A Sister Company

This is going to be a long one!

About 15 months ago, we received an email that Shark Tank wanted us to pitch Rent The Chicken. Say what? After much prayer, A LOT of paperwork, we were selected to be filmed in California in front of the sharks. We cannot say much more about the experience because we signed a non-disclosure. What I will say is that we learned a lot about ourselves, Rent The Chicken, and our vision for the future. I will also say that for 11 months from the time of signing the paperwork, we (Homestead Phil & Jenn) were not permitted to be in the media. That was HARD! You know how we love being interviewed! Thankfully, our Rent The Chicken Affiliates were not included in the same media muzzle. We found out at the end of March, that our segment would not be airing despite the teaser of us on the opening credit for Episode 1 for Season 9! At that point, our non-disclosure still applies but our media muzzle was removed! Would we have loved to be aired? Absolutely! Did we reach goals without being aired? Oh yeah we did! Homestead Phil likes to say "I bet they find that segment when we become billionaires!" haha

One of our goals: To create a coop that can ship flat and assemble in a short amount of time. We partnered with our Amish friend, Levi, to make this happen. Levi has been making our coops for a number of years. These coops are portable, well made, and gosh darnit, they are cute! This was three fold.

1. I already blogged about our Out of Area Packages which utilize this coop with the shipment of ready to lay hens to mimic a Rent The Chicken package but it is a purchase. 
2. Allow our Rent The Chicken Affiliates to have an alternative to building coops on their own. Time is money, right? And finally... 
3. To open an e-commerce website to sell these fantastic coops that can ship flat. A big thanks to my cousin Jamie for awesome coop photos like this one!

• Goal #1 - Check.
• Goal #2 - Check.
• Goal #3 - Check.

I'd like to introduce you our sister company to Rent The Chicken: The Chicken Network! We've logged countless hours brainstorming, deciding what to offer, pricing, marketing strategies, and more. We are egg-cited for this new opportunity to provide chickens, coops, and supplies across the USA. Levi and his family hand craft the parts to the coop, counting every bolt to be used on site. Our coops are affectionately named the mEGGa and mEGGa XL. We have partnered with some great publishers to offer incredible books. We have partnered with an incredible farm who will ship chickens to go with the coops (both for the Out of Area Rent The Chicken packages and the Chicken Network) - Wayne Trace Farms in Indiana. (The coops ship flat not the chickens - in case you were concerned :P ) We offer amazing hand crafted crochet items by Part of Ewe Creations. In addition to the coops, books, hand crafted items, we also are offering fun chicken accessories, coop accessories, and more!. The best bang for your buck is through our Discount Bundles. We paired up items in order to create a bigger discount for you. Each of our Discount Bundles includes FREE SHIPPING!

Rent The Chicken is our ultimate focus. There will be cross marketing as we know our renters will LOVE the options for chicken spoiling! There will be folks interested in getting into backyard chickens, find The Chicken Network, and be redirected to Rent The Chicken if we service their area. Win and win!

Thank you for your support with Rent The Chicken! We are looking forward to equal success with The Chicken Network! Please give us a like on our new Facebook Page for The Chicken Network!

"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life" - Dolly Parton

Tonight, we watched our oldest niece walk across the stage for her high school diploma. She was also one of two commencement speakers. We are so proud of all of our nieces and nephews! Today we are especially proud of this one for her accomplishments so far!

I also snuck in a few selfies with her sisters :)

Their class quote is "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life" - Dolly Parton

This is so true. We work A LOT this time of year but that leaves us working less other times of the year. It does seems as though our "busy season" get longer each year. That's OK though as we REALLY enjoy what we do with Rent The Chicken and who we work with - our Affiliates and our Happy Renters.

It's yet again late on a Friday as I'm writing my blog entry/entries for the week. I also REALLY enjoy writing this blog as it's a bit therapeutic for me. Sure, all of you read it to get to know us and behind the scenes of Rent The Chicken but there's more to what we are up to than what I can list in a short status update on Facebook. Today, we had to step away from our desk, go outside, and prep a few coops for upcoming deliveries. I made a joke to myself that I say to myself when I'm doing something that isn't in my usual day, "Not everyday is international news interviews and glamor..." as I am in my old clothes preparing to paint a few chicken coops. We're still accepting deposits for rentals and we're answering the phone to chat with our new chicken friends who are getting comfortable being good chicken keepers!

Needless to say, we try to take a walk a few times a week. Today instead of a walk, we prepped coops together. We skipped Spring this year and went straight to summer! It was sooooo beautiful today! "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." We are so blessed that we get to make a life while making a living! Phil's garden is well on its way! He has already planted: potatoes, onions, peas, pole beans, bush beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and likely more that I can't remember! I snapped this photo tonight to show off the inside of his green house with the pole bean set up!

Today, we fielded Hatch The Chicken support calls, closed a few Rent The Chicken rentals, and chatted to a few renters with some questions. Like I said, we prepped some coops as well. Our Rent The Chicken vehicle had been in the shop so we picked that up, came home, and were ready to go to the graduation in no time. We enjoyed a nice time with family at graduation and then out for some dinner. My sister called ahead for seating for 11 only to have enough for 9 at two large middle tables while Phil and I sat "with them" at the booth across the aisle from them. Wendy's is next door and I said "We're so far away, we might as well be at Wendy's!" It was so funny! The jokes continued through our meal as to how far away we were sitting. They said funny things like that we were in the "west wing" of the table. Homestead Phil was using Morse Code with the flashlight on his cell phone. Too bad none of the 9 of them know Morse Code to know what he was saying nor to respond! haha

In previous posts, I chatted on about being Foster Parents with a current plan of foster to adopt once a match has been found. After reading many short profiles online, reading many long profiles privately, and interviewing with case workers regarding specific children, we have been matched! I can't say much more than that other than we've met the child and we are all excited about our match! What I can say is... "IT'S A GIRL!!" I really really really enjoyed being a boy mom with our previous foster placement and assumed we'd be matched with a boy but God knows better than we do! As I can share more I will but for now, know that she loves her new Rent The Chicken hat and is egg-cited to be part of our team/family!

TV Shows

We don't watch a lot of TV but when we do, we binge watch! Plus, we watch the most TV in the wintertime because we are too busy enjoying the sunshine and the daylight in the summertime. Phil and I watch some shows together although not current shows - only streaming shows.

Here's the current list of shows we watch together:

That 70's Show!: I will say that I never EVER watched this show when it was aired. I just thought it was a bunch of teenage kids in a basement smoking pot. Yeah sure. They do that BUT they are HILARIOUS for the ENTIRE episode. I belly laugh during each episode! Five Stars! We watch this on Netflix and has adult humor.

Punky Brewster: Randomly, one day, I said to Phil as we were scrolling through some throwback shows, "I really loved Punky Brewster when I was a kid.". Then he found it! It also makes us laugh - not as much as That 70's Show. If you would have asked me three months ago what the show was about, I likely would have described it as a eclectically dressed girl and her misadventures. We both absolutely forgot that she was living with her dog in an abandoned apartment. She was a foster child and in the first episode, she was removed from the home of her new foster dad. I laughed and sobbed during that first episode considering our Foster Son was removed abruptly just a few months before we watched that episode. We've watched more since then and we giggle many times during the episodes. We watch this on the NBC app through our (very old) Apple TV. This is very kid friendly likely for ages 7 and up (maybe a bit younger).

Sneaky Pete: I saw an ad on Facebook and a few friends liked the ad so Phil and I gave it a go. There's more language than we'd prefer but there's also humor while being a bit dark. We watch maybe an episode every few weeks or so. I have to be in the mood for it as I prefer belly laugh funny to chuckle a few times an episode funny. Sneaky Pete is a guy who essentially stole a jailmate's identity when he got out and his jailmate did not. Give it a watch. Keep watching if you like it! We watch this on Amazon Prime.

I'm a HUGE This Is Us Fan! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It hits me first because it's based in Pittsburgh and my Western PA roots run deep! I also love it because it's so relate-able in so many of their different story lines. I was this either on NBC.com through my computer or the Xfinity website through our cable provider. If you haven't started watching yet, you'll want to start at Season 1, Episode 1.

Through the last few years, I've belly laughed plenty while watching Blackish on ABC. When This Is Us aired it's last episode of the season, I checked my other shows and there weren't any episodes available. I made the assumption that all shows ended for the season. For all of my life, I've been awful at knowing when shows start and stop for the season. I know A LOT of things... I do not know those things :) I was watching a clip for something and there was a commercial for some real dark topics on Blackish. It caught my attention and I realized I missed at least 4-5 episodes! It went from super belly laugh funny to serious drama over night. Or so it felt! I'm disappointed. Maybe it's the last season? *shrug* I watch this on ABC.com or on the Xfinity app on my phone or iPad.

I also didn't realize that New Girl had new episodes! We started watching New Girl ages ago with binge watching on Netflix. It's incredible how much it still makes me laugh so many years into the series! It's silly funny and also makes me belly laugh but again also not for kids! Give it a watch on Netflix!

Here's to less TV watching as summer is close to being here!

Gorilla or Guerilla?

Homestead Phil proudly explained a concept called "Gorilla Gardening" to me recently. Before I go on. I should have googled it. haha! After sharing his definition to someone else, she said "Gorilla or Guerilla?" uhh... He said "Gorilla". It's not that at all! It's Guerilla!

Definition of Guerilla: referring to actions or activities performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization.

Definition of Gorilla:

Definition of Guerilla Gardening: The act of gardening on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, areas that are not being cared for, or private property.

Definition of Gorilla Gardening:

Definition of Homestead Phil Guerilla Gardening:

You're welcome! :)

The last few days on the Homestead

So I failed again. It's Sunday. It's been 8 days since my last entry and absolutely failed at #FridayFamilyFoodFun! But I'm here now! Boy do I have a lot of catching up to do! I'll likely work backwards. There may be some triggers here.

Mother's Day is VERY hard for me. I know I've mentioned being part of the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Club. I know I've mentioned infertility. I know I've mentioned our Foster Son who moved abruptly in November of 2017. So not only have we been pregnant nine times but we've grieved nine times when my body could not carry to term. Since then we've grieved not being able to get pregnant. We skip going to church on Mother's Day. We avoid restaurants. I've even learned that going to Lowe's on Mother's Day is like going to a bar on St Patrick's Day - it's amateur day/night! haha So we slept in, did chores, worked on a big project, and had Phil's mom over for dinner. Ironically, people say "Happy Mother's Day" similarly to "Happy New Year!" I was messaging with someone I don't know about a few of our older rental coops that we have for sale and she ended her message with "Happy Mother's Day!" Someone called today (which is now Monday - the day after Mother's Day) and wished me "Happy Belated Mother's Day". I guess the thought is that everyone celebrates it whether you celebrate with your mom, your spouse's mom, someone who is like a mom, or as a mom yourself. People aren't looking to offend but they are happy to extend the wishes. It still hurts. We're looking forward to have good news to share soon about our adventures in the Foster to Adopt process! Even when we receive the blessing of the next child into our lives, we'll likely still skip church on Mother's Day and make our own safe place to celebrate.. or not.

I had the pleasure of going on another delivery run with Homestead Phil this past weekend. They are so fun! The egg-citement that our renters have for the experience is so contagious! We are sold out in some of our regions but still have chickens and coops available in other region. This is a super busy time of the year with potential renters calling to reserve and current renters calling with simple conversations, stories to share, and concerns. Here's a Happy Renter photo from this past weekend!

Dandelions - I wish I snapped a picture in this last week of lawns and lawns just FULL of dandelions. When I finished college and moved to Maryland, I thought it was so unusual that I didn't see many dandelions. Actually very few. I also didn't know that everyone works and has school on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It's the first day of hunting season in Western Pennsylvania so there is absolutely no school that day. Everyone goes back to school and work that day in Maryland at least in the Baltimore metro area! So I quickly learned that dandelions are a weed. Most people in more urban and suburban setting treat their lawns and the dandelions don't grow. Chickens sure do like dandelions though! Well... just about any green and flowered plant really :)

For Homestead Phil's birthday in March, we went out to eat to an Irish pub at his request. I tried the most DELISH dish I have ever eaten! I was so impressed that I googled the dish's origin expecting for it to be Irish. No. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1934! Say, what?!? How did I make it to 41 years in my life and never have a Turkey Devonshire?! It's a piece of bread topped with real turkey pieces, a delightful cheese sauce, and bacon. Some serve it with tomato on top but tomatoes aren't a fav of mine so I order it without. I sweet-talked Homestead Phil in to going back to the same restaurant last weekend so I could get my Turkey Denvonshire fix! I took a picture this time! It is served in the dish it was heated in. So delish. I may have to sweet-talk Homestead Phil again soon! I did try to make it since his birthday but I didn't nail the cheese sauce. It's like the cheese that is in crab dip but a bit lighter. I can't even describe how good this cheese is! So here's the pic of the region famous Turkey Devonshire:

I think I need to start making real notes and not just notes in my head about what I chat about. I have these great ideas during the week and when I sit down, writer's block sets in! I mean... you likely can't tell! I'm such a chatter box I always have something to chat about :)

How is it... ?

How is it that it's 12:34am on Saturday and I failed as a blogger to

• Post a single blog in the last 7 days
• Make a #FridayFamilyFoodFun! post on Facebook on Friday?
• That May 2018 is here already AND we are already on day #5?

If I had a boss, I would possibly be released from my duties as Jenn The Blogger. Good thing I am Jenn The Boss! To read all about these JTB nicknames, click here. I'll continue with this haphazard writing for all of you to enjoy :) Maybe my lack of entries generates suspense?! haha I doubt it. When we were at the Farm to Table event in Pittsburgh 3 or so weeks ago, one of our previous renters turned long-term chicken keepers (shout out to Sarah L!) said "I really enjoy your blog!"! Made me smile. When I read someone's personal blog, it really makes me feel like I know them better. I hope that is the same for you.

As planned, I attended our church's Ladies Tea #NCLParTEA last Saturday. I had a fantastic time and wore my fanciest hat for the festivities. (See photo above as if you didn't already figure it out!)

I think I forgot that it's not typical of an average person like myself to be in the news a few times a month and even a few times a week sometimes! Here's a real convo with Homestead Phil earlier this week:
HP: I'm going to need your help outside with the animals in about 30 minutes.
Me: Ok! I need to do two things uninterrupted that I HAVE to do before I come outside.
HP: ok. You better hope the phone doesn't ring.
(famous last words)
...20 minutes go by...Phil comes inside.
Me: I'm not ready yet. The phone rang. The Wall Street Journal called for an interview.

I posted this convo on my personal Facebook page and received a ton of reactions (that's what the likes are called now) and over 20 comments of kudos. Either I should post more often about our media attention or keep only doing it once in awhile to keep peeps on their toes? The article is not published as of yet. When it does, I'll try to post here for you to take a read. For fun, here are a bunch of news articles and videos at Rent The Chicken.com that feature many of our Rent The Chicken Family!

We have a new option at Rent The Chicken.com. Even though we can service more than 60 major markets in the USA & Canada, there are still people out there who are in need of some chicken friends. We now have an Out of Area Package available. It's not a rental. It's a turnkey purchase which provides our brand spanking new coop made by our Amish friend, 3 hens, and supplies needed to get started with backyard hens. The portable coop ships flat, assemblies with just a few tools, and is easy to move daily. Big props to my cousin Jamie for taking some incredible photos of our new coop!

For the first time in AGES, I joined Homestead Phil on a delivery day! That's a BIG reason why I didn't make my #FridayFamilyFoodFun! Facebook post today! We made three deliveries to families who are new to backyard hens and one delivery to a renter who is ready to a long-term chicken keeper! The first photo is of my new friend Nikole. She's an awesome photographer / food blogger and you can find some of her work on Instagram. Give her a follow! She was also raised in Western PA like me. She moved out of the area and found her husband. Ironically, she found her husband in Portland, Oregon. I found my Portland, Oregon raised husband in Maryland. Both Nikole and I then moved back to the area with a spouse in tow! The second family looks like they were born to have backyard hens, don't you think? Lastly, I'm so proud of our third Happy Renter as she never a held a chicken before today! These are some Happy Renters, don't you agree!?

We'll have some more news in the coming weeks in regards to a huge project that we've been working on. God willing, we'll also have some news to share on the foster to adopt front. We are blessed.