Showing posts with label geese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geese. Show all posts

Saturday, April 30, 2016

My Yard


Very recently I was asked if there was a post on my yard or garden. I guess I haven't done a post just on that, I just never thought it would interest anyone.  I hope to remedy that today though.   We live surrounded by woods.  The neighborhood is built around a lake here and it's a very woodsy feeling to the whole neighborhood.

This is the front of our house.  To the right is the driveway and the carport.  The wooden fence on the left of our house is where my mister and our daughter like to plant their garden, well they garden on the backside of it.   We have some shrubs planted on the front side now but you can't see them in this photo.  As you see there are lots of trees and with azaleas planted under them.

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This is a glance back at the azaleas blooming in the front yard this Spring.

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And on the back side of the wooden fence (in our backyard) were the beginnings of last year's garden.  It hasn't grown enough this year to have anything to show yet.  Do you remember my daughter's herb garden?
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The mister and my daughter are the gardeners.  I am the lucky recipient.

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Jacques is still lizard hunting.  He thinks they all live high up on the posts because he saw one there once.
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The gardenias were blooming before we had the garden going good then.  They are starting to bloom now as well so I guess we are on schedule.  You can just make out the beginnings of the banana tree towards the fence.  That's hydrangea bushes as well up close to the camera.
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Later this summer, the banana tree will be big and a show off!

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I love bringing the zinnias inside.

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A glimpse of our backyard shows we are surrounded by trees.  This is the view from the back porch.  We had a lot of wind and rain shortly before this was taken and the rose of Sharon was leaning.  It's very tall, which is hard to tell in this photo with those trees surrounding it, but it's probably ten feet tall.  Blue hydrangeas next to the back porch.
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This is right off the porch to the left slightly.  Cannas and banana tree coming up with transplanted hydrangeas in the background.
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The transplanted hydrangeas were turning different shades last year, it will be interesting to see how they do this year.  They started out as a mixture of blue and pink plants.
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To the right of the back porch is the well, housed in a little building my mister built.  The wisteria grows like crazy here.  The white storage building beyond is where I have crepe myrtles that never bloom.
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The Japanese Magnolia gave us our first look at Spring.

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This is looking into the backyard from the porch.  The Japanese Magnolia tree lives over there as well as the large azalea bush.   The irises were taken out early as we had a hail storm.
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It was really scary!
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Standing in the center of the yard right off the porch looking toward the driveway.  Lattice panels were placed for privacy and work well with the shrubbery.
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Continuing on, you are now turned toward the house looking into the backyard and can see the well house to the right, just barely through the crepe myrtle.  You are next to the driveway.  There is an oleander planted next to the well.  They are scattered across the yard.  Whew!  Have I made any sense with this tour?
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Another back porch photo.  You can see a glimpse of the kitchen through the open french doors.  I blog right inside to the left on my desk.  This is super convenient for me when I am doing tablescapes.  I just grab a handful of plates and head out to the porch to get it started.
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This is where you will find me!  That chair, at the computer, is my perch for blogging.  Many tablecloths stored in this old armoire along with various things for blogging, like candlesticks and candleholders, candles, pitchers, etc.
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I can't give you a proper tour without sharing the lake and of course that includes the geese.
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Jan










Friday, October 23, 2015

Walk In Nature

Hello!  Recently I read an article that stated when you are feeling frustrated you might want to go for a walk outside.  According to the article a walk in nature can improve your emotional health.  Being outside with nature changes the way the brain works and puts you in a better mood.  To top it off it can make you feel younger! 
  
They found that that people were much happier after walking around trees instead of traffic.  The more trees in your neighborhood the happier you become.  So happy that you feel as if you have been given a nice raise of $10,000 and  years younger!
 
 
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 I think most of us know that after being cooped up indoors you need to be around nature.  It's amazing how much better you feel after just getting in your car and riding and seeing nature if you don't have it in your backyard.
 

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It's great if you can get away from "people noise" and be free to enjoy the colors and smells of nature.
 
 
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 I know I get excited in the early Spring when the trees are putting on their leaves.  Winter can be hard for some people.  I know I really miss the sunlight.


 
 
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 We are fortunate that our winters are short comparably with others.
 
 
 
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We have a lot of pine trees so we still have a lot of green in the winter.
 
 
 
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 We usually have some very pretty days in winter where it's chilly but the sun is bright.
 
 
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 Actually I love sunny cold days.
 
 
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 So the key is nature.  It always has been.
 
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 Nature with lots of trees.
 
 
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 You can't beat Fall with any other season.
 
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 The trees are on fire with color if we are lucky.
 
 
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 We get more gold here than red, I have noticed.
 
 
 
 
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 One of many in my front yard.
 
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 This was a couple of years ago when our Fall colors were vivid.
 
 
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 Rainy days in early Winter make us feel cozy inside.
 
 
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 The cold days can make us feel energized and playful.  Almost child like.
 
 
 
 
 
 Jan
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Lettuce, Anyone?

One way I like to set a pretty table is by using something I have on hand anyway.  We bought a variety of lettuce and before it got planted I decided to make up a pretty table.  The mums bring the table to life.  Before we see the table I have a few fall photos to share with you.



There's just a few green leaves left on this tree but mostly a glorious yellow to admire.





I didn't realize until I loaded this photo that it looks so much like the background on my blog!  The red leaves on this little tree make me want to break off a branch or two and bring it home with me. 





These pumpkins are sitting outside a business in my small downtown.













It was a pretty day for taking sweet nature photos.





On the back porch the picnic table is set.  Blue Willow dinner plates with white bowls centered on top, set the look.  I broke off small piece of jute to add more interest to the setting.  I call it jute, does anyone know the real name?









Pretty different varieties of lettuce.  You could tie a couple of dish towel together and wrap it around the base of the lettuce if you so desired.



The lettuce was so full you could barely see the bottom of these.








A different look that was practically free.




I love eating outside when it is cool.  This is a very casual and comfortable setting.

















Jan




http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/10/amaze-me-monday-132.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/a-diy-porch-make-over-for-autumn/
http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/10/a-return-to-loveliness-105.html
http://www.rustic-refined.com/2015/10/table-it-link-party-65.html
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2015/10/288th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/10/show-and-share-no283.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2015/10/wow-us-wednesdays-243.html
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2015/10/treasure-hunt-thursday-224-highlights.html#more
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/2015/10/fall-lunch-bunch.html
http://www.21rosemarylane.com/2015/10/share-your-style-link-party-35.html