Lesson 827 – Fifty Weeks of Green – a CSA love story

I know, two book reviews in a row. I usually don’t put book reviews up here (I save them for a writer’s blog of which I am a part of) unless the book is of relevance to this audience (usually chicken related.)

In this particular case, the book is CSA related and it’s the romantic (don’t worry the only dirty part is when she gets her hands dirty from the vegetables) story of a young woman whose idea of a good dinner is defrosting a “frozen block of food” and an organic farmer whose goal it is to teach her about healthy living.

It’s a great story, it teaches you about CSAs and vegetables and you learn to cook right along with the main character, Sophia, using the recipes relevant to the story. I’m going to make sure that all my kids read this one and you’d be doing yourself a great and healthy service by checking this one out yourself.

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I love me a good parody. So when I found out about Linda Watson’s Fifty Weeks of Green (a turn of phrase from the 50 Shades of Grey) I simply had to check it out (look, the tie on the cover is actually a farmer’s suspenders! – brilliant)

Linda Watson writes about food. She’s the founder of Cook for Good (my go-to website for great farmer market and seasonal recipes) and if you don’t have her book: Wildly Affordable Organic – Eat Fabulous Food, Get Healthy, and Save the Planet All on  $5 a Day or Less, then you are doing yourself a great disservice. I purchased the book to help me with this review and already I’ve incorporated some of her money and time saving tips into our family’s menus and food buying habits.

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Lesson 686 – The fabulous chicken ladies

Last weekend, I went to the Northeastern Poultry Congress to both see the incredible variety of chickens on display and to also meet up with some of my chicken blogging/writing friends. The four of us (dare I call us the chick-fab-four?) have been writing and blogging about chickens for years. Each of us brings our own special insight to the big world of chickens which makes for great conversations when we are together.

Of course, I bought Fatti-Madi with me.

Here Fatti-Madi is posing with author, blogger, illustrator, and all around good egg: Lauren Scheuer of Scratch and Peck and Once Upon a Flock.

Terry Golson of Hencam  and author of Tillie Lays an Egg was also there. Terry brought some of the absolute, best brownies I have ever eaten.

Lesson 451 – Good-egg Chris Bohjalian and The Night Strangers

A few weeks ago, New York Times Bestseller and Good Egg inductee to our flock: Chris Bohjalian was in our neck of the woods giving a talk and signing copies of his newest book – “The Night Strangers: A Novel” – at our local Barnes and Nobles. Being the crack investigative reporter I am, I asked him why “: A Novel” had been added to the title of this new book and he said that all his books have had that added since Midwives. The initial reason was that he didn’t want anyone to think Midwives was a technical book, so “: A Novel” became part of the title and has been carried forward to the rest of his books. Now you  know.

A Good-egg: Chris Bohjalian

Chris (who also wrote Midwives and Secretes of Eden, along with many others best sellers, and yeah, technically I should have added that “: A Novel” to all of these titles) has been a good egg since the first day I met him. A few years ago, I was asked to interview him for a newspaper article in preparation for a visit he was going to make to Nashua, NH to discuss his book Skeletons at the Feast – a One City, One Book choice for the Nashua Library.

Now here’s the amazing thing, Chris did that interview by phone for about 2 hours on a holiday answering every single one of my questions. I have to respect anyone who is willing to share his craft and experiences like that. Chris was also the first person I interviewed for our Good Egg series and once, again, gave freely (and humorously) of himself to the project. In fact, Chris’ enthusiasm for the idea helped the series hatch into something that has made our chickens local-school ambassadors of good literary works (who would have ever thought, but then the term chick-lit just begs to be used here.)

Lesson 425 – “Everybody Sees the Ants” by A.S. King and brain trauma

One of our literary-chicks (Good Egg Interview) authors; A.S. King has come out with a new book. I picked it up and took a look at it this weekend.

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I completely blame Young Adult author A.S. King (Amy) for my getting SMASHED in the face with a soccer ball not once, but twice, this past weekend.

I picked up her most recent book Everybody Sees the Ants Friday afternoon at our independent book store (Toadstool in Milford – can I hear an Amen?)

Saturday was a wash at our house – between soccer games, yard sales, gymnastics, and a haunted corn maze (so much fun) there wasn’t much time leftover for reading – that usually has to wait until my Sunday morning coffee.

So Sunday morning rolls around and I grab Everybody Sees the Ants – interesting cover. Yup, there’s an ant in the kid’s eye. Amy’s a great writer, I knew that this was going to be a good read so I settled down and started reading while the kids were still asleep.

A tiny disclaimer here – I’m not, for the most part, a Young Adult reader, oh sure, I’ve read some outstanding Young Adult stories (Harry Potter, Matched, Please Ignore Vera Dietz) but the genre seems to have been co-opted by Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies these days. And if there is one thing I’ve had enough of, it’s those damn sparkly vampires.

HOLY COW.

One by one, my kids woke up.

“Mom, do you know where….”

“Shhh, I’m reading.”

Logan had to get new soccer shoes to wear at a game he was reffing later that day.

I brought the book with me. There might be time in the parking lot to read a few pages while he unbuckled himself to get out of the car.

Marc took the girls to their soccer game, Trevor went hiking with a friend, and I sat reading until it was time to take Logan to his soccer game.

“What’s for lunch, mom?”

“Fix it yourself, I’m reading.”

Lesson 405 – Lauren Scheuer – a Good Egg

When you choose to have chickens you automatically join a brotherhood (actually, it’s more like a sisterhood) of friends where everyone seems to know your name. Chicken owners can always recognize each other from across crowded rooms, it may be the wood chips in our hair, the chicken tattoo on our wrists (don’t worry mom, I’m not there quite yet) or the calm look in our eyes when we think of reading a book in our backyard surrounded by our gentle, clucking ladies.

Lauren Scheuer author of the blog Scratch and Peck – true stories of a small flock of remarkable individuals – and other critters, is one such person.

For the life of us, we can’t figure out how we connected (obviously there was the chicken thing going on) but we did.

Lauren loves her chickens. I love our chickens. There’s the connection, ’nuff said.

Except that Lauren is also an artist who draws the most incredible pictures of her chickens and their adventures. (The story of her chicken Lil’White going to Petsmart is nothing short of inspired and check out the story of the melon rind feeding.) Her chickens have personalities, they have adventures. My kind of gal.

I’ve never met Lauren (she leaves lots of comments on this blog) but I just know that one day if we do meet, we’ll spend many house chatting about our chicks over coffee and some fresh blueberry buckle (with cream.)

Lauren has graciously let me put a piece of her art up on my blog. Just look at this picture. Doesn’t it make you want to smile? Hearts and chickens – adorable.

Scratch and Peck - Lauren Scheuer Cutest chicken picture ever.

From her website, Lauren describes her life as:

Lauren’s flock includes a special-needs hen named Lucy, a fixer-upper chicken named Pigeon, and Marky the Terrier. Lauren is a professional illustrator specializing in kids’ books, games and puzzles. She’s done a whole slew of books for American Girl, (comment: Addy and Emma! did you read that?) and her clients include Boston Museum of Science and Roger Williams Zoo. Lauren works from home where she can enjoy her critters, her teenage daughter, husband, messy house, facebook,…. When she’s not outside, she can be found inside, looking out.

A special needs chicken???!!!! A messy house????!!!! Clearly chicken owners are without doubt birds of a feather.

Pleased to have you in the flock Lauren! You’re a good egg.

Lesson 343 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the chicks

By the time the embryo has been incubated for 100 hours, two separate chambers have taken shape in the heart. Later these two chambers – the atrium and the ventricle – will each be divided again to make four chambers. 

Inside an Egg

 

Photo Credit: DannoHung

Lesson 324 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quote for the chicks 

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye. 

Kobi Yamada

Lesson 317 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s Quote for the chicks 

(and yes, I know it’s early but I have a special post planned for tomorrow)

Well, look at that.

Bravery often means being strong enough to accept our weaknesses.

Pirkko Vainio

Lesson 314 – Quotable Chicks

Friday’s quotes for the chicks

“Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, enjoy imaging what you’ll be able to do one day.” 

Pirkko Vainio

lesson 310 – Quotable chicks

Friday’s Quotes for the chicks (a little late) 

When we need to hear the truth about ourselves, it is always best heard from our friends.

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