Blue Chairs in Meadow

I’m married to my best friend.

He understands me and laughs with me and shops at Habitat for Humanity for chairs with me and has eyes that twinkle and when I ask him if we can move the chairs that were just painted into the middle of the back yard to photograph them….

….he doesn’t even bat an eye.

And when I dance around the yard with my camera and point to the sunlight streaming over the grass because it’s the golden hour and the light is perfect and get so excited because I probably won’t even have to edit the photos…

….he smiles and nods encouragingly.

Even though he has absolutely no idea what I’m talking about.

Because that’s what best friends do.

How to distress wood

Last week we were in Tennessee on a mission.

I have a photo shoot coming up with an outdoor table setting and I had the table and the linens and the dishes and the platters and the napkins and the monogrammed cups ready to go.

All I needed were the chairs.

I finally found these chairs at the Habitat for Humanity store for only $15 and the woven seats were in perfect condition, but the wood was a little rough and scratched and dented.  No worries.  A couple of coats of paint and a little distressing fixed everything.

The lighter blue chair is painted Sherwin-Williams Faded Flaxflower (seriously best paint color name ever) and the darker blue chair is painted Sherwin-Williams Inky Blue.

Blue and white pillow

After we found the chairs, we headed to a restaurant to celebrate.

I was so excited and talking a mile a minute and describing in great detail the place settings and discussing if I should hang a woven twig chandelier over the table and how much I loved blue and white and asking him if he remembered our first apartment with the cutest blue and white dishes.

And he smiled and nodded.

Until.

Until they took us to the tiniest table known to man in the darkest corner of the restaurant wedged in next to the railing.

Then he frowned.

Chair with pillow

I told him it was okay.

I told him I liked tiny tables and it wasn’t too dark and we could make it work, as I whacked myself with my purse trying to get it over the back of the chair.

We sat there at the tiny table in the darkness for a few minutes and then when the waitress stopped by, he politely ask if we could move to a bigger table.

Blue Chairs

She smiled and said yes and led us to the best table in the house.

There was a window and space and a big table top and room for miles.

My purse even had its own chair.

And as we looked over the menu and started talking about what we were going to eat and did grill chicken cancel out a brownie for dessert, he looked across the table and grinned at me.

Then he paused and his eyes twinkled and he looked around and said with a satisfactory air, “This is so much better.  No one puts baby in the corner.”

Of course.  

Of course he did.

Because that’s what best friends are for.

Chair shopping and knowing all the lines to your favorite movie. 🙂

just the two of us

PS  I love you best friend.

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Comments

  1. Image for Terri Terri

    Precious! Thank you for sharing. Unmarried and married people (we're soon to be 37 years) need to hear and see couples journeying life together. Of course, we know we might encounter some winter storms, but it all comes down to staying the course together and laughing along the way.

  2. Image for Nancy Bailey Nancy Bailey

    My eyes are leaking as I type this. Your stories are priceless. Thank you for a great start to my day and the shared blessings of being married to our best friends. xoxo

  3. Image for Stephanie Ray Brown Stephanie Ray Brown

    Precious story and picture too!! So funny those guys with twinkling eyes can get right to your heart for sure. So funny was teasing and told daughter Terry was my Noah. She asked him If that was true. He said well I never built her house but I want too! Oh my had not wanted to love but how did you turn that The Notebook reference down. Well building did not work out but surprised me just a few days later on anniversary by driving up the tree lined driveway of a house that reminded me kind of Tara and had loved since a little girl. Yep he's a keeper!❤️ Glad you have a keeper too.

  4. Image for Kim Kim

    That is the CUTEST story! And you always win me over with your 80's pop culture references, but that picture of you and your best friend? Adorable!

  5. Image for Ellen Ellen

    Another perfect story and photos for the "BOOK"! I love your stories so much, they just brighten the day. You two are the best of the best- friends and life partners. Thank-you for sharing this lovely story- love those chairs too!

  6. Image for Jennifer Jennifer

    Gush, gush, gush.... LOVE it! I'm married to my best friend, too, but he would probably give me some playful gruff about moving the chairs to back yard.... Sounds like you've got a keeper!!

  7. Image for Leona Leona

    So....your blog is not just about decorating,painting,vignette making,thrift store shopping, roadside picking,picture taking, story telling, .........its about LOVE. Beautiful post.

  8. Image for Jennifer Jennifer

    This just made my day! I was literally grinning ear to ear at the end of the story lol!! How adorable are you guys! Great line to an awesome movie!!!!! (Psss, it's been my favorite movie since I was about 16) CLASSIC!

  9. Image for Suzanne Suzanne

    You didn't need a brownie after that.... How much sweetness does one need in a day? Lucky girl!! WHAT A GUY!

  10. Image for Linda J Linda J

    Off hand, I cannot think of any one I am aware of that is any more blessed than you are. I mean it. The best part of that is - You know it. Keep up the wonderful journey!

  11. Image for Michelle McDonald Michelle McDonald

    Love this one! I'm lucky enough to be married to my best friend as well. It makes life so much easier to tackle when you can do it with someone who loves you for you and can laugh with you along the way. Congrats to you both. And, for finding the chairs!

  12. Image for Cynthia Roush Cynthia Roush

    Cute story and I love those chairs. Just working on a pantry door. Red and distressed look. Isn't working out the way I invisioned but my husband is patiently sanding. Hopefully we and I do mean "we" will pull it together.

  13. Image for Sherry Myers Sherry Myers

    Love the blues! Love the chairs! Love the pillows! Love the fabric! Love the patterns! Love the view! Love the photography! Love the story! And "It Was Almost Like A Song!" Thank you for sharing such a sweet part of your life.

  14. Image for Janet Janet

    Thank you for that story. After 42 years my husband and I share a growing "dialogue," the most recent quips coming from our grandsons. People ask how we get along in retirement. How could we not?

  15. Image for Jill Wendt Jill Wendt

    Ahh....what a story! I loved it. I also love the color faded flaxflower. I think I want to paint my kitchen cabinets that same color! Thank you for always making me smile.

  16. Image for Sandy Sandy

    As soon as I saw your photo, I said to myself, "cutest couple." May the two of you receive more tons of God's blessings.

  17. Image for Marisa Franca @ All Our Way Marisa Franca @ All Our Way

    I LOVE IT!! Sorry I shouted but I just had to get it out. And do you know what else best friends and lovers do?? He doesn't complain when Dirty Dancing comes on and you want to watch it for the zillionth time :-) I love the dancing :-) Twinkling brown eyes only come along once in a lifetime. Love your story!! Have a sunshine filled day.

  18. Image for Michelle Michelle

    I love that you refer to your sweet hubby as your best friend! The advice I always give younger married couples is just that...be each others best friends and all will be well. I used to have to talk my hubby into going places (he felt awkward in social situations) but he would always tell me afterward that he was glad he went and had a good time...because he was with me. I would do things too that I didn't really want to do because that's what he wanted. In the end, I knew I'd have a good time. Because I was with him. Oh, and the chairs with the pillows are adorable, Karianne. And such a good buy! I didn't know HFH sold things!!

  19. Image for Mercy Heston Mercy Heston

    My dad & mom are celebrating 60 years together tomorrow & he just got released today (his 82nd birthday!) from a week's stay in the hospital for a bad stroke, and seeing them in the hospital and when he got back home was so sweet, so much like your story! I hope you have a wonderful day!

  20. Image for Tracey Tracey

    Wonderful story! I'm married to my best friend too! 33 years and 4 children after our wedding and we are still best friends. And mine shops at Habitat with me too. Thanks for posting!

  21. Image for Patricia Patricia

    Great Chairs, Great Movie Quote. Now you just need a lake to practice that lift. You can do it! And then we want to see the twig chandelier :)

  22. Image for Mary Crozier Mary Crozier

    Marriage is sometimes hard-it's so nice to hear stories like yours! Love your enthusiasm-it always makes my day.

  23. Image for Gail Gail

    Is your fabric out yet? I have been married 42 years, traveled around the world with my military hubby and gone thru so many changes it would twirl your head. You just have to decide that together is where you want to be and stick to it. It does get better and better.. Nothing better than a best friend.

  24. Image for Sharon H Sharon H

    Miz karianne, your twinkling brown eyed best friend is so much like MY twinkling blue eyed best friend.....it certainly makes life a whole lot more fun, doesn't it? I am so happy for you....blessed is what you and I are. Blessed indeed. Great day to you!

  25. Image for Dale Deacon Dale Deacon

    Love these stories you share of every day life, inspiring us, laughter erupting over coffee or searching for the Kleenex box as the first tear falls. Playful banter between spouses are beloved moments that I cherish even more with each passing year (41yrs. and counting). Reading your post was a reminder to reflect my life journey with my guy and hold what is precious in my heart with gratitude. Besides, a day of celebration. Our pug is getting a baby pup sister,and our family is picking up our shorki-tsu today (Shi tzu/yorkie). My eldest son will be adopting a male from the same litter today too. Puppy hood... Here we come!

  26. Image for NormaJean NormaJean

    God gave me one of those "Best Friends" too, over 55 years ago. Thanks for reminding me that I need to tell/show him how much he is loved and appreciated more often!

  27. Image for Amy W. Amy W.

    Oh those Navy Sailors! They have all the best lines! I'm married to one too! You've been blessed! He's a Navy Sailor Keeper!

  28. Image for Rose Rose

    How wonderful you are married to your best friend. I know, because I am too. It's the best feeling in the world to know they will be there for you no matter what. God Bless you both. Much love, Rose

  29. Image for Bonnie Bonnie

    That's such a sweet story. Thank you for posting the picture of you and your husband. I am divorced but there is always hope if it's meant to be. You look beautiful in your red, white, and blue outfit!!

  30. Image for Penny Penny

    Thanks for sharing a great story! You are blessed <3. My best friend shops with me too. When my cart only has a few things he'll say, "Is that all?" Gotta love that man!

  31. Image for Monica Monica

    Oh my goodness....you had me smiling through your whole sweet story and teary-eyed by the end. Hang on to that guy.....he's definitely a keeper!!!!! I have a keeper too....almost for 45 years now. He reminds me everyday "You're a lucky woman!" I'm the one that rolls their eyes in THIS relationship :-)

  32. Image for Susan Susan

    Dang...someone must be peeling onions up in here...my face is leaking all over! You two are the absolute most adorable couple EVER! The chairs are cute, too...but they've got nothing on you and your hubby! Your hubby sounds like the type who doesn't talk much, but when he does, he cuts to the heart of things, yes? You are both blessed to have one another!

  33. Image for suzi weaver suzi weaver

    Well....I'm as blessed as you are! 32 years of love and friendship to my best friend! Three amzing sons that are as sweet and loving as their dad, makes me a very blessed woman! And, to Teresa that wrote "pray for her daughter to find a man like that".....well I have a very eligible handsome engineer son that's been too busy with his career that would love to meet a nice girl with faithful loving ways to spend the rest of his life with!! Praying it could be a match :-) Maybe Karianne can help these two find a way to get together.....wouldn't that be "like a movie"

  34. Image for Sue Sue

    Oh Karianne. I could cry that you have a Hubby like mine. This is SO like life in my world, I found myself reading your post word for word to my Beloved. Who grinned and twinkled his eyes in that knowing way. We are so immensely lucky, you and I. To have married our best friends. It seems so rare these days. Sue x

  35. Image for Barbara Moore Barbara Moore

    He's almost as cute of a cutie pie as you are. Almost. But those twinkly eyes? I've had the pleasure of seeing them in person. Hands down the twinkliest of all the twinkly eyes out there. And he likes good movies. Definitely a keeper.

  36. Image for Diane Diane

    You are so lucky to have a mate like that. I am 61, and would love to have an experience like that. It's nice to know there are truly happy couples in the world.

  37. Image for sue sue

    Your husband says just the right things to you and you know how to say the right things in just the right sequence to put a smile on your readers' faces, thank you and have a red lipstick good day!

  38. Image for Shelley Shelley

    You two are so stinking cute. I'm married to my best friend too. Almost 32 years...Love that you guys are still so in love, just like me and mine.

  39. Image for Loryl Fisher Loryl Fisher

    Adorable! Been married to my best friend for 36 years. I love that we can say movie lines to each other as an inside joke or love note. We're retired now and people say "you do everything together?" Well, DUH, yeah. Why wouldn't we? Teehee

  40. Image for Linda Linda

    I was married to my best friend for 44 years, 4 months and 4 days before the Lord took him suddenly. I know I will see him again by God s Grace. Be kind to each other, say you love each other every day, enjoy each other, never go to bed upset with each other, hug each other, do little things for each other. I would always write a little note and tell him that I loved him and put it on his napkin in his lunch. just take good care of each other !

  41. Image for Cindy in Oklahoma Cindy in Oklahoma

    Such a great story... I have to share this because it popped into my head as I was reading... Many years ago my husband and I were going through the roughest time in our marriage. I was talking about separating... He listened to me. He disagreed. He thought we should go to counseling. I wasn't sure counseling would work because does it really if one person has come to the separation stage? Then he said... "Whatever you decide to do won't ever change the fact that I will always love you. I want you to know that." We're about to celebrate 43 years of marriage. How could I not stay and work things out with the man who just told me he would always love me. You see, he'd never said that before... oh, he'd said he loved me... but not like that.... It was a great marriage lesson.... how will the people you love know how much if you don't tell them every chance you get? And I can truly say from my own personal experience "love" softens a hardened heart. We are living proof!

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