Let August be August

Its freezing right now. Freezing for August that is. Today's high doesn't even reach 70. My hands are cold. My toes are cold. Right now its barely 60. My question is why on earth are we having Fall in August? We had two weeks of super hot weather. Now within about the last month I think its only reached 80 about 4 times. I'm really not digging this. Makes me wonder how cold its going to be when its really fall. One nice thing (and perhaps the ONLY nice thing) is that it has been perfect weather for running.

Speaking of running, this morning I signed up for my first half marathon. I've been working on training for it. Yesterday I ran 9 miles. That's the furthest I have run. It was a wonderful feeling, except my leg felt like jelly when I was finished. That wasn't wonderful. Not at all. Surprisingly enough, I'm really not sore at all today. My legs are a little tired, but I don't think I'll have any trouble heading back out for another training run tomorrow. I have about 6  more weeks left of training before the big day. I'm excited. I'm apprehensive. I'm nervous. I'm....fearfully excited. Fearful? I can't hardly imagine running another 4 miles on top of what I did yesterday all in one go. Excited? I'll have a super nifty silver medal and cool tech shirt for my pains. Literal pains. I'm not expecting being able to walk by the time I cross the finish line. Oh the things we do for medals (er, accomplishments)

Yesterday was a day full of accomplishments. After work, I ran 9 miles, then we ate dinner, then we got to work..23 chickens. one pot of hot water... Lots of feathers involved. Needless to say there are now 3 freezers full of home grown chickens waiting to be cooked and enjoyed. It was long messy work. But  so worth it once we have a nice roast chicken, especially nice because we raised them. they had REAL free range. Not the nasty mess of chickens packed into a yard with 100s of others and squished together in tiny cages. Our chickens led a nice happy life with us. Plenty to eat, plenty of room, a yard to roam. And I now know how to successfully pluck chickens.It may sound morbid, but I surely do look forward to a tasty chicken dinner .

By this time next week we will be fearfully void of feathered and 4 legged creatures. Its the county fair. Two of the pigs will be leaving us. 6 of our 9 ducks will be leaving us. We already got rid of 14 of our chickens (we just having some young laying hens left, the other 9 chickens we took care of yesterday belonged to my married sister and neighbors). The Rabbit will be temporarily gone. It'll be strange not seeing a flock of white chickens foraging around outside, and a flock of ducks wondering in one large group all over the place, following us around whenever we are outside.

There shall be no post next week due to the fair, but there may be an abundance of pictures the week after!

I Believe in Plaid

You know how Audrey Hepburn said she believes in pink? I believe in plaid. I love plaid. I wear plaid all the time. I'm wearing plaid right now. Plaid goes with just about anything. The same plaid shirt can make you look hip, country, or stylish.You can wear plaid with skinny jeans. You can wear plaid with old jeans. You can wear plaid with tennis shoes, flip flops or boots. Plaid is suitable for all moods. You can wear plaid when you are cold. You can wear plaid when you are warm. You can wear plaid in the barn. You can wear plaid to a restaurant. Its just so wearable. I have a closet full of plaid. Purple, yellow, blue, pink, brown, green, red. Its my go to article of clothing. I wore plaid chasing the pigs out of a ditch when they escaped on monday. I wore plaid at church on Sunday. I wore plaid at a concert last week. I'm wearing plaid now at a coffee shop.I wear plaids usually over a t- shirt. Sometimes on its own. nearly always with jeans, sometimes with pajamas. I just love plaid. I got two new plaid shirts at a second-hand store last week. I love new(ish) plaid. It open up so many new options. I love wearing plaid with old comfy jeans. It practically makes it feel like I'm wearing pajamas all day when I do. Its my comfort clothing. I've worn it everyday this week.I'll probably wear it the rest of the week too. Plaid is cool. Plaid is chill. Plaid is nifty. Plaid is wonderful. Plaid is me.

Yellow Rain Coat

I haven't seen anyone wear a bright yellow raincoat in years. A girl just walked into Starbucks wearing one. With a bowler hat. And those big glasses that are so widely associated with being "hip'' and what not. Inwardly I chucked to myself. Outwardly I smiled. Its the little things. I think I need a bright yellow raincoat.