Playing catch-up, part 2 (subtitle: "Immersed in chicken-stuff")

Last weekend (18th), the ladies of our neighborhood had our second official brunch. I started the facebook group last fall, and we are up to 94 members! It has been such a great way to get to know others. We had probably 50 people at this most recent brunch. I only took a few photos, and they were of the folks that were there, so allow me to use these pictures of the food instead that one of the other ladies took.

And that's not even half of the food. Imagine 50 ladies all bringing a different dish (or two) - it's impossible to even try it all. So much fun, though.

Recently, an ordinance was passed in my county to allow backyard chickens (hens only). Our brunch Hostess is our first "Legal" chicken owner in our 'hood! Meet Minnie and Mary:



I was very excited when the ordinance passed, as I have been wanting chickens for quite a while. However, I thought it was something I'd have to hold off on until Josh was out of school. I didn't know if I could take it all on myself.... Until Laura mentioned she wanted to share some chickens with someone, but didn't feel her yard was a good place for them. Thus, our co-parenting plan was "hatched". Our plan is to end up with six chickens, but we should have our first two by the end of March!

Our starter coop has arrived (soon to be painted a bright turquoise) and we are immersing ourselves in all things chicken - we have a lot to learn!



I purchased this over the weekend to adorn one of our (eventual) three coops):



I'm very excited! Expect much more chicken babble in the future.

Another thing I am excited about is SPRING. Here's how my little garden plot looked last week (just a little 4x4 in my backyard):



This will be the first year we can harvest our asparagus! I'm really looking forward to that.

I planned to clean it out yesterday, but I got a nasty stomach bug and could barely drag myself off of the couch. I'm also planning to find someone to till up a row behind my garage so I can plant some vine-y things like cucumbers and pumpkins and squashes.

I usually start my garden from plants, not seeds. However, we have a community garden in my 'hood and I am hoping to get at least one plot in it (preferably two), and I will be growing from seed over there. I think the plots are 4x12, so I would have a lot more room than I have at home. As a matter of fact, Laura (my chicken co-mom)took me on a tour of the garden the afternoon of our ladies' brunch, and I was surprised how much was growing in February (though it has been a mild winter).











I've already went and bought some seeds... so far I am most looking forward to planting these babies...



Ok, I think I'm caught up! Hope all is well with everyone in blogland. Any gardening or chicken excitement happening with anyone else?

Playing catch up!

I'm going to post about this past (most recent) weekend first and then hopefully I'll have time later to post about the one previous. Exciting things (well, exciting to ME) going on in my little world.

Friday I took the day off from work. Went to the dentist and got bad news. Yuck. Going to get a second opinion from another dentist next week and hopefully an affordable payment plan (we're talking $3500 worth of work, folks). Well, in any case, that was depressing. And it made my mouth sore so I came home and took a nap and then got ready to go meet my MIL and SIL for dinner and then the Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan concert. I will be the first person to tell ya, I don't generally like "new" country music. I seriously love the stuff that came out in the 90's, or I prefer old country - George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers - the classics. But Jason and Luke put on a heck of a show!! It was a lot of fun. Live music is so good for the soul, and living in Nashville.... sometimes you've just gotta embrace the country!





Me and my sis in law wearing our new shirts. I had to get the Dirt Road Anthem shirt for two reasons: #1 The beginning of the video was shot right around/in my neighborhood, and #2 the song references George Jones. So that was a no-brainer.


Having fun at the show!


This was my SIL's drink at dinner. A Blackberry Volcano. So cool, and tasty, too!

Saturday Morning, Josh and I went to a local coffee shop just a mile or so away. They will be moving INTO our neighborhood soon, pretty much right up the street and around the corner from us!



Then we stopped at an Estate Sale in our hood, where we got a box full of vintage goodies for $9.50.



After that I had an appointment, and after the appointment, picked up my friend Kristina because she wanted to go to the Estate Sale, too. We kind of rushed through it the first time so I didn't get to see everything, so I was excited to get to go again. Spent another $13, will show you my total haul in a second.

We had a little more time to kill, so Kristina suggested we go to The Beehive, which is a little local store that sells fun things for the home and garden. We had never been there before, so why the heck not?

Well, I had bought a little vintage orange bowl at the estate sale that I wanted to plant succulents in, and sure enough, the Beehive had some succulents. I went out to my car to get my bowl and see what would fit. The lady that worked there looked that bottom of the bowl and said "This is a vintage McCoy! You only paid $5 for it?" (price tag was still on it) I told her everything there was half priced, so I actually only paid $2.50. She said the flower frog that was in it (search image here https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1603&bih=750&q=flower+frog&gbv=2&oq=flower+fro&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=1&gs_upl=1255l4209l0l7048l12l12l1l1l1l0l162l718l8.2l10l0) was worth $5 alone. I had no use for the flower frog, so I gave it to her and she seemed happy about that. Meanwhile, I got my succulents and a McCoy for $2.50 and I was happy about THAT!



Here is everything I got at the estate sale:



So many fun vintage books, I can never resist those!







Also started my first batch of vanilla vodka - we'll see how it turns out. Should be ready today or tomorrow:



Decided to display some of my vintage pieces of Fiesta that never get used and put them in the hutch. I rearranged it a million times, but I think I am finally happy with this:



My shelves are still a work in progress, though. They will be the death of me!

I want to be better.

Let me preface this too-serious post with some fun first. I've been having way too much fun with the Face In Hole app. Especially with the dogs. I'm so easily amused.













Best 99 cents I've ever spent. Try it, I bet you will be addicted, too!

Now on to the more serious subject matter. It's been a fairly mild winter here (yay, Nashville!), but I think I am just prone to the winter "blahs", Seasonal Affective Disorder, cabin fever, or whatever you want to call it.

My life is just fine. Not too stressful (other than Josh being so busy with school stuff), no huge responsibilities, no kids, no money issues other than having to tighten up the budget a bit until Josh graduates next spring. Heck, no car issues anymore. What I am trying to say is I have absolutely no reason to feel anything other than happy 24/7.

But I don't. I've been having wild mood swings this week, going from being a Joyful Jokester to a Debbie Downer in about 2 seconds flat. I've got a full social schedule (baby showers galore, neighborhood fun, hosting a Pampered Chef party) but nothing that is not enjoyable or presses me for time. Still, I feel overwhelmed somehow.

Right now, I am feeling like I can't do anything right. And when I don't feel like I can do things right, I don't want to do them at all. I rarely cook anymore, and Josh knows better than to ask me what's for dinner. Clean landry is everywhere, waiting for me to fold it. I refuse. Reading material is piling up but I can't seem to sit still long enough to read it. I honestly don't know what I do with my free time. I guess I just flit from one thing to the next, never really completing anything, and it makes me really frustrated with myself. Which then makes me feel bad. Which then makes me sad.

I've really gotten away from doing the things I love to do and the things that ground me and keep me sane. I haven't been to yoga in way too long, and I'm done making excuses, so I am going tonight. I can't wait to melt into my mat and finally relax. Hopefully it will help these constant headaches I've been having, not to mention jaw pain. I am unsure if I have a cavity, or if my jaw is just always clenched. I will probably cry at yoga, but it will be such a release. I've got to get back to me.

Spring (and more sunshine) can't come soon enough. And hugs. I need more hugs in my life.