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The Last Thing I Should Be Doing....

Is blogging.

For real.

It's 4:44am, I've been up for well over an hour.

Got Glenco off to work, got my house chores done - but I'm supposed to roll out of here in 5ish hours for camping with Ms. Fox, and I've not lifted a finger to get ready.

I mean, I need to prepare all my food, pack clothes, pack down the camper, tend the birds, water the containers, winterize the bees, clean out my emails, pack eBay sales, etc, etc, before I leave - and here I sit blogging!

I just couldn't leave town with a farewell post....

I'm so out of the loop with y'all.

So here ya go.

It's been a ridiculous flurry of activity around the coop of late.

I meet myself coming as I'm going.

Again, I feel compelled to talk to the person in charge of making my schedule.

She's a task master!

I don't have a free day until October 30th.

Recapping the week -

not only am I cooking with gas, I'm now heating with it too.

I do find cooking with natural gas different than it was with propane.

Glenco tells me propane burns hotter.

I can't really get my mind around that - I mean to me, fire is fire.

Apparently not?

My day with the BoyChild.

Lord.
I love that kid.

I made the mistake of asking HIM what he wanted to do - instead of just controlling the situation.

:-)

I wanted to hike, bike, and eat a picnic near the lake.

Homeboy did not.

Homeboy wanted to go to resale shops in Chicago.

He's all about the resale now since finding a few awesome pieces of clothing for $1.

He recently went to homecoming and these are the pics I get.

There's nothing traditional about Aaron.

I wasn't too hot on the idea of going to Chicago and quickly squelched his dreams, er - I mean talked him out of it.

We decided to do that in November, when a friend of mine well versed in the thrift mecca stores of Chicago can go -

so we stayed local.

Remember me talking about food addiction?

I might have another addiction - and that would be thrift stores.

Especially lately.

I have so many pairs of  jeans now that I feel guilty.

(Never paying over $3 a pair mind you)

My drawers are bursting at the seams.

And then I bought these.

This purchase alerted me to the fact that I might have a problem.

Plastic pilgrims.

Oh - and they light up.

They are rather horrid aren't they?

But dadgum it - I'm celebrating Thanksgiving!

I'm putting these hard plastic figures out on the front porch and I'm lighting their butts.

I'll be doggoned if we'll overlook Thanksgiving like everyone else does! 

AND I'm keeping them up well into the first week of December.

So let it be written, so let it be done!

Other treasures included..

A vintage paint by numbers - $4

Family of owl trivets - a mere $1

(this purchase concerns me a little too-but not as much as the pilgrims)

Several outfits - can you see the size on that shirt?

M

Hallelujah!

The best purchase of the day, didn't get photographed.

It was a brand new - and I do mean brand new - LL Bean tan quilted jacket with an awesome plaid liner.

$3.

It was a large, and I just assumed I would need a large, and in my excitement I threw it in my buggy with visions of me on the cover of Martha Stewart Living, wearing that coat, with my cheeks red from the fall air, holding a bushel basket full of apples.

Alas, I got it home, and it was too big.

A pox upon me.

Yesterday - I found a home for the coat!

Carissa, a local reader of my blog (with a lovely blog of her own!) came by to get some honey.

You know what I think?

I think the people that read my blog are some of the most incredible people that walk the earth.

Carissa is a gem.

The coat fit her, and I'm kicking myself for not getting a photo.

She indeed should be on the cover of Martha's mag wearing that coat.

It was hers all along.

She totally has the fall vibe going on.

I fell in love with her children and asked her four year old daughter to start calling me grandma - which seemed to confuse her quite a bit.

I still tend to frighten children, even though I mean well.

Here's a comment from Carissa after meeting me yesterday...

I HAD to come by and say a quick hello. You are all that your blog represents and more!!!

A true beam of sunshine!!!!

Sweet inside and out and just the type of person who can leave an imprint on my soul in the short 47 minutes that we were able to chat!! :-)

Thank you so much for the lovely tour of your beeyoutiful home and for answering the million in a half questions from my children (and myself).

What kind of person lets a four year old that she has never met before go straight into her bedroom and look under her bed for the cat? Gives a total stranger a fabulous fall coat and sweater?? Gives countless hugs and lights up the room with her smile???

Jayme Does!!!!

Thank you for your kind hospitality!

Love Carissa

PS Thank you for your time too!! I know you have a lot on your plate for the next few days!!

Filled my heart right up, that comment did.

How I wish I could meet each and every one of you!

OK, I HAVE to go.

Janie - if you are reading this - please don't keep me up late tonight.

Let the shenanigans begin!

Please wish me luck pulling the camper by myself, and finding the campground, and leveling the camper, and sleeping, and getting home in one piece.

Thank you and amen.



Now I'm Cookin' with Gas

The conversion has been complete!

For the first time in 23 years I cooked a meal with natural gas.

The big hole in my yard is covered up, and hopefully will be seeded later today.

The chickens scared the gas man that was installing the meter - it was quite funny - he thought this sign was just decoration -

Wait.

What?

I'm still in town?

Yep! 

I didn't go anywhere yet.

Didn't want to head to Missouri while I was in so much pain.

Cysts on both ovaries - evidence of one burst on the left side.

I think I might know what childbirth feels like now - but I've nothing to show for it!

The weather here is ridiculous.

It's very difficult to sit here and blog.

The weeds await!

So much to accomplish before the snow flies - we are busy scraping, painting, planning, figuring and scheming.

Here's the red door so far - don't you love how I put the address on there with upholstery nails?

Still scraping and painting to be done in this area -

Another super cute decorating idea - it would look better if I would have actually washed the window - maybe put some bittersweet up there too....

We really are busy as bees - especially Glenco - he's working his wings off.

Seriously.

Thank you for all the honey orders!

It's all gone for now - perhaps this week I'll find time to get in the hives and get some more.

Some may think me crazy, but I really do love this time of year -

Not just for it's blazing beauty,

but I like the winding down part.

the reason I get few raspberries : -)

The 'this is the last time I'll weed the garden this year' part.

The 'put the extra quilts on the bed' part.

I like the way the light dances around the yard so differently than summer, bringing everything to life in it's autumn glow.

I like that soon we'll be sequestered indoors and it'll be time for knitting, books and dreaming of next years gardens and shenanigans.

I'll be pulling out with the Squirrel on Monday for tomfoolery with Janie Fox.

Excited is an understatement!

After that, I'll head off to Missouri.

Today the BoyChild comes here after school and we will have Fun Fall Frolic Day tomorrow - bike riding, picnics, maybe a hike near the lake.  I had fully planned on calling him off of school tomorrow - cause that would make it seem extra special - and here there is no school tomorrow anyhow! 

I'm going to make him take a million photos - the boy has mad skills and gets photos like this with his phone...

"Oh that?  I think I had my eyes closed when I took it."

Mmmhmmm....and I don't even feel good Aaron. 

My blog posts may be sporadic for a few weeks as I finish up outside projects, suck the marrow out of my time with the BoyChild,  and travel the countryside.

But you might just want to check everyday anyhow - cause if'n you've been a reader long enough, you know I make no rhyme or reason.

When I think I'm not going to blog much - I blog nearly every day.

When I plan to blog everyday - I'm lucky to get a post up in a week.

It's how I roll.

all the news worth printing...

It's been a busy week here at the coop.

Glenco has been off all week as we work to convert the house from propane to natural gas....

This is the state of my front yard as I type this....

I was too shy to actually go out and photograph them working.

: -)

Yes, I am shy - I know you can't imagine that.

So really, that's been the week.

Home centers, new hot water heaters, conversion kits and

Season Three of Damages.

My pelvic pain is still quite annoying - and I was told by the Dr. that I had an ovarian cyst that apparently ruptured.  I go for an ultrasound tomorrow.

My weight is moving down nicely again as I continue to face the demons of food addiction, and how and why life seems incomplete without taffy apples and pumpkin scones.

I'm feeling rather quiet of late - and I'm sure it's reflected here.

Rest assured all is well -

I will possibly be gone the next two weeks or so...won't know until later today -

Missouri is calling - and a camping trip with Janie Fox is planned.

Can you imagine?

Lucy and Ethel - no joke!

I leave you with a great idea for a window box.

Swiss chard.

For real.

Isn't it glorious?

(Kelly - if you are reading this, please email me again!  Somehow I no longer have your email address!)



Why I Left Facebook....

I'm not sure if you'll notice me gone - but I am.

There one minute.

Poof.

Gone the next.

It had nothing to do with the recent changes - I wasn't too happy with them - but I never did understand all the hoo ha about it - my take on it?

Get over it.

I left because I've been feeling socially overwhelmed lately.

It's all been a bit too much.

Blogging.

Facebook

Emails.

'Real Life' social stuff.

I'm finding myself shunning people at the moment.

I don't think it's healthy.

I felt that Facebook was promoting a lot of very superficial relationships in my life, and I didn't like it.

I felt like my brain was being cluttered with every one's opinions, complaints, dinner choices, and ailments.

I felt like I was checking in with Facebook much too often, and using it to procrastinate at times.

When leaving - I did feel a bit scared.

There are some measurable merits to having a Facebook account.

It was easy to share when I did a blog post.

Easy to share photos.

Easy to share information with the masses using one touch of a button.

I felt scared that "I'd lose touch" with some of the friendships I had.

I felt the fear and did it anyway.

My brain already feels quieter.

I like it.

But there's no button to press to tell you that.

: -)

(PS - don't forget to read the post underneath this one - or check out my Etsy shop to order your very own Coop Keeper honey!)

Golden Nectar! Limited Quantity

Visit my Etsy shop today if you'd like to order some honey -

Very limited quantity!

Sorry that I don't have more to share - perhaps next month I will - and next year - I'm hoping to add more hives.

You won't be disappointed.

So Happy I Could Pee...

It's a bullet point kind of day.

But since I don't know how to do bullet points on Blogger - you get one liners....

I see the bullet point button up there, but it doesn't seem to work with centering text...ergo...the one liners.

At this moment, I feel that I could burst from contentment.

I feel like I could fill up a gratitude journal with one fell swoop of the pen.

I find myself muttering under my breath - 'thank you, thank you'

As I sit and type this, I'm wearing a size medium Life is Good pair of flannel pj bottoms and a cozy pair of Life is Good socks.

(I have on a t-shirt, but it's not Life is Good, and therefore not worth mentioning - and yet - I've mentioned it.)

Did I mention the pants were sized Medium?
Me - the Coop Keeper in medium pants. 
My insides are smiling.

When I'm not typing, my hands are wrapped around a warm cup of tea.

I have four new balls of yarn, and I'm going to play with them tonight while I finish up  Season Two of Damages.

The sky is so unbelievably fabulous - thoughts like 'if THIS is earth, what will heaven be like?' cross my mind....as I just stand in the driveway face toward the sky soaking the goodness in.

I swear the chickens were giddy today when I let them out - I've never seen a chicken skip until today.

I was told I was unusually beautiful today  -  by a 76 year old man - but it still counts.

I 'falled up' my porches and I'm so happy with it I could pee.

I talked to Aaron on the phone tonight and thanked my lucky stars that my nearly 16 yr old BoyChild nephew still wants to talk to me, tells me he loves me and he can't wait to see me again.

Stick a fork in me - I be done.

I'm not sure where all of this contentment comes from - I mean - I have a lot to be concerned with, downright worried about - and things to complain about in general -

I have no financial security.

Do any of us?

Our basement is a hot mess and if Mike Holmes from Holmes on Holmes saw it - he'd tear the place down.

I may never eat wheat again!

I think I have an ovarian cyst, or a kidney stone and started out to the ER not twice, but thrice in the last three days, because of excruciating pain.

It's a bit better now - and I'll see my Dr. this week....no worries..

But - I just don't think of those things -

Wellness Wednesday - Food Addiction

Onward, and downward.

The scale is moving in the right direction, I see muscles popping out in fun places.

I'm pretty much right on track to meet my January 2012 goal.

Am I perfect?

Law.

Far from it.

Am I working on it?

Yeppers.

I was called 'skinny' by two different people yesterday.

Trust me - I'm far from it - but compared to a year ago?  Ya - I'm skinny.

Aaron wanted to take my picture to show me how skinny I was...ha.

Love that BoyChild.

He keeps looking at me and asking me 'where did you go?'.

Within this post are some pics - I need you guys to vote on my hair color.

I've been a blond for a long time, and everyone tells me I look best as a blond - I feel the most like myself as a blond - if that makes a lick of sense - but here are a few pics of other hair colors I've had - interspersed with the text.

me with flaming red hair - very hard to maintain!

So here it is already - Wednesday.

And that means it's Wellness Wednesday.

Today I wanted to talk about food addiction.

This will be a rather short post - cause I'm no expert, I'm just a food addict - in recovery.

If you want to delve more into it - all ya'd have to do is Google it.

I still fight that title at times, I think they call that denial.

I'm coming to terms with it - some days better than others, some days - not at all.

I no longer hide to eat.

That was a big one for me.

Hiding in the corner of the pantry - stuffing my face with whatever came loose.

Baking chips, coconut, peanut butter, crackers, etc.

Going through drive-thrus alone - where the only people that knew of my devilment were me and 'Trish' at the DQ drive-thru - all evidence destroyed before I ever got home.

Now - if I do eat - I do it openly.

I ate nearly a half a bag of marshmallows on Saturday night.
I struggled to eat them openly - everything in me wanted to hide.

Why did I eat the marshmallows?

Well - it was the only thing in the house that would give me that feeling I was looking for.

An apple wouldn't have cut it.

My beloved broccoli (I made a special trip to the grocery store today cause I was out of broccoli - and I kissed it as I put it in the fridge - I've plum lost my mind.) wouldn't have cut it.

I needed sugar mainlined into my veins.

I needed bacon.

I needed pizza and bowls of ice cream.

I needed a feeling.

I needed a warm hug.

I needed chocolate and butter.

I?

Or 'it'?

The addiction.

I think 'it' needed it.

I try to separate myself from the addiction - because "I" want to be healthy, make healthy choices, and break free from the pull of food.

"It" doesn't.

It wants to be soothed like a baby when I'm feeling down.
It wants what it wants when it wants it.

It would have me sitting in a size 20 jeans again.

Blond hair gone wrong -

One of the things that helps me the most is to see myself in third person when I'm about ready to make a stupid move - like go to the Tastee Top and order a large cone dipped in Cotton Candy crunch topping.

It's almost like I'm watching a hidden video camera - of someone that's an addict - and I'm shouting 'no!  don't do it!'

There are still places that are hard for me to be alone.

Walgreen's is one.

Alllllll thaaatttt cannnndddyyy!

Driving alone - seeing McDonald's signs that say

"try our new mango smoothie" - I hear a voice in my head say 'Ok!'.

I still at times envision myself on an LSD type high - floating through space where food, especially pulled pork sandwiches float with me and I'm just eating and eating.

I still dream of swimming in the nude in pools filled with Sugar Babies and battered, deep fried cauliflower.

Brunette Jayme - weird huh? Rather hankering for dark hair again - maybe it's the weather...

But it's getting so much better - and the cleaner I stay, the quieter the voice in my head gets, and the calmer the cravings are.

It's not just about being a size 8 to me - it's about being free.

It's about nothing holding me back from being who I was created to be.

It's about not tripping over the same old tangled up roots in the yard of my life, but continuing on - growing, changing, evolving into the best Jayme there is.

It's about not digging my own grave with my fork.

It's about choosing foods that promote life and vitality.

I don't know what color this is!

It's about living for God's sake.

Food addiction is real.

I do believe that the very nature of foods most people consume on a regular basis are addictive.

Sugar, wheat, preservatives, etc.

If you, your true self really doesn't want to do something - something that you know is detrimental to your health - and you hear yourself saying 'I really shouldn't' - and you do it anyway -

wouldn't you call that addiction?

Winners and Answers -

Great Googly Moogly!

97 comments!

As the comments were coming in, my heart was breaking.  I want to send you ALL some honey!

I thought about sending everyone a teaspoon.

Can you imagine.

The winners are -

Commenter 2 - Joy!

Commenter 46 - Blessings from a Wildflower!

and Commenter 84 - Thistle and Thyme Farm!

Please email me at jayme.goffin@yahoo.com with your address.

K?

K.

And now to start answering your questions...I'll just do a few here and there, so I don't bore you to sleep.

Erin, Gina and Patti asked me what my favorite way to use honey is - and I'd say it's just to eat it straight out of the jar, or make honey cookies or oatmeal honey bread.  But since I no longer eat cookies and bread *weeps* I just eat it straight.  I actually don't like it in my tea.  Go figa!

Nana Diana asked me how long it took before I noticed changes in myself after starting my 'kickbutt' (her words : -) program - Diana - it took me almost 20lbs before I really started seeing a change - and nearly 30 lbs before people started consistently noticing. 

Tracy asked me if I grow a veggie garden - I started out growing veggies, and didn't have any flowers.  I love veggie gardens, and think that a well maintained vegetable garden is every bit as pretty as a nice perennial bed.  Once I started putting in the big flower gardens around here, my veggie patch got smaller and smaller, and this year - due to tendinitis in my arm, I didn't plant one.  I poked a few tomato plants in amongst my flowers.  Oddly, I didn't miss it too much - just went to Farmer's Markets.  I do hope to have one next year though - it's all just so much work!

Happier Than A Pig in Mud asked me about my red door, and what would be the next color I would paint it.  Well - the door is still red.  I promise a pic soon!  The red door - a dirty country red - is growing on me.  It seems to make no sense in my head that the only thing on the house that is red is the door - seems that I need 'other things' to tie it in.  I'll get some red mums, a flag with some red in it etc.  I'm happy to say that I've quit obsessing over it.

OK, that's all for now!  I'm riding my bike to the gym to go and work out, and later today have my Cooking Club!  The theme for today's club is 'Lunch in the Mediterranean'.  After that, I do some volunteer garden work at an old historical house in town.

Have a fabulous day!



The Sweetest Readers Ever

I'm not sure if you guys know how much I think about you all.

Silly things will run through my head at times, I'll see something and it'll spark a thought about one of you.

Your comments are a balm to my soul.

And I need me some balm up in here today!

You see - I'm a pile of acronyms today.

Even the chickens seem to step to the side when they see me coming....

PMS

ADD

OCD

Oh yes - it's bad today - and the allergy fog that I'm in doesn't help.  My head really doesn't feel attached to my body in any way - which leads to moments such as -

Painting my front door red.

Going out in my pajamas at daybreak to look at it 17 times to assess my approval of said red door.

Crossing the street to look at it.

Getting in the car and driving by from both directions to look at it.

Not knowing if I like it.

Obsessing that the verbena in the pot near the door is more of a fuchsia tone and doesn't match the door.

Wanting to paint the brick wall on the porch red again.

Wanting to be a brunette.

Cancelling all the plans I have on the calendar for the next two weeks.

Adding more plans to the calendar for the next two weeks.

Thinking about pie.

And then - if that weren't enough -

I swore at my bees.

I did.

Now, normally I'm all zen-like up in the hives - enjoying the placid buzzing sound.

The bees were angry my friends.

In fact, so angry - that even though I felt virtually sting proof in my beekeeper get up - they were freaking me out - a lot.

I decided to get out of the bee yard for a bit to let them calm down - and the stinkers followed me all the way back to the house.

And I swore at them.

I know this surprises you.

It did me too.

But, I did take 85lbs of their golden nectar, with about 50lbs more to come.

I have no idea why crack cocaine is so popular when you could access local honey much easier.

Oh ya.

It's that good.

One spoonful and you'll be itching for more.

You'll sell your Longaberger basket collection to get more.

You'll beg, borrow and steal for the regurgitated goodness.

But y'all don't have to go to those lengths.

I'd love to give three jars of it away.

Three pint sized jars of raw honey to three sweet readers.

Continental US only please.

I do have the nicest readers on the web.

Thank you.

All ya have to do is ask me a question, anything - and I'll answer it here on the blog - and choose three winners out of the comments, randomly of course, so no grovelling allowed.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go look at paint swatches.

Amen.



Wellness Wednesday - A Nest of Empty Dreams

I'm sitting here watching the cursor blink before me.

Mentally, I'm all over the board - for reals.

Life is just absolutely too exciting for me at times, and I feel the need for tranquilizers.

I mean - really?

Gardens, farmstands, chickens, friends, events, cooking, fall looming before us, knitting, sweaters, hot tea....

I get so excited about it all at times I'm afraid I'll burn out my adrenal glands.

: -)

For the record, I do plan on talking about chickens again soon.

Particularly, this one.

Good ole Phyllis.

This bird teaches me many lessons.

The fool bird is up sitting on empty eggs yet again.

My heart can't take her persistence in the face of ultimate failure.

Monday I go to the Poultry Auction in search of a suitable mate.

Home girl needs some lovin' if those eggs ever be hatchin'.

I'm still riding the wave of joy over the Marathon.

THANK YOU for your kind words of encouragement!

I've read them all several times, and it means so much to me that you'd take the time to write a comment.

I'm a bit hooked.

I wear my medal often, I'm embarrassed to say.

I may turn into the old crazy chicken lady who talks about the Marathon til her dying day -

"I remember in 2011....."

I'm signing up to do a mini Triathlon in Chicago next summer.

I'm stoked!

I just need to learn to swim a little better now...

So what does this have to do with Wellness Wednesday and Phyllis?

Well you see folks - many many years ago - when I was nearly 300lbs, I had such a desire to be fit - to be able to do a Triathlon.

I actually read Triathlon magazines.

While I drank a 20oz. Coke and ate a king sized Snickers.

Now Glenco will tell you that I'm just in all of this for the gear - and he's partially right.

I mean - I love the gear.  The clothes, the shoes, the goo gels, and water bottles.

Much like Phyllis, sitting on a nest of empty eggs, I sat on a nest of empty dreams for many years.

Much like Phyllis, I needed my eggs fertilized, and had no way to fertilize them.

Finally, this year, finding the BootCamp and David Greenwalt - my dreams became fertilized.

I learned what I needed in order to hatch my eggs.

I think it's so important that our dreams come to fruition.

Sitting on empty eggs makes one weary.

Little by little, day by day - I'm realizing that it's easier to do the hard WORK of making our dreams and goals come true, than it is to sit on a nest of empty dreams.

I encourage each and every one of you to find the time in your life to think about your dreams, the ones that you feel that life would be incomplete without - and pursue them with all of your heart.  Find out what's keeping you from them. 

I think you'd be surprised to find out that it's you.