Home

"Home. The word circled comfortably in my mouth like bubble gum, swished around sweetly soft and satisfying. Home. Try saying it aloud to yourself. Home. Isn’t it like taking a bite of something lovely? If only we could eat words."
Sol Luckman

The Lady Bankston Roses are just beginning to bloom. Soon we will have a riot of happy yellow blossoms, cascading over the fences and climbing the trees. Stay tuned...

Unexpected Guests!

A couple of nights ago, Christy spotted three peacocks near the creek that runs behind our house. The next morning they landed in our back yard, where they hung out most of the day...even coming up onto the backporch and perching on the tables! I enticed this one for a closeup by tossing him a Cheez-it. We don't know where these peacocks came from but we certainly enjoyed their visit!

Waking Up

to snow! I guess the groundhog was right.

Blossoming...

"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit."
Kahlil Gibran

Our Tulip Tree

"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."
St. Therese de Lisieux

One cord of wood, neatly stacked...makes me happy just looking at it. This "stacking" was a family effort and it will reward us with many a cozy fire this winter!

Thoughts on Light...

"We find the light only after total defeat of our attempts to deceive and outwit it."
Vernon Howard

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
Og Mandino

"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Chinese Proverb

Dressed up...

Monkey Grass!

We have had so much rain that mushrooms and fungus are popping up everywhere. I've been watching this fungus grow for a couple of months now...kinda creepy but interesting too.

After The Rain...

Pick Me!

OK...in a few more weeks!

New Growth!

Our Tulip Tree, which lost a large limb from the weight of the Easter snow, has new growth around the broken place. Hallelujiah! The black scar will always be there, but with gentle nurturing and time, a strong limb will grow from these sproutings. This new limb will help balance the tree, bring green into a place that was empty and will gently cover the black scar. New growth....good for trees and people!

8pm and no photo for today! I headed out the backdoor and as the sun was setting, I clicked away on my little camera. It's been very rainy the past few days and rather dreary too. The colors from this little corner of the yard made me smile.

April Showers Bring...

May Flowers! I discovered these little beauties this morning. A fine discovery for May Day!

Yellow

These yellow iris flowers have given me hope this week. When I was a little girl, I often drew the same picture...a house with a chimney and smoke, a large tree with a hole in the middle for the animals and I always colored the house YELLOW. I looked up the color symbolism for yellow and found that yellow can have "good" or "bad" connotations. For me, yellow has always held good connotations: hope, sunshine, warmth and home. The word Yellow even sounds happy to me. Today I am going to "Think Yellow"!

Iris Bed

Nicole weeding the overgrown Iris bed. My back thanks her!
I understand that the lady who lived here before us LOVED Iris flowers. She planted yellow and white ones in this bed and in another smaller bed. I always smile when the first one blossoms. They are such delicate flowers in design and yet hardy in their ability to multiply.

Clearing the beds...

clearing the mind.

Update

Ten days ago, I posted a photo of the first Lady Bankston roses just beginning to open. What a difference ten days makes!
These roses climb into trees. I could trim the vines back but I like the way they cover everything in yellow for a few weeks. They have yet to reach their full cascading glory, so I may post another photo when they are at their most expansive point!

Welcome!

Backgates, backdoors and backporches, these are places that feel like home to me. When you come see me, please enter through the backgate. I'll be there to greet you!