Clean up and blooms, etc.

 

I have been thinking about the ‘back 40’ for some time now, especially now that the rains have started and things are growing like heck. DH weed wacked back here and pulled vines and weeds last July, 10 months ago. We were working on getting iron sorted, to keep to use or for artistic purposes, and iron to take to the scrap yard. We got one or two loads taken and then DH became ill. This has been mind boggling to me as to the overgrowth and the stuff I need to get rid of.  It’s interesting at the same time as I’m looking at the stuff with a discerning eye instead of viewing it as all just junk like I mostly did before he left this planet.  He saw the potential in all of this, bless his heart.  We’ve used a lot too through the years too, in various projects.  He just hated to see stuff go to the landfill that was perfectly useable in some way.  He was right, as this society throws away way too much.

So, anyway, I started yesterday and made forward progress in cleaning up and making my way back in there.  Before and after pictures of the area. I started in at the front entry.  I will show before and after pictures as I go along with this project.

 

Here is shovel bird.  We bought him in Georgia in 2006. He’s the guard bird over the junk yard.

Below is After ~ Hurray, I broke the ice and made forward progress. Tools are leaning against the building. Wood is leaning against the barn at the back, what we call the barn.

Here are some flowers that are blooming in the ‘back 40’.

Blue Sage, one of my favorites.

A hibiscus, with a potato vine below, and a Virginia creeper vine behind. Grrr.

Passion vine.  I have two, this is the simpler, smaller one.

Now, here is a view looking away from the back buildings and the back 40, toward the caravan and clothesline garden, southeast.

Now on to the front where we have

‘the weeping lady’ statue

on our front patio. (I called her this long before my DH left for his heavenly home.)

***

weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.

Psa_30:5 

This is looking out from my ‘little space’ where I create and also where I sit at my computer. The four lane road out front is beyond the patio by about 20’ at the most.

Allamanda ~ This allamanda is growing on the lattice behind the weeping lady.

Thursday it was predicted to rain all day so, I gathered up material, made a template and cut out fabric for 7 journals. Before I made the template I was using the square to make straight lines.  (I love using DH’s tools.  I love going into the workshop to find what I need.  It was a dream come true, and we built it together.)

I then started embroidering on the front of one and stitched the edges.  I still have a clasp to make yet for it.

Closer look at the embroidery and ribbon roses.

Look at the cookie on the lower left.

I didn’t make it this shape, it’s just the way it came out.

These are oatmeal cookies with craisins, coconut, and chocolate chips. Yummy is the consensus.

Well, that’s what’s been going on down here in the sub-tropics.

This is a new day, the start of a new week.

Let’s all take each day as it comes, do what we can with what we have.

And ~

Be thankful.

FlowerLady

******

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,

confusion to clarity. 

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend. 

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow." 

Melody Beattie