Monday, May 6, 2013

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.

 

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

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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.

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

Blue Sage, one of my favorites.

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

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

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

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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 

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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.

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

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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.)

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

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Closer look at the embroidery and ribbon roses.

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Look at the cookie on the lower left. Smile

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.

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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

21 comments:

Sandy said...

Enjoyed my visit today, sweet friend. I am going to try the yummy cookie recipe. :O)
Your flowers are beautiful, as usual, and the Melody Beattie poem is going into my journal right now.
Love you~

Unknown said...

Your property is endless. You could give tours. You have so many raw materials there, you could be making stuff for a long time. Your embroidery skills are so good. I love your little books. You continue to inspire me.

Nancy J said...

Your quote brings tears to my eyes, and gives me peace in my heart right now, as I still struggle with the unknown,I'm sure Poppy is out there somewhere.Your work continues each day, and your darling Mark would be so very proud of you as each day, you face it by yourself. May each one of us out here continue to be with you in your beautiful garden. Fond greetings, Jean , p.s. your covers and stitchings are truly beautiful.

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Lorraine you truly are very talented: gardening-cooking-beautiful crafts-embroidery-handy woman and the list goes on! You're making tremendous progress in the back 40 and I think your view from where you sit at your computer is very apt and very beautiful.
R
x

Sunray Gardens said...

I love your Passion flowers. They are so pretty.
You did some serious cleaning and I'm sure you are enjoying getting so much done.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Tackling the iron collection, flowers, embroidery and cookies. My goodness what a diverse and nice post. You really do it all.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I could stand to have some of those cookies.Oh,I forgot,I can't just pop in for some.Oh well,they do look yummy.

Skeeter said...

It is all looking so good! I love before and after pics as they do tell a story in themselves...

Dawn said...

The embroidery and roses are a visual treat for the eyes even without the wonderful photos of your flowers.

Annie said...

I love shovel bird! You are making some great progress, and have beautiful blooms. Loved the cookie!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Love your gardens
and that shovel bird :)
Wish I was near and would
share tea and a cookie with you.
Take care
I am proud of you...

jerilanders said...

Rainey, You've been industrious! It always feels so good to get things organized. The weeping lady statue is priceless and I always love to see your beautiful ribbon embroidery.

Unknown said...

I was at the huge flea market (Canton)this last weekend and the stuff in your "junk yard" would have sold there.
That metal patio chair would have been priced between $35 - $75.

You have such a wonderful oasis, something different at every turn.

tina said...

You've made a wonderful view from your computer window. One would never know there was a road out there. How delightful and smart! Those roses are beautiful!

Susan said...

Looks like you made great progress on your back forty...love the name. It does take a while to get rid of stuff. I, too, am in the process of letting things go that I don't really need and know I'll never get around to using. Your flowers look lovely. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful weather. :-)

RURAL said...

Lorraine, I really enjoyed looking at your flowers...and you yard bird.

Jen

gld said...

That recipe has become one of our favorites. Thank you for sharing it.

I am so impressed with your needlework. Simple beautiful.

You would never know the highway is so close. You have created a lovely view from your window. I have tried to do that with the views from the dining room (where my computer is) and the kitchen window where I spend a great deal of my time.

Good work on sorting the saved pieces. I never throw away anything that I think we may use....but mine isn't so organized as your.

GRACE PETERSON said...

Hi Lorraine,

Your garden is so cool. I love your artifacts and have to agree with Mark. I would have a very difficult time getting rid of anything that I thought could be useful, especially for garden art.

Your embroidery is so pretty. I so appreciate your talent.

I love the view from your courtyard. So pretty!

Jillayne said...

Your flowers are so pretty Lorraine - and I loved the before and after.
Like you, I think of rainy days as days when there is opportunity to do something else... the picture of teh window, with your view makes it easy to think of you sitting there, working away on your books - they are truly lovely.
And the cookies.....yum!

Gayle said...

You've created such a beautiful place right there in the middle of busy. Crazy!! I see people getting rid of their things... why? It's okay to have "stuff" even if you never get around to using it. :)

Barbara Barth said...

I love the back 40 and all that old iron. And your weeping lady garden statue is wonderful! You know I would love that. Your garden would make me so happy and the view from your window is lovely. I'd probably dream more than create with that view. Hugs, B