If you give a girl a Clawfoot Tub....

...She might act a little CRAZY.....

{Via}

So, I have shared many times how I've 

managed to put my foot in my mouth at the wrong time,

Or get myself in weird predicaments.....

Oh, you're new here? 

Click on the Story of Me to the right--------------------------->

And you may want to get a drink of water, it way take you awhile!

It happens A LOT.

Pinterest

Last weekend we were invited over to my husbands cousins house.

A long lost cousin who we just met a few years ago.

And, amazingly, only lives 35 minutes from us!

I'd love to tell the incredible story of how God put it together,

but it's not my story to tell.

Just trust me when I say God is always at work around us!!

Pinterest

They recently downsized from a huge, HUGE, house to

a much cozier house. 

An adorable house with breathtaking views of the water.

{Via}

After enjoying some pre-dinner appetizers, great conversation,

 and a glass of wine

I needed to use the restroom.

Here's the thing about wine...

it relaxes your tongue a little...and increases the enthusiasm.

I already have a loose tongue and too much enthusiasm.

Here's another thing...

I have a long standing love affair with claw foot tubs!

I have wanted one since I can remember.

{via}

So, I walked into the bathroom and there it was.

A gorgeous, clawfoot tub. Gorgeous.

I ran my hands along the smooth white rim.

And I must have squealed.

Loudly.

Claudia came around the corner to check on me.

"I LOVE YOUR TUB!!" I said... in very breathy tone.

"One day when we return to our Whidbey* house I'm going to get one!!"

I continued.

(We own a house on Whidbey Island that we rent out, we will retire there in a "few" years)

{via}

Then she said it.

"You can have this one, its not our style....We have another one

that we will be using when we remodel..."

YOU.CAN.HAVE.IT.

"WHAT!? OMG, REALLLLLYYYYY!!!!!??????"

And with that,  

I proceeded to climb into their/my tub with my boots on.

I laid my head back and had a "moment".

My heart swelled three times its size.

I could've laid there daydreaming for a very long time

 about how it will look and feel in my own house.

Daydreamers, you know what I mean!

{via}

BUT,

at the risk of looking like a total nut job

 in front of Claudia and my husband. 

(He had come in exclaiming "She has wanted a tub like this FOREVER" 

after hearing all my excitement.)

AND,

realizing I just climbed into their tub with my boots on...

I got out and toned down the enthusiasm.

(only on the outside!!)

{via}

We had a wonderful dinner, laughter and a fun game with their 10 year old daughter.

I can't wait to get together again!

Before we left, I had to see her one more time go to the restroom again.

I was tempted to lock myself in and rip all my clothes off...

but I restrained myself.

***

When we got home and my husband went to bed...

I went on Pinterest and continued my daydreaming!

Seriously, I am still so excited, and thankful!

(I'll post about it in a few years when we get moved back to Whidbey

but we have a big adventure in between now and then)

xoxo

Jodi

The Dress, The Spandex and Why friends don't let friends shop alone....

A few years ago I went shopping for a dress for a special occasion . It was late June and I wanted something flattering and loose since it was supposed to be a hot day.  On a whim, I also purchased a one piece shoulder-to-mid-thigh spandex undergarment to smooth "things" out. Which, by the way, totally defeated the reason to buy a loose, comfortable dress.  

When that special occasion arrived I squeezed my orange spray tanned self into the spandex, pulling it up over my undergarments.  The dress was sleeveless so I had someone safety pin my bra straps to the Spandex shoulder straps.  This would prove to be a very BAD idea.

Feeling all lovely with my orange toned skin and deep purple dress, I failed to think through the idea that eventually...sometime that day perhaps...I might need to go to the restroom.  Imagine my horror when I rushed to the restroom doing the potty dance only to be pinned (where I couldn't reach!!!) into the ONE PIECE spandex body shaping contraption. Frantically, I managed to rip open the 3" slit in the crotch avoiding what would've been a rather embarrassing moment!  Putting that day behind me, I vowed to never be so silly as to get in that predicament again.

Yesterday, I optimistically ventured out to the mall to find a dress for my husbands upcoming work party.  I wore my new knee high black leather boots so I could see how they would look with the dress.  Typically, I bring a friend along to help me decide...and zip me up...but, today I was on my own.  

I was thrilled to find the dresses on sale and quickly grabbed an armful to try on. The store was in a state of transition, and the only dressing room was in the children's section of the store.  With only two bright green juvenile wallpapered dressing rooms I started trying on the dresses. As it turns out, I would be very grateful there wasn't a line of people waiting to use the dressing rooms.

Half way through my pile, I squeezed into a black dress that felt much smaller than the others in the same size. It was snug in the shoulders and I managed to only get the side zipper up half way. Deciding that this was a DEFINITE "NO", I tried to unzip it. It wouldn't budge. My arms were trapped and with too much eagerness, I would've ripped out the shoulders.  I tried several positions to no avail. I started to break into a sweat. In a frantic effort to free myself from this Rayon trap, I wiggled it up half way over my head. Thats as far as it went, it wouldn't budge. I was stuck.

I stared at myself in the mirror... exposed black panties and thigh high black leather boots with a dress stuck on the upper part of my body and head... sweat beading on my forehead.  

I had no choice. I had to ask the lady in the next room to rescue me. Not my proudest moment, but a good laugh anyways. In the end I did find a dress. One that I can get in and out of all by myself.

On my way home I stopped at Walmart for cat food and blush. The fake eyelashes caught my attention. "Hmmmm, these might be fun!" I thought.  I quickly dismissed the idea realizing I would probably end up glueing them to my upper lip by accident.

The familiar taste of foot in my mouth.... and other embarrassing moments....

You know those moments...They go something like this...

 You are so proud of yourself,

 the star of the 3rd grade Christmas Program, dressed up as Mary in a beautiful blue veil.

Gleaming as you march off the stage with Joseph, Shepard's, sheep and 3 wise men.

Smiling as you embrace the most fulfilling moment in your 8 year old life,

and then as you scoot across the old wood bleachers....

you get a giant sliver in your butt.

Or

That moment in 6th grade when you

finally return to school 2 months after breaking your leg on your third ski lesson.

only to have your crutch slip on spilled lunchroom gravy ...
 causing your crutch to fly in the air 

and your head to fall backwards
onto the corner of the lunch bench just about knocking you out.
The entire lunch room is watching as the nurse runs in
and escorts you to the office.

Or

That awkward date in 9th grade when the boy goes to kiss you

and you don't know what to do when you feel his tongue...

so you accidentally bite it and then awkwardly start laughing so hard you can't breath.

(totally destroying his masculinity)

Or

The morning you wake up late for a nail appointment

and throw on yesterdays pants lying on the floor beside the bed...

 As you're racing into the mall via a door being held open for you by a handsome gentleman...

a lacy hot pink pair of (yesterdays) panties fall out of your pant leg

right in front of him....

Or
While at the first social outing after your husband is promoted to Officer
you are seated directly across the table from the Captain.
You eagerly squeeze your lemon into your water glass
 not realizing its squirting all the way across the table
into his FACE
(Thankfully he had a good sense of humor!)

Yes, my life is remembered by moment, after awkward moment.

Seriously, I could go on and on for DAYS!

****

So, today, when I found that familiar taste of foot in my mouth

I shouldn't have been surprised.

We were attending a memorial service at our church.

Because I didn't know many of the guests,  I tried to talk mostly to the familiar faces.

 I recognized a lady in the crowd, so I spent some time catching up with her

and congratulating her on her fairly recent wedding and also giving my 

condolences for the recent loss of her father in law a few weeks ago.

She started talking to someone else so I meandered a little and decided to talk 

to (who I thought was) her husband.

ME: Hello, I'm Jodi. Jeff's wife. He mentioned that he's met you before.

HIM: Oh, yah... um, how are you?

ME:  Oh good, thanks! So, I never got to congratulate you on your 

recent marriage! congratulations!

HIM:  Um, thanks. ( a little look of uncertainty)

ME:  (not giving him room to talk) Oh, and I am so sorry to hear

about your dad. That must be very hard.

HIM:  My dad?  What's wrong with my dad?

ME: Aren't you ***** 's husband? Your dad...he recently passed away??

HIM: Um, no, I'm ****, my wife is over there with my daughter,

she is friends with **** .

ME: But you look so familiar, I wonder why that is.

HIM:  We were at your house a few years ago playing games for New Years.

ME: OOOOH yes, thats right! (Big awkward smile) Not another word spoken....

....I quietly make my way to the refreshment table in total embarrassment.

**5 minutes later**

I am now standing next to my husband with a full plastic cup of punch

and a paper cupcake holder with a chocolate peanut butter bar.

My husband is talking with another friend and I'm listening to their conversation.

Lost in my own little world I focus on the peanut butter bar.

It is stuck in the paper.

Its a bit of a battle working through the paper, but I finally get a bit of the cookie.

As I'm tasting pure delight I realize my husband has stopped talking.

I look up and see that they are both staring at me
 in disbelief.

In my eagerness to get a bite of the cookie, I hadn't realized the cup and cookie were in the
same hand.
As I twisted my hand to get the cookie into my mouth, I managed to
slowly pour the ENTIRE contents of my cup onto the carpet...
without even noticing.

ummmmm....oops....

My husband grabs a handful of napkins and blots the floor.

They get into a discussion of how did I pour an entire cup of punch onto the floor without any of it going down my shirt!?

We are all laughing now.

His friend says I need to write a book.

I say its time to go.

Walking out to the car I begin to think about my social awkwardness....
and that time a few years back when we were at a Luau on Maui

with the entire extended family.

After having a few complimentary Mai-Tai drinks,

I kept telling the waiter "Myhola" every time he brought something to the table.

 Finally, after about 5 times, Jeff  and his brothers asked me

"What are you trying to tell the waiter?"

"Thank you in Hawaiian!", I said. (DUH)

"Honey",  Jeff said

 "its Mahalo...NOT myhola".

OH...oops!

She makes beautiful things....

Will you imagine with me...

 standing in a super cute room full of fabrics and yarns

all organized like eye candy inside a distressed

shabby hutch.

via Facebook

Vintage suitcases filled with home made knitted hats, scarves

and custom bags.

via Facebook

Oh, to be so multi-skilled!

To have such talent!

She makes such beautiful things...

She makes such beautiful things for us!

I am not She.

I am "learning" to crochet.

I have a reallllly long 5 inch wide "ruffle" that is my practice piece.

Give me sandpaper and paint and I'm a superstar,

but needles and yarn require more attention to detail than I'm used to...

unless its a cute little...never ending... ruffle.

Not Rachel!

above photo's via Facebook

SHE IS A CROCHET AND SEWING SUPERSTAR!!

and the owner of

For Good Works

via Facebook

via Facebook

Awhile back,

Rachel was kind enough to let Sheila and I drop by...

(wait for it)

AT THE DROP OF A HAT....

HA HA HA HA

She and our friend, Debbie, were getting things ready for a huge bazaar. 

They had all her things organized in cute vintage suitcases.

Sheila and I had fun trying on different styles of hats and making a mess.

(Sorry about that Rachel!)

I was looking for the perfect style for my daughter for Christmas.

 Look, I found it!

This one right here...the colors are perfect for Janelle.

Later, Rachel was so kind to make another similar hat for my sister in law...

At the drop of a hat.

(Sorry, just had to do it. I just tickle myself sometimes)

While there, I couldn't resist taking some pictures of her cute house and decorating.

Stenciled old wood planks (love the saying!)

Upcycled canning jars on her chandelier.

Coffee sack curtain valance

She is such a lovely person inside and out.

Please go look at her Facebook page. 

There is so much to see.

And she will do custom and mail orders too!!

Keep up the Good Works, Rachel!!

We LOVE you and your talents.

Oh, and I bought that white one for ME!

xoxo

Apples & A Gentlemans Farm

Saturday was a gorgeous day.

It was the first day of sunshine and warm weather in over a week.

We had record rainfall the few days prior.

It was a perfect day to spend with my dear friend Tami 

picking apples and enjoying the peace

and quiet of their little farm.

They have 4 cows and a goat.

I just love cows. 

They have beautiful eyes and I love to hear them moo. 

Tami planted 2 huge gardens. This one is full of veggies and sunflowers. 

They had to put an electric fence around it because the

cows think its a buffet.

You can find these home made bird houses all over their property. 

Don't you love the branches attached to the outside?

They are always full of birds in the Spring.

This is Tami's daughter, Jessica.

She just graduated high school and earned her Associate Degree at the same time.

She also just returned from spending most of the

summer with Children of the Nation in Sierra Leone.

More of the cows. They are Jessica's babies.

I took Izzy out to the farm with me. 

I thought she would like to run around.

She had never seen a cow or chicken before.

The cows were not impressed.

Do you see that faint line above?

That would be the electric fence wire meant to keep 

the cows in the pasture.

In my attempt to get a super cute up close shot

I nearly killed myself.

Ok, Ok, maybe thats a little dramatic.

But I didn't know it was there until I rested my arm on it!

Tami felt so bad as I began to cry and laugh at the same time.

It seems her husband had just increased the power hours before.

Yep, it was nice and hot.

But I got the cute close up shot of the calf above.

So worth the drooling & tingling left side.

Ok, Ok, more drama.

But it did hurt, y'all!

Moving on.

This is an old grape arbor. Its pretty cool to sit under.

It is loaded with grapes.

On the back side of their property Tami planted another garden

for pumpkins and squash.

The dots of orange are popping up through the green.

It really is starting to look like Fall!

After picking apples we went spent our time out on the deck

peeling and slicing apples for apple sauce.

We also used my seal-a-meal to pre-package apple pie filling.

You just put an entire recipe for apple pie filling

into a bag and seal it up!

Later, when you want a pie or apple crisp you defrost 

and its done. Except for the pie crust, of course.

Just that easy!

Isn't this a lovely place to sit and relax on a hot late Summer day?

I also wanted to mention this beautiful artwork!

Tami's grandma painted the following pictures.

Tami treasures them more than ever because her grandmother

 recently passed away. She was in her 90's.

I think they are incredible!

She painted these portraits from photographs of children in

Sierra Leone. 

Tami is the Sponsorship Coordinator for COTN.

Both Jessica and Tami have been able to meet the many

children they sponsor there.

Thank you sweet friend for the fun day at your home.

I can't wait to make a pie with the apples!!

xoxo

PS.  Izzy says she is sorry for leaving you "presents" on the carpet

and that she will have better manners next time!!