Wednesday, August 18, 2010

WHAT'S MINE IS MINE {MAYBE}

You have to applaud The Husband here, diligently winding my wisteria up and around the front porch posts and tying the runners with neat little knots. They were actually on the ground and starting to wrap around the house. So my man, who is afraid of heights, began the climbing process to help the wisteria learn to climb on it's own, up the beams to the arbor on the 2nd floor balcony. What a guy.

But here is the thing {and there is always 'a thing' with me}. It's my wisteria! We have these little ownership things around the garden and yard. His arbor with beautiful clematis growing over it. My arbor with dead clematis vines clinging to it. So when he saw the wisteria going around the house in a vise~like grip, he took matters into his own hands. There I was, washing the dishes and looking out the window and all of a sudden I see Spiderman descend with an armful of my prized plant. My Wisteria! Just saying.

He worked on it all morning and then sat down on one of my {our} porch chairs and lit a cigar, surveying his work. I did dishes and flicked suds at the window in his direction. I would have happily threaded the runners around the beams had I noticed they were encroaching on our house, but it may not have been awhile until I noticed...like next spring. But what I am trying to say here, what I am trying to get to, is that even though he did me a favor, worked all morning with these scratchy, yukky vines, I know...truly in my heart, that this will now be called his wisteria. It's just the way it works around here. Even as he sat there with his cigar, I knew he was contemplating how he was going to train the vines once they got to the 2nd story balcony. The work of an evil, er...intelligent mind. Does this sort of stuff ever happen to you? Let's be honest. I want to finish what I start so I can say I did it. I feel like someone sneaked up behind me and stole my thunder!
After breakfast dishes I continued my dutiful wife thing and posted our dinner menu. It was the only plausible thing to do and I am sure he loved it. Maybe even learned that what's mine is mine.
On a lighter note, when we were in New Orleans, we fell in love with the coffee at Cafe Du Monde. I mean, really fell in love. And good old Amazon sells it and so we have been stocking up every few weeks or so. I don't think I'll ever tire of it. Now the 3 cans on the left are his...

Have a marvelous Wednesday! :-)

73 comments:

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Funny! When I used to show the Daisy Inn to people I would tell them everything was mine, except that little office space. That was Dan's! hehe. Is the coffee bold, similar to Starbucks. Let me know. I might have to order some.
xo
Robin

Sue said...

I understand this all too well. My husband can be a bit too helpful sometimes as well. I love that coffee. There was a case of it at my dad's when I was down there and a can came home in my suitcase!

Marigene said...

Jane, let him call it his wisteria, we know it is yours! I love the coffee from Cafe du Monde, too. NO is my favorite city...I'd live there except for the heat and humidity!

xinex said...

You are so funny, Janie! LOL! Just let hm do the hard work and then claim it again when there is no more work to be done...Christine

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Jane,
When people start complimenting how well it looks, then he will say it's his! LOL.
Men are just this way. But we will all know that it's really yours.
Love the dinner menu. Betcha he suggested take out!

I gotta get me some of that coffee.

hugs
Sissie

The Charm of Home said...

That is funny! I don't think we have a claim on stuff in the yard. LOL But, all of his stuff is junk and mine is really good! LOL Sherry

Julie Marie said...

Hi Jane, you are adorable!!! I know what you mean about "what's mine is mine"... and I know your guy was trying to help, BUT, what if we cleaned out their toolboxes and got rid of things we thought they didn't need??? Oooh and I love that coffee too... my little sis brought me some from New Orleans and I am in love with it! As for your question on the geraniums, yes, cut back the entire stem that had the bloom on it, to where it meets the plant... if you do that on all of them, and continue to do that, your geranium will keep blooming until a hard frost... if you don't, it thinks it's life is over and quits blooming... xoxo Julie Marie PS LOVE the menu!!!

Theresa said...

I can so relate to this post:) We have similar issues at my house, inside and out! Love it, it made me giggle!

Enjoy your evening and your can of coffee in the morning:) hehe

Kathleen said...

Cute! I have wisteria, a few yrs old, but it hasn't bloomed yet. Any tips?
I would say my dh can have the weeds and grass, and I will claim the flowers! :)
I have never had that coffee. I must look for some to try it before I order a case!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Great post, Jane.. I needed a laugh :-)

Ticking and Toile said...

Hi Jane,
That is so wonderful that your hubby will train up the vines! I kow what you mean ~ about it possibly becoming "his" but who cares....we know who the true owner is ;)

Love the dinner menu! :)

xo,
Shellagh

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

How funny!! OMG! You are going to have to find a new plant! Something to call your own that he wouldn't WANT to touch! Maybe a cactus???

The wisteria will be beautiful and I am sure he will let you claim it.

Maybe you could take his clematis?? Just sayin'

Have a great day!

Lou Cinda :)

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Oh Jane..
I think it's kinda sweet that he slaved all day over that wisteria... let him have his cigar and smoke it too!! haha

Love that you found a favourite coffee.. some while back I bought a coffee machine that uses those capsules.. a bit of a mistake as you can only buy 1 brand of coffee and I'm not fussed on it..

Enjoy your wisteria.. and your slave boy!! hehe xxx Julie

Anonymous said...

Oh, Jane! You funny girl! Love your wisteria story! Mr. Precious always calls our house "your house". I think he does that when I need to clean! :)
I don't drink coffee but I do love the beignets! I'm not sure that's how to spell it! :) Now go finish 'your' dishes! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Suzann said...

This really made me giggle. Thanks.

Sarah said...

You are too cute! My husband is always saying " it's his kitchen" because he's the one who does most of the cooking around here. :-)

Blooming Rose Musings said...

This made me giggle. You are very cute. Don't worry...we all know who the wisteria belong to!

Jane said...

Hi Jane,
I know exactly what you mean. I've got some things that started out as mine....moved to "ours" and ended up being "his".
I really enjoyed your post today!
Jane

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

I just figure it's all mine....right? That way there is NO question :)
Does Cafe du Monde sell beignets all ready made.....now THAT would be heaven!!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Girl you are too funny...Now what's mine here really is Mine as I had thie house way before I married Len ha ha!! Plus all the antiques are mine...I love coffe can't go a day without my joe...Hope you have a GREAT week you silly thing Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Pondside said...

This is so funny! We have the very same thing - exactly - going on here! The rhodos used to be mine, until The Great Dane pruned them and they came back better than ever. Now they're his!

Kerry said...

I completely get how you feel about that Jane! Let him have it though...the poor dears have so little to be proud of!

Penny said...

Very funny Jane. I am waiting for the recipe for worm chili.

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Hi Jane...Ok...this sounds a lot like my house! I have been told that I do use the word "mine" quite often! lol I know what you mean though. It always happens to be "yours"(meaning mine) when something dies around here..botanically speaking of course! When it is "flourishing" it happens to be his..of course. Sounds confusing but I know that you know! We love them anyway, right? Have a great day, friend!~Hugs, Patti

Shellbelle said...

Your posts like this always crack me up, probably because I'm the same exact way. Keep your paws off my stuff! I'll get to it when I get to it!

Love Cafe Du Monde coffee, but I don't drink it all the time. I do prefer it au lait style with half coffee and half milk.

koralee said...

you are sooo cute my friend...I love your spirit!
Hugs for a great day. xoxo

Brenda Pruitt said...

I just love your humor! No, my husband hates the out of doors. He considers getting out of his car to go into the hospital to be roughing it outdoors. I love coffee. I'd better check into this one.
Brenda

Unknown said...

Love your wisteria :)...Love vines!
Talking about you on my blog :)
Hugs
Frenchy

Rebecca Nelson said...

Hello Miss Jane~

Sometimes my hubbs is just WAY too helpful. Like the time he was helping me clean the vintage hobnail gloves in my kitchen (lighting) and proceeded to knock all three over and smash them into the ground. :) I forgave him... Love the Wisteria!

Nope...don't go to Weight Watchers meetings. I do it on-line and I love it! My only problem is that i always want MORE FOOD than I can have. Some things nevah change! :(

xoRebecca

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

-giggles- Here I was all primed to say how "Mahhhhhhhhhhhhhvelous!" your husband was. To wrangle those itchy vines for you.

But.......

They will no longer be yours!

-more giggles-

Yes, when they sit with a cigar, and contemplate a job done, they have set their stamp on it, for sure! Or at least, I'd guess so, with you.

>,-)

But that dinner menu will *show 'im*! -gigggles-

Awwww you've got a cute piggie, to hold the chalk board. Think the gal at 'Between Naps on the Porch' has a similar one. Do you know of her blog? It is *mahhhhhhhhhhvelous*! She does hers in Stretch Minima, and posts bigggggggggggg pics. I love it!

Actually, it was her free tutorial on so doing, which finally taught me how to do the post-big-pics magic. :-)

A tip... To be sure you are seeing her whole photos, make sure you can see the colored 'frame' line, on the right side of each photo. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane! Oh, I sure do wish I could tell you I was getting a farmhouse sink! I've always loved them and my husband usually lets me have what I want but he does not like them! I hate that! Aren't they so beautiful? I hope your sink cracks right down the middle so you can get one! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Olive said...

Jane, you are too cute. Wisteria is pretty but I consider it something of a menace. Joe and and I do a little bit of this division of stuff also. have a fun weekend. olive♥

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Oh Jane,
You got me giggling here! I can just see this! And I so know what you mean. Dan does almost everything better than me so I just sometimes want things that are just my accomplishment!
I think the 3rd week in September should work out. Let me know what you find out.
Big Hugs,
Cindy

June said...

Jane you are so funny!!! I love your payback...I'm glad tonight is not the night that I'm coming to dinner.hehe I always claim the neat part of our place and give him credit for the horse corrals and stinky stuff.LOL
It is so good to come here and catch up on all you're doing this Summer.
hugs to you...

Neabear said...

Thank you for the amusing post. You had me smiling through out as I was reading it. Love the comment about the coffee. Are you sure those three are his? What if someone comes in and mixes them up? How will you know then? Just saying.....LOL!

My parents house used to have wisteria lining deck railing. They still have it, but it is cut way back now. I see a lot of it growing around here.

Take care,

Linnea

Debbiedoos said...

WOW you are like me love your coffee! SOunds good....I have a keurig machine and am totally addicted. Your husband was so sweet to help you out!!~

Cass @ That Old House said...

Golly. . . have you got enough coffee? Love those cans -- way more decorative than a Milk Bones box!

In our house we don't have too many clear cut "mine/yours" things. Instead, I made it clear to Howard from the beginning of our marriage that "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is ... also mine."

It works for me. Cass

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi sweet lady...

Jane, ohhh my goodness...you had me in stitches, Girl!!! Ooops...maybe I should apologize for laughing? I'm just sitting here shaking my head! Hehe! Well...I don't know quite what to say! How does one go about taking back "ownership" of one's wisteria? Now that is the million dollar question! I'm definitely NOT the one with the answer...everything outside of my house...belongs to my husband! And...I like it that way! Hehe!

Just wanted to stop by to say thank you for coming by today! I really enjoyed your sweet note and warm birthday well wishes! Also...thank you for making me laugh today!!! I laughed sooo hard!

Have a fabulous Friday, sweet lady!
Chari @Happy To Design

Debbie said...

Hi Jane~I understand completely. Seems I get things started, and going strong..then he takes over and does HIS own thing...ugh! Oh well...what can you do? Ya gotta love 'em.....right?
Debbie@houseatthelake

Ms Bingles Vintage Christmas said...

I just came across you blog...
Love it!
Thank you for sharing!
Leticia

savvycityfarmer said...

your hubby get my cheers!!!
will work for your good cooking ...


what would we DO without them ...
over here DH put up track lights above my workbench
... took him all day yesterday ... sweating and such!

Roberta said...

Oh, I get reminded all the time when I say 'my.....' but secretly we know the truth Jane! ha
The coffee cans lined up in the pantry speak for themselves! Great satisfaction just seeing them eh? Looks like you've had a great summer. xoRoberta

Daydream Living said...

Hi Jane!

Thank you so much for visiting me and now I became your new follower too! Nr. 380 it is! Lovely number... I can't wait to read more, I like what I see on your blog. Have a good weekend!

Maureen
xx

Privet and Holly said...

Hi Jane!
If WE had wisteria
on our property, I
don't care WHO claims
it; I just adore it!!
I enjoyed catching up
on your vacation and
time in South Haven, too.
We have stayed in
Grand Haven and Luddington,
MI and both are so
lovely to visit. I'll
have to hit South Haven,
some day! I'm wrapping
up my time at my parent's
on Sunday. Can't believe
it's over.....Have a
wonderful weekend!
xx Suzanne

Olive said...

Hi again Jane, to answer your question about the tea towel I layer them over my terry hand towels in my bath rooms. Maybe not the one today as I like it a lot but I do use vintage ones. olive♥

Janean said...

wisteria looks great.

menu...uh....well...why not add sour grapes as dessert! so JUST KIDDING!! :D LOL.

adore your stash of good coffee!

bigs hugs to a fabulously beautiful woman.

Anne Lorys said...

What a great husband you've got there!
But I know what you mean, I'm the same way with "my" stuff, too. :-)

Have a wonderful Friday!
Hugs,
Anne

Unknown said...

Jane....aren't hubby's just WONDERFUL?!!

I love wisteria! I will have to try that coffee. I love all the wonderful things you can get from the internet :)

Blessings!
Gail

Heaven's Walk said...

Oh, yeah. I'm with ya, Janie. Except over here it seems to happen with ideas. If it's MY idea, he shakes his head and says it won't work. No way. No how. I let it go and wait a few weeks. THEN all of a sudden he comes up with this utterly fantastic idea ("Ya know...I've been thinking about this, hun....) and lo and behold! It was MY original idea! "Hey, hubby! Now THAT is a great idea!" Then it's my turn to shake my head in wonder and disbelief... lolol!

You know that vintage 7-Up box you wondered what I was going to do with? I'll be posting on it in the near future! hehehe!

myletterstoemily said...

well, now we know where to come for
coffee! is it yours or his?

Signing Out said...

LOL! Thank God my husband knows what's his around here...the lawn, the weed wacker, the pool chemicals, filter and vacuum...

Kathleen Grace said...

Too funny! You know, if Earl were to fix my wisteria vine I would be sure to say "thank you for fixing MY wisteria vine honey." This reaffirms ownership while encouraging him to do the more tedious work:>)

femme hesse said...

Hi Blondie,

What a fun blog you have!!!
Lotsa love :)

Susan

Knitty said...

Perfect timing for me to read this today. Bill just told me not to water the houseplants because he was going to do it.

If only having them take over EVERY task worked this way...

Nancy said...

Well I'm so glad your hubby didn't fall off "his" chair! The coffee...lol...isn't it the best coffee in the world. Now if they could only package the beignets!
xoxo Nancy

Fifi Flowers said...

Hmmmmm... I'm not sure about that menu... LOL... enjoy your weekend!

Anonymous said...

Oh Jane....too funny! Mine usually leaves stuff alone 'cause I am queen of the garden around here. He digs...I say where to and how to plant. But good grief, don't give him a machete. He will chop down everything in sight. I have baby dogwoods in the front natural area with ribbons tied around them. That means "leave them alone". I want to plant wisteria this Fall at the back deck with visions of it growing up to the second floor and blooming profusely...ha!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh that is sooo funny! My husband buys and plants all of the flowers and shrubs in our yard. Then he's done. If they get watered or dead-headed, I do it -- all summer! If someone tells us our yard looks good, he humbly accepts the praise!!! I got so tickled about you flicking suds against the window. You are so cute! laurie

Laura said...

I I am still laughing!
I love the menu!

Laura
White Spray Paint

stefanie said...

oh, that is going to be gorgeous growing all over your porch!!!
wow, you do really love that coffee...hahaha

Deb said...

You are too funny...I totally get you though. Love your menu board!

Anonymous said...

Our husbands are so funny. They just can't stay out of our things, no matter how much we tell them we'd like to do some things for ourselves. Well, at least we all know whose wisteria it REALLY is (LOL)! ;o)
Loved the menu... hilarious!
Have a great week!
Hugs ~ Jo

Marianne said...

Oh yes I recognize that. With a lot of the DIY projects I have been doing lately I needed an extra pair of hands or something extra male strength. And although I loved my guy for helping me, I also hated it. As you said, took away my thunder of being able so say I did that as opposed to we did it.
But at least it got done and that is a comfort.

Melissa Miller said...

Jane it is beautiful! :)

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Hi Blondie~ ~ Looks like I showed up just in time for a lesson on training MY wisteria. I have 2 that I am attempting to grow to the roof and then across the back of the house to shade the sunroom in the summer. I'm also wondering how to get the thing to stay as it meanders across the house. There really isn't anything for it to grasp. Not to worry right now it's not tall enough to begin it journey across. Tell hubby I enjoyed the story. Till later.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Lori said...

That is funny! I guess it is his wisteria now! Love the dinner menu ~ you will have to post the recipes soon ;) Hope you had a wonderful Monday.

Anonymous said...

A noble endeavor indeed. Nice to have a good man around. :) Have a lovely day ~
Alexandra

Barb said...

Hi Janie, this is funny and yes, we do this also. Ron and I have little areas that we are allowed to be the 'boss' in. Mine is the house and his is the garage and the yard. Yikes......he has more area than I do. Ha.

Have a great day.

Hugs, Barb ♥

meeyeehere said...

I live on Wisteria Street,we love Wisteria.
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

Charlene said...

Sweetie let me tell you my saying that I got from a friend when we first married... what's mine is mine & what's yours is mine. It's all a STATE of MIND (or in this case MINE). Don't sweat the small stuff. YOU KNOW IT'S ALL YOURS (except what you don't want to stake claim to). Smiling big! I remember when we got our pool years ago (at the other house) I NEVER learned to take the readings for the chemicals because I never wanted to know that because I never wanted that job to be mine!!! Have a great weekend & enjoy you & all the work he did on YOUR WISTERIA! HUGS! Charlene

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

You sure know how to make me laugh :)
XO

susitravl said...

So glad I found your great blog!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Here, we have "my" money and "our" money. ;-)

Love Cafe Dumonde. Nothing in the world compares! Wish I was there now.

XO,

Sheila :-)