My husband. God Bless him. If he was some random worker guy and I had to hire him to build me something, I would not pay him by the hour. I’d also dock his pay every time he needed to run to The Home Depot for something he had forgotten.
That being said, I do love him. And he’s turning out to be a great craftsman. Even if his projects seem to take a little longer {I’m being generous here} than anticipated, he always comes through in the end with EXACTLY what I asked him to build.
This whole being around your spouse 24/7 thing, it takes some getting used to. Especially when you have two people who are polar opposites when it comes to how they approach a project or buying items for said project.
I loath driving, and so when I leave the house with the purpose to buy something, I have a list of like 10 stops we’ll need to make because driving is such a time suck {not that I’m the one doing the actual driving or anything, because I’m not}. Nobody quite believes me when I tell them I could easily go an entire month without leaving the house. 6 months? I bet I could do it, no problem.
My husband on the other hand, he doesn’t mind going to the store for a bag of hot dog buns. Or to go get gas {isn’t gas something you get when you are already out?}. I just don’t get it. If I have to leave the house you can pretty much bet I have a route mapped out on an index card with all the stops numbered. When I leave home, or go out, I’m on a mission. Get in, get out, get home, no dawdling. Chop chop. There’s better things to do than driving around town all day.
Wait a second, wasn’t this blog post supposed to be about the vegetable stand the HH just built for me? See, this is why I shouldn’t write at 2 am. It just comes out as gibberish. You know, like someone who lives in their own little world and never leaves home and just talks to people on the internet instead of going out in public. Bahahahaaa.
Then again, if I am going to survive these New England summers, maybe I am going to have to switch things up a bit and actually do all my writing at night instead of in the mornings. Because seriously, if it’s going to be 80 degrees by 9 am, when am I supposed to pull my weeds?
Also, I’m really getting tired of being bit on the head by mosquitoes. It doesn’t seem to matter how much bug spray I put on, or even if I wear a hat… Those pesky blood suckers still manage to fly by and take a chunk of skin out of me every time I step outside.
But hey! The vegetable stand. It’s done! How exciting is that?
Now all that’s left to do is make a bunch of cute signs, maybe hang some fairy lights and get those lazy hens of mine to lay some eggs. Country life. I think it suits us. Even if we are totally winging it. 😉
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
~Mavis
P.S. The HH didn’t use a plan for this vegetable stand. I just told him what I wanted and he figured it out on his own. How cool is that? Plans, we don’t need no stinkin’ plans.
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bobbi says
This. Is. Awesome! Congrats! Looks great.
Christie says
You guys really are livin’ the dream! Love it!!!
Kari says
I LOVE it!! The HH did a fantastic job!!
Judy D says
I know exactly what you are saying about husbands and going. I need to run to town to get….weren’t you just there??? I too could stay home for weeks at a time! Love the stand. He did a fabulous job on it. It’s built to last.
Try baby lotion to repel the mosquitoes. HH can run to town to pick some up for you. 😉
linda noss says
Wonderful job on the veggie stand, hope lots of folks see it and stop to buy!
Melanie says
Oh. My. Goodness! It is absolutely perfect–I LOVE it! The HH nailed it again! (See what I did there?) 😉
P.S. For what it’s worth, I shop and run errands like your husband. He is not alone. LOL
Melinda W says
Your stand base looks exactly like the base my dad built for my chicken coop. Very nice build and the whole thing is super cute.
For mosquitos… I have bees hives, and have trained myself not to flinch or move if/when a bug lands on me in the garden because they are usually my sweet Italian honey bees just saying hi. But then on July 4, I moved something around my greenhouse and got attacked by a hive of yellow jackets. More than 20 stings in 8 spots on my body, and my little 25 year old Parson Russell got attacked too. Now I’m a bit gun shy in the garden, and have been wearing my bee jacket with attached veil. Not only does it protect my face from anything that might come after me but it has the bonus of keeping mosquitos out of my face also. I wear a sweatband under the veil when I work the hives, so I do the same when gardening. Seems to be working so far, and you can find them fairly cheap on Amazon. They usually have lots of pockets for garden tools too.
Carrie Council says
I can’t imagine gardening in my bee jacket and I have a ventilated one! I am dripping with sweat after 30 minutes in it during morning check-ins. The mosquitoes must not be too bad this year in NC, I’ve only had 2 or 3 bites so far.
Melinda W says
You might think differently after 2 fulls weeks of your entire body itching and swelling up from some evil yellow jackets attacks. lol My full body suit is ventilated but my jacket is not. It’s been in the high 80s lately here in lower TN but humidity of like 4000%, so honestly I sweat outside no matter what. I don’t wear the jacket for quick daily checks/watering or picking/gathering, but my property is a certified wildlife habitat with no chemicals allowed, so any time I’ve got my face close to the ground for pulling weeds or planting seeds I’ve got the jacket on as a precaution.
Indio says
I got a full body bee suit recently. Was stung twice this year by my bees, while working the hives in half jacket and veil, and body part got nasty from swelling. Never had this reaction in the past and don’t need to get a third sting to read the warning signs.
Melinda W says
I’ve had a bee sting here and there with no or a slight reaction, but after this full-on attack and 2 weeks of swelling and redness even on places they didn’t sting, I’m trying to be more careful with the bees now too. They say you’re supposed to get a few stings a year and be fine, but too few or too many )depending on the source) will make future stings worse.
Yes, my Jetta is 25 years old. Will be 26 in November, as she was 12 when we got her over 13 years ago. I ran a dog rescue at the time, and took her in as a “problem dog” as she was an escape artist who was returned to the pound 4 times and found running loose another 3 times. She won the 2017 Darling Dog of the Year last fall for still prancing around like a show dog while mostly deaf and kinda blind. She has a heart murmur and the occasional seizure, but will never show weakness of any kind and still bosses around the much younger/bigger dogs. I only knew she had all the wasps on her because I saw them on her, and even after dumping water on her to get them off she never even whimpered. She was on Benadryl for a few days and her muzzle was slightly swollen, but she mostly just shook it off like “Oh well.” She’s a tough one.
Kipper says
I’m still shocked about a 25 year old Parson Russell terrier. Hope it is doing better!
Tracy says
You have a TWENTY FIVE year old Parson Russell?? I am a longtime JRT lover and owner. But 25 is amazing! I hope your dog handled the stings okay….poor thing.
Cheryl says
It is a man thing. Each time they go they browse the store. Mine always forgets something and with the cost of gas ($3.19) I feel if I am shopping on Friday get everything then.
Christa H. says
High five to DH!! Wow- it’s fab and so, so cute!
Nicole says
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who hates to drive. I do tend to go weeks with out leaving home unless I’m selling at the farmers market that weekend. Love the veg stand. So cutie. It takes my husband forever to get things done. Still waiting for him to to rebuild our chicken coop. He will buy everything he need for the project but then it will take him weeks before he will build it. HA
Laura says
I have to drive 25 miles each day to my teaching job (which takes 45 minutes in the morning and an hour to get home) and am off for the summer so my goal is to drive as little as possible. I am lucky to live in an urban area where i can walk, ride my bike or take the el train into the city. Loving the vegetable stand!
Amy P says
There are a lot of wives tales out there about mosquitoes. One of them is that too many salty snacks may attract them to your body. Maybe the pickety bit dinners and Aldi’s prepared foods are making you taste delicious? 🙂
Leanna Thompson says
I’ve heard it depends on your blood type. My aunt always told me I was just sweet that’s why the mosquitos bit me. 😉
Mary says
Get a bee hat. It will keep the mosquitoes and gnats away from your head.
Deborah says
Love it! You do have an awesome husband. But then, I do too.
Pat from NY says
The vegetable stand is awesome!!! You are so fortunate to have a handy HH who seems to enjoy what you are enjoying! You can send him over here (western NY) if he gets bored and he can help with my to-do lists that are ever expanding.
Cindy says
I’ll assume that you’ve checked your gutters and every other place possible for standing water. Brushy and shaded areas are also breeding grounds for mosquitos. My last house was horrible for them. I did try the mosquito yard spray that you can buy at Home Depot and it works for a while. I would think that an exterminator could spray something that lasts longer?
Teri says
Love it! Especially love how hard you work to achieve your dreams and goals! WTG Mavis & HH!
Susie says
You should screw some small brass cup hooks on the front of the roof so you can decorate it at Christmas with garland, in the fall with an autumn leaf garland, different decorations for the seasons & holidays. Gotta keep people “seeing” it when they’ve become accustomed to it. Looks great!
Mavis Butterfield says
Great idea!!! Thank you.
Karna says
I live in MN where there are lots of mosquitos. I wear a hat with a mosquito net attached to it that hangs long enough to go down to my shoulders. You can find them on Amazon. Works well to keep them off my ears, face and neck. And no spray or chemicals!
Mavis Butterfield says
Mrs. HB’s Mom made me one but those bugs will eat through your clothes! I need practically need a puffy coat.
Judybee says
I love the fresh vegetable stand. It’s great and the shelf for the egg cooler is perfect. I would stop and shop if I saw it. It’s perfect!
Katherine says
Even armed with a written list my husband always seems to overlook an item or two.
Emily E. says
LOVE the veggie stand!!! Amazing he built it without any plans! He is so talented!!! And I love the area underneath to hold the cooler for eggs or even lettuce and greens in spring or fall. Great job! You are one talented couple!
Mavis Butterfield says
I love that there is enough room on the bottom for 2 coolers placed sideways. Perfect for eggs and leafy greens.
Mrs. Mac says
What a super end result from your HH .. even without a plan!! Hummm, I have asked my hubby to make me a chuck wagon and he said he would but it would be small and have to fit in the garage when not in use!
Susie Janov says
Mrs. Mac ~ a chuck wagon for what? Just curious.
Kerri Adams says
Mosquitoes are testing positive for West Nile disease in MA, NH, and VT. Not sure about ME. You need to be careful.
Gee says
The stand is beautiful … and perfect! And the more I hear about your husband – his shopping “habits” like looking at lawn mowers for months and then buying a tractor; his attention to detail which sometimes takes forever and really doesn’t matter but he can’t do it any other way; and how he runs to the store for one litte thing, three times a day – the more I realize how much he’s like my HH! And I blame it on him being an engineer. Is your HH an engineer? It’s not an occupation, it’s a genetic trait that they can’t help. So I try to appreciate the good parts and ignore the other ones, although sometimes I can’t help but laugh and pick on him. 🙂
E in Upstate says
Grew up in a family of engineers: Father metallurgical, oldest brother mechanical/computer, and younger brother chemical engineer. When my mom was really frustrated with all the engineers, she called them Egg-ineers!
Me, refused the family lineage and have a degree in Music Literature with minor in Art and Broadcasting.
Stephanie says
That looks great…are our husbands related? During one project in our bathroom, my husband had to run to Menards TWELVE TIMES. (Yes, I counted.) He and I are also polar opposites as to how we go about things. I have my projects planned out to a T; he’s more of a wing-it kind of dude. Good thing I love him so much! 😉
Lacy says
Are our husbands related? We’ve recently redone several rooms in our house and added on a screen room and a new deck and I can even count the time he has to go back for stuff,haha. I feel like he goes to Menards at least 3 times a week.
Cass says
LOVE IT!!! Your HH did a great job. Is he left handed? It seems that left handed folk over think/over build things so they last FOREVER.
My left handed partner built my chicken coop and you could house a HORSE in there, not just 17 chickens.
Seriously consider the net hat to keep them away from your face. The last place you want a huge, itchy bump is on your face.
SandyF says
I am itching my big giant red swollen f#*&%% mosquito bites as I write. I am a mosquito magnet and I get what I just learned is “skeeter syndrome”. Blisters, big ugly bumps. I get them when I go out with the pups at night before we go to bed. 5 minutes outside with a blanket wrapped around my legs. I still am covered on my legs.
Southern CA-hot ,dry, wildfire explosions, no water anywhere !
I have read that lemon eucalyptus oil is helpful. I bought some natural spray and my husband about gagged and banned me from using it again.
I will try anything, I just don’t want to smell and put ons of chemicals on.
I am watching the red sun and smoke in the air, as the fire rages away. My usual hiking spot is currently set up as the CalFire and Media staging area, so the pups and I have to find a new place until this horrible fire is out. It is 90 plus degrees out at 7 PM. I am with you on the driving, I did it for 25 years working-and refuse to drive much now. I only put 2,000 miles on my car last year. A record.
Love your Veggie stand, you are making a difference in this world. And we are always here to talk! We are one big group of friends.
Maxine says
Be safe. If I could send you some of our rain I would in a heartbeat!
Mavis – love your stand. So cute and well laid out. Totally with you on the driving. My daughter has her permit though so trying to let her drive more and making up trips so she gets her hours behind the wheel. I do like to drive, I just hate leaving the house, putting on a bra, to do so. Lol
Gina says
Love the title of this post.
renay says
I totally write out where I am going and number the stops, too! OCD’ers UNITE! lol Great stand – so cute!
Emily says
Your veggie stand is adorable! I love how all of your projects match the house.
Kim says
Fantastic – The post, The stand, The HH, Your progress on living your dream. Post like these are classic OneHundredDollarsAMonth. Thank you for being you and sharing with us.
Carol says
We keep boxes for purple martens. They eat millions of mosquitoes per day.. it might take a while to get them established but soooo worth the wait.
Julia says
Maybe some bat houses would help keep the mosquito population at bay. Bats love to eat mosquitos.
Christa Hayden says
Besides bird houses for purple martins and swallows, maybe your husband can build some bat houses for the perimeter of your yard? They also eat a ton of mosquitos. I am planning on making both at some point when we move to our ten acres to help with the bugs.
Barb H says
Mavis have you considered having a professional come in and spray for mosquito’s especially since you mentioned you have a pond on your land. I know you are not a big fan of chemicals neither am I but over all which is worse…the chemicals or the possibility of contacting the Nile virus. When I lived back east I was on the edge of a city and thankfully the city would come around once a year and spray. I was very grateful for that as I am a bug magnet. And I agree with you. clothing doesn’t stop them lil buggers! I am sure Lucy will be grateful too. Tell HH that he did and AWESOME job on your stand. Maybe you could get one of those tall bright neon colored flags you see on Bikes and have the Hubs figure out a way to mount it on top of the stand and you could write on it ” Fruits & Veges and mores to help draw more attention to your stand.
Mavis Butterfield says
Having a professional come in and spray for the summer would run about $2,000 – $3,000. Eeeek!
E in Upstate says
Do it ONCE and follow the person around, taking notes. Then do it your self from that point on.
Joanna says
God Bless the HH!! Love the stand! Thanks for inspiring me to start a garden this year!! Now all I need is an HH! If you know of a good guy in Mi … I could use the help! Lol! Love the blog!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll try and put the word out!!! 😉
Heather says
Oh, I agree about being around spouses 24/7. DH ‘retired’ in May. It has been an adjustment. He is the one who could stay home for a week or more. But, when I do go out I am the one with the multiple stops and it mapped out so we don’t make a bunch of left hand turns. I am wondering how life will be when our weather changes and he can’t go work in the yard or go fishing….