talk a lot, peck a little more

Amy's first egg

Both my sisters have chickens.  I'm generally not a very jealous person but those chickens really bring it out in me.  I would love to have chickens but I live in a neighborhood with a homeowner's association and some real persnickety people that would tattle on me for sure if I had chickens pecking around in my backyard. That, and I really don't want the responsibility of feeding one more living thing.

But someday. Someday I will have a cute little troop, or I should say, brood of  hens to lay me brown eggs for breakfast. I will have a darling hen house painted robin egg blue. And I will go out each morning with a basket to collect the eggs.

My older sister, Heidi, has yet to get an egg out of her chickens.  Her first four chickens were sent back to the farm from wence they came to become Sunday dinner because they didn't lay. Her second batch have yet to prove themselves. Pray for them my friends. Their names are Henrietta and Penny.

Last spring my little sister Amy got four Rhode Island Red laying hens. She named them Mae, Murdle, Marge and Helen.  This left me the only sister without chickens. Chickenless. And green with envy.

Yesterday she got her first egg. That's it up there in the photo. She's very proud of it.

And this is her daughter Charley. Charley loves the chickens and helps care for them. I think Amy's pretty proud of her too.

photo by chelsea

If I can't have chickens, then by damn, I'm gonna taunt my sisters with thoughts of what might happen to theirs should they be less than vigilant.

Childish? I guess there are some things you never grow out of.

"The Opportunist" by Secondsister

five and a half

Amy and Dave

Tomorrow I will be thirty-five. Damn I'm getting old. Maybe I'll get some Botox and a pair of Spanx. Actually, I'm going to see Hans because he can always work some magic and make me feel divine.

My little sister, Amy, is five and half years younger than me. It makes a big difference. She isn't getting wrinkles yet. She can still count her grey hairs.

When Amy was first born, she was my living doll. She was a beautiful child, all curls and smiles. She flourished in the lime light of our little family. At five and a half, I thought she was my personal miracle. I loved her dearly.

Amy, Dave and Charley

And then my brother was born. What can I say? Eight-year-old girls can be fickle creatures.

It was many years before I rediscovered the magic that is my little sister. Lost years.

I have worried about the age difference between Thom and the new baby. Will they play together? Will they be close? I have come to the conclusion that it may take time, maybe years, but they will have their own unique relationship. I won't be able to choreograph it, it will happen on its own, organically. He already sees her as his own personal miracle. He keeps reaffirming to me that she will be "his baby".

He has called dibs on all night feedings which sounds fabulous, if only it worked that way.

As for Amy and I, well, five and a half years is only a measure of the time we didn't get to spend being sisters. I think we have more than made up for lost time.

partners in crime

I am from the school of thought that every girl needs a best friend. Sisters don't count.

You need someone that you have chosen and that has chosen you. Because you are better together than apart.

This is Jenny. Jenny is my Ethel. Why do I get to be Lucy? Because this is my blog and I have red hair. That's why. Also, Jenny's husband is bald, like Fred.*

I know that Jenny loves me because when I run my mouth, as I am prone to do, she says "Aprrriiiillll!" which is her nice way of saying "Shut it sister." She saves me from myself.

And once, on New Year's Eve some years ago, I got sick and threw up in a public bathroom and SHE CLEANED IT UP!!! In. A. Public. Bathroom. True story.

But mostly I know she loves me because she tells me the truth. She tells me when I'm wrong and she listens to me when I complain about people who bug me. I can complain all I want to her because she's a vault. She will never trash talk someone, which I actually find quite annoying, but I know that deep down she is sending them bad voodoo vibes for me.

So why am I just now, after close to a year of blogging, mentioning Jenny? Well, I guess it's because there are a few things in my life that I hold close to my heart and I am a little reluctant to share. But I think it is time.

World, I got her first. Go get your own Jenny. Believe me, you need one.

* Guaranteed, Jenny just thought "Appprrriiilll!" in her head.

second sister

This photo was taken in 1980. I was five, and my Irish twin, Heidi, was six. We were born only eleven months apart. We spent everyday of our childhood together. We were everything to each other. My sister spoke for me before I uttered my first word. She was my first confidant and my partner in crime.

When my little sister, Amy, came along five years later. Heidi and I viewed her as the youngster, the interloper. But life is funny, as we have grown older, Amy and I have formed a friendship that is as deep as my childhood bond with Heidi. There is nothing like having a sister that is also your best friend.

My relationship with each of my sisters is unique. We relate to each other in different ways. We live in three different states and at times I miss them both so much my chest hurts and my eyes sting. I long to hear Heidi laugh and listen to Amy use the lingo of our childhood.

I am so excited to feature today's artist and give you a chance to win some of their work. In the spirit of sisterhood, this one's for Heidi and Amy.

Say Your Piece

Eileen is a ceramicist who works out of Fairfield, California. She started an online company called Clayful Moments which specializes in beautiful clay impressions of the hands and feet of babies and small children. She expanded her work when she opened her Say Your Piece Etsy shop. All of her pieces are customizable and unique. You can also check out her other Etsy shop for more designs.

I am planning on ordering Thom's teachers personalized dishes for Christmas. They are just the right price!

Leave a comment and win this set of "sisters" dishes.
Sleep and Her Sisters

Katherine Quinn is an artist who lives in Napier, New Zealand. She creates the most whimsical and feminine paintings. She sells her originals in several different galleries. Her Etsy shop is Sleep and Her Sisters. She sells prints and magnets that would make a great stocking stuffer for your own family members. You can also read more about her here on her blog.

Leave a comment and win this print from Katherine Quinn!

Okay folks, I'm going to say this again.

You must leave an individual comment for each item you would like to win!

Sorry to yell, but because each item goes to a different winner, I need to have two separate lists. Your comment will not be included in the drawing if you don't specify. Sorry to be so strict, but that's just how the cookie crumbles.

The drawing will take place Monday morning. Please check back in to see if you have won. I will need you to send me your shipping address.