Our Family
We are a chicken coop of only 4. We have the rooster, Rhode Island Red, who works very hard to support us so I can stay home and teach our brood how to become roosters of their own flocks. We’ve been married 20 years.
We live in Southwest Louisiana. Some might call this Cajun Country. I call it the Wilds. You wouldn’t think we’d be surrounded by so many creepy, crawling, swimming, flying things. But we are. My chicks love it. Me, I’m not so sure.
My oldest chick is 11. He’s very much into nature. He loves bird watching. He knows more about birds than I think I’ve ever known. He’s a true boy in every sense of the word. He plays USSSA baseball and is usually the short stop, though he does pitch and play third base. If my chick had his rathers, he’d spend all his time playing video games. Too bad for him, media usage is limited in the chicken coop. Even though hawks are a chicken’s natural enemy, I will refer to him as Hawkeye. He’s certainly got the vision of a hawk, if you’re talking about birds. If you’re talking about the dirty laundry on his bedroom floor, well, his eyesight is not so great.
My youngest chick is 9. He’s my studious chick. He loves reading and drawing. He loves to be outside as well, following Hawkeye around and basically causing all sorts of mischief. I worry about him in his teen aged years because he is so darn clever. Some of the things he says crack me up. I tell him all the time it’s a good thing he’s cute, otherwise, he’d be in a ton of trouble. He also plays baseball, though not on a traveling tournament team. He loves basketball too. I will refer to my youngest chick as Longshanks as his legs are really long and his knees are knobby. Just like Rooster’s dad. Longshanks is not nearly as lazy as Hawkeye, but he does try to get out of as much as possible.
Rooster & Mother Hen have a respectable life. We cook a lot at home Eating out is difficult and expensive. We are in the process of paying off our credit card debt. (**we paid off the debt in January of 09. Now, to stay debt free!) We had hoped to have it paid off by August of 08, but it looks like things may be extended for a bit longer. We grow some of our own veggies, but not many. I’ve expanded our garden and we are growing our own lettuce and cabbages this winter. Hawkeye LOVES salad. He eats it as a snack. We try to buy local and eat organic. We eat a lot of eggs. More eggs than I would care to mention. Our weight loss journey began as low-carb, but it’s now evolved into “Real Food”. As of today (1/10), I’ve lost 65lbs and have managed to keep it off, even though I drink heavy cream every single day and I consume butter like it’s going out of style!
I love reading. I love blog surfing. I love cooking and I used to love baking. Well, I still love baking, but low-carb baking just isn’t the same. Since 1/09, I’ve rediscovered the joy of baking, but it’s a different sort of baking that begins with a sourdough starter or with soaking the grains. My next adventure will be in grinding my own wheat.
We used to homeschool, but my husband thought a better fit for our family would be to send the chicks to a local Catholic school. We’re all still adjusting, but things are looking up. I do believe SLS is a good fit for our family.
And last but not least, we are a Catholic family. We try very hard to instill in our chicks our Catholic Faith. I talk a lot about my Faith here on the blog. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. Either way, it’s always faithful and always there. Thank God.
Thanks for stopping by the Chicken Coop. I hope to see you around.
Feb 19, 2009 @ 16:02:42
Hi, Paula! Just stopping by to thank you for your sweet comments on my blog posting and for taking the tour of my house. I’m like you…I LOVE porches! I sit out on our back porch as soon as the weather permits…and sometimes even when it doesn’t! Our back porch wraps around the corner of the house, and we have a wicker porch furniture out there. We love spending time outside!
Please come back and visit me again soon! If I’m not at work, you can usually find me on my back porch swing!!!
Blessings,
Paula
Feb 23, 2009 @ 16:07:53
Hi! I’m also from south Louisiana – I live in St. Bernard – I luv your site! Do you have any secrets on double coupon places, etc. Whatever I can to save a buck!
Bambi
Feb 23, 2009 @ 18:27:57
Since I’m in Lafayette, I’m pretty sure we have different stores. I know Kroger’s doubles, but that’s really the only store that would be located in LA. We have ZERO stores that double here. It’s a total bummer.
How are things coming along in St. Bernard? Are ya’ll faring better than 9th ward? Of course, that’s all you ever hear about, 9th ward.
Thanks for commenting on my blog!
Apr 10, 2009 @ 23:43:33
You can get raw milk aged cheddar from Organic Valley in your state.
Charlie
( a big Father Corapi Fan)
Apr 11, 2009 @ 06:34:17
Hi Charles, I’ve seen the Organic Valley, but not the raw milk cheddar. Hmm, I’ll investigate.
Thanks for stopping by.
May 02, 2009 @ 07:23:48
Hi, I am in Maurice, just outside of Lafayette. Just thought I’d say hi. Found your blog off of In a shoe. Hi, Love your blog.
May 02, 2009 @ 07:25:16
I meant the Pyles family blog. Sorry.
May 02, 2009 @ 20:00:02
Hi Theresa! Welcome to my blog and how cool you’re in Maurice. My mom lives closer to you than I do since I’m Scott, but really, what’s 10 minutes??
Jun 01, 2009 @ 13:13:27
Paula,
I have been following your blog for a few weeks. I just realized today who you were. I didn’t know you were into Nourishing Traditions. We try, but don’t always succeed. Love your blog
)
Lori Babineaux
Jun 01, 2009 @ 16:45:53
Lori, it’s too much of a small world! I’m going to check out your blog. We’ve been doing NT about 6 months or so now. Thanks for stopping by.
Aug 05, 2009 @ 14:10:59
Hi, I just popped over somehow through Tammy’sd Recipes… I think anyway. I love what I’ve read so far and will be sure to keep checking back in. Just wanted to drop a little line to say hello
Real Food Face-off 7:The Chicken Coop vs. A Heavenly Perspective | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 07, 2010 @ 22:43:14
Real Food Face-Off 4: Passionate Homemaking vs. Naturally Knocked Up | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 09, 2010 @ 03:14:33
Real Food Face-off 5: Cheeseslave vs. Sarah’s Musings | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 09, 2010 @ 03:17:52
Real Food Face-Off 6: Kelly the Kitchen Kop vs. Anne at Catholic Mommy Brain | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 09, 2010 @ 03:22:07
Real Food Face Off 8: Keeper of the Home vs. Carrie at Organic and Thrifty | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 09, 2010 @ 08:44:34
Real Food Face-off nine: Virginia at Living the Local Life vs. Kim at Homestead Acres | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 11, 2010 @ 07:02:21
Feb 12, 2010 @ 14:12:46
I just read about your weight loss success story – congrats. Would you be interested in sharing your story with Faith & Family magazine? I’m the health columnist and am always looking for health success stories of real women to share to inspire our readers. If you have any interest, please feel free to email me at kmwicker [at] gmail [dot] com.
Thanks, and God bless!
Feb 13, 2010 @ 07:18:02
Kate, thanks! I just emailed you.
Real Food Face-Off 10: ME! Hallee the Homemaker vs. Mare at Just Making Noise | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 16, 2010 @ 03:51:00
Real Food Face-Off 11: Jenny at The Nourished Kitchen vs. Michelle at Find Your Balance | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 18, 2010 @ 05:32:30
The Face-Off Continues With Kitchen Stewardship! | Agriculture Society
Feb 23, 2010 @ 01:44:12
Real Food Face-Off 12: Alex at Feed Me Like You Mean It vs. Raine at Agriculture Society | Hallee The Homemaker
Feb 23, 2010 @ 09:10:09
Real Food Face-Off 13: Lisa at Mama Says vs. Shelley at MAHM | Hallee The Homemaker
Mar 03, 2010 @ 15:16:38
Real Food Face-Off 14: Nourishing Traditions vs. Nourishing Days | Hallee The Homemaker
Mar 04, 2010 @ 08:27:40
Real Food Face-Off Finale: Nina Planck vs. Kitchen Stewardship | Hallee The Homemaker
Mar 09, 2010 @ 04:40:03
Jul 23, 2010 @ 12:03:29
Hi Paula,
I’m enjoying looking around your blog and getting to know you a little more. You have really lost some weight – congrats! Doesn’t it feel great and to not be starving doing it? My husband is now down 40 pounds and I’m still around 20-25 depending on the day. I would like to lose another 20 and believe I will, in time. Since we are actively trying to conceive a second child, I am fine with slow weight loss (in case I would get pregnant). I look forward to getting to know you more over time.
Jul 26, 2010 @ 07:05:10
Hi Michelle, it does feel great losing 70lbs and continuing to keep it off and not starving or feeling deprived. When I was pregnant, I had to eat low-carb because I was gestational diabetic. I was the only person I knew who lost weight while pregnant, but still delivered healthy babies LOL. It was just all that extra flab I was carrying around that fell off of me when the boys were born. I should have stayed low-carb then, but I quit as soon as I could eat ice cream again. Funny, I don’t feel that way anymore.
Aug 31, 2010 @ 21:40:45
I didn’t realize you were in SW Louisiana. McNeese is my alma mater! I’m not from there, but I lived in Lake Charles for about 8 years. In fact my daughter was born there. I have wonderful memories of Louisiana.
Sep 01, 2010 @ 08:01:08
Leigh, how crazy is that! We live about an hour east from Lake Charles.
Oct 04, 2010 @ 07:05:57
Hey cher! Found your blog from a comment you left at Sustainable Eats back in July (I’m reading through her archives.) I’m from Opelousas, living and raising kids in Houston, TX. My oldest is at ULL (dh and my alma mater) so we get back a couple of times a year. . I’m glad to find a Catholic organic gardener who also does NT. . it’s a small world. .
Oct 04, 2010 @ 08:21:34
How small of a world is it? LOL. Another one of my blog readers used to live in Lake Charles and went to McNeese and another one lives up in Alex and comes down all the time to shop at the meat markets like The Best Stop and Don’s Specialty Meats.
My dh’s work may or may not transfer us to Houston in the future. It’d be great to have a “friend” in the area.