6th annual blogger playdate

 The night before Thanksgiving for the past 5 years my blogging friends, Jami, Tracey & Gretchen & I get together for food, laughter, catching up & some sort of activity.  We've painted at Uptown Art, we've gone to the movies & we've just sat at a restaurant for hours & talked...but THIS year we decided on painting pottery.  

Up first was dinner at 'Topp't' on Charlestown road.  I had taken a bite of my pizza before I remembered that perhaps I would need a picture of my pizza for a blog post that only I will do.

I think we would all give the food an A.  It was pretty crowded on Wednesday night & while we mused about why (no one wants to cook the night before Thanksgiving?  Everyone wants to get away from their families before spending a whole day w/ them the next?)  Jami pointed out a sign that said, 'Kids eat free on Wednesday'.  Yep, that'll do it too...

Ok-so I had never painted pottery before.  You pick out your piece & your paints & they just leave you willy nilly to do your own thing.  Say WHAT now?

Before we got started I asked the young lady working there to take our picture.  Check out the kid behind us looking at us.  Could it be he was trying to figure out why all these old ladies were there & taking their picture?  Could it be that I may or may not have said a few cuss words which prompted Jami to say, 'SHHHH there's a kid over there.'  

OOOPSIE.

So my plate is going to go on my dresser to put the jewelry I wear daily on.  (Wedding ring, watch, pinky rings, thumb ring, middle finger ring - you know - THE ESSENTIALS...)  It's gray w/ a purple 'M'.  Gretchen said, 'So are you going to paint something purple?'  HOW DARE SHE ASK THAT?

Of course they're all dull & gross right now but they assured us once they're fired they'll be bright & shiny & lovely...

Gretchen painted the blue mason jar, Tracey had a pink butterfly for Maggie & Jami got really fancy & painted a snowman!

As per tradition at the end of the night we take a selfie.  And OH let me tell you the primping that begins when someone says, "OK-we need to take a pic!"

I won't tell you about the 34 other selfies we took to get this one JUST RIGHT.  But G filtered it up & BAM we were on social media to make it official!

A few days later this picture popped up on our timelines on Facebook from 2014... Notice #1 (& most importantly) we all look the same... #2-we're all in the same order.  What's up w/ that?!

Current events

So first & most importantly B-rad & his brother finished harvest late last Tuesday night.  It was a fairly quick harvest considering they were never down because of rain.  They did have a couple of problems w/ the machine that caused them to be down for a day each time.

They unload 'on the go' which means the combine is still moving (& combining), the tractor drives beside it w/ the grain while it's unloading.  (I SWEAR I don't know how they do it...)  

Our 14 year old nephew, Cole, is behind the wheel of the tractor.

(At a separate, later date than the video above) I got a picture from B-rad of the unloading auger.  Uhm, yea those dents aren't supposed to be there.  They had another guy driving the tractor & grain cart that doesn't have as much experience.  The combination of speeding up & slowing down along w/ managing the ups & downs of the terrain - B-rad couldn't react fast enough & CRUNCH went the auger on the grain cart.

 They had to drive the combine all the way back to the farm full of grain so they could unload it.  Grain is heavy, people & if you think farm equipment is slow already - imagine how slow it went loaded to the brim w/ corn.  They propped the auger up w/ the forklift & got it unloaded.  Luckily our dealer had one in stock so Brady drove to Boonville to pick it up.  They installed it the next day & voila they were going again.  The auger cost a little over $2000.00 which I didn't think was bad at all...I was expecting a lot more.

The final blow about a week before they finished was the back axle on the combine breaking.  They knew it had a crack, but were hoping it would stay together until they finished.  HA!  Like that EVER happens!  

Luckily this time B-rad's skills w/ metal working came in really handy because they went to his work & he MADE a new one.  The broken one is on top & the one B-rad made is on the bottom.  People at work get one me when I talk about how B-rad has to fix my washing machine (or whatever the case may be).  One guy said - 'GEEZ, Jaime - is he a washing machine mechanic or what?'  I say, "UHM my husband can fix ANYTHING."  And it's the total truth.

It took most the day (Saturday) for B-rad & his laser machine to make the new axle & they worked the next day on getting it installed.  They obviously had to leave the combine in the field where it broke so the installation also took place in the field.  By late Sunday afternoon they were up & going again.

***

I have been working on a quilt for our bed at the houseboat.  First Rose had to read the instructions for me so I knew what to do.  I've never made a quilt where I had to cut so much.  Both my other quilts were made from 'pre cut' fabric bundles called a jelly roll & charm pack so this is a whole new ball game for me.  

There was so much cutting that I had to keep track by marking off what I did on the pattern.  

Rose also gave me the good idea to pin all the 'like size' lengths together & mark the size so when I was putting them together later it would make it easier.  

In one weekend I went from baggies of cut fabric...

to this.  This is a section of one block.

In the middle of our sewing we've had to make time to go to her towns drawing.  I'm sure I told you guys about this?  No one has won the jackpot yet... there are only 4 numbers now & the jackpot this week is $1,600,000.00.  If you're there you get it all, if you're not you get half so it's totally worth freezing to maybe win a 'cool' million... (HA get it?  See what I did there?)

The people are everywhere. 

As I continued to add to my block I realized very quickly when I sewed this piece (on ALL five blocks) that something didn't look right.  WELL-I sewed this piece to the wrong side.  

HMPH.

That's when you start the daunting process of UN-SEWING.  And it totally sucks, TRUST ME.

Once I un-sewed my 5 blocks I had to re-sew it the right way.  This is where I am right now in the process...  Eventually I will make 4 of another block & when I put them all together it will have a 3-D effect... UHM, we shall see...

Sara Evans concert

Shauna & I headed to French Lick Resort this past Saturday night to see Sara Evans in concert.  French Lick, you say?   Yep, French Lick!  They've built a new facility w/ a large ballroom & several smaller meeting rooms to attract more business.  The Sara Evans concert was the very first one in the new facility.  They have other shows coming up this winter (Kenny Rogers, Kook & the Gang, Maddie & Tae & Marty Stuart & Connie 'somebody').  No, we're not planning on going to any of those....

Ok so Sara Evans performed on a stage in this huge ballroom.  They had chairs set up w/ placards on them to note which row you were in.  The chairs can obviously be moved around or taken out depending on their function needed for the room. 

Since it was a bit of a fancier venue than we're used to, we got a little bit more dressed up than normal.  Still our normal uniform of jeans, but we dressed it up a bit w/ our tops AND we wore shoes that would make our feet hurt.  I mean - we pulled out ALL the stops for Sara...

 I wore more make up than normal - including lip stick.  

WATCH OUT.

Ok so there was this chick next to me playing on her phone.  I found it very distracting...

I mean-Sara Evans is on the stage singing her hits as well as some covers.  (However these covers didn't make me irate like Dixie Chicks cover songs did... you know WHY?  Because I KNEW the damn cover songs Sara Evans was singing...)

This girl couldn't take her eyes off her phone.

I just don't get it - why pay money for a ticket & sit on your phone all night?  You can do that at home for free.

This is my most favorite Sara Evans song, 'A Real Fine Place'.  I trimmed this clip so you can hear her amazing voice belting it out.

This chick was un-phased by the belting...

The concert was very short - like an hour & a half & it started at 8:00 so we were done by 9:30.  We headed over to the casino to see what was doing there.

We played around on slot machines for a little bit.  We would play for a few minutes, then cash out to move on to another machine.

There is a bar inside the casino w/ a stage set up behind it.  There was a live band performing that night.  

His name is Jake Dodds.  He's a pretty good singer & lets face it - he's pretty handsome - so he's got that going for him too...

There were digital poker screens in the bar.  We sat there for a while listening to the music & playing digital poker.  

We cashed out from there & moved onto other slot machines.  When we got down too low to pay the higher value slot machines we blew finished off our money on the penny slots.  I spent like $30 & Shauna spent like $20 - we're not high rollers, people...

When in French Lick you MUST go to West Baden.  I've only been at Christmas time & Shauna had been one time a long time ago.  The place really is beautiful.

They have all kinds of chairs & sitting areas inside the atrium so we found this super comfy couch/chair thingie to sit on. 

The lights above in the ceiling change colors... I could watch them for hours.

As we sat in our comfy couch/chair thingie I felt like someone was looming over us...  

So Shauna ran into the relative of a patient of hers at the casino after the concert who also happens to have helped raise money for the restoration of West Baden.  This year is the 10th anniversary of it re-opening & they are having all kinds of events to celebrate.  He had some kind of fancy name badge on which led me to believe hew as invited to be a guest there since he helped raise money.  We ran into him again after we went to West Baden & he showed us around & told us all kinds of stories about the property - including the fact that the statue that was looming over us had been there since the place was built way back in time.  It was really cool.  

After he left us to go to bed (by this time it was almost midnight) we were going to head back home & we stopped by the restroom.  A mirror this large calls for a full body selfie...

While we were in the restroom we saw a lady w/ a fun witch hat.  Shauna complimented her hat & she told us there were lots of other cute hats in the billiard room.  SOOO-we headed to the Billiard room.  

We ran into Buddy the Elf...

And then I got to put on the fun witch hat we had seen in the bathroom.   There were several people there in a group but Buddy was the most friendly.    

And with that - we finally headed home.  Another good concert - check.  Another fun night - check.  If any of you are keeping score, this is our last concert that we know of until we see my Faith in April.  Be still my heart...

A love affair spanning 21 years...

Ok, so if you thought this was going to be about B-rad & me - you don't know me at ALL....

The love affair that I am referring to is the one I have had with a certain country music singer by the name of Faith Hill.

Normally I tell you 'don't judge me' but hell - you can judge me ALL YOU WANT.  I don't care what you think.  I know I'm insane & amp; like a bi-polar person off their meds I LIKE IT.

Most of you know this about me - I have 2 great loves: the color purple & Faith Hill.  You will be reading a LOT of all capitalized words & honestly I'm so excited to be telling you guys all about Faith that I have NO idea where to start.  

(JUDGE, JUDGE, JUDGE)

So Faith Hill has been 'out of the game' for a few years now.  You may remember that B-rad & I went to Vegas 3 years ago JUST to see her in concert when they did a residency there, but other than that - you don't hear much from her.   However when we go to Tim McGraw concerts I ALWAYS ask anyone involved w/ the venue, "Did Faith come with him?"

 "Is Faith here?"  

(Ask Shauna - she'll tell you!)

SO-as Jami & I were waiting for Carrie Underwood to come on stage in Indy a couple of weeks ago, I got this text on my phone.

YES, I started to scream...

And you guys, I'm so freaking excited about this I can't even tell you.  (However I will try in 2 million words or less...)  I texted my concert partner in crime, Shauna, & told her not asked WE ARE GOING & of course she was on board!

Yes, we know which shows we are seeing.

YES, you read that right 'showS' - w/ an S.  

We're going to 2...

Judge away, people...

And any self respecting artist always does press when they're going on the road so Faith & Tim were everywhere the days after the announcement.

Does life get much better?  

I think not...

This all happened just as they were celebrating their 20 year wedding anniversary.  Have I loved Faith longer than Tim?  Yes, yes I have... 

I saw a Tweet where Faith Hill responded w/ simply a red heart & it was Keith Urban wishing them happy anniversary while he was wearing one of their concert t-shirts...

I thought, "Man-that looks SO familiar..."

And I started digging in my dresser... & LOOK WHAT I HAVE, PEOPLE.

And because B-rad is a good guy & supports my borderline obsessive love for Faith, WAY back in 1995 I had bought a brand new car that did not come w/ a cd player (Oh, the humanity...{kids nowadays have no idea how good they have it...}) & for Christmas that year B-rad bought me my first Faith Hill CD AND an external cd player for my car.  It's the bottom left cd, 'It Matters to Me'.  Yes, I still have it & several others!  These are the ones I was able to find quickly for this post...

And I know I go to a lot of concerts now, but back 20 years ago that wasn't the case.  In 1998 Faith was coming to the Palace - B-rad & I got tickets & there was a 'rule' back then 'no flash photography', 'no cameras' etc. so I didn't take my camera.  I was never SO pissed as when I saw other people there w/ cameras & she even took people on stage w/ her & posed for pictures.  I have ZERO pictures from that show (this was days before cell phones) but the local country radio station was giving out buttons... & I STILL HAVE MINE.

In 2000 they did the first Soul 2 Soul tour & we went - TWICE.  Once in Louisville & once up to Indy.  (I can feel your judgy eyes...)  Digital cameras were just starting to exist & the one we took I borrowed from B-rad's parents & it was huge.  The 'sd' card in it was a 3 1/2" floppy disk!  (Remember those?!)  I know I have pictures somewhere from that that I printed out but I couldn't find them.  

In 2006 they went back on the road w/ the 'Soul 2 Soul II' tour & we went again - TWICE.  (Judge away...)  We went to Louisville (which I don't have pictures of) & I remember distinctively telling B-rad, "If they come w/ in a 500 mile radius - we are going!" & they were closest they were going to be was Cleveland &amp that's where we went!

I made B-rad take my picture beside my Faith...

I also took a pic of this box that was randomly sitting out in the venue because it had her name on it.  (I'm not nuts - YOU are...)

This was still the days before cell phones had cameras and Lord help us all - we were bad at selfies back then...

The stage had like 4 cat walks coming out of it & in this one you can see her clearly waving right at me.

At some point I joined her fan club.  (I make NO apologies.  NONE.)  I got an autographed picture...

AND a magnet that remains on our fridge to this day.

During my jewelry days, my jewelry mom (aka friend), Brenda, had somehow gotten a signed pic of Faith & she had told me she was going to create a challenge for me to earn that picture.

UHM, yea - I earned that no problemo!  It sits on top of my desk along w/ my other Faith relics.

NOW-since I'm sure you don't remember our trip to Vegas to see her (tsk, tsk) I will refresh your memory!

They had done a residency in Vegas & I had thought about going but we didn't.  When they announced they would be doing another one - YES, you guessed it - we were there!

I nabbed this magazine from our hotel... it sits in the bookshelf in my office...

And since I took a pic beside my Faith in Cleveland in 2006, I saw it only fitting that I took one beside her in 2013.   

And did the crazy girl take a picture of herself in front of anything Faith based?

Yes she did...

I better warn Shauna she's gonna have to take my picture anywhere I see Faith...

Several years ago I got the bright idea to get magnets from all the places B-rad & I travel.  I had gotten a Soul 2 Soul II tour magnet & then got TWO magnets from the Vegas show & because we had splurged & got really good seats, I kept the ticket stubs as well.  All displayed lovingly together on our fridge...

We got better at selfies by 2013...

Once again those bastards said 'no photography' but guess what?  I had a fancy pants iPhone & they couldn't make me leave my camera at home.  When they came out, they entered through the back & walked down the rows of the venue.  Ya'll when I saw her - I cried.

(Think I'm insane? - don't care - loved every crying minute...)

My FAVORITE part of the whole show was towards the end they sat down for about 10 minutes & talked to each other.  I could've listened for days...

This is my all time favorite pic.  We were in row 3 & I had quit crying, but never wanted the show to end.

Last December I went to Nashville w/ my mom, aunt & cousin.  We went on a country star home tour (which I never blogged about because I took a bunch of pics w/ my cousins camera & I have never gone to her house to put the pics on a thumb drive for myself...).  When we got in the bus I asked immediately, "Are you going to take us past Faith Hill's house?"  
Do you doubt me for a second?  
He said, 'Yes' & then I asked which side of the bus I should sit on for the best view.
YES I DID.
So to truly take myself to obsessive stalker status - I got to see their house.  Or as much of their house on a mountain as you could see from the road.  It's like they don't want people to see them or something?  

So here we are at present day & I am as giddy as a child about this tour.  I know I am driving Shauna crazy by talking about it.  Every time I come up w/ a new hair-brained idea I start out by saying, "I know you're gonna want to kill me before this is all over....".  She's been a really good sport about it though - I come up w/ a hair-brained idea & she's like, 'ok - lets do it!'.  That's a good friend, people!  

We have our tickets for Louisville already & we are also going to one (of the 2) shows in Nashville.  See, people - I am showing restraint - I could want to go to BOTH Nashville shows since they're back to back nights but I'm not - so there's that...

hmph...