Chickens in the Bedroom

I loved reading all of your comments yesterday.

The cold still hasn't taken a full hold of me - and I did spend most of the day cleaning and organizing...

I have much to say about it - but today's post is about the Great Chicken Show of Columbus, Ohio and related shenanigans.

I met Lynda through blogging and we got to know each other a bit through Facebook.

Kindred spirits.

She has bees, chickens, geese, guineas, a big garden and she likes words as much as I do.

What's not to love?

Girlfriend had a long drive from Alabama to Indiana.

She talks about it a little bit here.

Not knowing her driving history, and given my history of being a road warrior - I thought it would be funny to pretend she was a lost traveler in my driveway -

Oh my goodness - I realize now how not funny that is for someone that has driven over 500 miles to stay with a virtual stranger - to arrive and be pranked.

I'm so sorry I made you cry Lynda!

I'm sure at this point she had no idea what she was in for.

I have a bit of a big personality.

You may or may not know that about me.

I've been told I enter a room mouth first.

Nice.

I run over people sometimes.

I try to control myself, I do - but sometimes it's impossible - and I frighten people.

And here she was - stuck with me for five nights.

Long story short - Lynda befriended my childhood friend Peggy via Facebook.

Really - where else but the Internet?  Wonderful things happen on the Internet.

On Thursday, Peggy came to pay us both a visit.

I'd not seen Peggy in about 25 years.

It was a day to remember.

I heart Peggy.

I heart her hard.

She brought me this:

I feel the need to apologize to everyone that I own this and you don't. 

Yes - it's that fabulous.



Photo by Lynda Swink



We spent the late morning and early afternoon jawboning over a pot of odd tasting Stuffed Pepper Soup and Dutch oven bread.  Flourless Chocolate Cake and Cherry Pie.

Reliving old memories, and making new ones.

I felt like the richest girl in town.

Mid-afternoon we drove to town to the thrift and antique stores.

Peggy departed.

Lynda was all mine again.  Bwaa ha ha!

Friday morning we headed out to Columbus, Ohio.

I promised her I'd let her stop to go potty, etc.

It was a five hour drive.

And stop we did - Crawfordsville, Indiana and Richmond...I think it was Richmond.  Wonderful antique stores in Crawfordsville! A few more potty stops along the way.  I really wasn't in a rush.

I've already told you all about the Poultry Show.

Here's the last video I wanted to share with you.

It's a call duck.

Again, I'd never seen anything like it - with it's short little bill.

It's not short on attitude!

I know you can't believe I didn't bring anything home.  I can't believe it either.

Truth be told - I didn't think they'd be selling birds - I thought it was just a show.

I wasn't prepared!

By the time I got through the show I was losing my mind, I needed to hold a bird.

I NEEDED it.

I found a lady holding a lovely rooster and I got to play with it's waddles a bit.

I almost bought a bird just to carry around for a little while.  That thought actually crossed my mind.

"I'll just play with it, and give it back."

I just wanted to rub VO5 on it.

I wanted to kiss it and hug it and play with it's feet.



The most beautifulest rooster I ever did see.  Amen.



 I finally got up the nerve just to ask someone if I could hold one of their birds.

Oh sweet mother.  It was the cutest thing ever.  A little banty hen.

I immediately felt satisfied.

That's when I saw the look in Lynda's eye. 

She was bringing some birds home!

I got to pick them out for her.

A rooster and a hen.

An arranged marriage.

I did come home with a few 'traysures'

This sign:

And a few decals for the car declaring my adoration of all things poultry.

Sunday, we spent a lazy morning here at the house listening to her new rooster crowing in the bedroom.

Yes, the bedroom!

You didn't think we would keep the chickens outside did you?

My sister and Aaron met up with us early in the afternoon and we took a trip to the Buckley Homestead and the Indiana Dunes.

I always bring guests to the Dunes.

It's just something you wouldn't think you'd see in Indiana.

Aaron and Lynda chatted up a storm about photography and cameras.

These photos taken by Aaron

We also took Lynda on a little side trip through Gary, Indiana.

Scary Gary as my pal Shannan likes to call it.

It was actually then that her little Calvin called me and made my day.

Calvin - wanted to talk to me.

Does it get better?

I think not.

Dusk was descending, so we didn't really take her on much of a tour, but at least she can say she visited the Murder Capital of the World - birthplace of Michael Jackson.  Hee hoo!  *grab crotch*

                             It was hard to believe that Lynda's trip was about to come to an end.

I may or may not have traumatized her on Sunday.

When Aaron and I are together - it's mayhem.

Utter mayhem.

I can't wait to read her take of me in the kitchen trying to do the splits before supper.

If the ladybug and box elder bug infestation from unseasonably warm weather didn't do her in, my behavior on Sunday may have.

Speaking of supper - I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Lynda at my supper table.  Sunday night was extra special since Aaron and my sis were with us as well.

There aren't many things that make me as happy as a table full of friends and family breaking bread, sharing memories, laughing and enjoying each other's company.

It's a sacred time to me.

I'm so thankful to have met Lynda and know her now on a personal level.

She's an inspiration to me.

Her quest for knowledge, her intrepid spirit.

She's kind, funny, tender hearted, intelligent and insightful.

She'd make a mighty fine neighbor.

As I'm sitting here now - typing this to all of you - friends I know - friends I've met through blogging - family - 'virtual' friends that I email back and forth - friends that call me at 4:30am (Nancy - you know I just HAD to rib you about that one - please forgive yourself!) - and the friends I have yet to meet - it just seems so fitting that it's nearly Thanksgiving.

My heart is so full.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Thank you all so, so very much for reading my drivel - for leaving comments - for emailing me - for making me feel normal at times when I don't think I am - for challenging me to change - for laughing with me, and crying with me.

Thank you.

xo