The Big Reveal!

Our story today begins with a bucket.  A dirty, blue bucket, to be exact.  Please note the hastening, tiny footsteps advancing toward said bucket, which will shortly be revealed as one of the heroes of today's (far less than epic) tale.

 

On this particular day, there was much "grown up" work to be done in Robinson County, which left young Eli with the options of either boredom or creative genius. Lucky for us, young Eli is not the type to succumb to boredom.

What better to do with a dirty, blue bucket (when your seat is roughly the size of 2 hamburger buns) than to sit in it!  Granted, young Eli's shorts were filthy when he finished, but he had a great time, entertained himself, and didn't wander far in the process!

Meanwhile, young Eli's father put some of the final touches on his BIG project.  A backyard pergola! (Photo: Before Trim)

In just a couple of weekends, Jason pretty well single-handedly built the pergola, from start to finish.  It was his idea, his design, his dream...and I LOVE it.  I can only imagine the years of use it will get, from backyard BBQs, to youth group devos, to family picnics...my mind is running wild with possibility.

 (After Trim)

I feel immensely blessed to have such a handy (and thoughtful) husband!

We also planted some "Carolina Jessamine (Jess-uh-MY-n)" vines that will soon provide a beautiful (and cool) canopy of shade.   We chose these specific plants because 1) they are supposed to be very fast-growing, 2), we love their foliage, 3)they are hardy, 4) they were highly recommended for our area in this book, which has become one my favorite gardening references,  and 5) they bloom!!

Close-up of the Carolina Jessamine.  In early spring, the vines should have abundant, yellow trumpet-shaped blooms.  (I'm looking really forward to seeing them for the first time next year!)

Close-up view from the side door of the house.  I can't wait to see how different it looks once it's all grown up with vines!

Our next project will be to add lighting so we can enjoy it in the cool evenings, as well!  Jason's also considering adding some bench seats in a couple of places to help maximize our seating options. 

So, there you have it...the big (at least in size) top-secret project!

What's Going On Around Here

I know I've been slacking on the updates. Sorry about that. So here is what you've been missing in Robinson County...

Norah is still doing great with her reading (and is LOVING sharing her new-found skill with her brother). I walked in on them the other morning and found Norah reading Eli his favorite book in his room. So sweet.



I have been sewing...a lot. Norah chose some wild peacock fabric and asked for a "twirly dress". I paired it with a tank top, which I cut off, using the cut-off lower portion to make ruffles down the front, and made the rest of the dress up as a went along. Not my normal style...I'm usually a pattern or at least tutorial kind of girl. But I think I am in love with making my own rules for sewing, so there may be more to come!


Mom and I have been churning out lots of cute dolls and other sewing projects for the Pigtails and Puddles esty shop (which I hope to open pretty soon...I just wanted to have a "semi-full inventory" at least in the beginning, so I've been holding out on some of what I've been up to...but if you're really interested, feel free to check the Pigtails and Puddles blog for a few hints)


Jason and I did a little landscaping in the front yard, and I am LOVING it. We planted 4 pink (I say they're red) knockout rose bushes, 3 "iceburg" (white) tea rose bushes, some sage (which, although it is blooming wonderfully, I disappointingly must report that it does not, smell anything like perfume), and some white verbena...which, so far, has been the only plant that does not seem to be absolutely thriving (I'm hoping after it gets established it will take off...verbena is supposed to be one of the easiest plants to grow around here).

I've been amazed at how quickly I've delved into gardening. (We'll see if it lasts once the summer temperatures hit). I love getting out early in the morning to water and weed, dead-heading the rose bushes and watching, with wonder, as they put out new growth (the red leaves) and (best of all) new buds.

The white and red roses have been alternately blooming. One week we have all red blooms, and just as they fade, the white bushes start blooming up a storm. Occasionally they will both have a few at the same time. I love having flowers to watch out my window, greet me when I get home, and tend to each day!

In other news, Norah's flamingo obsession....er...I mean, interest, continues. These are just a sampling of her portfolio (there have been many other flamingo art sightings in Robinson County. (I'm just holding my breath til she asks for a "Flamingo Costume" for Halloween...wouldn't that be a hat trick?).

And we have one other big project (it is NOT, I repeat, NOT another baby) that I hope to share photos of soon, so stay tuned and maybe I'll update the blog again soon!

Things I Love About Spring...

Spring has sprung in Robinson County, and I would be remiss if I didn't take time to note a few things that I'm loving about this, all too short season. For example: Heart-felt, hand-picked bouquets of flowers...

and sticks...




















and leaves...




















Watching the kids invent ways to swing without being pushed...















And hearing the chorus of "higher, Mommy!" when I do push them.














Seeing precious little girls get all gussied up...














to go to a fancy backyard tea party...
















Pretty flowers outside my front window...




And pretty blooms inside my kitchen windowsill.

It's funny...I used to think these "weed flowers" were so ugly. But when accepted as a "treasure" token of love and genuine thoughtfullness, I have to say they might be one of my favorite flowers in all the world.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Mimi acquired some new plants for Mother's Day, so she invited her budding, green thumb, granddaughter to assist her in transplanting them.

Mimi had gloves on, so Norah insisted on wearing a pair, herself.












One of the blooms fell off of a shrimp plant, resulting in a sullen Norah's exclamation of, "Oh no! Poor little flower, you fell off"














Watering was definitely her favorite part of the day...

My Dirtiest Post Yet

It's been beautiful outside, so I decided to try a little yard work. I've been wanting a cut flower garden in the backyard (so it wont be an eyesore from the street when I cut all the blooms...or if nothing ever grows in it and we're left with a big mud pit). Being the mother of a 1 year-old, I had 2 options: 1)Leave my child inside where I can be certain her finger nails will remain dirt-free (and listen to her pitiful cries brought on by my insensitivity to her love of the great outdoors), or 2)Suck it up and let her come out with me, dirt and all.





As you've probably gathered by the pictures, I went with option 2. I like to call this series of pictures, "Why We Don't Let a 1 Year-Old Garden". Actually, I guess they could also be called, "Why You Should Totally Let Your 1 Year-Old Garden". I mean, look at her. She's having the time of her life in that mud! I'd say a little more than her fingernails got dirty. (And for the record, her clothes came perfectly clean in the wash! Shout rocks!)



The hardest part, by far, of the whole ordeal was getting her clean. I had just cleaned the house spotless the day before (hence my having time to fiddle with gardening). The post-gardening house had a trail of mud-droppings from the backdoor to the bathtub. More dirt rained down from her filthy clothes as I stripped her down for a bath. The water...yeah....pretty well black. We had to drain and start again. But in the end, she was clean. And it was a fun adventure for both of us. Totally worth it.

What a Night!

Tonight was an eventful evening in Robinson County. We spent the good part of 2 hours running between Walmart and Lowes, amassing supplies for our exciting landscaping project.

Jason has been working like a trojan getting our yard ship-shape. We spent Sunday afternoon cutting the lawn, edging, and planting a second tree in the front yard, and chopping wood from a downed tree limb. Tonight's trip to Lowe's yielded bricks for stone retaining walls around both trees. (Jason assembled both walls after we got home, even though it was dark outside! Guess it is a lot cooler to work then than in the heat of the day!)

Well, I'd better wrap up for tonight. Tomorrow is a full day!