stem trick, and Cary says that he can tie it TWO times!! I am sure that Shane will take this as a challenge, and attempt to master that skill as well. I can hardly lick ice cream off of a spoon, so I am a little tongue challenged, if you will. Is this a pretty common skill, and *I* am the only individual that needs an IEP to get me extra help to learn how to do it? Leaving you with one last picture!! Have a great night, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife! love to all! Jerri

The difference...

2008-08-02T22:56:00.007-05:00

Today has been a crazy, beautiful, busy, fun day. We went to a restaurant with my favorite Aunt and Uncle Bob. They came in for my uncle's wedding, that was cancelled, but that's really o.k., because he's already married to the woman he was marrying, so we decided to make the best of it and go out to eat!! (I know, if you understand it, call me and explain it to me!!) If you have read any previous posts, you'll see that we were just up there after Wisconsin. With them, they brought Jennie, who my aunt works with each week. Jennie and I get along great and we have all gone to Florida together. It was there that a nurse shark was swimming along the shoreline while we were in the water, 3 feet from where the sand met the ocean. A man there told me not to worry (as I was dragging my kids out of the water by their hair) that they wouldn't hurt me. I told him, that I could assure him that it would make me hurt MYSELF, and to move please. My mom went too, so it was one big happy family event!! (I am sure by the time we left, our server was ready for us to go!) I am adding a slide show of our night, and had to sneak a picture of Lilli in there. I am sure this is what she does while she is waiting for us to come home! We really all had a great time and I wish they lived closer!! Shane entertained us with his ability to tie a cherry stem into a knot without touching it, just by using his tongue. My Aunt Beetle feels certain that she can get him on Leno with that talent. They say that skill indicates a good kisser...I will have to agree... On ANOTHER note, if you will look at the picture of my mom, aunt, and me, it looks like we are on a ride and I am holding them in their seats to keep them from falling out!! HA We were actually in 3 different seats in case you were wondering!!

Now, to tell you about the title of my post... For the last several days, I have been in a slump. When I say slump, I am talking down in the dumps... a rut. It wasn't until today, that I remembered something that I heard 18 years ago in college. I wanted to tell it to all of you, in case you go through a patch and feel this way too! "The only difference between a rut and a grave, is the dimensions" I started out in a rut, but I was trying my hardest to make it deeper and wider, instead of trying to just get out of it. I was either going to have to get out of it, or forever live in it, so I chose the prior. Now, I am not saying that tomorrow I won't be right back in it, but I will tell you that if I am, I will bring my climbing shoes to get out of it. I have more things than I can ever name to be thankful for. I thought my feet hurt, until I see Jennie's. Mine are strong enough to carry me, and 2 full buckets of feed. She can hardly carry her purse. I need to shut my mouth about my feet... You see my point. So when you see yourself in a rut, get out of it before it becomes your grave!! I did!! :o) I thought I'd close with a couple of pictures to show you what else I did with my day!! Hope you have a great night and thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! JA

2008-07-31T22:18:00.008-05:00

What have I been doing?

Well, I have enclosed a little photo to give you a clue. This is the sign at the entrance of the chicken houses, to let you know the farm name. In case you didn't know why I chose the blog name that I did, now you do!! Last year I planted marigolds around it and made it a little "fu fu ee er" (sound it out, it's pretty phonetic). This year, I decided since only the neighbors (the 4 houses past us on our road) and the deer saw it, that nobody would miss their absence. Well, I do, so NEXT year, I am thinking about planting a perennial!! I saw my last posting date and that was Tuesday. It is only Thursday but I have had THREE different people ask me why I hadn't posted... We have been SOOOO busy, and I've been in a little bit of a slump, but I am working on it! The Wisconsin trip was GREAT, as I have said time and time again, but we are SOOOO paying for it now!! We saw Shane yesterday morning when we were up at the houses doing our work, and he didn't walk back into our house until after 10 pm. He never got off of the bobcat, because he was shoveling "litter" (that's a pleasant word for chicken poop) onto this conveyor belt that's really tall, that took it up and dumped it into our farmer buyer's 18 wheeler. We had to clean out this time, and we already had 2 cleaned out last time. To give you an idea of "how much" dukey we were surrounded by, it took NINE tractor trailers, to collect all of the "litter" we were removing from ONE house. While Shane was in one house shoveling, I was in another spreading salt. OK, stop reading here if you are very fashioned minded or weak of heart, as you won't be able to stand what you are about to see! heehee! That is me, in the fashioned minded old state trooper t-shirt, dusk mask on, hair back in a pony tail, as I had just pulled off my do rag. Graceson took that picture, she is a little photographer!! You won't want to miss those LOVELY black boots that are peaking up from the bottom of the photo. As you can see, chicken farming is not for the weak, nor for the glamorous... Take a look at those red things that you see hanging from the ceiling. Those are feed pans, and the birds have to fly up when they are hungry. I'M KIDDING!! All of the lines are raised so that we can clean. When we set up, they'll all be on the floor, and you'll see those in a minute. Garrett and I put 49, FIFTY pound bags of salt into that hopper that is behind me.

To the right, you'll see the GREAT view that I had!! These are my chickadees!! They are sitting in the bucket in front of the tractor, as we are going from this house, to the next one to lower lines and to fill feed pans. Notice the "do rag" that Garrett is wearing. As I've told you before, that is a mandatory "fashion accessory" that we don on the farm. Bandannas are QUITE the handy item, and I'll tell you why in a minute...

To the right here, you'll see the lines down on the floor, and those feed pans filled with their food. Garrett and I put about 800-1000 lbs of grain in those pans. After the first 7 days, it is automatic, but the first 7... ooo wee!! I took a picture toward that end, because you can see the bay door open. There is an identical side behind that goes to another bay door. They are equal to 2 football fields end to end, under roof. Needless to say, by the end of the day yesterday, I was walking like a lowercase 'r'!! But... we're ready for babies to come tomorrow!! We'll get 27,000 tomorrow, and then we'll get the other 82,000 on Monday. This is just a small taste, of what I've been doing since we returned home. I don't know if it makes you never want to leave, or never come back!! Of course, each afternoon, I've been going to town to take Garrett to football practice. From that, I think I have learned that I don't like taking him. It seems to me, that the coaches are simply making them run until they throw up, although everyone tells me there is a method to the madness. I just hate to see them sick, they're 12! I want to run and pet them, get them some gatorade and fix them a pallet, but alas... Shane's uncle told me one time at Christmas when Garrett was very small, that I was the equipment manager. That meant my job was to keep the uniform clean, and my mouth shut... I can wash with the best of them, but as for the latter... you decide about that!! I was very pleased today though, that the "black flag" was flying, meaning the heat index was too hot for them to practice. It was 105.

OK, do rags... a MUST for the chicken farmer, but POSSIBLY something that you may need, and have never thought of it!! 20 uses for the bandanna... DO RAG-wear around your neck(you know, like a cowboy-I'm not sure why they do that)-head band-sweat band(you know, around your forehead like in Flashdance)-face mask(in case you want to rob a bank) tied around your head to clean house (you know, like an Aunt Jemima bonnet)-wrist band(perhaps in your colors if you are in a gang)-around your ankle(s) (OH COME ON, you lived through the 80's too!)-a sling (you may need to stabilize your arm in a pinch)-if you are skin and bones, perhaps a halter top, like in "survivor" after they've been on the island for 30 days, and their stomachs are eating themselves-tourniquet (you never know when you need to stop bleeding of a limb)-bandage-snot rag(hankie is probably a better word here)-sweat rag (lots of things get in your eyes, including sweat)-ice pack-hobie sack (yes, we have packed things in them, just not attached to a stick)-belt (this requires a thinner friend)-a fashion accessory for you canine friend-blind fold- and a dust mask(you'd wear it like you were robbing a bank if you didn't have your REAL one)! So, you may want to go out today and buy some bandannas. We already have them in all colors and patterns!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife! love to all! Jerri

I hear Gra coughing...

2008-07-29T00:28:00.002-05:00

Before I write anything that is not important, I just want to give a great big yell out to my favorite aunt in the whole wide world, that signed in the guest book!! I LOVE it when I little red pin is added to the map, and I would love it if you went and signed in RIGHT NOW, if you haven't already. A dear friend of mine, who I also entrust my first born with everyday to go to school with, just learned about the blog tonight. Paige, if you are reading right now, don't go any further until you sign it, k? Also, I know that I am a dork, but for those of you who know me, you are not surprised by that revelation. For those of you that are reading and DON'T know me, I am guessing that you know that too, but for whatever reason, I decided to add a little video clip below that applies to our lives!! If you feel so led to, please feel free to watch the video below!!

OK, today was my first inservice day, and I came home sort of tired, sort of ill, from just knowing that it was right around the corner that I'd be having to get up at 5 a.m. everyday. I also have been fighting a headache all day. Well, tonight at 9, I decided that I couldn't fight it anymore, so I took some Excedrin. NOT SMART, I know, but my head refused to let up! SOOO, I get in the bed, my heart racing, my head starting to ease up, my feet at complete ATTENTION (pointed more towards my nose than the sky with the braces I am having to wear on them) and Graceson starts coughing. I can hear her over the humidifier and I am downstairs, so I just decide to get up, and fire up the laptop. You don't realize how slow it is, so I figure by the time I am done and this is posted, her coughing spell will have subsided!! Today was the magic day that her pediatrician said if she wasn't better, then he wanted me to bring her in for an x-ray to make certain that she does not have pneumonia. She says she is "feeling" better, so I decide not to take her. I hope I made the right mama decision. I have 4 days before it is the weekend again, so I am praying diligently that this cough leaves her ASAP!! I am not sure who told me that water temperature+air temp has nothing to do with your health and wellness, but I am going to have to disagree. I am no Dr. Seuss or Dr. Ruth, but I do know that my whole family is sick (except for me), coughing up what could be a lung if they aren't careful, and the water temperature in the Dells was no higher than 67. Now THAT, my friends, is COLD!! If you'll think about your body temp being over 98, I just felt like we were ALL a special kind of stupid for being IN the water all day in Wisconsin, but it was so fun, that I know we all think it was worth it!! Next year, I will hopefully find a destination that is a little more south of CANADA!!

So that you don't say that you read this for an hour and learned nothing from it, I thought I'd tell y'all that you know someone famous. In case you don't know who I am talking about, I will let you know. It's me!!!!! OK, really, I am only famous in my own mind, but isn't that enough? I mean, in my own mind, I think I'm an anorexic in remission, even though I'd forget my own name before I'd ever forget to eat! (and I am being serious here, although I am in no way trying to offend anyone that may have dealt with this condition-I am just the extreme other end of that spectrum) But I digress... SOOOOO, last year the queen came to KY to watch the derby. While here, the governor's chefs decided to fix her local fare that had all been grown within the state. Do you know where this is going? YEP!! You guessed it!! They fixed her Perdue chicken!! Well, how in the WORLD could we think it came from OUR farm? I will tell you! Each flock is on a "kill" schedule, so that all of them are not in processing at the same time. So farms a and b may go in on Mon/Tues, and c and d go in on Wed/Thurs, etc... They served her Perdue chicken that had gone to processing the previous weekend, and they chose meat that was APF (which means animal protein free). GUESS WHO had APF birds, go in for that weekend kill?!?!?! YEP!! If you want my autograph or Shane's, it will cost ya, because you may someday want to sell it on Ebay, but it can be arranged!! :o)

I think my sweet baby girl has stopped coughing, so hopefully I can fall asleep now. Today at the inservice we had to write a poem and she scripted how she wanted it written, so I will share my goofy one tomorrow. (It was about chickens. See how it consumes my thoughts?) This weekend we are getting new babies, so I am going to try and take a picture every few days, to show you how things progress here on the chicken farm. I gained SUCH a new respect for what Shane does for our family the week he and Garrett were gone to camp. I'll do it again next year for him so that he'll get to go, because I know he wouldn't hesitate to do it for me, but I think it may be like childbirth, it takes you a little time to forget!! :) Love to all and thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! JA

Everything bigger in TX? I disagree!

2008-07-27T22:10:00.003-05:00

I'd like to give props to Cary, Shanan and the girls for signing in to the guest book!! Thanks so much!! I think they are on here as much as me, and I am on theirs equally!! Shanan singlehandedly "encouraged" this blog way of communication, so we can either thank her or not, but I do love seeing the girls and glimpses into all of their lives so far away from me. Obviously a lot of our friends here don't know much about "blogging" so we are all learning together. While in WI, I told a friend of ours to get on here to see our pictures from the waterpark. Well, he did, and then saw my links on the left of the page. Not being "blog savvy", he clicked the "CF husband" link that I have. (this is a blog that I have been following for MONTHS of a man who is married to a woman with cystic fibrosis, and her wait for a lung transplant, only to find out she is going to have a baby, and all of the miracles they have encountered. -how I found this, I am not sure) He clicked on this link, thinking that "cf husband" meant "chicken farmer". This not only didn't work out for him, he couldn't find the link between these people, and me. Well, there's not one, other than I read about them. He then wanted to see the "second page" of my blog, and clicked on "the Fowler Family", only to take him to Texas, and see lots of pictures of my nieces, and Cary and Shanan. He called me to see why I had so many pictures of this other family on mine, and asked me how I was related to the Sweeney's, who he knew from here. Bless his heart, hopefully I have now "schooled" him in blogging, and anxiously await for him, as well as everyone who reads this, to start one so that I can check it daily!! :o)

OK, my family in TX may disagree here, but I am going to have to go out on a limb here, and say that I think that things here in the country grow every bit as big as things in Texas. Now whatever would make me think this? Well, today I decided to go out to the pool, and try to pull a few weeds and clean out the skimmer. There were a few weeds taller than Graceson, and it has only been since last Saturday that I pulled them. NEXT, upon examination of the contents of the skimmer, there were 3, yes THREE grasshoppers in the basket, that were 4 inches long. Have you EVER seen a grasshopper that was 4"? That is only 2 inches shy of a typical Subway sandwich (unless of course, you are Shane and choose the foot long), but you get the idea!! I could never have used them for fishing, as they would have been ENTIRELY to big for most of our fish's mouths!! I really don't know why I felt the need to share that with you all, but thought I would!! I actually cringe each time I take the lid off of the skimmer, because you NEVER know what is going to be in there. MOST days, it is water bugs and lots of spiders, but we have had our share of snakes, frogs, moles, mice, lizards, etc. OHHHHHHHHHH!! Also, I have proof of my previous theory, as I learned something from my boys just this week. It seems that either Garrett or Shane one, got a BAT out of the skimmer a few weeks ago, and I am just learning of it. Does anyone see a pattern here? There sonar is DEFINITELY not error proof, so I will continue to "duck" them when we are in towards night fall and they are swooping down for their evening drink. Just what I need, is to be hit in the face by one of those beasts!!

I am going to share our Garmin story and then head to bed. Tomorrow is an inservice day, and I am just not looking forward to it at all. It tells me that summer is ending and I HATE that!! Oh well, I need to be thankful that I am working, instead of ill about my summer time ending!! So, back to Garmin. My mom has the GPS system, and we borrowed it for our trip. We thought it'd be a good idea, since we've never been to Wisconsin Dells, and figured it could always get us to our destination. If you make a wrong turn, it recalculates your route, and "fixes" the directions to get you to where you are going, no matter how many wrong turns you make. If you just can't get yourself out of the pickle you're in, it will tell you to make a u-turn as soon as safely possible. We have learned that Garmin doesn't necessarily know about road construction. That makes sense NOW, but it didn't when we were relying on her to get us to Illinois. Something else it does, is it will tell you what time you should arrive based on how fast you are going. So, when you make a wrong turn, and she refigures your route, it will often add minutes.

If you will remember a post from a few days ago, I am the rule follower and Shane is the "figure it out on the way" type of guy. Well, on our way home, for whatever reason, he would listen to NOTHING but Garmin. See, I have been to my Aunt Beetle's MANY times, and I always go ONE way, and it includes 3 interstates. We were within ONE mile of the first interstate and Garmin told us to turn left. I told Shane to go on ahead, and he insisted otherwise. Oh, we ended up on the interstate, and it may have saved us about 2/10's of a mile, but it added about 10 minutes to the trip, or so it seemed. We get a little farther and it tells us to exit. This was HOURS before I normally get onto the next interstate, and I didn't feel good about it, but Shane, by jiggy, was doing what this mechanical woman's voice, was telling him to do. We DID get home, but I was so car sick at one point in the journey, I could hardly stand it. We were on every pig path, and chip and seal road between Effingham, IL, and Evansville. The FBI calls it a clue when there are not even lines on the roads, that you are in the country, but Shane refused to do anything different than what Garmin said. I have learned a lesson from this experience however. I will put her (she sort of sounds like the robot maid on the Jetsons) on mute next time. I will turn the screen so that only I can see her, and then *I* will tell him what "she" is telling us to do. I think that may save BOTH of us some stress!!

Well, I better get in the bed to rest for tomorrow!! Have a great night!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! JA

Vacation Tips...

2008-07-27T00:52:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture to make you smile!!
This is Lilli this afternoon in her bed! She has certainly made things easier for the kids! You can see her surrounded by all of her toys, but she is as bad as either of my kids were. If you put everything in her bed, she will start, almost immediately, by taking things out, one at a time, until she has them all out. We have done this 4 or 5 times a day every day this summer!
If you've read Cary, my brother-in-law's, comments about my Moe post, he keeps mentioning "Lester". When Shane and I got married, my wedding present from him was a yorkie puppy that was a little bigger than Lilli. For whatever reason, we agreed that he "looked" like a Lester, and it was settled. The following year, when Shane bought himself a puppy, it only seemed reasonable to settle upon another unique name. His AKC name was "KY Moeducks" Fowler, but we called him "Moe" for short. We did that so that when they were out at the same time, we could holler "MoLester"... Get it? I know, we were young and dumb, but thought we were clever!

I know that I am no travel planner, but I have come up with a dozen or so helpful hints for your next vacation. You may want to book mark this, because when it is time for you to travel, whether it is a week, month, or year, you will think back, and want to know what all I told you not to forget!!
1- ALWAYS bring baby wipes. There are many uses. Don't ask questions... just BRING a LOT
2-Just because your GPS tells you to turn here, it may not ALWAYS be the best choice! (that is a story for when I have more time)
3-If you are smart enough to take something electrical, take all of the necessary accessories (i.e., if you bring the laptop, don't forget the cord!!)
4-Take every medicine that anyone in your household has taken in the last year. This ranges from Imodium to aspirin to Alka Seltzer Cold Plus!! (ask me how I know)
5-No matter what juice you pack to drink on the trip, they will always pick Coke
6- Speedos should be OUTLAWED. They are vulgar, regardless of the wearer.
7-There should be a weight limit for string bikinis (remember, we went to a waterpark). You know, you can't drink unless you are 21? You can't wear strings if you weigh over 130 lbs. NO EXCEPTIONS
8-Hotel beds MUST be jumped ON and BETWEEN. Come on, you don't let them do it at home. It's the least you can do!
9-Don't tell kids how much something costs unless you don't mind that everyone they know, knows.
10-NEVER travel without a portable dvd player and movies, if the child is less than 39.
11-Wash as many clothes as you can while you are away, you will be SO happy when you get home!
12-Last but not least, no matter HOW much fun you had, there's no bed like home!!
Have a great night!! Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife! Jerri

Farewell to our faithful companion

2008-07-26T11:27:00.002-05:00

We got home last night and found our dog Moe, on his last leg. He died a couple of hours after we arrived. It is very sad to all of us, because we have had him longer than either of the kids. Garrett and Gra, neither one, know life without him.

Shane got him from a breeder in McMinnville, in 1994. He started out as a great hunting dog and ended up as a great pet. He was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and Shane really did do a good job training him to "retrieve" the kill. He had to sit on his left side, because the bullets, or shells, or casings, or WHATEVER they are, would fly out of the right side of the gun. He would jump into the pond for hours at a time, getting the "bumper" or anything else that someone had thrown in for him.

He stayed at home with "the fam" each time Shane left for the police academy, dog schools, state trooper academy, etc., and never wandered. When younger, he would follow the kids anywhere on the farm they would go, and I honestly felt like they were safer when he was with them. He looked like a lioness, with his coloring and broad head.

His favorite thing on the farm, was when we'd go fishing. Just a couple of weeks ago, Garrett and I went to the front pond. If he saw a poll in your hand, he would struggle to get up and going, and follow you there. He would pace between the 2 of us, waiting for us to catch a fish. He would almost tremble when he saw us reeling in something. Shane has a STRICT rule, that you can do whatever you want with most fish you catch, but if it is a bass, you have to throw it back! (whatever) Well, Shane wasn't up there with us... and Moe DID walk all the way THERE, and we can't HELP what we catch, so he did enjoy some bounty there anyway!!

All of the pictures I have of him are from time prior to digital, so I really don't know how to post one, but will see what I can figure out some time later!! If you don't have a dog, I HIGHLY recommend that you get one. They are lots of trouble, expensive, and sometimes destructive, but the memories you have of and with them will far outweigh the above. He will be missed by all of us, but especially Shane. Goodbye old friend!!

I'll write more later when I am less sad!! Thanks for reading!! Jerri

more cheese please!

2008-07-24T17:26:00.002-05:00

I thought I would add a few more pictures to show everyone!! In my blog a couple of days ago, I mentioned all of the wind farms that we saw. I tried to take a picture of them (at 70+MPH) so you could get an idea of what I was talking about. They are HUGE, and they truly were as far as the eye could see!! I am fairly certain, once built, that wind WOULD be easier to farm than chickens!! The top 2 pictures are taken at a cheese shop where we stopped. Since Wisconsin IS famous for cheese, we weren't ABOUT to leave without having some. You wouldn't BELIEVE the selections that they had. There was one counter, that had rows of 1 yr. old cheddar, 2 year old, all the way to TWELVE years old!! I was sort of scared to try that, as I am SURE that it cannot be better than NEW cheddar, but what do *I* know? There is also a picture of the fam in front of the alligator at Noah's Ark waterpark. That is the one that we went to with the 49 slides, but we didn't get that photo that day, because we were too wiped out by the end of the day. This place is a LOT like Gatlinburg, without as many people and without the Dixie Stampede. I think it has almost everything else that Gatlinburg has though!!

Before I go any farther, I'd like to shout out to Tony for signing in the guest book!! I can't believe he thought that my stories would be short, as he knows, as well as everyone else who knows me, that I can make any short story LONG!!! Also, Theresa called me while we while we were here to find out some very important info, so if you see her, check out her eyebrows, and see if they look GREAT!!! :) (it was great talkin' to ya!!)

In my last blog, I mentioned my friends whose kids were in Vanderbilt. I talked to both April and Scott yesterday, and BOTH of them were able to go home yesterday!! THAT is such a blessing!! From Saturday, starting out as they may need to think about dialysis or kidney transplants to getting to go home mid week, is miraculous!! Glad you're in your own beds!!

Finally, the last picture is of my favorite aunt in the whole world. She is a fabulous chef, and that is what she is working on in the photo. It looks as if Uncle Bob is helping her in the photo, but he just was perpetrating. She has many talents, but I would say that cooking is her best! (she'll probably not like the posted photo, but she really doesn't keep up with my blog, so she may or may not ever SEE it!!)

Well, I must go! We've had another GREAT day, but I am afraid that I can smell reality sneaking up on us!! We still have a LOT ahead of us when we return home to get ready for our next flock! Grammy is keeping Lilli for us, and Gra makes sure that she is loving her everyday. Who knows!! Maybe she'll want to invite her over for the weekends now!!!!!!!HAHAHAHA
Thanks for sharing a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! Love to all!! Jerri

Another great day!!

2008-07-22T23:44:00.002-05:00

Well, it's 11:45, and I finally got today's pictures uploaded!! My feet are on ice, and my eyes are closing, but I wanted everyone to see today's fun!! Before I continue, I just wanted to let everyone reading know that I spoke with Tony earlier, and he said the the Harper children will hopefully get home this weekend. I will call Scott or April tomorrow and post about that tomorrow night. Please continue praying though, as it must be awful, having both of your kids so sick and being away from home!!

I have learned JUST how influential marketing tricks are!! We drove past a pizza place yesterday with a moose splattered all over a car, so guess where we decided to eat today!! You guessed it!! The Moose Jaw!! It was very neat, and the kids loved it. The atmosphere was excellent, and the pizza was VERY tasty!!

We went school shopping and today I did something that we have never done before. Instead of just buying the kids clothes, I decided to give them the amount of money that I would have spent, and let THEM buy the clothes. I was SOOOOO proud of them!! There were times that they may complain that their things weren't this brand or that, so I told them that this year, we were going to try something different. They could choose WHATEVER brand they wanted, but when their money was gone, their shopping. We went to Tanger, and went in every store they wanted. They both did a SUPER job, making wise choices, and I was SOOOO proud. It made ALL the difference, giving them the choice. It took forEVER, but it was SOOOO worth it!! I recommend this to EVERYONE to try at least once. (at least after they get old enough to start griping about brands!!) I would also like to add how appreciative that have both been about this trip. Now, don't get me wrong, they have had their shares of fussing, but they have been very thankful for all that we have done, and have made points to tell us so!! They are getting so BIG!!

After a long day, we decided to go go carting!! I assure you, that was a HIT!!! Graceson, unfortunately, wasn't tall enough to drive herself, and the only kids that were on the kiddie track looked about 5!! She rode with us, and they at least had steering wheels on her side too, so she "felt" like she was driving at least!! :)

To end a perfect day (after candy shopping at a store called "Goody goody gumdrops", we went and had ice cream at "Coldstone Creamery". I had "Dough"n't you want cookies, and HIGHLY recommend it!! WE all had various treats and all thought they were the best!! We came back to the room, the kids hit the pool, and now I hear snores all around!! The last picture on the slideshow, you will see Graceson, rolled up in her towel, lying in a corner. I am not quite sure why she chose that spot, but it is certainly precious!! I tried to move the slide show closer to this post, but I have found that when I use a lap top, I am as awkward using the thumb mouse, as a man with no legs on a pogo stick!! Hopefully, when I get home, I can figure out how to use more features, when I have a normal mouse back!!

Last but not least... I want to "holla" out to Kristi and Mom!! They both signed the guest book, and they were actually people that I knew read about us from time to time!! Thanks so much girls!! By the way Kristi, I think the smartest thing you have probably ever done, is cut down the tree!! Better safe... love you both for signing in!!

Have a GREAT night!! Tomorrow we are going to my favorite aunt's house, so I will get her picture so that you can meet "Beetle" too!! We are a LOT alike, and it was been suggested that SHE is actually my birth mother, and I was switched with her child, that actually came 4 years later, but that has not been proven yet... Sara, you and Ty have a GREAT date night tomorrow night!! Shanan, pass that test so we can go "cruisin'"!!

Thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! I hope everyone can go on a fun vacation soon!! Love to all!! Jerri

The perfect day...

2008-07-21T21:16:00.003-05:00

What a GREAT day we have had today!! I only have a minute to write, because I am afraid that my battery will run out, and I forgot my cord at the house. Also, I don't think I know how to change words into fun colors, as I don't have a mouse here either... Other than THAT... I am posting on the request of my S-I-L, to see how our trip has been!!

Well, our day began last night!! Shane ended up going to bed around 3 pm, and I stayed up washing, packing, running to Wal-Mart and other errands. He got up around 9ish. He had some stuff to do for the chicken houses, and I was going to sleep in the car. We got off around 11. He assures me that I slept good, (I guess from the sounds I was making), but I insist that I didn't. I am sure that he will admit that every so often he would hit a bump, the interstate would be rough and cause tire noise, and I'd immediately ask if he was o.k., if he was sleepy, if I needed to drive, etc... If I was THAT sound, then I wouldn't have asked so quickly (I think>>>)

Around 5 am, he was beat, so he asked me to drive. I started driving and then he napped. While everyone in the car was resting, except for me of course, I noticed some unusual sites. It seems that there were several wind farms around here. I must wonder if "wind" is easier to raise than chickens!! HAHAHA Honestly, they were quite lovely, and if it is daylight when we drive back by them, I will take a picture!! A few hours later, we stopped for breakfast at IHOP, and he drove the last hour. We took a quick poll upon arrival, and decided that we would head to the water park.

It was a fairly overcast day in the beginning. I think that was a blessing, because it kept the lines down. It got sunnier as the day progressed, but the lines were really not too bad. I've posted pictures from today, and I have determined that I live with a school of fish!! Although Shane and I were BEAT from the beginning, we did our best to keep up with the kiddos. Gra made step for step, every one that Garrett made. She had no fear today. Garrett didn't either of course, but that is pretty typical for him. One of the pictures that I posted was of them on the "cliffhanger". It looked like a giant "U", and they would fall straight down one side of the slide, slide up the opposite side, and continue back and forth until they stopped in the middle. It was TERRIFYING to watch people do, but it was WORSE to see your BABIES on it!!! You'll see Garrett is at the top, because he is heavier, so she won't be slung out of it, and you can barely see her head at the bottom of the raft. Another of their favorites today, was a swing/sling that they swung out on from a high ledge. They rode it down, like a zip line, and then dropped into 11 feet of water. I think there are also a few pictures from the wave pool, and then of the place where we ate supper.

For supper, we ate at a place across the street from our hotel called "Crabby's". There is a picture you can see of Shane that I am calling "Look mom, no hands!!!" He was eating sushi at that particular moment, but it was an all you can eat buffet. Let me assure you, this man did NOT waste my money, and after the 4th trip, our waiter stopped coming around!! I also included a picture of the pirate that was near where we were seated. Everyone so often, these mechanical people would start singing or saying something. A little girl came in and sat behind us, and I heard her say, "Don't look now Carrie, but there is a PIRATE on the ceiling." Another little boy at the table beside us, was so scared of it, that he ate under his table on the floor, and used his chair as the table. I am pretty sure I wouldn't have let my kids sit on the floor, but that's just me!!!

I will have to say that when you are around people all day in bathing suits, you see MANY things!! Some of them should have really given more thought to their outfits. Some, should have given even MORE thought to their body art!! We saw a tattoo today on a woman's back that was the silhouette of a woman, all colored in, in black. She had a gun up to her head, and then on the back side of the head (I guess where she had shot, she had BIRDS flying away from it!!!) I would have tried to have gotten a picture, but she seemed like the kinda girl that may have shot me!! :)

Well, I am whooped, and I can't type another word. We are really having a GREAT time, (that is until the kids get together in the hotel room, and decide that they only like each other during the day!!) Wish you all were here, it's been a blast!! Who would have ever thought that having 49 water slides all in one park could be so much fun!!!! It's been a GREAT day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!!! love to all!! Jerri (our pictures are at the bottom, right about the guest book)

2008-07-20T18:22:00.003-05:00

GET THIS!!! My MOM said to me today, "I went to your "blog" or whatever it is, and I see that you haven't written anything in a couple of days... How 'bout THAT (and I only missed yesterday, by the way)? My MOM has been reading this!!! SOOOO, a great big shout out goes to Hazel (she even mentioned that she LIKES reading it...) Also, while getting prepared to jot down a few things for this passage, I noticed that my good friend, Leslie signed the guestbook!! You're my FIRST!!! LOVE you for that!! Don't be skeered (yes, KY for SCARED), stop reading, go below RIGHT NOW, sign the guest book and come back and finish reading!! Please?!! Good!! It was really a fun surprise to see Leslie had been here. You see, I work with her, and we are officially "team" members now. I'm sure she won't be back after school starts, because she'll hear about what I'm writing before it ever makes the screen!!!

A note for all of you that are prayer warriors out there, my friends, Scott and April have both their babies at Vanderbilt right now. Please say a prayer for AK and Grant. They both have a bacterial infection of the kidneys. According to the email, a full recovery is expected with treatment, but I know it must be tough to have both your babies (1&4) in the hospital (they are in a the next room from each other, so I am sure they are both running back and forth all the time). He explained is was like e coli, that had settled in their kidneys, so just remember them!!

WELLLLLLLLLLLL, in case you didn't know, the Fowler household has been busily preparing for our trip to Wisconsin Dells tomorrow!!! Graceson and I had to go into town to go to Wal-Mart and take Lilli to the sitters. (Grammy) (see above, same as Hazel). SO, Shane hollers out to me on the way out the door, "You need to run the van through a car wash before you come home." OK, if there is someone out there that knows the answer, please feel free to share the wisdom of men with me. Evidently, he saw on a show or something, how a clean vehicle gets better gas mileage. OK, I am pretty sure that june bug and dragon fly, whose guts were all over the windshield, was cutting down on the aerodynamic edge of the van, and now with them being removed, that will surely add an extra 10 mpg, right? I did it, he'll be SOOO pleased when he gets up, but I just thought you'd enjoy that as much as I did!! Frankly, you would have thought that Gra and I were going to the carnival as excited as she was!! Oh the little things that entertain us all!! I will say that at one point, when the big brushes were spinning one way, and the water was spinning another, I hit the brakes, thinking we were moving. Of course, upon checking we were still in "park"!!

We had LOTS of things to get done prior to leaving. Shane wanted to get 2 houses "crusted" so we would only have 2 to go when we get home. I will tell you when you have chicken houses, you really must have a mental plan for everything for it all to flow!! Yesterday I was up several hours before him, and I was in the house scooping the litter. I had my headphones on, and may have been jamming a LITTLE. The key, when crusting, is to watch where you have been, more so, than where you are going. You have to be careful and not get anything caught in the machine that the tractor is pulling. You are traveling at a breakneck speed of approximately 1 mph (maybe we should get it washed and improve it's speed HAHA), so you could actually jump down, line dance a little, and get back up on it, before it travelled 10 feet. I was SANGIN" (that's a bit more of a bellow than singing) to "Can't Fight the Moonlight". In case you don't know what that song is, it is the theme song to "Coyote Ugly". (A little side note, every time I see that movie, it makes me want to be a coyote ugly dancer if speech ever doesn't work out...) Shane comes in to check on me and startles me a little. He asked if I was enjoying the song. It took me back several months when I MAY have been doing the same thing in my kitchen. I was cooking supper, and having a LARGE time dancing to whatever was on the TV at the time. I personally feel that you should be able to feel free to dance in whatever fashion that you choose in the privacy of your own home. I WAS alone, and I WAS cooking for my family. Shane, my favorite man, says to me, "So, when did Carlton Banks teach you to dance?" Even though that was REALLY funny, I had to let him think I was offended, because *I* can dance, (remember, if speech doesn't work out... see above...) In case you don't know Carlton, he's on "Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire". He's a black guy on the show, that dances VERY "white". So, if you ever get the chance, you may want to catch that on Nick at Nite or something, we love that show!! Also, I added the song that he always danced to at the bottom of my playlist, in case your memory needs refreshing!! :)

I called and wished my friend, Conley, "Happy 2nd Anniversary of her 1st decade". Can you guess how old that is? (It's the same as Garrett by the way). She will get to see her sweet cousins today, which also happen to be my favorite nieces!!!

Well, I have lots to do before I sleep, literally, so I will sign off for today!! I don't know if I can write from WI, but will try!! Have a GREAT Lord's day!! (By the way, did everyone see that Nicole and Keith named their daugher, "Sunday"? HELLO? The Addams Family is NOT where you should get name advice !) Thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

Bittersweet day...

2008-07-18T23:37:00.003-05:00

Today has been exactly as the title suggests...bittersweet. Today at school, we learned that one of our 5th graders (going into 6th) was killed in Murphreesboro, TN, while visiting her grandmother. When something like this happens, it just makes you want to run to your babies, squeeze them until they can't breathe, and then never let them go, so that you can protect them from the world. Unfortunately, we can't. Oh, we can hug them tight, we can love them until it hurts, but we can't always protect them. As I laughed tonight with Garrett about something (Graceson is spending the night at Jenna's), I starting thinking about Lakeisha, and how her mom would never hear her laugh again. I teared up and had to leave for a second, not wanting to make Garrett sad. I laughed out loud, several times today, not even thinking, at that time, what this mom is going through right now. I just ask that if you are reading this, to stop for a moment and say a prayer for this family. Pray not only for that momma, but also for all of her siblings, her grandmother where she was staying, her friends, that will have trouble understanding as 5th graders how something like this could happen, and finally, for the man that hit her. You know that he didn't set out that day thinking that his life would be eternally changed by the time that he got home...

Aside from my crying spells here and yon through the day, it turned out to be a great day. I went back to the foot doctor, and he made molds for my shoes. I also learned today, that people seem to feel obligated to make conversation with those around them when they are sharing the same problem, or at least the same doctor. I must chalk it up to "having one of those faces" because a woman heard me talking to a girl and heard me say that I hoped I was to be seen next, as I had a meeting at 1 at school. When the office had emptied to just the 2 of us, she said, "So, since you work in the school system, can you tell me why bus drivers are allowed to take their buses home?" What? I'm just pleased to get home at the end of the day, and to have found where I parked the car. I can HONESTLY say that I have never given a SECOND's worth of time to that topic. She proceeded to tell me how many times she has seen people shopping in Wal-Mart in their bus, etc. When I suggested maybe they were getting a LOT of stuff, she was not amused. There is a particularly vivid memory I have while I was in Wal-Mart, when a random man in line started talking to me. Now, don't get me wrong, I certainly try to be kind to strangers, but this was a little MUCH if you know what I mean. He told me, "I see you got them Wal-Mart checks". (I had various colors of happy faces all over the checks at the time) This particular gentleman also reminded me of Larry, Darrell, and Darrell from The Bob Newhart Show. I just sort of smiled, and tried to step a little bit closer to the belt. He then continued and said, "Are them checks JUST for Wal-Mart, or do you use them at Kroger too?" I said, "Sir?" He said, "You know... them FALLIN' prices... they have smileys all over 'em" I told him thanks and to go ahead and get ahead of me, I had forgotten something, and RAN to the other end of the check out counters!! People just seem to seek me out, knowing that I will talk to them! (Imagine that!)

For the orthotics that were made for me today, the nurse had me stand on a VERY hot piece of plastic. (there was some sort of pad between the pad and my foot) She set it up how she liked, and then told me to stay there she'd be back in a moment. Well, when I could no longer stand it, and felt as though I was getting the mold made from lava, I hollered from my closed exam room "EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get off of this pad? My feet are BLISTERING!!!!!!!!!!" She proceeded to shout back "OH YES!! I FORGOT YOU!!!" Thanks, Nurse Ratchet... I'll build up an hour a day, wearing these, until it is all the time!!

I ended up being late for the meeting, but it was a good meeting nonetheless. I do dread starting school again, but not because of the people or the kids, just the getting back into routine, and not having the option of fixing your hair or not, putting on make-up or not, staying in pj's until 10 or not, grocery shopping at 10, or 12, or NOT!!! We will again make the adjustment, it's just making it!!

Well, I am spent. After the meeting, I came home and got on the tractor for a little bit waiting for supper that was in the oven. It was minute steak and gravy, NOT to be confused with blackberry mush!!!! Shane and Ted did a GREAT job on the sidewalks!!! Have a great day, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! love to all! Jerri

Hillary Dance...

2008-07-17T22:48:00.003-05:00

OK, I know that you have ALL done this before, but today, the kids and I had a GREAT chuckle over it!! I think it is funnier when it is "someone else" that when it is actually your OWN faux pas. Today, the kids and I are on our way to town for Gra to get a haircut and Garrett to go to football. Garrett is OFFICIALLY big enough to sit in the front seat, although if it were up to ME, since the airbag warning says "12 and under are safer in the backseat", I'd keep him there, even though he DOES weigh more than many adults... but I digress...

We are jamming on the way to town, and a song comes on the radio. One of the kids told me to turn it up, and we are all singing up a storm. The song that is on the radio is "Every Day" by Rascal Flatts. (I added a snippet of it to the playlist so you can hear what SHE was hearing) In Gra's big voice, from her little body, she is belting out "Hillary dance, Hillary dance, Hillary dance, you see, my love!!!" I ask her was she making up her own words and using this tune. She said that she was just singing along with the singer. At this time, we are ALL rolling, INCLUDING GRA. The song, in case you don't know it, is "Every day, every day. Every day, you save, my life". So, the NEXT time you are listening to the radio, and this song comes on, I challenge you NOT to think of "Hillary Dance"!!

Garrett had a MUCH better practice today. I posted a picture of him hitting a dummy. I know NOTHING about what he does during practice, but I do try to watch it all, so that when he questions if I saw "blah blah blah" the I can always assure him I have!!!

I am really starting to enjoy blogging. I REALLY like reading everyone elses!!! I was on the tractor today, shovelling poo, thinking about what my topic might be tonight (now how many of YOU can say that's what YOU were doing when you were in deep thought -no pun intended!!). I did check my email today,after shovelling, and discovered something. If my "real job" (an SLP) doesn't ever work out, I have SOOOO many options. According to my HUNDREDS of emails, someone is looking for me for a class reunion. There is a great need for academic college counsellors in Crofton. I have almost 1 million dollars saved for me in various gift cards of $100 denominations each. I am about to drop 100 lbs. by drinking a miracle concoction of acai fruit, and it is waiting for me to try for free!! I have been recommended to become a CSI/forensics specialist in my area, and they are BEGGING me to become a secret shopper. There are LOTS of hot, Christian singles looking for me, and I can start today, typing from home, and making $1500 per week. NOW... is it just me, or am I in demand? WHAT? SURELY all of you get these spams too, and I must wonder how they get to me/us? I didn't sign up at the Hot Christian Network . com, and they didn't spam me from those times I googled their site.... (that was a joke, in case you can't judge the inflection of my voice that you can't hear) I'm 100% sure that I have never seen that adjective describe that noun...

SOOOOO, as summer is QUICKLY screeching to a halt, I guess I only need to go as far as my spam folder to find out what I can do to become a millionaire and then be able to blog all day if I wanted!!! I am also equally as certain, that if I COULD make $1500 typing from home, those people wouldn't be seeking me out, I'd be the one searching for THEM!!!

Tomorrow I hope to post pictures of something VERY boring to you, but THRILLING to me!! My WONDERFUL main squeeze, the chicken farmer, has been forming up SIDEWALKS FOR US!! YIPPEE!! That makes me as happy as those $1,000,000 in gifts I have waiting on me somewhere!!! I'll try to get a picture of him too, sporting the "do rag" that is a fashion NECESSITY, here on the chicken ranch...

Have a great evening, and thanks for sharing a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

Hair today-gone tomorrow!!

2008-07-17T21:15:00.008-05:00

Garrett at practice

Graceson before her haircut

Garrett after his cut. We had to make him! I

didn't have the camera for a before shot...

Gra's after shot!!

A great day!!!

2008-07-17T00:15:00.004-05:00

I could not type one more word today until I showered. You KNOW you are stanking (that is worse that stinking with an "I") when you can smell yourself!! I had a full day today and didn't REALLY do too much at all!! A friend of mine and I were going to take pictures for her husband's business. I'll tell you all about that in a minute. I get up, get ready and am on my way out, when Shane, tells me that his friend Jonathan has given him a great big box of BLACKBERRIES (thanks Jonathan)!!! He asked if I'd mind throwing them on the stove for him, before I left. Sure, no problem, that won't take but a second. "Since your fixing that, can you tell me how to make biscuits to go with it too?" Of course, I hate to tell him no, so 30 minutes after I fixed the dough and got the berries ready, I was on my way out. The family had something they call "blackberry mush". I'd tell you that it is a local fare, but I'd be more accurate to say that it is some that Shane had as a youngster, and brought his love for it to our marriage. It is actually something like a blackberry gravy (no sausage or milk involved), just blackberries cooked down with butter and sugar, thickened, and then poured atop homemade biscuits with butter. If you could see the size of my rear end, you'd know that I am no stranger to gravy. Whether it is chocolate gravy or sausage gravy, we have it, and we LOVE it!! Anyway, on to my day... and before I say one more thing, you will be pleased to know that the pool pump is OFF, and I went BRAVELY into the garage to do it, I have decided I am made of gun powder and lead, and no little bat can scare ME!!! (Either that, or none were in the garage tonight...)

SOOOO, back to Theresa. She is a very good friend of mine, and her husband, Johnny, has an appraisal/realtor/rental business. (If you need any of those things, I can hook you up with them). Anyway, Theresa helps him out by getting pictures for him. He has stacks of houses, either bought or sold, or comps for appraisals, that he needs photos of, to match the address of, to go in his book.

I have had this discussion with a lot of my friends, but now I will have it with you. I believe that you have many friends, and they meet many needs. I feel like I have a tender heart, and I cry fairly easily, so if you ever want sympathy, I'm that girl. Now, Theresa plays tennis, she'd NEVER call me to play tennis, but she'd call our friend Beth. Now, Beth can do yard work like a champion, and although I called her to help me with my pool rock, I'd NEVER call Theresa. See what I mean? Well, I feel like that one of my reasons and seasons for Theresa is back/country road knowledge. Who would have ever thought that this was a gift or could meet a need? Now, don't worry, because what I am about to say, I know Theresa will read, so I am not talking about her behind her back, and we may have had this discussion in the 7 hours that we spent together today. I'm not sure if I have this "feel" for back roads because I've lived here my entire life, or from my retired trooper dh stories, or what, but alas, I do. SOOOO, she had a STACK of addresses that we needed to get pictures of and we were OFF!!

We went in their old jeep, with the top off, to get good clear pictures, and a tan to boot. Well, my redness would indicate that I should've used a little SPF, but that is done. We went to MANY places that I am pretty sure that you couldn't get to from here!! At one point, I thought we were in Ober, Gatlinburg, with the view, and I never knew it existed!! The most exciting part of today's adventures was T's driving. OH MY!! Now, I know how she drives in her suburban, but put her in a stick shift, grinding til finding, out in the country, with nothing between you and the country but a few bars, and SHOOOOOEEEEEE!! It's all good, just make sure you're prayed up!! :o) (you KNOW I LOVE YOU T!!!) Our last trip we remembered the handy dandy toilet paper, but today we forgot, so we had to stop at my friend, Nina Kay's, who lives out in the country that we were patrolling at the time!! Thanks NK!!!

Today really wasn't too eventful, but last time, there were moments we were a bit skeered. (yes, that is KY speak for VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY NERVOUS). We were in the middle of nowhere, and the only way to get a picture of this house, was to pull into the driveway, and drive up closer. Have you ever seen the '70's flick, called "Deliverance"? I am pretty sure if we had turned off the vehicle, we would have heard sounds of a banjo... Can you say Meth lab? The FBI calls it a clue, when there is a rifle leaning up against the rocking chair on the porch, that you BETTER get out of dodge, and just draw a picture of what you'd like that trailer to look like (nothing against trailers here). Then once, we get to a house, I take the picture, and she doesn't like it, it's too blurry. I take it again, and the jeep mirror is in it. THIRD time, and the man comes running out at us and I start screaming and she peals out!! All in all, it was a GREAT day of catching up and hanging out, and we got a few glimpses of how beautiful our county is as well as solving all of the world's problems in the time we had!! I'll also tell you something else!! My feet didn't hurt at ALL today!! Now, whether it was because I was off of them all day, or because they are better, I'll take it!!!! Friday I go to get molds for my shoes, and I almost feel like I could cancel, but the "read the book" side of my brain says not to!!

Graceson worked very hard today in the chickens, because she is wanting to earn money for our trip to Wisconsin Dells. She doesn't understand why Bubby has so much more than her, even though he goes up 10x more that she does per week!! Garrett also wanted me to be sure and mention his haircut when I posted his picture, but after I looked at it, you can't really see it in the picture because it is too dark!! He got it cut REALLY short (I'm talking buzz here), for football. Maybe my next picture will be better!!

Well, I have to go to bed!! I can hear Shane snoring, and I had to get tired enough to go to sleep over the sound!! Have a great rest of the week, and thanks for reading about a day in the life of the chicken farmer's wife!! love to all!! Jerri

5 Stages-Where are you?

2008-07-16T22:19:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share this while it was on my mind. Tonight in church, our youth pastor shared the 5 stages that we find our lives in, and he challenged us to find out where we were, and work on it. I plan on working on some things I need to change in the stage I am in, and encourage you to do the same!! Are you in 1 of these 5 places? Rescue, Relief, Requirement, Refusal, or Renewal
Rescue- when you need salvation. You haven't accepted Christ. If you are here, I'd love to talk to you about it.
Relief- this is forgiveness. You were given it by God, but are you willing to forgive everyone else? EVERYONE
Requirement - trust. Do you TRUST in God, or rely on yourself?
Refusal - This is about will. You know what God wants you to do, but are you refusing to do it?
Renewal - This is turning back to God. You've burnout, and aren't where you should be. Tonight Bill said to stop doing it FOR God, and allow GOD to do it THROUGH you...
I find that when I pray, I tend to pray and while doing so, tell God how I think it should be done. You know, "God, please heal so and so and take away their _____ and whatever else I think needs to happen" I need to be better about praying for His will, than for my wishes..., so I think my struggle would be in the requirement area, right now.
I just thought I'd like to share that tonight and give you a little something to think about!! A day in the life, of the chicken farmer's wife!! Love to all!! Jerri

My camera came!!!

2008-07-16T21:28:00.002-05:00

It's been a GREAT day!! My camera came, and I let it charge for about 90 seconds, so I could put the battery in and see if I could "figure out" how to take a picture!! (Does that sound EXACTLY like what one of my kids would say? Uh, YES...) Honestly, I am one of those "read the book from front to back" kinda girl, whereas Shane just takes out all of the pieces and "figures it out". (Always with a few left over, however...) Anyway, I have a LOT to say about my day, but I just had to hurry up and get the picture posted of Garrett, so he would not think I prefer either of my children. OK, stop reading RIGHT now, and scroll down to see my handsome son, and then you can read the rest... Have you looked? Good!! He is holding the 4 1/2 lb princess known as Lilli. I will post more pictures of both kids now that I have my MeMaw camera!! I plan on showing you more about chickens here and there too!! Also, Garrett wanted me to crop the picture so it would be a closer shot of him. I didn't for a couple of reasons. The first and most important reason, is that I don't know HOW to do that. The SECOND reason, is that I wanted you to see how pretty the sky was at this time of night. The moon was completely up (it is full tonight), but the sun had not committed to being completely set, and the colors were grand. Just thought you'd like to see what it looks like in this edge of the country!! I will write more later!! Love to all!! Jerri
P.S. Shanan, are you happy? I got Garrett's picture up as soon as I got home!! love you!

Holy Canoli Batman!!

2008-07-16T01:11:00.002-05:00

This is what I learned today... Big does not necessarily equal tough! What am I talking about? I will explain. I went into the garage tonight to turn off the pool pump. Is this scary? NO Have I done it a million times? YES Did something happen tonight? OH YEAH>>> I was chased in the house by a bat. A bat? Yep, bat! Do I mean, a man swinging a bat? NOPE, I mean, the little flying mammal, that looks like a mouse, with wings... I have an aunt who SWEARS that she'd rather have a bat in her hair than a tick on her. NEGATIVE, I can now conclusively say, "Bring on the tick!!"

When I went outside, the light in the garage was on. Nothing new, Shane had gone up to the chicken houses, (they are catching 2 houses tonight). I am on my way down the stairs, and there in the corner of the garage, hanging upside down at the very top of the ceiling is a bat, I assume nesting for the night, or whatever they do. No problem, isn't it cute? I mean, how handy, since he had probably already eaten 1000 mosquitoes, and is so much more productive than a bird! Well, it seems that he brought his people with him, or whatever a bat family is called. There flying around the garage at lightning speed is his partner (we'll call him Robin). So, the one guy is at the top of the garage, is bothering no one, and his presence is not so bothersome. Robin however, is swooping and circling the top of the garage, near the fluorescent lights. I have always heard that a bat's radar is marvy, and they NEVER hit things because of that sonar (I think that is the word instead of radar). I now have proof that this information is FALSE!! ROBIN flies DIRECTLY into the wall, I mean KERSPLAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY!! Of course, I wasn't going to TOUCH him, but I knew that he had just committed suicide, and I wanted to see what a bat looked like up close. He had hit the wall, and then slid down it and came to rest behind a bicycle.

Since I had to turn the pump off anyway (remember the pool?) and he was right in the area, I went over. When I did, Robin RUNS AT ME!!! He didn't fly, he didn't screech, and since we know the term "blind as a bat", I can assume that he didn't know he was, but at the time, I wasn't thinking as much!!!!!!!!!! I screamed, almost killed myself getting back to the steps (remember my feet?) and never did turn the pump off. I've got a pattern for bat boxes if anyone needs it. At one time, I thought it'd be great to make some. I've changed my mind...

If you remember, Garrett had an appt. today for his sports' physical!! He is stepping in at 5 ft. 1"! Long gone are the days when he was 19 1/2 " long!!! Dr. Khan cleared him for anything he wanted to play. He had practice from 4-6, and from what I hear, it was a bad day. The heat, lack of practice since last football season, etc., made for a sick boy. He was better after he got home, but I am pretty sure he'll be sore tomorrow!! I'll be posting a current picture just as soon as I get MeMaw's camera!! I checked the UPS site, and it says its delivery is on schedule!!

Well, you have a great night! I MUST go to bed, I just wanted to share a day in the life of a chicken farmer's wife!! Love to all!!

Tomorrow is the day!!!

2008-07-14T23:19:00.002-05:00

It is 11:00 here and all is silent. Lilli is lying beside me (the 4 1/2 lb. princess) and the rest of the family is in the bed! We swam today, and the sun just wore the natives out!!! There is not a tv on in the house!!! Tomorrow is the big day... FOOTBALL PRACTICE begins!!! It actually started today, but Garrett could not go because he didn't have a current physical. His appointment is for tomorrow at 9:15, and then he should be good to go!! I've had this appt for weeks, and it was the first one available, so I am guessing that all sports have to have physicals, before they'll allow participation. It will be a week of practice and then VACATION!!!! It's good to have all of my family back home!!

I won my bid on Ebay for a new camera, so I am hoping to have lots of pictures to share!! I got a small one that will fit in my purse, so I feel like if it is handy, I will use it more!! Shane's grandmother, MeMaw, died the Wednesday before my birthday that following Sunday in May. She had fixed a birthday card for me, and enclosed some money the day before she died. I had decided that I was just going to keep the money, since it was her last gift. It wasn't until this past week that it occurred to me that MeMaw would have NEVER wanted me to KEEP the money. She had MUCH rather me use it to buy a camera, and take pictures of Garrett, who is "getting so handsome", or Graceson, who is "getting prettier every time I see her". Thanks MeMaw!! I will take pictures of these babies with the gift you didn't know that you got me. We miss you every day...

I'm hoping tomorrow to get my "feet back". I thought they hurt before, but I was wrong. I think the older I get, the more I appreciate body parts if that makes any sense!!! I have also learned, that if these braces that I am wearing will work, I would consider wearing them to PROM!!!!

Well, I've got a few things to do before I hit the hay!! I'm not one of those moms that can't sleep if I know that dishes are in the sink or anything, but I still have some things that MUST be done!! Have a great week!! Jerri

My FIRST POST!!!

2008-07-12T12:25:00.004-05:00

I guess the best way to start a blog is to start blogging!! I tried to add a slide show of Graceson from horse camp, but I just added my favorite picture from there, because I didn't know how to! I will learn!! My boys got back from Student Life Camp yesterday. I was SOOOOO glad to get them home! I was "in charge" of the "chicken ranch" for the week. To let you know JUST how happy I was to have them home, I'll review my week!! I couldn't keep the pumps running efficiently, so after calling Shane in Ohio, and having a meltdown, he instructed me to get the Co. Water Dept. down. I did and that was fixed!! THEN, I had a motor go out in House 2, thus indicating a trip to get a new feed motor, then one of Shane's electrician friends to come and fix it!! FINALLY, FRIDAY... they'll be here, nothing to worry about now, RIGHT? When I drove up first thing to give it a last look over, water is ROLLING out from under the door. I open it, and stepped into water, that was above my ankles. A filter had exploded. NICE.. I bypassed that line, and started dragging out off of the tools that are likely ruined... the drill... the blower...etc. I had to get to town, I had an appt. at the podiatrist. God knew what He was doing when this appointment was set up for the day they came home. If I had gone while they were gone, the chickens would have been worse off than they HAD been all week. I got shots in each heel, and braces on my feet, and he told me that I may be able to walk again starting Sunday. That's TOMORROW, so I am THRILLED!! I am moving now without actual tears, so I know that is a good sign!!! THAT is just a TASTE in the life of "A Wing & A Prayer". In case you were wondering why I chose that name, it is because that is the name of our farm. Before we were able to sign the contracts to be chicken farmers, we had to come up with a name. Well, thanks for reading! I hope to hear from everyone soon!!