An hour an 15 minutes to go~~

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!!

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...

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!!

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!

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...

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

(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!

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!!!

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

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!!

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

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...

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?

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...

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...

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!!

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!

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...

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