My Happy Place

If you know me, you know that I love working in my yard.  I call it yard therapy because when I'm out there working, my problems are far from my mind.  I forget about everything while I'm digging in the dirt, planting flowers, pulling weeds, mowing grass or just walking around the yard admiring my flowers.  Most every day I walk around the yard to see what has grown, bloomed or needs pinching off to encourage more blooms. 

This is one view from my patio.  It does not capture the entire back yard.  Everything you see here (with the exception of the grass) beginning with the rocks and to the large trees in the background, I planted.  Rocks were gathered from the back of our land, the horse pasture and from my neighbor's land.  Days were spent digging up rocks, putting them on the front of the riding mower or in the wheel barrow and struggling to get them unloaded and put into place.  I painted an outline on the grass so I could follow the shape of the rock bed I wanted.

Above is an area next to my patio.  I planted these flowers this past weekend.  Again, more rocks.  I love my little frogs purchased from Old Time Pottery.  Hubby likes frogs for yard art and I'll have to admit, I like them too.

My neighbor had watering cans full of flowers on her patio and I loved them.  I had to fix one for my deck.

I love roses.  My mother-in-law purchased this rosebush before she passed away and while living with us in her last years.  It smells divine.  She loved roses and grew the most beautiful ones I've ever seen. 

Potted petunias on the deck have spilled over the sides and I love their vibrant colors.

Hanging baskets of flowers just add happy to the patio area.  Here's my pink.

And red...The white thing you see to the left is a metal butterfly hung on the brick.

Last, but certainly not least, I'd kept a pair of Andrew's rain boots that he'd outgrown, punched holes in the bottom for draining, filled them with potting soil and then planted flowers in them.  I got the idea from a blog I follow.  The blogger did hers in April and hung them on her front door.  I wanted mine on the patio where I see them every day.  She had painted hers, but I didn't because Andrew loves camo.  One boot appears larger than the other, but it's not; it's just the angle at which the photo was taken.

You'll notice there's only one picture of the yard.  I got carried away with the flowers near the house.  Ha Ha.   I'm sure I'll post pics of the yard another day.

I'm not sure I'll be working in my yard today.  The garden needs to be hoed.  Joy joy.

Here's hoping your day is filled with things you love.

Steven Gregory Brown's Birthday

Twenty six years ago today, God blessed Hubby and me with our second son.  This picture was taken two years ago and remains one of my favorites of Greg and me. 

Tech School graduation day.  Oh so proud and he had every right to be.  His dad, brother and I know the road he traveled to get to this point.

Greg with his son, Andrew, who should have been named Greg, Jr. 

Here he is with the most important guys in his life - Andrew, Jon (Greg's brother) and Dale (Dad).

Happy Birthday, Dear Dear, Greg.  You're still my baby.  I remember the day you were born as though it was yesterday.  It was Friday, May 30, 1986.  Dr. Davis had instructed me to be at Baptist Hospital in Nashville by 6am because they were going to induce labor.  Why?  Because Dr. Davis would be on vacation on the date you were due, so he decided you needed to come early!  That obviously didn't sit well with you because as soon as you made your entrance into this world you peed right in Dr. Davis' face.  You let him know exactly what you thought about his vacation!  We all had a good laugh when that happened.

I won't try to summarize the past 26 years other than to say I love you and I'm so glad you're my son.  May God bless you, wrap his arms around you, keep you safe and remind you daily that He loves you unconditionally.  I do too.  I'm proud of you and I'm thankful God gave you to us.

Time Flies

Wow!  This month has flown by and I've only posted once.  It's been a busy month.  There were days I spent in bed due to fibro, but I've had more good days than bad ones this month.  I've been able to work in my yard which I love to do.  We planted our garden and it's now waiting to be hoed.  Hoeing is not my favorite thing to do at all.  In fact, I hate hoeing. 

My sister and her hubby took Andrew and me to the Gatlinburg area last Thursday for a mini vacation to a water park.  We had a blast.  We also visited the aquarium and were amazed by all the different types of fish, sharks, crabs, sting rays and jellyfish.  Andrew was especially in awe of the sharks.  I'll have to admit it was an effort to keep up with the little man. He has much more energy than I do and I'm quickly reminded that I'm no longer a spring chicken!

I loved spending time with my sister.  There are no words to express how much I love her and how much she means to me.  Her hubby behaved himself and that's all I could ask for.  HA HA HA  No mushy mushy stuff for him. 

My youngest son will turn 26 May 30th.  Yes, time does fly.  Enough about that or I'll be in tears.

I'm missing my other son and his wife.  Seems like forever since I've seen them even though it's been two weeks.  Gotta fix that! 

I spent Mother's Day weekend in Mississippi with my mom.  Doing so was extra special for me.  She had no clue I was coming home and being able to surprise her and Daddy was a thrill.

This pretty much brings me up to date for May (in a nutshell).  I will probably post some photos later.  For now, I'm going to bed.

Sweet dreams.

Happy May 1st

Hope May 1st is a great day for all.  Yesterday the fibro won and I was stuck in bed.  I felt like an entire day was wasted and I guess it was.  I slept, read blogs, cleaned up email, watched TV, thought a lot and wished I was up doing something productive.  Oh well, fibro determines what I do these days.

I'm happy to report that my veggie garden is planted!  (One reason the fibro flared up.)  I'm looking forward to going over to my BIL's land and seeing little plants peeking up at me.  We planted corn, okra, lima beans, peas, cabbage, green beans, cucumbers, onions, banana peppers, watermelons and cantaloupes.  I'll have to double check to make sure that was all, but we should have plenty if it all comes up!  My tomatoes will be planted here at the house so I can fence around them.  Last year the deer, squirrels, rabbits or chipmunks got them.  That's not happening this year if I can help it!  I have to find a way to get rid of the chipmunks.  They have dug holes in my yard and I do not like it.

Hubby wanted to go to some yard sales this past Saturday so we stopped at a few.  I found a table for $25 and I'm hoping I have the nerve to paint it like some photos I've seen on some blogs.  It has a glass top and something else with handles that goes on it.  The woman I bought it from said she'd have the rest of it Saturday so I plan to go see exactly what it is that goes with it.  I love the table as it is.  

You can see it's worn on top, but I love the design on it and on the legs.  We'll see what happens! 

Today I'm cleaning house and hoping to have time to get outside for awhile this afternoon.  Obviously, I'm just a boring southern housewife, simple and low maintenance.  I'll have to say, I'm glad.

Till next time, think happy thoughts.