Helene Stopped By....

No words.

Aaron made me do it.

:-)

If you have trouble viewing it here...just click on the YouTube link on the lower right hand side of the video.

Who Told You to Use a Balm?

Any Seinfeld fans?

If so - you'll get the name of this post -

If not - why?  Why aren't you familiar with the greatest show ever made!?

Why!?

I can only hope that you are now watching Modern Family - the second greatest ever sitcom.

Your words were a balm to my soul.

An ointment.

A tincture.

A mustard plaster.

A poultice, even.

Thank you.

I Googled famous high school dropouts.

Aaron is in some mighty fine company.

AND

He's not a drop out - he's a transfer student.

Thankyaverymuch.

We are so danged happy.

Gleeful.

Silly.

and

Somber -

When it comes to Mathematics.

Professional help is being brought in.

I'm just a bit too busy for my liking - but when you consider all things - I'd rather be busy than bored.

Selah.

I worked in the yard on Wednesday - and it was maddening.  So windy, that everything I put IN the wheelbarrow would promptly blow OUT.

I got the perennial beds cleaned up though.

Took a peek at the bees.

They sure weren't happy with the wind.

I was wearing a beard of bees!

They were MAD.

Bootcamp is going well.

Aaron helped me make this little video - some of this might not make sense to you - but if you think about it - how much on my blog DOES make sense?

 

Aaron is insisting that Helene help him with homeschooling next week, and possibly a little driving instruction.

Stay tuned.

I feel like I have so much brewing in me at the moment - but there's no time to sit and steep my thoughts.  There's no time to write it out.

There just be no time.

A dear friend put it into words perfectly yesterday when she said "I feel overwhelmed - and underwhelmed at the same time".

Persackly.

This weekend I celebrate 29 years of being married.

My wedding dress is too big now.

That's rather fun.

Talk about time - 29 years - wow.

Flew by.

Glen called me this morning from work and asked 'What do you want for your anniversary?' - I just told him - "just to spend some time with you" - and then I asked him "What about you?  What do you want?"

"I want you to change the oil in the Maverick."

Yep.

It's been 29 years.

 

All the News Worth Printing

This photo has nothing to do with this post.
It's just a bathing suit I'm considering ordering.
The last time I ordered anything in a two piece - it was an extra crispy meal at KFC.

For those of you that don't have a blog - you might not know how difficult it is to blog after a week of not blogging.

You lose your mojo, your rhythm.

It's a struggle.

I've had times this week that I thought I might never blog again.

Pfft.

As if.

Not sure where to begin - so I'll just start -

Still working on my goals....Bootcamp is going well, and it keeping me busy as well as homeschooling.

We are fine.

THANK you for all your emails and concern.

The tornadoes that have ravaged Indiana were far south of us.

Heartbreaking.

Despite having a little snow on the ground at the moment - I spotted a Robin on March 2nd, and it's set me in a tailspin of excitement.

It's really happening.

It's 6am and it's light enough to see outside.

My strawberries and daisies are making a foolish attempt at growing.

The chickens are cranking out eggs.

I've got deep hankerings of the Spring cleaning kind.

Spring.

It's coming!!

During a hot bath last night I perused a poultry catalog.

The FINAL decision has been made.

There will be meat birds raised.

There will be much drivel ahead about this subject.

Thoughts on the moral battle I'm having.

How I can blow dry and cuddle with one chicken, and kill and eat another.

I can't talk about it right now - or I shan't order my 'rainbow broiler pack'.

Oh dear God.

Help me.

My trip with Aaron to Chicago went off without a hitch - well, except for the Navigation on my phone took us to a VERY sketchy area in Chicago initially.

Home girl was a little scared.

Find the school we did, and it was beyond fantastic.

I want to go there now!

I told Aaron I'd need a career when I finally raised his rear end - and why not hair?

I told him I'd go to school with him, and then we'd open a salon.

Could you imagine?  The poor kid, never rid of me.

I thought I'd fill you in on our 'plan'.

Aaron was really struggling in high school.

There was talk by his guidance counselor of sending him to some 'alternative' school - which, I don't even know about that - but between his struggles, and his impending move to another county - where he'd have to switch schools yet again - the decision to homeschool again was made.

Why did Aaron struggle so?

I don't know.

When I ask him - he tells me

"I'm too social"

"It's boring"

"I don't care about it"

I was so torn initially because, hey - guess what?

Sometimes jobs are boring and you don't care about them, but ya gotta do them.

I thought perhaps he NEEDED to just suck it up and do it.

And then I thought about the years....alllllllll the years he'd struggled in school - like since Kindergarten.

I don't think a child CHOOSES in Kindergarten and 1st grade to struggle.

Medication was given in fourth grade - he did better in school, but was personality less, so he was taken off the medicine.

Better to have a personality and sub par grades if ya ask me.

Struggled again in 5th grade - was told he'd be placed in a 'transitional' Junior High situation where he wouldn't switch classes with all of his friends, but he'd have lunch with them.

Screw that.

Homeschooled.

He flourished.

He wanted to see what 'real highschool' was like, and you all, if you've been reading my blog for anytime, know that it was pretty hard on me.

I have to say - after the initial shock - I really settled in to quite a nice little routine around here and loved my time alone here at the house.

All good things must come to an end.

:-)

He loved the social aspect of high school - but his grades, well - I quit looking at his grades last year.

Bless his heart.

He went on Vyvanse last fall and there was some initial improvement.

He didn't sleep, barely ate, and was 'temperamental'.

To me?  Not worth it.

The child lives here Monday - Thursday now, and we homeschool from 9am to 3:30pm.

It's taking me time to adjust.

I have to say, I'm loving him here.

Our plan is to get Aaron his GED as soon as possible.

That was hard for me to type.

You know why?

I know there are MANY of you out there that will frown upon that decision - and even though I know in the deepest recesses of my heart that it's the best thing for him - and everyone that truly knows Aaron agrees -

I'm still sensitive about it.

GED has a negative connotation.

Aaron is 16.2 years old.

He can enroll in the Paul Mitchell school when he's 17.

That's the plan.

Get the GED, get into college, and get on with life.

Given his history of struggling with school - I also worried about him possibly struggling in college.  I mean - what was going to be different about that?

My fears were put to rest - when after looking at the Rules of the Road book for about 45 minutes - he walked into the license branch and passed his Learner Permit test.

He's driving.

Me.

Around.

He also has some cosmetology books that he's been given by people in the industry, and he devours them, and retains every. thing.

You think "I" drivel?

How would you like to listen to endless drivel about hair texture, color and style?

Be told that you need a deep conditioning treatment?

Be told that you need more highlights to really pop out your eyes?

All.

Day.

?

I love it.

I love his passion and his drive for it.

I look forward to a future of a well coiffed do whilst I cry over butchered birds.

where is the love?

Right here baby.

Just in from my birthday extravaganza weekend....

I'll tell you all about it and slap up some pictures, most probably tomorrow.

Just wanted to share this picture with you.

Just found it on the camera.

Glenco snapped it last week.

Is he not the most beautiful boy you've ever done seen?

I think so too.

Just So You Know...

Seems that I may have confused a few of you yesterday - so I'm just here to clarify -

Aaron is my nephew.

He's never met his biological father.

Neither have I for that matter.

My sister Cindy - Aaron's mother - just got married in October after a whirlwind romance - she married her very first boyfriend from our old neighborhood in Chicago.

They reconnected via Facebook.

Another social media love story.

I was over the moon happy that Aaron's dad bought him a cake.

He's a wonderful man, and made Aaron's birthday extra special in every way.

Tears of joy, baby.

Tears of joy.

I suppose my heart didn't really break - burst would be more accurate.

Five Words That Broke My Heart

I'm sitting here bleary eyed and snotty nosed.

Oh I just had a good cry.

A good one.
Tears of utter joy.

What made the CoopKeeper cry, you ask?

These five words texted to me from the boy I love the most:

"dad got me a cake"

Today is Aaron's 16th birthday.

Oh that rat.

Growing up without my permission.

I didn't want Aaron to know I was crying like a baby after he texted me that, so I returned his message asking him if he'd mind if I rolled in his cake naked.

To which he replied - no he didn't mind - he wanted to too.

He's on winter break now and will be here for two weeks - probably not everyday - but as many as I can steal him away for.

I insisted he do a guest blog post - he's up for it.

He said he needed to do a very descriptive blog post of the cheesecake he ate at the Cheesecake Factory.

Whatever dude.

I'll follow that one with a very descriptive post on broccoli.

I planned on baking Aaron a Heath Bar Cheesecake today - it's what he wants every year.

The boy loves cheesecake.

But this year - Dad took care of it.

Dad.

Aaron's got a dad.

I'm crying once again.

Fifty Fifty

I just cleaned my belly piercing - and Aaron (The BoyChild is my nephew - just clarifying)

 cleaned his nose piercing, and it made me think of y'all.

Pictures tomorrow - Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

 

We are in the throes of decorating the house for Christmas, and squealing with each thing we unwrap.

"Remember this!?"

"Oh I love this one!"

Now, if'n we'd just get some snow.

Too much fun.

Soon we'll depart and get our customary Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and each find an ornament that we'll squeal over next year.

Two things, nay - three things I wanted to say today.

Wait - I think there's four.

Umpire.

Did you know that word has haunted me for 24 hours.

It's the right word, isn't it?

It doesn't sound right.

I looked it up - and the definition is right.

It's still seeming wrong.

That's what you call the guy behind the batter that calls the balls, right?

Right.

?

 

The second thing I wanted to show you was the table that Glen just finished making for me out of 'reclaimed lumber'.

Actually - lumber I saw sticking out a dumpster last summer.

This beauty is 8' long and is going to make a lot of memorable meals.
Well, actually I will be making the meals - the table will just make them memorable.

After Christmas, I'll work on the porch again.

The chairs have to be painted, etc. etc.

And anotha thang I wanted to share with mainly my new readers, is my
Christmas Cookie tutorial.

I'm a great baker.

It's just a fact.

I'm sure you'll pick up some great tips!

And the final thang -

I'll be 50 in 50 days.

Today starts my birthday Random Acts of Kindness kickoff.

(another reason I wanted Aaron home today!)

For the next 50 days - I'll (or we'll) do a Random Act of Kindness each day.

Today - we are getting hot cocoa for all of the Salvation Army bell ringers in town.

Too much fun!

Until tomorrow - I bid you -

A squeal worthy day.

Daily Drivel Digest #326

I survived my day out among the English.

Survived, and maybe even thrived a little.

All I have to say, is that Vickie - you were right when you left the comment about it being good I was among candles, potpourri and room spray.

My cauliflower/cannelini bean conconction was in full swing, and at times I was doubled over with cramps.

Luckily, for me - and all of the customers, I wasn't behind the counter - but I was walking the floor - so I could leave the scene of the crime easily - and swiftly - and I did.

I have a real live name tag on my work apron - even though I've not a  clue what I'm doing.

I can fake it til I make it though - since I was a manager there a few years ago.

It's MUCH more fun walking around playing with dinner plates, and fluffing pillows than it is hammering out a schedule, making bank runs and actually being responsible for things!

I was lightly begged to work more than two days a month.
I declined.

Saying yes to that, means saying no to other things that I'm not willing to say no to right now.

Like being home.

The day was perfectly orchestrated time wise, and you woulda thunk I actually planned it - I swear I did get every green light and arrow, even at the fabric store, it seemed like they were just waiting for me to arrive.

What's with the fleece?

E.v.e.r.y.one there was buying scads of it.

I'm thinking it's for those no sew blankets.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

I diss the fleece.

I do diss it.

Why, you ask?

It gives me the chills, similiar to cotton balls, and it makes me feel like I need to go to the eye doctor to look at it - it's all blurred.
I'm dizzy and covered in chills now, just thinking of it.

what I think I look like with contacts - I'm sorry Courtney

My eye doctor appointment went well.

It was like riding a bike - popping those hard little blue lenses in me eyes.

Two minutes later, I looked like my dog died, or something else horrible happened.

I told the eye doctor that he should hand out buttons that say 'I'm not stoned - I just got contacts!'

Two hours in me eyes yesterday, four today.

Glenco tells me last night - after over 10 years of me wearing glasses that he likes me better without glasses.

I feel like I have too much face showing now - and I feel vulnerable.

It's hard to explain.

Today is Wednesday, thus the BoyChild shall be picked up at school.

I'll let you in on another secret.

We are celebrating his birthday today, although it's not actually his birthday just yet.

SIXTEEN.

Oy.

We are celebrating by going to a tattoo parlor and having extremely sharp hollow needles rammed through various parts of our body.

Is there a better way to bond with someone you love?

My belly, his nose.
Pierced.
No tattoos!
(added this after a few thought I was getting inked. : -)

You are shocked aren't you?

You should be.

And I'll let you in on yet ANOTHER secret.

He's not going to school tomorrow so he can help me decorate the house for Christmas and we can do our ornament shopping tradition.

Memories are more important than World History and Health class.

Don't hate.

And now, for something completely different.

This morning at about 4:15am, I woke up because the cat bounded off the bed, and my ears were ringing loudly.

And somehow, I have no idea why - it reminded me of a comment I got here a while back asking me if my house was haunted, and how would you know - if you were wanting to buy an old house if it were haunted or not.

I'm sorry I haven't answered that sooner - and I'm sorry for all the questions that go unanswered here, and I'm sorry for the way things are in China - oh wait, that's a John Denver song.

I like to think that I have a good 'knower'.  I feel a lot of things, I sense things.  I have 'forebodings' as I like to call them, and sometimes I just know things.  Everyone  that I have known that has been diagnosed with cancer - I've known from the minute I find out - whether or not they will survive it.
I've been right every single time.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

So I would say I'm sensitive to things - but - and again - don't hate - I'm not sure I believe in ghosts.

It could explain the missing pillow if I did.

I believe in spirits - but not ghosts.

Does that make sense?

All of that to say - my house is haunted.

It's haunted with happiness, and beautiful memories of days gone by.

It's haunted with children's laughter, tears over hard decisions, lives lost, lives begun.

After 143 years - I do believe this house has seen it all.

But I've never felt anything but sheer peace and joy in this house.

People do remark on it when they enter.

I'm glad they don't remark that it smells like a moldy basement or a cat box.

I think - if you are hankering for an old house - and you want to start shopping for an old house - you will just 'know' if that house is for you.

It will feel right from the moment you walk in.

If it doesn't?

Leave.

Colossians 3:15 says that peace should be our umpire.

 “Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as an umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds]…” (Colossians 3:15 AMP).
(thanks Terry - I needed to clarify that!)

Oh my - imagine if we all lived that way - only doing things that brought us peace.

We wouldn't be nearly as busy as we are, now would we?

Think about that.

Scenes from a Mall

I sit here typing to you in my pj's - up on a Sunday morning, with a cup of breakfast tea cooling in me largest Starbucks mug.

I've no intention of dressing today - or doing anything - so this could be a very long blog post.

The pilgrims are STILL on the porch - lit - fyi.

Glenco and I have decided to take our Sunday's off completely.

Go get a drink - I'll wait.

Are you back?

I've been pinning.

Don't get me started.

Law.

I'm hooked - and if I actually do all of the ideas I've pinned - I will in fact deserve a reward.

In fact - I do believe I'm going to make a board that says "I DID this!"

Glenco's still in bed.

It's 9:36 in the ay em.

It's raining - and it's gloomy.

Which I suppose it's normal to be gloomy when it's raining -

 

You know my last post about being dark and twisty?

Well today I'm bright and straight.

I know what you are thinking - 'this gal needs meds'.

Nah, I just need to stop thinking so much.

But this post is about the mall -

Now this is a scene that you would NEVER see ever -

me, with girlfriends - smiling in the mall

This is more what you would see if you brought me in a mall

Terror - anxiety - and an all around 'let's get the heck out of here' mood.

Just the mention of 'the mall' aged me by 30 years!

Yesterday.

YESTERDAY - a December Saturday - I went to the mall with the AlmostManChild.

I really should stop calling him the BoyChild - but it's hard.

I'm still in awe of how much I enjoyed the mall.

So much to look at!

So much to smell!

It was fantastic!

I was calm - not a care in the world.

I'm just so different now.
Not a smidge of anxiety since I'm wheat-free.

(more on that later - a lot more)

Oh the fun we had!

Aaron is some good company - I just have to tell you that.

There's never a moment of silence between us - there's laughing til we cry - and I can ask the AlmostManChild anything and he tells me the truth.

Case in point -

 I'm going to a lovely symphony concert in Wisconsin next weekend and I want to dress up.

I thought of an outfit like this:

But my calves are still really chunky - and I'm self conscious.

Aaron told me it would be best if I didn't sport the pencil skirt.

His exact words "I'm not telling you this to hurt your feelings - but your legs still need some work - wear your black slacks"

I had asked Glenco the same question and he said "You need to dress for the weather - what if there's snow? Don't wear a skirt and heels".

:-/

Something has changed in Aaron in the last couple of weeks.

I can't put my finger on it - but it's like he's blossomed.

It might have something to do with this:

I ADORE my new brother-in-law.

Ah. Door.

Aaron's cutting all of his blue hair off (oh, you didn't know it was blue?) and going back to his natural hair color.

He's always been vibrant and full of life - but now - it's like he's glowing. 
He didn't meet a stranger in the mall - having conversations with the sales associates like they were his best friends.

Anything I needed - he was on it -

"we need these in a 9 1/2"

"excuse me - where are the gloves at ?"

"Marmie - you don't need those Elmo underwear"

Did you KNOW they had Elmo underwear?

I surely didn't.

I'm convinced the boy is going to take terrific care of me in my silver years.

In fact, I declare that he'll be going all Shirley MacClaine from "Terms of Endearment" if I ever end up in a hospital.

It makes me smile to think about it.

It makes me so happy to know that I'm healthy, and living a lifestyle that will insure that I get to spend as much time with him as possible.

He's growing up right before my eyes.

I have the best, deep down feeling inside my belly about his life.

He may be flunking algebra - but in the grand scheme of things -

he's on the Honor Roll of life.

I absolutely couldn't be prouder of him.

Filled Full

It's 5:22am.

I just finished eating turkey sausage and a couple of Cuties.

I have three loads of laundry waiting until it's light enough outside so I can hang them -

Crock pot apple butter is in the making.

I started to shampoo the carpet - but it's still too dark for that -

so I thought I'd check in with all y'all.

I've been making a real effort to stay away from the computer - wanting to be fully present at home this week.

I kept my entire schedule clear this week, and stayed off the phone too.

The BoyChild was here.

: - )

Between the love of the BoyChild and my staying put all week - it truly has been one of the best weeks in my recent memory.

Now, that's not saying much - since I'm notorious for a bad memory - which does, I must admit - come in handy at times.

I hold no grudges - since I can never remember what it is that someone has done.

It was the most ordinary week ever - and sisters - can I just tell you this -

Ordinary is fabulous.

We went to the gym a few times - and he had gymnastics training on Thursday - but other than that -

we stayed put.

He even got homework done.

For real.

Whilst he was at school - I worked my fingers to the bones sewing.

I'm going to confess that I listened to Christmas music whilst I sewed, sang along loudly, and I may or may not have never been happier.

See this heating pad cover?

Over 15 years in the making my friends.

I bought that fabric when Aaron was born - planning on making a heating pad cover.

FIFTEEN YEARS later.

It's done.

I did tell you that 'Finish' was my word of 2012, right?

I started a little business called 'Coop Keeper Creations' and I'll be unveiling my aprons that I've sewn this week on Etsy - planning a big 'Cyber Monday' sale!

Remember when I talked about getting a job a week or so ago?  I feel that I may have mis-communicated in some way why I wanted a job - trust me - it had nothing to do with fulfillment - or lack of things to do.

It was purely financial.

I'm completed filled full here at home - mentally and emotionally.

It dawned on me that I'm not even using the talents I have here at home to make a little extra cash - so I've been putting my hands to the spindle, so to speak.

I'm even starting to like the porch - I love looking through the kitchen window at it - it looks super cozy that way -

Glenco's making me a rustic 8' long wooden table for the porch out of a pile of old lumber we found in a dumpster this summer.

Fingers crossed it's done by Thanksgiving!

So I say - here's to a wonderful, ordinary, beauty full Monday.

Celebrate the ordinary.

Take time to notice how the light is changing at this time of year - and how it moves in your home.

Take time to be present in your home - giving your family your all.

Give yourself your all.

Make a nice dinner tonight.

Be nice.

Close the computer up - turn off the phone ringer -

breathe.

It might be the last chance you get til January.

Cuban Pork Tacos with The BoyChild

The BoyChild is mine!  All mine!

Seven glorious days of love and laughter.

I'm sitting at the gym with him now - while he's doing his gymnastics practice.

Doesn't this pic make you hurt?

It does me.

Aaron helped me stretch the other day.

It's just a good thing I'm too old to birth babies because I do believe

 he's permanently relocated my uterus.

I think it's where my lungs were.

One of my favorite things to do is to feed the BoyChild.

He's an adventurous eater - much more than I am.

He'll try anything once.  If I don't like the look of it, the smell of it, or the name of it - I won't.

I love that about him - he loves food and loves to try new things.

He was all up and over these Cuban Pork Tacos tonight.

Clean eating or not - these were so delicious they were 'ridickerous'.

The picture really doesn't do them justice.

Click HERE for the recipe.

The fresh pineapple salsa?

Forget it.
I couldn't believe the flavor!

It's my fault that I've been eating rather plain for months - it's just been easier - or maybe I've been lazy.

This recipe looked a bit involved at first - but it wasn't.

Now - here's the kicker for me - I didn't do the whole avocado thing - or the corn tortilla thing.

I'm not a fan of the avocado.

What's up with the texture of it?

I react to it almost as much as the dreaded cotton ball.

*shudders*

I steamed some cauliflower -

chopped it up rrrreeaallll fine like and faked myself into thinking I was eating rice.

I just put the meat and salsa over it.

It's pretty danged spicy - so if you aren't the spicy loving kind - I'd suggest that you cut the cayenne and red pepper down some.

I may be singing 'Ring of Fire' tomorrow.

Amen.