Bloggin' 'Bout Boxes!

Well, sometimes you just don't know what curve-ball life is going to throw at you.  

This is how I find myself moving from the country to the city.

Sometimes you just have to dance in rain; no matter whether it's storming or not.

Yes folks, I am leaving country life and moving to a house in the city. . . with Chicken.

Now Chicken and I grew up together, so this shouldn't be too much of a shock right?

Right?

I can't help but wonder if other people who've moved have had similar experience to mine.

I started out carefully packing each item in boxes, sealing those boxes, and labeling them with the contents.

After about 2 days of this, I became totally fed up with the monotony. . . plus I ran out of boxes.  That's when I found, ah yes, garbage bags.  Not only sturdy with easy grip ties, but these were scented with the heavenly scent of Febreze.

Thus, I began systematically tossing practically everything I own into garbage bags.

It's kind-of unnerving; seeing everything you own, everything you own, in an assortment of boxes and garbage bags.

And, okay, I'll admit that I might have felt better about everything if I hadn't used the garbage bags so readily in my packing.  But, the point I'm trying to make here is that moving is just emotional.  Plus, it led me to do a lot of thinking.

Thinking about how this move will affect my life.
Thinking about my life in general; where I am and where I want to be.
Thinking about the things I've accumulated.
Basically a lot of thinking about a lot of things.

Chicken: And a lot of crying.  You cry an awful lot; you know.
Bo: I cry just the right amount.
Chicken: Yeah, the right amount for someone with a heart like a sponge.

When you go to a New Home party, you get to see the aftermath of many hard weeks of sorting, cleaning, and unpacking.  The last time I moved, I was just a young kid starting out and I had barely anything to my name (except clothes and books).  This time as I moved, I had accumulated a wealth of furniture, shoes, decorations, wall hangings, clothes, books, art supplies, jewelry making supplies, more books, and. . . well. . . let's just face it I have a lot of books.

So after I actually had all of my boxes (and garbage bags) of my belongings at my new abode I began the VERY tedious task of unpacking.

It was then I realized I have a lot of stuff that I haven't used or needed in years; as well as a bunch of stuff I've never used.  So, I ended up donating a lot instead of unpacking it.

Donating things to various non-profits helped me a lot.  I felt better knowing that someone in need would be receiving something for use in their home.  If felt better knowing that my move, will and has, benefited so many.

Chicken: Oh, boy, get ready for the water works again.
Bo: I'm not going to cry.
Chicken: . . .
Bo: Well, I'm probably not going to.  At least not as much as last time.
Chicken: (rolls eyes)

As I thought about having moved, at first I cried 

Chicken: See, I told you!

Bo:  As I was saying. . .

                                        At first  I cried about all the things I was going to miss . . .

the new spring grasses

the beautiful tree buds

the colorful flowers

the sweet melodies of the songbirds

the quiet hooves of the white-tailed deer

But, oh so very soon. . .

I began to see the same beauty and magic at my new home . . .

through the tree blooms that fell like snowflakes in April

the rain showers of helicopter seeds

the same colorful showers

the scent of a barbecue on a cool spring evening

the playful squirrels who dart along the fence playing with the dogs

Chicken: You're making your move sound like a Disney special.

Bo: Well, maybe it is my happily ever after and my Prince Charming is going to come riding his noble steed through town.

Chicken: Oh brother!  Just don't start singing.

Bo: Ooo- just give me a second to bring up my music player!

Chicken: Don't threaten me.  Remember, I know where the breaker box is.

Yes, I think I am going to be very happy here.

I'm happy and I'm home.

Bo In The City

Ah, the beautiful city of Noblesville; located in the heart and historic center of Hamilton County.  Home of the Noblesville Millers football team

Ashes: What’s a Miller?  

Bo & Chicken: We don’t know.  

Ashes: When’s the last time they won a game? 

Bo: Um, I’m sure they won one about 5 years ago.

A quaint little city with 2 Starbucks, 2 McDonald’s, 2 Kroger’s, 2 Taco Bell’s, 5 assorted ice-cream/custard shops, 2 Dairy Queen’s, 2 Burger King’s, 2 movie theatres, 2 Marsh’s, 2 Pizza Huts, 2 Blockbusters (which are currently closing), 5 CVS’s, and 5 Walgreens.  Oh, yeah, and about 10 different Chinese restaurants. 

A lovely little city with. . . what is that?  Could it be?  Yes, it’s a Chicken & a Bo.  

Are they carrying moving boxes?  

Well, Chicken is carrying the boxes; Bo is supervising.

Bo: Yes folks, I’m moving to the city.  Good bye to the country life and hello to the city life.                    

Bo is moving to the city!

Chicken: I know we grew up together, but I'm not sure if I can handle living with you again.

Bo: It's going to be an adventure!  Hey, what's that noise?

Chicken: It's a fire truck.

Bo: Oh.  Hey what does this button do?

Chicken: It turns on the dishwasher.

Bo:  Oooooo.  Look at this thing.  What happens if I push the. . .

Chicken: DON'T PUSH THAT BUTTON!!!

Bo: Can't I try it out?

Chicken: Sigh.  Yeah, this is going to be an adventure alright.  I just hope one of us makes it out alive.

Bo:  Bo is officially livin' in the city!

Are you there God? It's me Blog.

The following blog was not written for big laughs or giggles.  It was written (by all the grandchildren) as a tribute to our grandmother Darlene Barbara Brock who recently passed away.  


Grandmothers are truly special people and bring so much into our lives.  They share their knowledge with a lifetime of experience to back it.  Our grandmother, Nonie, taught us so much and had such a strong influence on our lives- she shall live on in our hearts and memories forever.  


This is for you Nonie. We all love you.

                        A Tribute to the World’s Greatest Grandmother:

Darlene Barbara Brock

Nonie

Life is a journey.  Sometimes the path is filled with sunshine and songbirds.  Other times fog blurs your vision and rain clouds fill the sky.  As you journey through life, you grow and learn.  Darlene Barbara Brock, our Nonie, knew so much about life.  We are Darlene’s grandchildren and we would like to share some of the things she has taught us.

Nonie taught us the importance of hard work.  From dawn’s first light until sunset- as long as there’s sunshine- there’s work to be done.  Or as Nonie always said, “Man works from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.”

She taught us the importance of nutrition.  We all have fond memories of helping Nonie plant and harvest the garden.  Everything tastes better, fresh picked, and eaten outside.  Nonie made sure no one ever left her house with an empty stomach. When you came to Nonie and Papaw’s you were guaranteed to be fed a 3 course meal.  A few of our favorites are: gooseberry pie, mashed potatoes, fried pies, pumpkin rolls, fried chicken, baked beans, chili, and chicken and noodles.  As Papaw always said, “Your Nonie’s cookin’ is so good; it’d make your tongue slap your ears right off.”

She taught us you don’t need a medical license to practice medicine.  Everyone who’s ever met Nonie has first-hand experience with her first-aid.  Nonie had a natural cure for every ailment.  Puffballs were perfect for cuts, ‘backer was the best for bee stings, a scraped potato is great for spider bites and infection.

From spiders to raccoons, snakes to birds, Nonie taught us to care for all creatures’ great and small.  No animal was ever too scale-y, furry, or ornery for Nonie.

Nonie taught us how to show people that we care.  My fondest memories with Nonie are the two of us sitting by the fireplace making things out of beads, helping her break beans, and going over to Mamaw’s to watch TV and drink tea.  All the while she’d scratch or rub my back until we came back home.  She took care of all of us and was always there when we needed her.

Most importantly, Nonie taught us to love with our whole heart.  Nonie and Papaw.  Papaw and Nonie.  That’s the way it’s always been and always will be.  Their love was so pure and strong; we would all be blessed to have a love as beautiful as theirs.

Nonie is a strong willed, stubborn woman who taught me to stand my ground.  She had her feet firmly planted, her head held high, and her heart full of love for anyone willing to accept it.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on February 14^th Nonie joined Papaw in heaven.  Nonie got what she wanted most this Valentine’s Day; she’s back with the love of her life. 

Our memories of our Nonie, and the life lessons that she's taught us have become even more precious.  In times of grief we look to our friends and family for comfort, and the sky for answers.

We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and shoulders to cry on; your strength and support are greatly appreciated.

A Day In The Life. . . of Rosie O'

A Day In The Life

of Bo's dog Rosie

First you must know that Rosie is not a normal dog, 

in fact she's quite abnormal.  

She runs like a deer, has ears like a rabbit, 

the nose of a blood hound, the voice of a goose, 

and the personality of. . . well, I'm not exactly 

what creature she gets her personality from 

but she does prefer the company of cats.

Rosie is not your normal dog.  

She makes very un-dog-like sounds that 

sometimes resemble goose honks 

and she has terrible separation anxiety.  

She's also deathly afraid of nail clippers, 

the word "bath",  and thunder,

She's also obsessed with lights and shadows.

That being said, 

Rosie is definitely the best dog I have ever had.  

But there are times when I come home 

to find some very curious things, 

and since I don't speak goose (Rosie's preferred language), 

I can't quite understand what has happened.

Since Rosie is not your average dog, 

I've often wondered what she does while I'm at work all day.  

So for your consideration, I've created the following story.

A Day in the Life of Rosie O'
5:00 a.m. - Bo's alarm goes off- time to get up
5:30 a.m. - Check the perimiter and the food bowl (not necessarily in that order)
6:00 a.m. - Have a temper tantrum as Bo tries to leave
6:05 a.m. - Wait for the sound of the garage door closing
6:10 a.m. - Go back to bed
10:00 a.m. Take a leisuirely stroll to the food bowl and 
           find a   fascinating light speck on the wall.
           Follow the light across wall and onto the floor. 
           Repeat a few dozen times.
11:00 - 2:30- 
     Trail the cat
     Catch the cat
     Bathe the cat
     Receive a bath from the cat
     Catch up on the feline gossip.
     Discover I have a tail.


3:00 p.m. - Have a pillow fight with the cat.  Find some magical fluff in the pillow.  Decide to spread the magic and pull all the magical fluff out of the pillow as a gift to Bo.
3:30 p.m. Discover the cat has a tail

Many have asked me to write down Rosie's many adventures; since she has so many crazy ones; like the the tale of the 'Magical Woods Ham'.  Due to this, I've added to my bucket list. . .

Write Rosie's Life Story.

Which has me wondering, do you have a bucket list?  If so, what's on it?  What do you want to accomplish in your lifetime?  Or in the words of Rosie O'. . . "Honk, honk, honk-honk?"

Bloggy New Year!

Bo: Ah, New Year's Eve, a day (or rather night) of celebration among friends, families, and strangers.  And this year is an even more important one; yes folks tomorrow it will be the infamous year 2012.  


One thing I started doing every year was to make a mini-bucket list.  

Typically a bucket list is all the things that a person wants to accomplish before they die (and I do have one of those).  But, two years ago, instead of making a New Year's Resolution, I decided to make a list of things I could actually accomplish in 1 year.  Some of them were things on my Lifetime Bucket List but not very many.  You see, I like to reserve my Lifetime Bucket List for things that I dream about having and/or doing but are mostly in the hands of God.  

Now, back to my yearly Bucket List; some of the things I list you'll probably think of as strange, but I'm a very quiet person who doesn't get out much 
Chicken: Yea, Bo.  That totally makes you sound not lame. 
Bo: As I was saying; you make think some of them as strange but for me they are pretty big/important things that I really want to do this year.

That being said, in no particular order, 

here is Bo's 2012 Bucket List:

*Finish writing a story
*Paint/sketch a picture for mom, Nonie, & Chicken
*Order clothing online
*Create & upload a YouTube video
*Paint & start decorating my library
*Read 100 books
*Make my garden even better than last year
*Keep up better with the housework
*Write more amazing profile stories for HSHC
*Teach Rosie O' (my dog) a new trick
*Redo all the outside flower beds
*Learn 2 new songs on the piano
*Complete an entire Sudoku Puzzle
*Learn a new card game
*Keep up with my blog
*Try drinking tea again
*Learn how to knit

Chicken's 2012 Bucket List

A.K.A Things I want to do before the world explodes

*Finish the blanket I've been working on for the past 2 years
*Complete a 2,000 piece puzzle
*Pay all of my medical bills
*Go away on a trip
*Loose 10 pounds
*Go to the movies 4 times
*Travel to Ohio to visit Lishes & Broham
*Blog more
*Get new glasses
*Try new foods (like authentic Mexican, sushi, etc)
*Meet new people
*Complete Assassin's Creed 4 before The End of Days

*Create my own version of Chopped
*Have an even better garden than Bo
*Expand my garden
*Try some new recipes
*Make a movie

What would be on your 2012 bucket list?  
Please share in the comments below.

Things That Make You Go- BLOG!

Anytime you have a major celebration or gathering something is sure to go wrong. Since it is November and with Thanksgiving not that far away, we thought we'd share some of our holiday near disasters.  


So relax this holiday season and remember. . . it could always be worse.

I'll Take Mine Extra Crispy

It was several years ago on Thanksgiving day when our grandpa was admitted to the hospital.  We're a pretty tight-knit group so nearly the entire family was at the hospital; and it probably comes as no shock that we were going to cancel Thanksgiving- but my grandpa didn't want that to happen.  He all but demanded we continue on with the dinner- so that meant that someone had to bake & watch the turkey for the better part of the day.


Bo: Since I was willing, able, . . .


Chicken: I think the "able" is highly debatable.


Bo:  As I was saying,  I was willing, ABLE, and eager to help; I took on the challenge of cooking the turkey.  It didn't seem that hard since the turkey had already been prepared and stuck in the oven.  All I had to do was make sure that it didn't burn.  


About 2 hours into cooking my first turkey, I peaked under the aluminum foil. I became almost panicked because I didn't think that it was getting brown fast enough.  Emotions were already running high that day and I didn't want to ruin the main course; so I took what I thought to be the only rational step- I completely removed the aluminum foil and I turned up the dial on the stove.


Now, you've got to understand the only meat I had ever cooked myself (up to that time) was beef.  And as you know, beef turns a nice brown color fairly quickly when you cook it.  What I didn't take into consideration at the time was that turkey is poultry and poultry cooks much differently than beef does.


Flash forward to the big meal and. . .


Chicken: I thought we were having one of Bo's famous 'gas station meals' because I thought I was eating turkey jerky.  I gotta give her credit though, she does make a good turkey jerky.

Where Are The Giblets?

Bo:  Okay so this was about two years after the last event and was my first time making the entire turkey.  I was so excited I couldn't wait to redeem myself.  I stayed over at my great grandma's house the night before so I could get up bright and early to prepare the bird.  


I worked so hard making sure the stuffing and turkey dressing were prepared just right.  I even added an extra layer of aluminum foil (to make doubly sure I didn't have the same 'extra crispy' problem as before.


Well after many long hours, it was time for Thanksgiving dinner.  As family tradition dictates my uncle carves the turkey but before he could do that. . . 


My Great-Aunt: Where are the giblets?


Bo: It didn't come with any.


My Great-Aunt:What do you mean it didn't come with any?  They always come with the turkey.


Bo: Well, this one didn't have any; I looked.


My Great-Aunt:What about inside the turkey?


Bo: Of course I put the stuffing in the turkey.  I hand-made the stuffing too!


My Great-Aunt:No. . .not the stuffing, the giblets.


Bo: What?


My Great-Aunt:That's where they put the giblets. . . inside the turkey.

Thank goodness that they don't put the giblets in a plastic bag (otherwise our turkey would have been completely inedible); because after removing all of the stuffing in the turkey we found all of the giblets- wrapped in paper.


Chicken: Got Giblets?  
             Bo does; still inside the turkey that she poorly prepared.


Bo: It was a learning experience.  You can't learn unless you make mistakes.


Chicken: Unfortunately it took our family two ruined turkeys to realize that Bo should never have been allowed to cook the turkey in the first place.
I personally could have told them this from what I know of Bo's past cooking experiences.  For example, her version of scrambled eggs- consists of a McDonald's sausage & egg biscuit that she would then remove the egg, put it on a plate, cut it up, and claim as her own.  Apparently Bo can't remove the giblets from a turkey or bake it, but she can make biscuits, inject them with syrup, and press a M into the top of them.


Bo: Actually it was a sausage & egg McGriddle. Speaking of eggs. . .

Eggs So Devilish  . . . 

Not Even Satan Would Touch Them

It all started with eggs fresh from Bo's hens and a problem. . .

Problem: Nobody brought deviled eggs for Christmas dinner


As you very well know, deviled eggs are a holiday staple; you simply can not eat without them there.  


Ashes: Now I know better and I'll actually bring some this year- sheesh!


So as a last minute quick fix, since the dinner was at her house, Bo got roped into making the deviled eggs.


Bo:  I'm normally not a complainer, but I don't like eating eggs at all- I never 
have.


Chicken: Then why do you have chickens?


Bo: They are my feathery pets; they're for loving- not for eating.

Bo: So anyway, I've never boiled eggs before so I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing.  I complained the entire time I was attempting to make them. First the eggs had to be boiled so they could be peeled and sliced in half.

Ashes: Bo was hopeful that these would be would be egg-cellent; but instead they were an egg-tastratrophe, a total egg-omination, and it was an egg-opolapse.


Chicken: You just can't add the word egg to something and think you're going to sound clever.


Ashes:  You're just egg-aggerating chicken.


Bo: So anyway, I may have over-boiled the eggs; because when I went to peel them, chunks of the egg came away with the shells and they were pretty well mutilated.  


Chicken: Imagine large pieces of bowl-shaped egg confetti.


Bo: Then came time to make the filling.  I didn't know how to make it and several family members came into the kitchen to see what Chicken & Ashes were laughing about.  Eventually the eggs were filled and sat on the table.


Chicken: You've never seen sadder looking deviled eggs in your life.  I think most people ate some of them just so Bo didn't feel bad.


Ashes: Egg-actly Chicken!  But remember, you've gotta break a few eggs to make an omelet; some day you're going to need bowl-shaped egg confetti and Bo won't help you make it.

Bo:  Well, can you think of any other Thanksgiving fiasco's Chicken?

Chicken: Yeah, tons of them . . . and they all involve you.

Garden Wars: Fall of the Corn Stalks

It all started with a single seed. . .

. . . slowly that seed sprouted and started a war between two sisters- 
a Garden War!


You know garden season is officially over when the last corn stalk falls.  
As the final stalk fell Chicken and I began the big debate- who won.  

Yes, the question everyone has eagerly awaited the answer to- 

Who won Garden Wars?

We looked over the data: 
which mainly consisted of photos 
frozen vegetables
quarts of salsa
and arguments between Chicken and Bo 
But whose crops were the tops?


Then we looked at the photographic evidence.


Bo:

Chicken:

Then more questions arose: 


Who picked the perfect peck of pristine jalapeno peppers?
Whose Tomatoes were totally tart and tasty?
Whose assortment of onions was the most outrageous?


So obviously with my quarts of fresh salsa and Chicken's perfect potatoes we arrived at a stalemate and went off to seek the opinion of The Master Gardener.  


That's right, we asked Nonie (our grandma).


What Nonie said:

About Bo's Gardening:


* You grew lots of vegetables and lots of weeds- 
   but the veggies definitely won!
*Terrific salsa this year!  
*Really tasty tomatoes and tons of them!
* Now that you discovered that you're severely allergic
   to the leaves of the zucchini plant- keep wearing gloves
   when you garden- it'll be safer that way.
*Start planting earlier next year.

About Chicken's Gardening:


*You really get into your work and you enjoy it.
* You really don't care if you get dirty.
*Great jalapeno crop!
* Leave the birds alone and wear safety glasses when
   your cutting up jalapenos so you don't get the juice  
   in your eyes. . . again.

How Nonie feels about. . .

Canned Vegetables vs. Frozen

*Canned veggies are better!  No doubt about it!  

*I'd like to see Chicken try canning some of her veggies next year.

So. . . Who won the Garden Wars?

Was it Bo with her connection with nature?

Or Chicken and her battle against nature?

Was the winner Chicken and her get 'n down and dirty approach?

Or Bo's 'cleanliness is the way of the gardener-ess' approach?

Before revealing the answer to the ultimate question, Nonie gave us three suggestions for next year:

1. Start early and plan even earlier.

2.  Space your plants equally apart.

3.  Make your gardens larger.

With that information having been shared Nonie informed us that we tied.

Chicken: Tied?  Tied?!?  You've got to be kidding me!  

I've literally lived in my garden for the past several months and you're telling me that I tied with Bo?  Bo who won't go near her garden without gloves on.

Bo: Hey, if you were allergic to everything you'd be wearing gloves too! Besides, I'm perfectly okay with this year's Garden War being a tie- it means that next year's win will mean even more.

Chicken:  What do you mean next year's win?  You mean this Garden War isn't over?

It was then our fate became sealed and Chicken realized that the gardening adventure wasn't over; in fact, it had just begun.  


Stay tuned for spring 2012 and Garden Wars: A New Hope.

The Battle Rages On!

Now it's game time. 

Two sisters. 

Two gardens. 

Two very different gardening styles. 

Who will win?

Who will be The Master Gardener?