I am a runner!

Towards the beginning of September, I started running again. Nothing was even chasing me! I started running in 2013 and ran my first 5k in December of 2013. Pre-run pic of Homestead Phil, his winter beard, and I.

I ran a second 5k in 2014.


I started running a few times since then but time would get away from me. I am chubby and I'm sure it looks unnatural when I'm out there giving it a go! When I went away for a Girls' Weekend recently, I even lured two of my cousins into joining me!

I feel like I'm cheating though as I don't just run. I apply a Run / Walk / Run philosophy by Jeff Galloway. I use an app called Easy 5k which makes "running" doable for me. Find the app here on the App Store. Jeff believes that even the best of marathon runners should take a walk break for quicker recovery, motivate non-runners to run, improvement of overall run times.

When I first started running this go around, I started with the same ratio I used previously which was run (or in my case jog slowly) for one minute then walk for 30 seconds. My times were in the tank... slower than ever before! I kept at it though! I then looked up the various ratios to see what ratio I should be using for my per mile times. I was WAY off! I needed to be at run 10 seconds / walk 45 seconds. Say, what? Hardly sounds like a run at all! Looked more like a walk with run breaks rather than vice versa! I dropped 1 minute and 45 seconds to my mile time switching from 60 sec run / 30 sec walk! That moved my ratio to 15 sec run / 30 sec walk which dropped another 15-20 seconds to my mile time! Here's my view on some of my long run days! If that doesn't motivate me to run, I don't know what will?!

After a week or so at that ratio, it was time to switch to another ratio. I tried 15 sec walk / 15 sec run. WOW! That did not provide enough walk breaks so I switched back to 15 / 30 and then tried 20/40. After the 15/15 ratio, something happened to my calves. My next run two days later at 15/30 still caused pain to my calves. I took a few days off from running and tried it again. I could make it about a mile at a fairly decent time for my ratio and abilities but after a mile my calves hurt fairly badly. :( So I bought some new running shoes and new what I call "old lady" inserts. I've been using inserts in my shoes for a number of years due to pain in my heels. I used my new running shoes and new inserts last Saturday and my calves still hurt after just over a mile. After consulting some running friends, it seems as though I injured myself (clearly!) and that I wasn't giving enough recovery time before trying again. I also may need to bump back down to 15 / 30 until I know for sure that my calves are healed. Usually it's my lungs that give me a hard time but I've been fairly good about using my inhaler as I'm preparing to run. So here I sit, six days after my last run, longing to get out there again but don't want to be in pain. This getting old stuff is for the birds! (See what I did there? haha) I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow with my new shoes and inserts again! I really do enjoy it! It also somehow helps provide clearer thought to my mind after I've run.

So any non-runners or previous-runners want to download the app and join in on my fun? The fall is the best time to start running! I much prefer running in cooler weather than in hot weather! The first run is 15 minutes. You can do it!

Virtual Fireside Chat

This year and last year, we've hosted a Virtual Fireside Chat for each of our Affiliates to participate in. They follow along on their computers to a PowerPoint presentation while connecting either through a microphone / speakers on their computer or dial in by phone. Some of our Rent The Chicken Courses for our Affiliates are lecture format but the Fireside Chat is a conversation. We ask for everyone to be in a comfy fireside chair with a tasty fireside beverage to set the tone of the meeting. My fireside beverage of choice is hot cocoa with marshmallows. :)

The purpose was to have a time to determine what can be done differently and better. It was a time of sharing of what worked as well as what didn’t work both with Rent The Chicken and with Hatch The Chicken. We discussed our 2018 goals and how we attained them as well as goals for 2019. That Fireside Chat was exactly what some of our Affiliates needed to have to light a fire sparking out of the box thinking, new ways to accomplish goals, and new perspective! Rent The Chicken would not be what we are without the farmers and homesteaders offering our service. We encourage them and they encourage us!

We are also egg-cited as we plan our Annual Rent The Chicken Owners Conference which will be held in January. It's when as many of our Affiliates join us for fun, informative sessions, goal setting, and relationship building! It's also when we announce our 2018 Top Performer! EEK!

Here's a throw back photo of our Rent The Chicken Owners Conference a few years back!

Investing in the Next Generation

A few months ago, the Director of Children's Ministry of our region spoke at our church. I knew before he came that I likely needed to step up to help with Girls' Ministry. It was a tough decision to make because Our Girl was with us and she didn't receive me well no matter where we were. It would not be enjoyable if I helped in her Girls' Ministry class. Not enjoyable for her, for me, the leaders, nor the other girls in the class. When I made myself available, I was offered to do crafts with all of the girls once a month and fill in when needed. THAT I could commit to! I sure do like crafts! There are BINS and BINS and BINS of craft items that need to be sorted through. There's enough craft supplies to do a craft a week for a year! We're sticking to a craft a month though :)

About a month ago, the fine folks at Renshaw Farms that I blogged about recently donated pumpkins for the girls to paint. Boy do they LOVE to paint! :) Here are some photos of the pumpkins!

This week was my second craft night with them. There has definitely been some hand-holding from one of the other leaders to direct me on what crafts are on the list to do. There are widows and widowers that are pastors and missionaries within our church's network. Each Girls' Ministry group is designated to make birthday cards for some of the widows and widowers. We had six celebrating birthdays in the month of November. Boy do these girls like to design and create cards out of plain paper, stamps, and markers! Each widow and widower will receive THREE personally handcrafted card from our girls. What a treat! I snapped a selfie of these three with me before going home for the night. Who wouldn't want cards from these amazing kiddos?!?

Before our niece Brooklynn went back home after being with us for the summer, she convinced each kiddo she hung out with this summer to join an interactive game called Roblox. Have you heard of it? There's like a gazillion games built into this one app. The preferred game is called Meep City. It actually teaches an incredible amount of responsibility to these kiddos! First and foremost, they should only be "friends" on the game with people that they actually know. They can live chat in the game or they can have private messages individually or start group chats. In Meep City, they have to earn coins which can be done by watering and picking flowers, fishing then selling the fish, and even racing cars. Fairly realistic, right? haha With their coins, they can purchase items for in their house, purchase an upgraded house, or even buy items for their friends! They have to save save save if they want to buy that golden toilet for 2500 coins! I apparently have been deemed the "Fairy Godmother" among these kiddos! I may or may not have purchased a golden toilet for one or more of them! I have a fancy house that I have saved for in my strategic flower picking and fishing marathons. I don't mind gifting elaborate things for the kiddos especially if I see a new item that comes available while they are in school! I can surprise them when they sign on and then they don't have to buy the item! I have learned that I cannot buy a new house for them and they have to save save save for a new / bigger house. They REALLY like to interact with me on the game and I REALLY enjoy it! Plus it gives me something to talk about with them when we are in person. It's crazy that they have so much to say to me when they didn't necessarily have much to say to me before. I don't think it's just because I have a castle full of fun things and buy stuff for them on the game! :) Legit... I am fun! I about pogo sticked myself right into one of their showers the other day! Oops! So here's a picture of my fancy castle decked out in Rent The Chicken blue! I just wish I could have a little chicken coop and sell the eggs for money, too! I guess that would be more like Farmville and less like Meep City then! :) Find me if you play, I'm AuntieJTB231 of course! I'm the one decked out in a blue shirt, jeans, and a headset just like I'm often found in real life!

Looks like it's time to pick my flowers so I can gift some more items!