Month: June 2014

Young bucks nowadays

/ Jeanette / Leave a comment

I’m 32 years old and really the only thing I have accomplished in my life is being a mom. I never went to college. I never traveled the world. I never had any dreams or aspirations because I never thought I could reach them. So I just didn’t. And now at 32 years old, I struggle to know who I am and feel as though I am just watching the world go by.

Then I see a young 19 year old. Who is top of the class at culinary school and is just letting the opportunities pass by. They’re right there in arms reach, a hand starts to reach for it, then hesitates and draws back. The 19 year old and the chip on the shoulder settles with many excuses to go around about why not now.

My question exactly WHY NOT NOW?

Why not go to London and cook at a 5 star restaurant? Life back home will still be there.

Why not go and intern with Graham Elliot from Masterchef in Chicago? Home will still be here.

Why not take a leap of faith and explore the world? Family will still be here.

I am just a low man on the totem pole home cook, but I would jump at those opportunities. Going to culinary school alone, would make me over the moon! But to have these kind of opportunities is amazing and once in a lifetime opportunities.

So to all the young bucks, children, kids or teenagers! Take it from someone who wishes she made more of her life. Just a little friendly advice or encouragement.

I wish I had the opportunities you have or will have in your lives. Don’t be afraid to go out there and explore this world. Yes, it will be scary. But take that leap. Take as many opportunities that come your way. Go to London to cook with a 5 star restaurant. Or go to college in another state where they have 4 seasons. If you fall in love with that place, don’t be sad that you left us behind because we will still be here cheering you on. Leave the nest and spread your wings. Don’t ever settle in life. Make your life what you want it to be.

I wish I had to opportunity to live in a different state or country. To experience a new culture and see new things.

I wish I had a career goal and knew what I wanted to be and went for it.

I wish I had some passions and just went for it.

It’s not going to be easy but life never is. Things may not always work out how you pictured, but life never does.

In the end, you will make mistakes and you will live and learn. And you will grow!

But at least you lived your life, instead of watching it pass you by.

Because no matter what path you choose, you always end up where you need to be.

Home.

Family

 

Here comes the chicks…..

/ Jeanette / 5 Comments

Now that our babies are getting bigger and have their feathers coming in, I am able to give them proper names to fit them and their personality.

Introducing our flock……

DSC_0031

This is Big Bertha. She is the oldest by a few days and the biggest of our chickens.

DSC_0029

This is Luna. It took me forever to come up with a name for her. She is starting to get more comfortable with me and will jump on me every once and a while.

DSC_0028

This is Precious. This one belongs to Brianna. Which is appropriate because she is the same age as Luna but so much smaller, just like her owner.

DSC_0040

Twinsies! They were easy to name because they are always into something. Thing 1 is at the top, she has a smaller and lighter colored beak. Thing 2 at the bottom, much larger beak and even has some black lines running through it.

DSC_0039

This is Speckles. This one belongs to Alissa. UMMM I am not sure what it is; girl or boy! But it’s pretty.

DSC_0033

This is Nutmeg. She has adopted herself as mine. When she sees me, she finds a way to jump on my back. She likes to look me eye to eye and talk to me. She is a gossiper.

DSC_0025

This is Midnight. She too has become a Momma’s girl. Her and Nutmeg like to fight over who sits where on Momma’s back.

DSC_0034

This is Ninja and in case you can’t tell; yup he’s a rooster. No eggs from this little fellow. He belongs to Cailin. And she changed his name from Fizzy to Ninja when he started running around and karate kicking the other chickens. Now before you say what happened to his feathers. It’s okay; He is a Frizzle chicken. Let me just say if anyone was going to pick the odd ball of the bunch it was going to be Cailin. And she is very proud of herself.

DSC_0032

Last but not least, Lil Baby. This one was named by Dakota. He took a liking to the youngest of the group. I am 95% sure Lil baby is a rooster. But he is so darn cute!

DSC_0037

Look at that he could be a chicken model! Adorable!

So here they are! We have had no health problems and they are the highlight of our day. Someone is always checking on them, feeding them snacks or thinking of something new to make for them. It really has been a fun family project.

 

 

 

Family Dinners

/ Jeanette / 1 Comment

Growing up, my parents were divorced and working. So instead of splitting my time between Mom and Dad, I went from one grandparents house to the other. Now most people say their grandparents were the ones that always had family dinners. Well not mine. I grew up in the age of TV dinners. You know those fantastically, nasty trays of food that you could cook in 2 minutes and eat while watching your favorite show. So most of the time that is what happened. And I have to admit, in the beginning of my Mommy years, I let my kids do the same thing.

Then one day it all changed. We just moved into a house that actually had a dining room. And so our tradition began. Every night, with a few exceptions, we eat dinner at the table as a family. I’ll admit at first it was just a way to keep my white rug looking nice. But now it has become a tradition. A moment in time where we can all sit around and talk, joke and laugh. Or in my son’s case to have the attention of everyone in the house at one time. It’s hard to get him to be quiet long enough to stick some food in his mouth. But that’s okay because we are together.

But being a homeschooling family and eating almost 3 meals a day together, we now have family breakfasts and lunches sometimes.

Sometimes I am that cool mom that says yes you can enjoy pizza with a movie.

On holidays the kids get the TV table, so the adults can talk and eat in peace, but it’s still as a family.

Very rarely is there a constant flow of people in and out of the kitchen eating.

I am hoping that my kids will pass on these little traditions to their children. Family dinners are essential to knowing about your child and what is going on. We don’t always talk sometimes we are way too tired. But being around each other is comforting. Like a blanket on a cold day. It’s knowing your family is there no matter what.