Welcome back to the continuing saga of "All My Chickies," otherwise known as "Tales from the Coop."

Today on "All My Chickies" Ruth's on again/off again relationship with the elusive Kevin is uncovered! Will her closets ever be finished? Will Kevin ever show up on time? Will Ruth survive the ordeal? Stay tuned for more on this pivotal plot line....

Meanwhile, let's check in on Snowflake and see how she is faring this week. Will Snowflake's sister continue to bring her meals? Will Snowflake try and pass off Ellis's egg recipe as her own?! And horrors of horrors, will she actually learn to cook? Don't miss an episode as we find out!

As you remember, yesterday Dentrassi was stunned by the realization that her baby is 17 years old! Did Den survive the blow? Did her son eat Middle Eastern food? Will he survive until he is 18? Don't miss a minute of this continuing saga!

When we last saw Sharon she was running from the Cyber Censor Ellis...afraid of the power hungry cybersleuth! Sharon's unabashedly funny Boob Joke was the hit of the daily, but will that sway the censors? Will Ellis be placated by the sheer audacity of Sharon's humor? Will she crack a smile? And meanwhile, will Sharon try to shrinkwrap herself with the FoodSaver? Will it work? Don't miss a minute of this thrilling plot line!

And we can't forget Lisa, who was last seen pining away for the sexy blue-eyed hunk from Zabar's. Will Mr. Blue Eyes show up on Lisa's doorstep? Will his sexy blue eyes cause Lisa to forget all her Criminal Procedures? And what is "Zabars?" Oh, the suspense, the tragedy, the excitement!

When we left Traci yesterday she was on her way to the gym with a lofty goal. Did she do it? Did she run a mile? Did she make her goal? Or is she still at the gym, stuck on the treadmill? Don't miss the exciting conclusion to this inspiring story!

And poor Bruce Springstein...left broken hearted by Pebbles. Will Pebbles show any remorse? Will she steel her resolve to stay away from Bruce? Watch as she indulges in chocolate and strawberries....cold hearted? or just hungry? YOU be the judge!

And let's not forget Little Chick and her ongoing struggle. Last we heard, every day Little Chick faced the most insidious of foes...the After School Onslaught! The daily rush into the house, the mad dash for snacks, and the dreaded avalanch of coats! How will she cope? Will she install a traffic light at the front door? Will she lock herself in her bedroom until it is over? Will she start tying up the children with their scarves? Don't miss a minute of this compelling struggle for sanity!

Chazmom is facing some challenges as well. Will her young child's stomach ache improve? Will they both sleep through the night? Will Chazmom have the energy, the stamina, the creativity to finish the bathroom? Or will it take her a couple of years to put the finishing touchs on (like some narrators we know!) It's sure to be a nail-biter, right down to the last switch plate!

When last we checked in on Ellis she was trying to track down Sharon's Boob Joke to zap it into cyberspace. She was only able to zap innocent posts instead! Will she get it right eventually? Will her zapping powers become stronger as her power grows? Will she ever get over her revulsion towards Marmite? And the question burning in all our minds: What the heck is Marmite? All this, and more, will be revealed.

And don't dare miss the exciting revelation about Jennifer's neighborhood streaker! You'd never guess who it is! In yet another tragic story line, our streaker is suffering from a broken heart at the hands of a woman who loved chocolate and strawberries more than she loved him! You can see the pain...you can see the suffering...you can see Big Jim and the Twins!

Happy Friday Follies, Chickies!

Oh, Franny, belly laughs first thing in the morning are such a good way to start the day! That is such a witty post - and all true too!

My relationship with Kevin is back on again. I think I won him when I was able to produce a stud finder - leftover from my days as a single parent! The closet is done and the current list of odd jobs is complete.

Yesterday I seemed to spend the whole day in here answering questions and generally putzing around - 32 posts and several legitimate deletions. There was one screw-up but I was able to fix it.

I did manage to get some shovelling done and brought in wood but that was about it! Oh yes, another boring Fair Board Meeting last night. It will be more exciting as we get closer to July, I hope. On the other hand, perhaps my enthusiasm has waned since I'm no longer Treasurer.

Overbooked today which is silly! Folks will be dropping in all day to pick up posters and tickets for the show and I finally agreed to do an interview for a local paper. The reporter is the one who did the story on Hershey's "job" and I suspect she just wants to see her again! That'll kill the morning. This afternoon, our new homecare worker, Jane, comes for the first time. I will stay for a while and then take off for Smiths Falls for a poke around the stores and some errands. Rehearsal is on again tonight for 7:30.

I hope to get back in for the next installment of The Follies!

Oh, lordie, Franny. Thank you... that was just what I needed.
How's the painting going, hon?

Ruth, let's make one thing clear. That screw-up yesterday was yours, not mine. Please try to be a little more explicit next time you're referring to screw-ups. My reputation is on the line, here.
Oh, that ruddy Fair again! Already you're planning for it!
Hey, have fun in Smiths Falls! Enjoy your "Jane-time". Please pick me up a couple of pounds from the chocolate factory. Glad your closet is finished, Ruthie.
BTW, I think you should explain to our dear American friend what "Canadian Tire" is. Sharon is of the impression that you're going to look at tires.

Sflake, how was dinner last night? How's DH's arm? And your sweet sis?

Den! I missed DS's birthday! Please give him a big hug for me and wish him the best!

Sharon, I can't get the visual of that joke out of my head. BLAH!! I do wish the women at the Y would cover up in the change room. I'm such a prude.

Lisa, I'm sorry you had a bad day yesterday. I hope today is better for you... hang in there, hon.

Traci, I'm glad your little one is getting better... and congrats on running a mile!

Pebbles... strawberries and chocolate... enjoy! I LOVE reading those success stories, too.

Little Chick, I'm glad you're at least considering resigning from that stressful position. Enjoy the skiing! (you freaking, winter-loving nut! )

Chazmom, what a sweet DH you have. I hope your little one is alright. When we started Phase II, we added in one serving of bread (which was often porridge), and had a couple of pieces of fruit throughout the week. Good luck!

Jennifer, how is your neighbourhood streaker? Any more showings?

I just had a great idea. I've been struggling to do Phase I again, and failing miserably. It's the cold weather. It's killing me. So I'm simply going to do Phase II right now! I'm pretty excited. Porridge for breakfast. Some pudding for a snack...
At least I'll be eating better than I HAVE been! (got into the Bridge Mix again yesterday. And the chips.)

Have a wonderful day, everyone... love and hugs to all...

Frannymae, I love it. Being new to the beach it just catches me right up and I feel like I've been hangin on the beach forever. Not to mention the great wake me upper since I hate mornings. If it were up to me school would start at 11a.m. But hey that's just me in my perfect world! Have a great day all!

Just had to pop my head in and see what was shakin'! Ellis, I'm with you...phase 1 is MUCH easier during warm weather. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! All I want right now is a nice hot bowl of hearty oatmeal! So maybe I need to just respect my body's wishes and go straight to phase 2!

I do think that we crave "comfort food" when the temps drop. It is 4 degrees Farenheit/-15 degrees Celsius right now, and I sure don't feel like eggs for breakfast.

My sweet DH found some Madagascar Red Vanilla tea for me! I mentioned that I was looking for it, and he tracked it down for me the same day! He's a keeper, that's for sure. Maybe I'll have that and some porridge...yummmmm.

Ellis, I haven't actually started painting. I have to decide which wall to do first, which color goes on which wall, find new, albeit temporary, homes for a ton of books, etc. So....once my schedule changes next week I will have DH around to help at least on one of my days off.

Ruthie, I caught the tail end of an interview on The Today Show about the Vagina Monologues! I wish I had seen all of it...I thought of you immediately!

Welcome, Bamie! I never used to like mornings when I had to get up and get going...now I would love to have a "normal" schedule! I work straight nights so mornings for me are really my evevings! Make sense....probably not...I've been up all night!

Okay, off to cook my gruel...uh....porridge...uh...oatmeal!

Oh Franny, how I've missed you! gonna have to check out this red tea that everyone is gaga over. What a sweet man you have

Ruth I hope bruce isn't jealous over kevin...or harry for that matter! Enjoy your me time.

Hi Bamie

Ellis my bunch is all well and yours?? Cast is of dh's LEG. Dinner was mediocre as usual What in the name of tarnation is MARMITE & CANADIAN TIRES????

Sharon hows the packing & sorting going??? When your done please come to my house!

Luckyredlisa Did you get any studying in at all???

Den Happy birthday to your DS and to you!

Peebles YUM strawberries & chocolate, bout the only thing I cook well!! Enjoy!!

Traci on the exercise!!! YOU ROCK!!

Jennifer a streaker how exciting!!! nothing like that ever happens where I live.

Chazmom what a sweet man you have a real KEEPER!! Hope the littleone is better and Traci's kiddo as well.

I think that covers everyone, forgive me if I missed anyone! Gotta run BBL

Franny have I told you lately that I love you. What a great way to start the day I have tied the wee ones up with their scarfs.(great idea I never thought of that one-)They are on the couch being forced to watch 101 dalmations. Lets hope that they don't have to go for a potty break

Ruthie- whatever will you do with you mornning now that you can't watch out the window waiting for Kevin. You must think of something else to be built or fixed. Good luck with the interview.

Bamiegirl- welcome to the beach. I am sure you will love us We are a wonderful crazy bunch of chicks.

Ellis- Have you ever gone out and played in the snow. Come on down this week-end and I will take you down hill skiing with me.... you will love flying done the hill with the wind whipping in your face and the cold nipping at your nose and toes. It is great fun.

To the rest of you chicks have a great day on the beach. I will check in again later as this new scarf trick is working wonderfully.

Morning Sflake we were posting at the same time when you are done with Sharon send her my way.

Morning little Chick I do hope thing are getting a little calmer for you. Have fun skiing....I haven't done it in years what fun it was...but do be careful. Saw a movie the other night that made me think of you, something with Sly Stallone some future thingy, anyway a catch phrase in it was enhance your calm

Little Chick, I have been playing in the honkin' snow every since my wicked parents BROUGHT me to this gawd-forsaken land! You come up HERE, and you can skate on the worlds longest skating rink. Big DEAL!

Hey, Bamie! How are you!?

Sflake, you can find out all about Marmite here:
http://www.marmite.com/marmite/ingred.html
If you were British, you would know what it was. We grew up with it, but I HATE it!
Canadian Tire is a BIG chain of Canadian stores that sells everything from automotive stuff (including tires, heh heh), hardware (paint/lighting/you name it), kitchen stuff, toys, gardening stuff... you know. It's kind of like a smaller Home Depot, but it doesn't sell lumber. When you pay cash for something, you get "Canadian Tire money". I think it's 3% of your purchase or something. All Canadians have Canadian Tire money in their wallets/drawers.

Ellis get you skates ready love to skate too but have not done it in awhile do you have a big ole pillow I could borrow to tie around my big ole butt.

I am on the floor laughing, Franny!!

What a great way to start our Friday!
Two burning questions on my mind today.....what the heck is Marmite and the Canadian Tires????? Are these things that we are really in need of in Indiana (USA)?? Gosh, I hope I get answers soon!

Have you seen the pop-up that sometimes comes on the screen when you come into 3FC? Have you seen the butt on that girl? Wonder if you automatically get that butt by buying the product?? I think it's called Diet Patch. Ruth or Ellis, can you order us some? I need it before I go on the beach in Feb.

I, too, am failing miserably on Phase 1.....and am doing the Winter Phase2. Sounds like a more doable thing what with freezing to death most of the time, and being up to my in packing material the rest of the time. Hey, Franny, maybe I need that shrink-wrap thingy . Could I borrow it to kind of shrink-wrap all our "stuff" and put it into storage? Wow, what a brilliant idea!!

To top it all off....I think I'm coming down with a cold! Probably caught it from DH. I'm going on as normal, however, today. And try to ignore the symptoms! Who knows...it may disappear!

More box packing today...cleaning my last closet....and we're meeting my brother for lunch. I think I'll skip the gym today. Just don't feel up to par.
Ellis, are you going to the Y? If you don't want to brave the cold, run around the house several times.

Sflake, I am so glad everyone at your house is feeling better. You take good care of yourself, hon'.

Little chick, that sledding sounds like so much fun! Wish I were there with you! I'd probably break my fool neck (or something else!), but it would be fun!

Franny, don't you just love that red tea? I have a cup every night! You have a sweet DH! Thanks again for starting our day off on a funny beginning.

Oh, BTW, Ruth.....can I borrow your "Stud Finder"? It sounds so sexy! What in glories name is it????? This sounds like a whole story in it's self, Franny!

Got to go, Chickies......wishing every one of you the best of days! Hugs to all!!

Sharon

Oh, thank you, Ellis, honey. My mind is more at ease since you answered my 2 questions for the day! I will check out that site you mentioned.
Hugs to you,
Sharon

Thank you so much Franny!!! The weather in Chicago is just freezing, so I feel your pain. I grew up in Ohio, so I'm right there with 'ya.

So yes, today is the day. Yes - fruit will again be in our fridge. Finally DH is done complaining about not having fruit, and now he says he really doesn't want it anymore. I just love him.

I'll let you guys in on my secret plan. My DH and I bought a house in May of last year. The house is quite cute. Here's photos in case you would like to see what we look like - (our wedding, house and doggy photos are all here).

Anyway, if you look at the photos you will quickly see that our large 700 sq ft basement is fully furnished in early 'Grandma' (no offense for grandmas out there, but I is quite ugly in our modern opinion). DH will be travelling for work in April, and I'm going to plan to have the carpet replaced, and possibly have paint and furniture ready. Sort of like a week long, While you were out. I'll keep you all posted, and he will never suspect a thing. I get 2 extra weeks of vacation, so I can take one and he probably won't notice.

Thank you everyone - I'm so glad I found this!!!

A surprise redecorating sounds so nice! I may be dense but I don't see any photos???