This is my small spot in the world where I share my reality of balancing beauty and bedlam.
So many blogs scream beauty, and I savor those with my coffee, but my goal is to also share the bedlam that pops into my life. It is there…quite often, when I least expect it.
It keeps this place real, and my pride in check (hmm, that may be a proud comment? hee hee).
Since you saw the “beauty” over at Emily’s (isn’t she an amazing photographer), browse around and you will find plenty of bedlam…breaking hotel beds, dancing in the rain, dogs throwing up gross things, as well as the typical, everyday events that take my breath away from God’s goodness.
This is the bedlam that I came home to on Sunday…less than a day before Emily took those great shots. Not how I would have chosen to introduce myself, but it’s life…my life.
City girl doing the country living thing.
Meet Mocha, the Menace (you can read more about her here).
Almost monthly she breaks away and decides to join the family for some bonding.
Unfortunately, she decided to start the grill before we were ready, or home from church.
Almost monthly she breaks away and decides to join the family for some bonding.
Unfortunately, she decided to start the grill before we were ready, or home from church.
She knows a good thing when she smells it,and left over steak particles were calling to her from the field…she couldn’t resist. The problem? I was dressed in my Sunday go meeting clothes, with all my strong guys following behind in another car. Following way behind.
Who says that goats are herbivores?
You may wonder why I tried to tackle The Menace without changing my clothes?Well, I did shed the great green wrap that covered up that bare skin that I am showing you all right now…I am typically on the more modest side. 🙂
At first, I thought it was funny and that my daughter could catch a good picture.You see, if I were to let go of her, and take off those great $5 leather boots that I got at a yard sale, she would have gone straight for my flower bushes.
I KNOW…she ate 4 rose bushes down to the ground in a matter of minutes the last time I tried to postpone the inevitable, and trust her to mind her manners.
You see, by now, I am getting really ticked. Goats are strong, really strong, and stubborn. So stubborn that they will not give in – even to the point of making themselves faint.Yep, she faints from that strong will, just because she doesn’t want to give in to her little sinful nature. Reminds me of a few kids that I know?
Hmmm…might even make a good devotional topic. 🙂
It is now an all out tug of war between good and evil,and the blond will not give in….it’s a matter of pride, you see. She has beaten me before; I humbly admit, and dragged me across the field. In my weaker days, of course.
I didn’t know my 9 year old kept snapping pictures, but I am glad she did….too funny.
I think she’s starting to think in “blog post” terms.
Ahh haa…victory.Well, almost…it was about another 10 minutes to get her back,
but this makes for a good ending.
My boys all pulled in about 5 minutes after the fiasco was finished and asked,
“Why isn’t lunch ready?”
Grr….males and their mealtimes.
The moral of that story….
they ended up making it themselves…hee hee
Oh, and if my regular friends are wondering about that designer wardrobe for $100…yep, I keep promising, but haven’t come through. It’s coming, but here’s a teaser.Black….begin looking through the Good will racks for classic black pieces that can be the basis for multiple outfits. You want to start with 8 – 10 great core wardrobe pieces that we can mix/match.
What you see me wearing, including the jewelry that you can’t really see…
$12 (with the leather boots being $5 of those).
Skirt – $3.50 – Good will
Really sweaty tank from doing battle with a goat…..50 cents – yard sale
Gorgeous sheer green wrap that draws out the green accent on the skirt – $2.00 at the “boutique” section of a thrift store (seriously, that section is labeled boutique:)
Hmm…guess the impact isn’t the same without seeing it.
Well, you will. 😉
Thanks for stopping by…can’t wait to visit you.
This post cracks me up! Yeah, too bad there was not bedlam in it.
For those of you who do not know this woman in real life let me just tell you that she is fantastic! She has a super fun, high energy, contagious personality and I would not be able to keep up with her if I tried!
And, Jen, I am so glad you are bring back the word bedlam!
I hardly know where to begin with this one! Girl, you crack me up! I’ve never seen someone so darned cute while wrestling with a goat!
I saw Emily’s post and told her that I was so envious that two of my favorite bloggy friends were together in one place. I didn’t realize that you guys lived in the same area.
It looks like you had a wonderful time.
This is funny, funny. And how exciting wander over to Emily’s blog to find you there! Thanks for the encouragement. I’m still a little wary of putting my writing out there; it’s always been a very personal thing. Blogging has been a fun creative outlet and a great way to “meet” all kinds of people. Too bad we met after I moved away!
TOO FUNNY! I’m a little disappointed though…I had my money on the goat! I love that your daughter is thinking in “blog terms” that’s hysterical! Even my hubby has used the sentence…”hey that would be a good blog” SCARY what we do to our families. Your discount/designer outfit looks very smart. Of course it helps when it starts out on someone who is already beautiful! Have a great day!
Mocha might be a bit stubborn, but she is a cutie! LOL! Great and funny post! I was so wondering who was going to win this battle! LOL! And btw, you look beautiful…great outfit! 🙂
I am hosting a give-away in celebration of my 100th post! Come over and enter if you get a chance! 🙂 ~Rhonda
Oh how much fun is that! (A little sick that you look so cute wrestling a goat.) What a fun way to meet you! I’m sure I will be back! God bless you and your family (goats and all)
hehehehehehe sooooo funny! by the way, I tagged you!
Jen, I loved this post! How great that you got together with Emily & it looked like a blast. And that your daughter snapped all these pics, the best. The goat..priceless.
What I really, really loved is your breakdown of your wardrobe cost! Now, that's my kinda shopping. I can hardly go to the stores anymore, cause I keep finding so many great things thrifting.
Maybe I should do a blog party of our thrifty clothing finds! That would be fun.
Rhoda
You look great, especially with the goat at your side. This just cracks me up. I know you can fully understand my life of chasing pigs out of my yard.
I do believe you are the first blogger I have read who owns a goat. You lucky, lucky gal!
Nice to meet you.
You are so darn cute! How exciting to find out you and Emily are friends (whether she likes it or not). I enjoy reading both of your blogs, even though I don’t comment much because I am so bad at keeping up with my own blog. HOW DO YOU DO IT? All those kids, homeschool, church and you blog.
I am going to our 1st MOPS meeting of the year tomorrow. A professional home organizer is speaking. Maybe she can give me some tips.
I just read Emily’s post. How special to grow up in that kind of environment. I am not envying right! Someday I would love to hear what your parents did that made all of you sooo close. That is such a blessing!
Yup, I, too, am just green with friendship envy. Wish I lived a few hundred miles closer! I’d just fall in love with the two of you in person rather than from afar!
Many blessings – and God Love the Goat. And YOU in your boots and ‘fancy’ garb grappling with the best of it!
Hi Jen!
I have sure missed our chatting too! I just love your Mocha story! She is a hoot! I long for goats! :o) I need to read Emily’s blog. I hope your school year is off to a great start! Having one student around here is a bit quiet, but savoring every moment with our little man!
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne
You are just too funny with that goat!! I really thought the goat might win.
You do look really great in that cute outfit winning the battle with the goat!!! It is just perfect that your daughter kept taking pictures……lol
I am new to your blog…..but I will be back! This post is just hilarious! Love your choices in life! 😉
Suzanne
This is hilarious!!
Isn’t it so fun to search for those luncheon sets? I mentioned it to my grandmother that I was looking for them and the next time I saw her she had about 12 sets for me! I can’t wait to see yours!
Oh, jen this is SO funny! Love the pictures! And Emily & Audrey think in blog post terms too! When something happens they always ask if I'm gonna put it up on my blog!
And I about fell out last night when I was over at Emily's blog, where I lurk ~ Y'all know each other! Go to the same church! How cool is that!
I love your outfit! I didn't even notice that it was a skirt and top, I thought is was a dress. LOVE your boots too! Our goodwill is closing down Friday and not opening back up until October.
Anyhoo, talk to ya later!
After laughing over your great post about your menace, I came home yesterday from taking my oldest sweet girl to the doctor and low and behold my honey’s two pigs were in the front flowerbed. Needless to say, he was working on fencing again last night. I would love to know when does the menacing end.
Have a great day!!!
hehehe! too fun! Im so glad you all had a good time together. And that goat had me rolling there for a minute! 🙂
Ugh, I hate when I misspell words. I had to delete my whole comment…as I was saying, that first/last picture of you and the Menace is the epitome of the word oxymoron. The hip, stylish woman and the…well, the goat. I giggled my way through the rest of the pictures. Very cute!
i love the attire…i wish i looked that good! and, i love a goat that knows what she/he wants.
Hi Jen 🙂
This looks like a fashion shoot gone wrong LOL You are one hot mama 😉
rue
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I loved visiting yours!
Jill
Never saw someone look so fantastic and wrangle a goat at the same time! LOL Thank your daughter for us :). You seriously look great in these photos–tres chic, non? LOVE the skirt, can’t believe you got all that for $12!! I need to shop with you!
Blessings,
Stacey
You’ve had run-ins with this goat before?? That’s awesome, have you named it yet? I love that you’re tackling the goat in heels, you’re a true woman! Glad to see you got it under control!
Oh my WORD!!! I thought I was going to fall out of my chair!! 🙂 You all dressed up (in great cheap clothes) and that goat going at it. My grandma would have said, “Lord have mercy!”
We have a huge black lab that I can NOT move during a thunderstorm when she barrels in the house. I am impressed!
Lisa Q
Thanks for that fun post, I am so happy that I got to come over today! Ha ha. I love it, and thanks for coming back to visit in Budapest today!!!! My husband and his family were here in the 70’s as missionaries… so he grew up under communism. And this is like a second home to him, so that is why we came back…and he speaks this DIFFICULT language, God can definitely use him! Thanks again!
Those pictures put a smile on my face…you are all dressed up while pulling on a goat! It’s a classic! You do it all with such a great smile!
-Sandy toes
I’m in shock over that outfit. It’s totally cute and what a great deal! I need to start doing the yard sale/thrift store thing. I try to be good with my money but I have a long way to go. As for the goat pics, they are too funny. I have a question about the shelf terariums. Is ground charcoal sold that way or do you grind it yourself? Thanks.
I am so happy that we can visit the animals next door, over the fence, (miniture horses and a goat right now) instead of parenting them ourselves! I’ll leave that to braver women like you.
God bless!
Hi Jen and it’s so nice to meet you! Now I really like you ~ you’re so pretty but with a great sense of humor. Love that. I believe I have the solution for your testy little goat. Take that baby to church!! Teach that baby about the Lord and break that rebelious spirit! Now, your church friends may not appreciate you bringing sweet little goatie pie to church…but you can tell them ‘it’s neccessary’!
Again, you’re so funny and I really got a kick ~ notice my goat pun ~ out of your post.
Come back to see me sometimes.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
This looks so familiar. Our neighbors used to have goats (in a suburban neighborhood nonetheless). They are stubborn as all get out.
FYI, a dangling carrot works wonders.