The Old Folks Home

[chickisoup]

Nancy's husband Joseph used to work at a max prison in Delaware. He lied about his age to get into the army during WWII. He was also in Korea and part of the MASH unit that the tv show was made after. At the Cranberry Thistle he baked the most wonderful cakes. His halloween costume every year was the same thing. A back t-shirt that said "I know where the bodies are buried." He and Nancy had one child. They lost him and their only grandchild in an arson fire that was never solved. Jo and her husband never had children. I became their "daughter" and my family became theirs. They even talked me into going to Harrah's with them one weekend. What a blast that was. I listen to them tell stories about their past and think that even at 49 I am still just an egg who has so much still to experience.

You must share more stories!

I also think it's time for all of us to share a few Christmas memories

 

[chickisoup]

Ok, who remembers those awful Christmas trees of the sixties???

My mom had to have every one and I HATED them!
First was the silver aluminum tree that you had to light up with the flood light shining on it and of course you had to have the spinning disk with the yellow red and blue cellophane so the tree would change color. The thing looked to me like a giant tv antenna gone berserk!
Next came the real trees that were "flocked". Remember those? They were sprayed so thick with some kind of foam you could barely tell there was n actual tree under there! When you tried to decorate the thing the foam would either fall off or stick to everything. Oh, and of course , my oh so traditional mother just HAD to have the pink one!!! Nothing said Christmas like this thing that looked like a huge lump of cotton candy standing in the corner and smelled like a new car seat.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
We ate a lot more salads and veggies last year because the garden did so well. I think I ate my weight in cherry tomatoes straight off the vine.

THose cherry tomatos are dangerous!!

Eating out of the garden is a wonderful experience for kids--- a minute ago my oldest was comparing store bought parsnips to those he harvested late this fall.Of course he won't eat them though, not yet.

Quote: My kids are among the rare few that are not obese at school-- because they eat high quality food so consumption is self limiting. I love that fresh produce is available here in the US markets year round!! We are fortunate to have a safe place for my kids to play out side. NOthing like 2 boys about the same age with similar interests.

My kids don't need me to get them snacks at their age they can help themselves-- if they are hungry they can scramble eggs, eat an apple, open a can of beans, a carrot,a salad. Usually cold chicken or a roast is available.

A favorite is frozen blackberries covered in milk. THe milk freezes up and they have fun eating it. We continue to get "bread" out of the diet as much as possible by eating other foods and throwing bread to the chickens. Kids help with preparing food.

I don't need to bargin with the kids to eat salads anymore-- they now love them and just need a gentle prompting --"have you had a salad today?" It is a process to help kids be self sufficient.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Making a wreath with Mommy.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Maddy looks like she's having a great time. Nicely done on the wreath, too.

 

[ozexpat]

Making a wreath with Mommy.

Maddy is awesome

 

[tnspursfan09]

She is awesome...and dig that crazy puffball head.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Helping with the chicken chores.



Cricket and Dottie.


Maddy and the babies.

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh the cuteness!!!!


Thank you Arielle!

 

[Cynthia12]

Cute photos of kids and chickens..and mom and chickens. "_"