A Rabbit's View of Our Garden

Here is a rabbit's view of our garden!
Aren't they pretty?

Our Garden Has Grown!

Here is our garden! I will show you the BEFORE and AFTER pictures.




Before

And After^^

We happen to be in an area affected by drought, as you probably can tell by the picture of our garden and surrounding grass. However, we love our little plot and the sanctuary it provides for birds and sometimes butterflies; and, of course, for the vegetables and flowers!

I am weary of swords & courts & kings. Let us go into the garden... Mary Johnston

Busy Summer

Wow, we have really been busy--camps, swimming lessons, chores, yard work, catching up with things around the house that don't get done until school is out, etc. We have a beach vacation coming up, and we can't wait to enjoy the sun, sand and just all around relaxing. We look forward to posting pictures from the beach...

I know this quote doesn't fit the post, but it speaks to my heart at the moment:

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Robert F. Kennedy

Life's a Beach!

My smiley, sweet-faced daughter and her best friend are frolicking on the beach together this week. I'm getting daily updates, and it sounds like they are having great fun together. I look forward to all the pictures and commentary from each of you!

Time Together

As you can see by the pictures, we had a wonderful time together in Gatlinburg, TN. For those of you who have not experienced Gatlinburg, well, think tourist spot in the mountains. Great place to people watch. All kinds of shopping abounds--from airbrush t-shirts, old-timey photos and candy, as well as speciality shops and great restaurants.

We love the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg boarders the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It's a lovely spot to get away and enjoy the sounds of nature; however, amongst the noise of traffic. If you want the action, settle in Gatlinburg. If you want quiet, enjoy all the beautiful houses for rent throughout the mountains above Gatlinburg.

All thoughts aside, my daughter and I had a great time experiencing our love for each other in a setting away from home life. I look forward to many more times like these!

Even if a day should go by when I don't say "I love you..." May never a moment go by without you knowing I do -Daniel Haughian

Gatlinburg!

We had soooo much fun in Gatinburg for my birthday! (daughter's birthday) We spent 2 great nights in a hotel and shopped around town. (I bought a lot!) Here are some pictures!

The view from the hotel on the right.^^

View from the left. ^^

Trolley^^

I was sitting in this HUGE rocking chair outside a store! MOM^^

(There was a pool at the hotel too!)

Garden Days and Friends

Because of a cool front bringing rain and cool weather, we have not been able to set out some of our plants in the garden. We did, however, get some seeds planted last week: three types of lettace, basil and sunflowers. Can't wait to see sprouts!

I was able to spend some time with my best friend this weekend. My daughter was able to spend time with her best friend too. It was great to vent, laugh, solve all our problems (we pretend!) and just enjoy each others company. Friendship is a great and powerful force. May we all be so fortunate as to have and love a friend.

A true friend is one who knows all about you and likes you anyway. Christi Mary Warner

Hey this is the daughter!

Hey this is the daughter and mom told me to take a picture of our garden before we get started. Here it is!:

Back to reality

We just returned from a beach vacation! My husband and I were able to go kid-free, which we don't do very often. Transitioning from fairytale land back to reality has not been easy. I've let it affect my mood and actions, but tomorrow I'm hoping to get some vegatables planted in our garden, go for my walk and join society once again.

..."The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient...Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith."

Gift from the Sea
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Trees in Bloom

We have been celebrating spring the past two days! The weather has been beautiful and all thoughts are of outside. We are going to take pictures of our small garden plot and keep a visual record. My daughter wants her own section of the garden this year. We should have fun!

Nature does nothing uselessly. -Aristotle

Finch

This is a finch in one of our trees in the front yard. The daughter wrote some fun facts about finches below....

Did you know that finches are often seed-eating birds and are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere and in Africa!

Spring has Sprung!

I love violets! My sister and I were reminiscing not too long ago about picking violets for our Mom. She had a special, cut-crystal vase she would put them in, and we would always put it on the kitchen counter or in the kitchen window to brighten our spring days. I remember this like it was yesterday. Memories, sometimes they catch you by surprise!

My best friend gave me this violet last year. I was so excited to see it bloom. I'm hoping it will spread along the edge of my patio; especially where the dirt has settled.

I moved these three hostas from a too sunny spot to a shady spot last spring. I was thrilled to see the shoots, and I can't wait to see how they do.

Connectedness

Our day began with the blessings of flowering trees and sounds of the birds getting ready for their upcoming broods. It was warm enough to leave the door open and feel the breeze. However; after schooling for the day and maybe (okay, really) getting on each other's nerves, there was a loss of connection between us. We went our separate ways for awhile and reconnected in the garden.

I love knowing that our love transcends the strife we must endure as we get older and not always wiser.

Where there is great love, there are always miracles. -Willa Cather

Robin facing the Other way

Here is a picture taken by the daughter this morning. The one of two robins found in our garden. (Our neighborhood cat was scaring most of the birds away in the front yard.) And a swallow almost landed on the daughter because she was standing so still while she was taking pictures!

Bradford Pear trees at Sunset

A Sunset, and some bradford pear trees below.

Another sunset from our front porch.

Mom's Musings

I was inspired by an article in the magazine "skirt!" by Patti Digh. Ms. Digh writes about her to-do list and how overwhelming it all can be. Boy, can I relate! I do this all the time, create the list, check off a few to-dos, and then beat myself up about what I don't get done. Eventually it all falls by the wayside (at least until the next list).

Ms. Digh relates a story in which Toni Morrison felt the same way with her list looming in front of her. Then Ms. Morrison asked the "question: 'What is it I must do or I shall die?'" She was left with "two things left on her list: 1) Be a mother to her children. 2) Write." Maybe we should rethink our lists!

The future depends on what we do in the present. -Mahatma Gandhi

Mom's Musings

Today was another slow homeschool day. My mind was rambling all over the place, so I was not the best teacher. A little defeated but still afloat--I must keep the positive force alive! Come Monday...

My talented, techno daughter spent too much time editing our blog site, but we like the results. She has some beautiful pictures to show off. I used to love photography when I was younger--maybe she'll take it farther than I did.

"...I find reason to believe in my daughter's eyes." James S. Slater as sung by Martina McBride

Vacation Florida Pictures (from daughter's spring break)

Sunset & Beachwalk Above are some clouds from the plane. (2007) >^

Here is a pretty palm tree in Florida. (2008)> >>

These are some pictures taken by the daughter on her anuual spring break Florida beach trip. :)

Daughter's Pictures (taken outside)

These are pictures of butterflies from my Dad's office, a humming bird from our house, and a sunset from our front porch.

We had a very slow homeschool day due to a wonderful music and dance production that kept us up late. And we had the joy of a lovely spring day all abloom.

I smile when I think of the love that radiated over the phone lines as my daughter talked with her grandparents. And her sunshiny smile was also in full bloom. Love, love, love...

"In my daughters eyes...I am strong and wise and I know no fear..." James Slater sung by Martina McBride.

Pictures of our dog

There once was a dog named Maggie. Who had no tail for to waggy. She lived in a house without a cat or a mouse. And with her owner played taggy.

(This is our dog maggie)

My daughter wanted to start a blog after seeing her Aunt's site. So...I thought why not create a mother/daughter site. Thankfully, my daughter can do all the techno stuff and I can add my thoughts here and there.