A New Entrance to the Backyard

 

We have recently redone both sides of the backyard.  Last week I showed the arbor we put in HERE.  This project is where we added a path, DIY curbing and a new planter.  Now we have the entrance to the backyard that we always wanted!

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is in March. 

After we added the arbor, we tore out about a third of the grass.

 

 

I wanted to keep the grass here so I could get the mower to the backyard.  Well, setting pavers is a lot of work.  Setting pavers in cutouts of grass is a TON of work!!  My back and hips are just now getting back to feeling normal...

We added the forms to make our own curbing.  I called around and the minimum charge for curbing was $275.  Since we only needed 20 feet, we decided it wouldn't be worth almost $15 a foot to have someone come out.  Instead, we bought boards and concrete mix and did it ourselves for $24.  And I think it looks just like the professional curbing!

 

We left the forms on for 24 hours.

 

We then added a couple of new sprinklers to the planter.

 

 

 

And lots of flowers--Rose of Sharon, Peony (already blooming!), Cosmos, Daisies, Lamb's Ear, etc. and of course a birdhouse!

 

 

 

It shouldn't take too long for the grass seed to fill in the empty spaces. 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

Pam



 



I am linking to the following parties:

Elizabeth and Company

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House 

My New Camera and a Giveaway!

For the past year or so, I've worked a ton of hours at work.  (You can probably tell since my blog posts are not as frequent anymore!)  Recently, I had to either use or lose vacation hours.  My company has an option to sell vacation time.  I sold a week, and instead of that money just going in the general fund of 'what did we spend that on?', I bought a nice camera.  I'd been thinking about getting one for quite some time, but was a little afraid of being a beginner with a big camera that I didn't know how to operate.  I ended up with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i.  It came with a couple of lenses, some accessories and a great manual.  I read through it and got started.  OMG!  Now I know what I'd been missing all those years!  Such clarity in my pictures that I'd never had before. 

 

A beautiful hummingbird coming to eat.

 

 

This pesky wasp was really annoying the hummingbird!

 

I think it's almost time for this baby to learn to fly!

 

Right outside my front door one night.  We have the most incredible sunsets here!

 

 

 

I love taking pictures of my flowers too!

 

 

Now onto the GIVEAWAY!

 

The folks at Easy Canvas Prints gave me a 16x20 Canvas Print to create and review.  And they're giving one lucky reader a free 16x20 Canvas too!

 

Here's the picture I started with.  I went to their website, downloaded my picture, went through the options and I was done!  I received an email as soon as my print was on the way.  All of it was so easy! 

 

 

 

 

I originally put it in this frame and hung it.  I loved it!!  (until....)

 

 

 

Until I had it made into a Canvas Print!  It is stunning!

 

 I love that you have the option to get the print to continue on the sides. 

 

 

 

 

How can you win an Easy Canvas Print?

 

 

• You must be a follower of my blog
• Leave a comment telling me what type of picture you'd make into an Easy Canvas Print  (one entry per person please)
• And that's it!  I'll be picking a winner on Friday, August 29, 2014 using Random Number Generator 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!  And Good Luck in the Giveaway!

 

Pam

  

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

 

 

 

This Way to My Garden

Last weekend I went to one of my favorite Antique Shows--Fleattitude Vintage Market.  It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it in my book.  (I did find out that in November, they'll be moving the show about 30 miles closer to me)  Woohoo!

 

I found some great things!  And, the usual happened--I found and found and found until I ran out of the money I came with, so it was time to go home.

 

My favorite find of all is this garden sign. 

 I originally tried it in another spot, but my son suggested that it really should point to my garden.  I love it here as it's right near the kitchen too, so I get to see it even more!

 

 

Well, I guess we should take a tour of the garden!

 

Here's my view from my kitchen window.  Five years of work and things are just how I want them!

 

We built our pond four years ago. 

 

 



We get several families a year in the big birdhouse.



 

 

 

These wave petunias and salvia love the sun on the front porch.

 





Here's the front yard.  Lavender, Butterfly Bush, Coneflowers and Daylilies.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!  

 

What new things have you found lately?

 

Pam

 

 

 



I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

 

 

Peony in Bloom for Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day! 

 

I'm very excited that my Tree Peony is in bloom on Mother's Day.  My Mom's favorite flowers were peonies and I know she would've LOVED this one!

 

 

The blooms are huge!  And so beautiful!

 

 

It blooms several weeks before any of my perennial peonies.  That way I have weeks and weeks to enjoy these beauties!

 

There are six blooms here.  Today, I noticed that a seventh flower has opened. 

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

I hope you all have a special Mother's Day!

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

 



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  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

Mom Had Some Talent!

My Mom used to spend every evening doing some sort of craft making.  She made beautiful crocheted afghans that we all treasure.  But I think her biggest talent was in counted cross-stitch.  She made SO many pieces, it was astounding!  Luckily, I was a fortunate recipient of several of her creations!

 

 

A couple of these were from kits that I purchased and asked her to complete, but most were just from reading a pattern on a piece of paper.  The patience required for this type of handi-work is amazing to me!

My favorite pillow!



This calendar has hung in our house for many, many years.  It's definitely one of my favorites!

 

(Please excuse the flash in some my pictures.)

 

Birdhouses (of course!)

 

 

 

We had pigs while growing up.  This Hampshire reminds me of one of our favorite pigs, Lucy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Birds and Gardens.  Perfect!

 

 

 

 



 

I love Americana!

 

 

 

This one was a very special gift to my daughter.  My Mom's good friend, Jan Jameson, is the artist of this picture and a couple of others above.  She made her artwork into cross-stitch patterns.  What a great keepsake.

 

 

It definitely makes me happy to have her amazing creations all over my house.

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

That DIY Party