Inquiring Minds - Installment IV

First things first.

I bought the pot.

From Amazon.com

It wasn't $35 - but I got it for $57 and free shipping.

I feel complete.

I'm going to kiss the UPS man and make banners to put out in the yard.

Instead of saying 'It's a Boy' - It'll say 'It's a Lodge!' and 'It's Red!'

No one can say 'she doesn't have a pot to pee in' now!

Amen!

In other serious news - there is a killer on the loose in the area.

Three men were shot, one died, one in critical condition.

The gunman then shot a farmer four times just down the road from Aaron's house.

He survived.

He's still on the loose.

This isn't supposed to happen out here.

I feel afraid to hang out my laundry today.

I have a history of weirdos coming up in my yard.

I'm taking the shotgun out with me as soon as it's daylight to check The Squirrel and let the chickens out.

Here I sit - in the dark with my laptop - afraid to turn lights on this morning - you know me and my goofy serial killer phobia - and now there is a killer.   Here.  In my hood.

Surprisingly I slept well.

Despite there being a madman on the loose in the area, I only dreamt of painting trees.  I had a big spray gun, and I was getting ready to paint the big maple tree in the yard, cause the shade of green wasn't right.

Aaron and Glen were giving me a really hard time - telling me that the leaves would be gone soon.

They just so don't get it.

And then there was something about cantaloupes, but I don't remember.

Let's get back to the questions shall we?

Question #32

Delena asks:

Have you ever been to Canada? No we don't all speak French....I love your honesty and your sense of humor. Is Glenco funny too?

I have never been to Canada.  When I first got my drivers license and a car, I decided I'd drive from Chicago to Canada to get a gallon of milk, cause I'd heard that they came in plastic bags (is this true?).  I wish this story wasn't true - but it is.  I got all the way to Kalamazoo, Michigan before I tired of driving and realized I was a goofball.  I want to go to Canada.  I have a friend I'd love to visit.  I want to see Prince Edward Island.  I want milk!   Glenco is a stitch - and it's one of the reasons I married him.  I couldn't be married to a fuddy dud.  You just gots to  have a sense of humor!

Question #33

Jen of The Cottage Nest asks:

This is getting weird. I've been planning a similar post. Now everyone will think I'm just a coop copy cat. Do you think we might have been separated at birth? That's not my question. My real question is What are your favorite and least favorite chores around the house.

I'm sorry I keep stealing all of your ideas.  Perhaps you should consult me before posting?  Or I you?  Great minds think alike!  My favorite chores?  Law - now you'll think I'm silly - I really like them all - well, the cat box, I don't cotton to that too much - but I love my kitty and I like knowing I'm making it a nice place to potty in.  I don't like washing pots and pans much.  You know my love of vacuuming, so I guess I'd have to say that I LOVE vacuuming, and that it's my favorite chore.  It's equivalent in my mind of dressing and putting on perfume.  It's that final touch that makes it all seem right in my mind.  I love seeing little giblets on the floor getting sucked up.  I'm mad.

Question # 34

From Beyond my Kitchen Window asks:

What household chore do you dread doing? For me it's all my bathrooms.

Please see above answer.  All your bathrooms?  Girl!  How many do you have?  I only have one.  See - I really DID need that pot!

Question #35

Jensamom23 asks:

I'm JUST beginning to raise chickies...what breeds are your favorite and why?

I'm no expert by any means - but I do have a little experience with me birds.  I like them all - I do - there are so many fancy birds that I'd like to have - but they aren't too winter hardy.  I'm a bit worried about the little banties this winter - they will require the heat lamp 24/7.  I would have to say that the Buff Orpington would seriously be one of my favorites.  I just like saying Orpington - plus they are a nice dual purpose bird - should you ever get hungry - they lay nice big brown eggs, they are of a gentle demeanor - they are lovely to behold and they knit well.  Could you find a better bird?  I think not!  I have a hen, she's a Production Red, Stubs - and that girl is a laying machine.  The Black Australorps are lovely, a heavy breed, good for overwintering.  The Americana that I have - Fifi - she is a pretty bird, but I'm not too fond of her comb - and I can't look at her for long without getting the heebie jeebs.

Hope all that helps!

Question #36

Taking Heart asks:

Do you have any banty chickens? I had a few when I

was young and called them my little midgets chickens... my mom bought two thinking we'd have baby bantys... but they were both boys...

I do - I have Phyllis - who came here with six baby banties.

I adore them.

These are the chickens I refer to as the Italian Mob.

They are just so shiny and showy and bossy.

I have three roosters and three hens - not a good thing - but so far, there isn't too much mayhem in the yard.

If I notice one of the  hens being  - how do you say this nicely - overused? - I will have to separate them, or get more hens - cause I shan't be getting rid of the roosters!

Question #37

Lisa asks:

Do you collect anything special? Is there something that you have looked and looked for that you have wanted for your house or outside but have been unable to find?

Great question Lisa!  I collect vintage alarm clocks.  I don't care if they work or not, I just like them.  I collect chickens and cats.  Well - not really- just seems that way.  I guess I don't 'collect' anything else.  I do try hard to collect memories.  They don't take up much room and don't require dusting.  As far as looking for something I haven't been able to find....hmmm....I'm afraid I don't have the vision for that.  I usually really don't know what I'm looking for - but when I see something, I can usually thing 'oh, that would be great there' - so I guess the answer is no -

Question #38

Debbie asks:

In one of your posts you mentioned buying a Silpat AFTER you got out of debt. My question is what did you do and how long did it take you to get out of debt? and how do you like the Silpat? :)

This might be a lengthy answer - it might not be.  I went on the Dave Ramsey system a while back - using cash - envelopes,etc.  I think MOST people are familiar with him - if not - Google him - it shall change your life.  We got completely out of debt, house and all - for a while I was so militant - I wouldn't buy anything that I didn't absolutely need.  I'm that way now some what, until I have fifty people telling me to buy the pot!    I think I would say that I'm much more conscious of my purchases now.  I really TRY to think them through and not be so impulsive.  I do not have one credit card to my name.  That took so much adjusting - it's cash or nothing baby. I would always look at Silpats and long for them.  I love them!  I want a couple more.  Would you like me to talk more about Dave Ramsey and getting out of debt?  I'm staring to think I should - since I was a terrible credit card abuser, and got myself into $20K of credit card debt.  What a lesson learned.  Once you are debt free - you will never, and I mean NEVER want to owe anyone a dime again. 

AMEN

Question #39

Jamie asks:

Is Glenco camera-shy? You sound like the most WONDERFUL aunt!Do your other nephews and nieces get jealous of Aaron? Love your posts!

No, I wouldn't say he's camera shy - do you ask cause he's not on the blog much?  Hmm...I'll have to remedy that.  I do know he's worried about his receding hairline.  I can photoshop that though.  :-)

I AM a wonderful Aunt!  Thanks for noticing!  I don't know that my other nieces and nephews are jealous.  Sadly - I don't see them very much at all - and would have to say, that I don't have a very close relationship with them.  I only have one other niece on my side of the family - and she is in her 30's and lives a few hours away.  Glen's side of the family gifted us with lots of nieces and nephews - but his family is not very close, and barely even gets together around the holidays.  It's always made me sad that it's that way - and I try to get the family together at least once a year.

Question #40

Anne asks:

Jayme, I see you have lots of questions but I am going to ask one. Do you love living out this way and do you often go sighting see in our lovely town here just for the heck of it and act like you are a tourist.

I do enjoy reading your blog and one of these days would love to meet up with you in town for a cup of coffee or something especially since we are practically neighbors. Have to say I passed your house the other day and it is looking so pretty my dear.

Anne- I would love to meet you someday soon!  I would say to stop on over - but I fear you might catch me nude, in the middle of a hot flash!  Ha!  I do love it out here - love it.  Coming from the streets of Chicago, this was such a refreshing change.  I don't feel like I can breathe now when I get in a busy town or city, I need my open spaces.  I can't say that I feel like a tourist - but often, I feel so thankful and grateful that I thank God as I'm driving down the 9 mile stretch, and I see the freshly harvested fields, and I feel so happy, and at home.  When you passed the house - did you notice the awesome yellow chair that I got at the flea market?  Did you notice the grapevine that Glenco put around the outside of the door?  Love fall!  Hey - are YOU the one that stopped asking to buy pumpkins!?

Question #41

Janie Fox asks:

How much wood can woodchuck chuck? Nah, just kidding. Do you have a favorite scripture?

Well Janie - given that a wood chuck could chuck wood - I'm not really sure how much it could chuck.  Depends on it's work ethic and the soundness of it's teeth, dontcha think?  My favorite scripture - law -that would be a doozy of a question.  So many come to mind quickly - it's awfully hard to pick a FAVORITE - like - golly - let me think - I would have to say it's the scripture in Matthew where Jesus says 'my yoke is easy, and my burden is light'.  I think we all get so religious, and caught up in works, trying to earn our own salvation - and it's something I have to constantly guard my heart from.

Question #42

Das Flower Patch Farm Girl asks:

Minnie Mart, you shan't be watching up the BL tonight, not with 50+ questions to answer. And it's only 8 o'clock! You done shot your fool self in the foot, sho 'nuff. Here's my question: If you had to choose between chickens and your vacuum clean, which would you choose?

Law girl - don't you know how to get right to the heart o the matter.  I cain't choose  -  I just cain't.  Given that the chickens be like vacuum cleaners on the outside - do it make them one and the same?

I cain't choose, and I won't.  I won't I tell ya!

OK friends - that's all for now.  That last question has me so riled up that I can't think straight - that and it's daylight.  The Coop Keeper don't cotton to burning daylight up on the computer.  There's laundry to hang, vittles to cook, and critters to tend.

Please pray for the safety of our town today, and pray for the man in critical condition from a gunshot wound to the head.  May we all realize the fragility of life, and live our lives accordingly.