I was spring cleaning this week when I found two wool berets my dad gave me, probably nearly 20 years ago. The children think they are fabulous and John insisted on wearing one to the hardware store today (where we bought two more of
those wonderful toilet seats!).
We spotted a hummingbird outside our kitchen window yesterday, so today I brewed up some nectar and put out a feeder. We've already had our first hummingbird guest, which John is sure was "five hummingbirds" (and
not the same hummingbird coming back many times over the course of several minutes). We had many hummingbirds at my dad's house growing up, so I have a special fondness for them.
I know that not everybody cares so much about gardens, especially ones that aren't theirs! I have several serious gardeners in my extended family, so these photos are particularly for them. Above is a shot of some of our trees in the back yard. We recently had about nine large trees cut down to try to bring more sunlight into the property. I've worried that maybe that was too many, but then I counted that I think we have 39 trees remaining in the back yard alone. And that shade is why I cannot grow any vegetables, herbs, or fruit!
A random red rose has started flowering in a corner of the yard.
A happy little coral bell I recently planted in the back.
I learned how to propagate my hostas, so the hostas to the left and right of the center plant are new ones I just transplanted there. I'm hoping that the arc of hostas and vinca minor on the left and
I'm-forgetting-the-name-right-now on the right will help define the path.
Farther along the path, you can see very healthy hostas (they're all over the yard), which is where I divided some out for transplanting.
The mahonia is so happy and succulent this time of year.
I don't know anything about settings or techniques of photography, but I thought this accidental result was striking. It was broad daylight, but for a few minutes the back yard was deeply shaded with a bright beam on sunlight on our Blessed Virgin Mary statue.
This tree (whose name I forget at the moment) has the most interesting ridged leaves to me.
Mud play with big brother--in which everyone had fun, despite Mary's sad expression in this photo
Happy children exploring
Tonight John asked if he could learn how to cut with a knife. We've made a few attempts at this lesson before, but this time John really took to it beautifully. He concentrated, he was careful, he cut pieces well--and, yes, Mama was closely supervising the whole time. I suspect that among my gamut of friends, some will be horrified that I let a three-and-a-half-year-old cut with a paring knife and others will wonder why it took me so long.
I was spring cleaning this week when I found two wool berets my dad gave me, probably nearly 20 years ago. The children think they are fabulous and John insisted on wearing one to the hardware store today (where we bought two more of those wonderful toilet seats!).
We spotted a hummingbird outside our kitchen window yesterday, so today I brewed up some nectar and put out a feeder. We've already had our first hummingbird guest, which John is sure was "five hummingbirds" (and not the same hummingbird coming back many times over the course of several minutes). We had many hummingbirds at my dad's house growing up, so I have a special fondness for them.
I know that not everybody cares so much about gardens, especially ones that aren't theirs! I have several serious gardeners in my extended family, so these photos are particularly for them. Above is a shot of some of our trees in the back yard. We recently had about nine large trees cut down to try to bring more sunlight into the property. I've worried that maybe that was too many, but then I counted that I think we have 39 trees remaining in the back yard alone. And that shade is why I cannot grow any vegetables, herbs, or fruit!
A random red rose has started flowering in a corner of the yard.
A happy little coral bell I recently planted in the back.
I learned how to propagate my hostas, so the hostas to the left and right of the center plant are new ones I just transplanted there. I'm hoping that the arc of hostas and vinca minor on the left and I'm-forgetting-the-name-right-now on the right will help define the path.
Farther along the path, you can see very healthy hostas (they're all over the yard), which is where I divided some out for transplanting.
The mahonia is so happy and succulent this time of year.
I don't know anything about settings or techniques of photography, but I thought this accidental result was striking. It was broad daylight, but for a few minutes the back yard was deeply shaded with a bright beam on sunlight on our Blessed Virgin Mary statue.
This tree (whose name I forget at the moment) has the most interesting ridged leaves to me.
Mud play with big brother--in which everyone had fun, despite Mary's sad expression in this photo
Happy children exploring
Tonight John asked if he could learn how to cut with a knife. We've made a few attempts at this lesson before, but this time John really took to it beautifully. He concentrated, he was careful, he cut pieces well--and, yes, Mama was closely supervising the whole time. I suspect that among my gamut of friends, some will be horrified that I let a three-and-a-half-year-old cut with a paring knife and others will wonder why it took me so long.
what took you so long? lol j/k
ReplyDeleteYour backyard is so great for kids. So much to hold their interest!
I love hostas, and they're just perfect for your shady yard. I almost wish we had more shade so they could fare well here!
ReplyDeleteWhen you let Mary get all muddy, do you have to take her inside and bathe her every time? She must get a bath every day, and sometimes twice a day?! Does she like bath time as much as playing in the mud?
Frances: In the winter, the kids were getting only one or two baths per week because they just didn't get dirty and water dried out their skin. Now they're pretty much getting baths nightly! So far I haven't had to do mid-day baths. I just wash limbs if I need to, even washing their legs and such in the sink. If Mary's hair is full of dirt, I tend just to shake it off and leave it that way till evening bath. If we're not going anywhere and the dirt is staying firmly adhered to her scalp, then I don't worry about it!
ReplyDeleteHow fun!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, Emma is ALWAYS getting muddy. And yeah, most of the time, I just brush her off... :)
i love the shadow of the cross in the first garden shot. and the shot of Our Lady is sooooo strikingly beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love self-propagating plants. We have day lilies and... some other kind of lily... and each year they send up more and more. We've been able to transplant them to more places each year and it is getting so much fun to see how pretty our yard is getting.
ReplyDelete