Happy Nook, Prom, and House guests

Thing about living in a house #15) ---- The sound of people cutting grass ... This happens mostly on the weekends but the sound could also be during the week.  Back in apartment life you may have a crew of leaf blowers and weed eaters come by once a week... but that would just swoosh right on by in like 5 minutes.  The hum of neighborhood grass cutting can possibly be heard all day depending on which neighbor starts cutting when. 

In case I haven't made it clear, my aunt Bet is our interior decorator.  She gets the credit for what has been happening with our furniture, etc.   Over spring break she helped us pick out these chairs and fabric to go with our super fun kitchen rug.  Before we even moved into the house I had a vision for a little happy kitchen nook for reading, coffee, visiting, ya know ... all things happy.  So I've been awaiting these chairs even before I had them picked out in reality. 

Friday April 18 I get the call.  The chairs have arrived.... in Sherman, MS.  Joe runs home to switch out my car for his (small) truck during his planning period.  We thought we were set.  Didn't think twice about anything else we might need to get these chairs (and ottomans) home.  Sherman is only 40 minutes away.  

As they load the first chair into the back of the Ford Ranger we realize we are not all set.  All four pieces of furniture are NOT going to fit in the back.  We do not have any rope to tie them down.  For some damn reason this furniture warehouse does not have any either.  It's fine.  I'll ride in the back cab (no back seats in this whittle truck) and we'll shove the ottomans in the front seat. 

 Leaving the store.  Thanks for all your help, Premier (said with sarcasm)

Here is the best I could do in capturing my predicament.

                                                My view from the back

We thought we had everything under control.  I was watching the chairs (wrapped in plastic) in the back and Joe pushed the gas to about 55 as we pulled onto the highway.  The plastic really started flapping... and acting more like a sail than protective covering... just as Joe increased the speed one chair started moving.  The wind was pushing it back towards the other chair.  

I start saying, "Whoa... whoa whoa..."

Then it tilted forward and it's rear end was in the air.

"Stop STOP STOP"

Just as I was preparing myself to watch my new happy chair tip over the side and crash into 5 pieces Joe managed to slow the truck and the chair settled back into its spot.  

We pull over. 

Regroup.  

Lay chairs down a different way.

Poke holes in plastic. 

Joe tied one chair down with a measly little rope he had and I gripped the plastic of the other one through the back window.  And this is how we made it back to Oxford. 

The whole way I just kept thinking, please let us make it back.  I promise to never be this stupid again when picking up furniture.  Just let us get these chairs home.  I'm so sorry cute little chairs. 

We just didn't think it through AT ALL.  But here they are.  Cute as can be.  Little do they know that one of them almost bit the dust...or highway.

I'd like to say that every weekend morning we have been lounging in cute, happy chairs but that just hasn't been our life.  First, we had prom.  Prom is an all day set up.  Theme this year -- under the big top.

Joe has always had a secret dream of being a carnie.  His hands just aren't quite small enough for the job.  After seeing this picture I think he'd make an awesome cookie monster. 

Not only did we have decoration duty, but this year I also had beauty duty for Joe's sweet sis Susan.  She's a junior.  She has hair of gold.

                                                       And this PRECIOUS boyfriend. 

I volunteered Joe and I to be her surrogate parents and go take pictures of her and her friends.  (Joe's dad will have none of these shenanigans and even though his mom is a big band booster mom... she was clearly not going to the park for picture taking)

After picture time was costume time.  We owe all our thanks to Joe's mom.  She is a costume maniac.  She rented various props from a costume store so we could have options. 

Last year was Midnight in Paris and we looked like this. 
 

This year

                                 Joe juggled fire as the kids were arriving. 

It's possible we have even more fun than the kids on prom night. 

Thing about having a house (even a new one) #22 -- the shit that goes wrong (which has its own sublist of 5,987 things)   We noticed this lovely bulge in our base board (or is it a floor board... no definitely not floor....side board?)  by our shower.  We've identified the leak, gotten the plumber to fix it and are now waiting on the builder to come replace the now black and mildewing board. 

Thing about having a house #29 --- The waiting game.  It's impossible to play this game when you work.  I can't wait at the house for the plumber or builder to come.  Luckily Joe's mom is more than willing to help us out in this arena as well as costume making....and there's always summer.

It's possible we hold the record for the most number of house guests during the first 2 months of moving in to a new home.  Overnight guests include (in order of appearance):  Bet, Mom, Dylan, Claire, Grae, Elise, Andrew, Corey and Kathryn (and their two kids), Mary Robinson.

Then other friendly faces who were just passing through...

Kristen Doster...

Elizabeth Barnett

We hadn't seen those two chicks in AGES...


We've managed a little porch sittin...... but certainly not enough.  Look how inviting.  You can come too.