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Book Reviews

  • Lisa Tucker: The Cure for Modern Life: A Novel

    Lisa Tucker: The Cure for Modern Life: A Novel
    I really enjoyed The Cure for Modern Life. It raised some interesting issues and grounded them in well-developed characters. The characters truly seemed to follow their own course, rather than preaching some agenda. And I managed to read it in three days - which is nothing short of a miracle. (****)

  • Stefanie Wilder-Taylor: Naptime Is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down

    Stefanie Wilder-Taylor: Naptime Is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down
    A hybrid of girlfriend gossip-meets-girlfriend advice that's good for the soul. It's not really a how-to or a manual, but she does have some good suggestions mixed in with the humor. But who are we really kidding? What we're really after is the humor. At least I am. Because I can find all the advice I could ever need - and more. way. WAY more. - on the internet. Whereas finding good humor that steps over the line every so often with a well-placed swear word every now and then, well, that's much harder to find. And if it's one thing that mom of toddlers need, it's a good laugh. (*****)

  • Andy Steiner: Spilled Milk: Breastfeeding Adventures and Advice from Less-Than Perfect Moms

    Andy Steiner: Spilled Milk: Breastfeeding Adventures and Advice from Less-Than Perfect Moms
    A great read for any Mom preparing to tackle breastfeeding. It's not a guide, per se, but more like the conversations your best girlfriends would have (or are having) about their time in the trenches. It's non-judgmental, and does a balanced job of presenting both the tough and triumphant moments of breastfeeding. A great present for your friend's baby shower. (****)

  • Editors of Parenting Magazine: Baby Must-Haves: The Essential Guide to Everything from Cribs to Bibs

    Editors of Parenting Magazine: Baby Must-Haves: The Essential Guide to Everything from Cribs to Bibs
    Overall, I would recommend this guide for first-time parents who want to get an idea of what items they'll need prior to doing the nitty-gritty research about which brands to choose, and for those of us who'd like a refresher course before hitting the slopes again. But save your real research for the internet, consumer-reviews, and your circle of other mom-friends. (**)

  • Jenny Minton: The Early Birds : A Mother's Story for Our Times

    Jenny Minton: The Early Birds : A Mother's Story for Our Times
    Overall, this is an interesting read for any mother. I've cried, come close to being pissed off, and then quickly forgiven the author because of her deeply honest approach. The title is too lighthearted for the subject matter, but I think it's a worthwhile read. Check out my review for more details. (****)

  • Susan Straub: Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Two's

    Susan Straub: Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Two's
    If you need a reason to go spend more money at a book store, this book is perfect for you! See more detailed info in my review. (***)

  • Peter Kuhns: Blogosphere : Best of Blogs

    Peter Kuhns: Blogosphere : Best of Blogs
    I can't give it less than three stars, 'cause I'm IN IT! It's really a compendium of blogs and synopses of their authors and contents. A blog roll in print. (***)

Banana's Reads

  • : The Little Red Hen (Little Golden Book)

    The Little Red Hen (Little Golden Book)
    Forever a classic. I remember this story from my childhood, and my mother from hers. The repetitive language lets Hannah read along with me and the lesson is instructive to say the least: If you don't help, you don't enjoy the rewards. (*****)

  • Joy Cowley: Gracias The Thanksgiving Turkey (Scholastic Bookshelf)

    Joy Cowley: Gracias The Thanksgiving Turkey (Scholastic Bookshelf)
    Cute storyline about Thanksgiving that isn't at all focused on the history of it. Plus, a pet that doesn't get eaten. A few Spanish vocabulary words are a good bonus. (****)

  • Spike Lee: Please, Baby, Please

    Spike Lee: Please, Baby, Please
    Great art and scenarios that both parents and kids will relate to. Throw in the fact that the family is black (and that's not the "theme" of the story) and you win my vote. Hannah asks for a second read every time. I think she relates to the curly hair. (*****)

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April 30, 2008

Cock-a-doodle-damn

I've just come back from the cabin where I let the pest control guy in to kill anything that moves and spray the trees for ticks.  While there, I learned something fun and new!

Our neighbors, whose driveway we share, are caretakers for the rich folk who own that land and a big 'ol house next door.  They seem like nice people, and I hope they're going to make good neighbors.  We've only just met them because as of last summer, they weren't there.

The new neighbors have set up a trailer house just off the driveway where it splits to go to our cabin.  We can't tell if anyone's actually living in it (the family lives in a regular house further down the drive), but it's up on cinder blocks so it doesn't look like it'll be going anywhere soon.  And that's fine.  It's their land, so... well, whatever.

But today, in addition to the trailer, I found some even newer neighbors: a whole flock of chickens.  About a dozen, including a few roosters, to be specific.  At least one of whom crowed the whole time I was there.  The chickens are in a coop about 100 feet from our cabin.  That is to say, our bedrooms are about 100 feet away from some 4:30 a.m. cock-a-doodle-doing.

My mom, being who she is, tried to put a positive spin on it.  "Maybe the girls can learn more about chickens and egg-gathering, if the neighbors are willing to show them."

Mm hm.  Great.

Don't get me wrong, chickens are lovely.  I enjoy them as food on a regular basis.  And, again, it's their land, their choice.

But I'd be lying if I said I though this was good news.  I'm really, really, hoping we'll be able to clear out a new drive that comes through our property only and bypasses the country-show we've got goin' on over there.  Can you tell I'm not yet through with the anger phase of mourning?

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Comments

This would most defenately be un-neighborly....but, since you said you like to EAT chicken.....well, if they're free range chickens and they happen to be on your property... well...perhaps you could have the rooster for supper some night! Yeah, that may not be the greatest idea, but it would be FREE food :)

Nope - not on our land. Just super close. Also, since I refuse to buy chicken that hasn't already been boned, I doubt I'd make a good free-range chicken thief.

OK, no dishwasher? Fine. No pantry? Fine. Ticks/snakes/etc? Fine, you have an exterminator. Free range chickens 100 feet from your bedroom? NOT FINE.

Your kids will adore this place. Our cousins live in a house in the country with goats (BAA! MAAA! BAA! all day long) and my son can't get enough of it. He wants us to move there, even if it meant living in a tent without running water.

I bet the girls will love it, and you will probably get used to it. People who live next to train tracks can sleep through huge pieces of metal hurtling past their house.

Also, I bet the eggs will be really, really good.

Any chance you can ask the neighbors to move the chickens and rooster to the OTHER side? I get annoyed when even the roof creaks on windy nights...

Um...I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But my experience with chickens (at least in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, which were the only times I was routinely exposed to live chickens) was that they crow all night...

Perhaps you could politely ask them to move the chickens to a different end of the property?

Agreed with Kim. It won't be pretty. Since they are just the caretakers and not the owners, any way to contact the owners and ask it to be more "neighborly" out there.

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