jump up and down

how does your garden grow?

Last year, we moved in so late and then it rained for the first month that we lived here that by the time we could get out in the yard, the flower gardens were pretty out of control.  I did get out there in July, but there were just some things that couldn't be helped at that point.  This year, I am trying to stay on top of things and there are signs of improvement all around.  Now, I'm not claiming that my yard is worthy to be shown in Better Homes and Gardens or anything.  I'm just saying that if I could do some before and after pics from last year, the changes would be significant.

I started the hanging pots myself this year with plants that only had one flower on them.  And I haven't let them dry out once yet.

 

The bleeding hearts have multiple blooms and have been at it for almost a month - last year they bloomed for about a week before they gave out.

 

The sunflowers that I started from seed (with help from Peter) are getting so big that they are having a hard time staying up - I need to find something to tie them to.

 

These pansies came up on their own.  Last year I had two plants and this year their are about a dozen.  Next year (if we're still here), I'm hoping they will just blanket the entire front flower bed so I don't have to plant anything in there!

 

 And I'll admit that this rose bush is still pretty out of control, but if you look closely...

 

There are blooms - last year it never bloomed and this year it is covered with buds just waiting to pop open. I can't wait! 

 

How does your garden grow this year?

i'm back

 

Hello everyone!  I think I'm ready to be back here.  Thank you so much for all of your kind words and sympathy.  It really meant so much to me.  I've never had anyone close to me pass away before.  I think it's one of those things that you just don't really know what it will be like until you experience it.  So, I spent the week after the funeral just kind of taking it all in.  I think it helped that l had such a long time to anticipate my grandpa's death and come to some sort of peace with it before it happened.  I'm grateful for the good influence he was in my life and for the good things he did.  

Then, I spent last week with the young women from church at Girl's Camp.  I had't been camping in a long time (since the weekend before we found out we were pregnant with Peter), I'd never been to Girl's Camp as a leader and I never spent more than one night away from my boys, so I was a little nervous.  I had fun though - I'm glad I went.  I did miss my family a ton, but the girls were wonderful to us and each other.  It was nice to get to know them better and to bring that happy spirit from camp home with me.  

And now, the summer is before us - it's finally warm here and we have made our first plans to go to the pools with friends, we have a couple of road trips planned, the clothes are on the line for drying, the boys are enjoying lots of time outside, and I'm just hoping it doesn't end before I'm ready for it to end.   

gorgeous weekend weather

I'm so glad we took advantage of some gorgeous weather we had two weeks ago,  because last weekend and this upcoming weekend are looking rainy and cold.  Here's what we did...

We went to see Shoshone Falls again - the website says this was medium flow.  There was definitely more flow that when we went last August, but I think I was expecting a little more.  It was beautiful and I loved the very prominent rainbow.

 The boys helped me replant the hanging baskets and plant a few flowers in our beds. And, they all survived the freeze we had early this week.  Phew!

We bought a tiny BBQ (we had one of these early in our marriage and loved it, but left it in one of our moves haven't had one for at least five years - welcome back tiny BBQ grill!), and had some fun playing soccer while we waited for everything to get cooked. 

my frosty world

Yesterday we woke up to a frost covered world and the driving around town was a journey through a winter wonderland.  

 I've read several posts from others lately who are hitting the January blues.  When I was a kid, winter was my favorite time of year - I loved the snow, wearing sweaters and layers, and staying warm under lots of blankets.  Now that I'm an adult and have to drive in the snow and pay the bills that keep my home warm, I'm not sure I could say the same.  

 I do think that I am lucky that my birthday is at the end of January, so I always have something to look forward to and I usually make it through January in pretty good spirits.  It helps me appreciate all the beauty of winter when it shows itself.   

 Here's hoping you are enjoying winter, at least a little bit!