Miranda Lambert is one of my favorite musicians, but I've not seen her perform live since 2011, because every time she comes to California, we have a conflict. When I found out that she was scheduled to perform at The Citizen's Bank Arena in Ontario, CA, I was ready to purchase tickets. I held back because it's winter and we live in a ski resort town. I just knew that if I bought tickets, that we'd get a snow storm and not be able to make it down the mountain.

Just a few weeks before the concert, I bought a plane ticket to join Dan on his business trip to Portland. The return flight home landed just hours before Lambert's concert and the concert venue is a five minute drive from the airport. I wasn't willing to risk snow, but I could risk a delayed or canceled flight.

Luckily, we had zero problems. I always like to make sure that we see the opening acts ( a great way to discover new music and just to be supportive of the artists. Plus, I don't like to disturb the people sitting near me), but we couldn't get inside in time to see the first opener, British singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas. We technically arrived on time, but the queue for security was enormous. I'm not complaining, because I'd rather that they take security seriously, but it's definitely something that takes longer at concert venues nowadays. Arrive early and be patient! Silvas came back onstage to sing an Aretha Franklin cover "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" with Lambert.

We made it to our seats in time to catch a majority of John Pardi's set. I didn't think that I was familiar with Pardi, but I recognized several of his songs from country radio, such as "Head Over Boots."

As you can see from the above picture, our seats were far back. We were in the last row, but because they were closer to center, we had a great view. The concert was sold out and when I went to purchase tickets, I only had a choice of a few seats through Ticketmaster resale. I've seen Lambert perform eight times and these were the worsts seats/ most expensive tickets. Her popularity has certainly grown. This was Dan's first Lambert concert and he was really hoping that she'd do her cover of Gillian Welch's "Dry Town." She didn't, but he still enjoyed her concert.

A video showing Lambert's road crew played as they were setting up for her to take stage. It was a fun tribute to all of the people ( so many people) who work hard on her tour. It was also very cool to see songwriter, Gwen Sebastian singing background vocals on Lambert's tour.

Lambert started the show with her energetic cover of John Prine's "That's the Way the World Goes 'Round." Lambert played songs spanning her career, including her latest album, The Weight of These Wings. When I saw her in 2011, she debuted a few songs that she had been working on for her 2014 album, Platinum, but most of the songs off of that album and her latest, I had not heard performed live. I was thrilled to hear her perform "Tin Man", "Vice", and "Bathroom Sink."

She donned a pair of pink sunglasses for her sassy song, "Pink Sunglasses" and gave them to a child in the audience.

Lambert's encore was "Little Red Wagon," in which she changed a lyric to reflect that she no longer lives in her ex-husband, Blake Shelton's home state of Oklahoma.

Lambert mentioned in the concert that she likes to put on a show that gives you all of the feels. When she performed "Over You," I started thinking of my mom and the tears flowed. Not that I enjoy being emotional in public, but there is something about the energy of a live show that is cathartic. Lambert likes to use the phrase "Music is Medicine," and if there is one artist that this is true of for me, it's Lambert. Her music has helped me through plenty of rough times.

I'm so happy that we were able to see Lambert's latest tour. It was a great evening out and money well spent. Here is a picture as we were leaving the arena.

One more thing that needs to be mentioned: Lambert had the coolest outfit. She was wearing a long-sleeve top with a plunging neckline and incredible fringe on the sleeves, a floral embellished leather mini skirt, and cowboy boots. She rocked it! I love pageantry and crazy sets, but there is something to be said for an artist that comes out and just performs a long set, without changing outfits.

My townhouse has an enormous ( the span of a two car garage) patio. For the last thirty-five years, this space has been completely under- utilized. Sure, there were times when my family got inspired to plant a little garden, but the excitement quickly waned and the plants died. Most of the efforts were due to my paternal grandparents, who loved to garden and couldn't stand that my mom didn't feel the same. This patio is in a bad location. It gets full sun during the peak time of the day. There is zero shade. Due to complex regulations, we are not allowed to build a permanent structure or a retractable sunshade on the deck. This has create thirty-five years of apathy and mostly leaving the space vacant.

Until now... Dan and I have thrown around ideas about how to utilize the space, perhaps getting a non-permanent structure or a giant umbrella, definitely furniture and a BBQ. We need lots of pretty, very hardy, cat friendly plants that love the sun. I am think researching and sticking with native plants is our best bet. Past efforts have always involved picking plants that looked gorgeous and said that they could take sun, but then wilted in the extreme heat. This deck really takes on heat. I don't know if it's realistic, but I would love to plant vegetables and fruit.

I would also love for this patio to be a place for the cats to hang out. I let Nicolette on the patio now, but she just sort of rolls around on the ground and gets dirty. I know that if we had patio furniture, she would love to cuddle up on a chair and sleep outside.

Here is another thing that I desperately want to work into the patio. I had no idea how Dan would feel about this, but I want it! It's a D.I.Y. project from my favorite online company, Junk Gypsy. Junk Gypsy started as an antique and salvage company out of Texas and has grown to an online store selling clothing, jewelry and home goods. They have expanded further into a design company. They did Miranda Lambert's Airstream Concert trailer and the reception for Miranda's wedding to Blake Shelton. They have the coolest stuff.

This past spring, Junk Gypsy, got their own design show on Home and Garden Television. In the premiere episode, they featured a D.I.Y. segment on this...

They are giant industrial size restaurant buckets that have been riddled with bullet holes and strung together with pink light bulbs inside. I've never shot a gun and I don't like craft projects, but I NEED to make this and somehow figure out a way to fit it into our patio decor.

The patio is still very much a blank canvass, although Dan was very sweet and attempted to surprise me this past weekend by putting plants on the patio while I was at work. I say attempted, because he bought everything and then his plans were thwarted when he discovered this on the patio railing.

Wasps!!! Just looking at this picture again makes me cringe. I did not previously know, but learned from Dan that they make their nest out of wood pulp, so they have probably been chewing on the patio railing. Great. I also learned through research that each of the hexagonal holes is for keeping their spawn safe. Great again. They have been busy building their metropolis all week and it has been getting bigger. However, eviction day is tomorrow! Between two and four, the pest company is coming to move the nest and we get our patio back. Nicolette will be the most happy, as she justs spends all day starring longingly outside at the patio and paws at the door each time I walk past her. Poor kitty.

Miranda Lambert Livin' Like Hippies Tour

Home Sweet Home- The Patio Problem