Garden/Yard overload

So, my friend-boss or boss-friend...I don't know? Anyways, he wanted pictures of my yard. Figured it had been a while since I've updated the blog so here it is for all to see. And BTW-this is only the beginning. Wait until all of my Hostas are up and the sun perennial garden is in bloom. Total overload. But in the mean time, here's the earliest of them all.

Go get your hands dirty! =)

six feet tall

So, photinia can, and is suppose to grow 25' tall. Hence, making it a perfect screen from the world. So, 2 times a year Evan and I don the task of taming the wild beast. I decided a few years ago that 6' is the perfect height. Guess how tall my kid is? That's right! Didn't he do a great job? He's cheap labor too. Know how much it cost me? One large peach mango Crystal Light Slurpee...sucker! Just kidding =)

Trees & Treehouses

I finally got around to pruning the pear tree that always reaches out and smacks me in the head when I mow the lawn. It turned out mighty fine.

This tree, on the other hand, needs a professional's help. I prune the best I can, but it's a monster. I do love this time of the year though when the leaves are just opening up enough and you can still see the beloved tree house Uncle Dan made for Evan 8 years ago.

This is the clematis picture that should have been down in an earlier post. This is in front of the "toy outbuilding". The bench is situated so you can watch the monkeys on the trampoline.

Silly bulbs

I'm not really a fan of bulbs-when they're done you're left with a foliage mess and planting around them is difficult. But, the color spot is nice in the spring when you're standing at the kitchen window washing dishes. Here's the wide shot. There is a red twig dogwood that is just sprouting it's leaves behind all the bulbs, so it fills in that spot.

I love the little babies-I'm not sure what they are called, hmm...

Perennials, shrubs and pathways

I used to love a lush overflowing look to my gardens...but, once again, my tastes have changed. Now I like a specimen to pop and not be crowded. Like this 'purple passion' heucera.

Now to totally contradict what I just said. There are always a few exceptions to the rules, right? Here are wild violets surrounding a hardy cyclamen with a semisefuga in the upper right hand corner. The sefuga blooms these spikes (in the summer) that look like cotton tufts and smells like grape kool-aid.

This is the little native spot. Trillium in the back, bleeding heart to the right, (which hasn't bloomed it's pink flowes yet), annenome and a non-native lungs wart on the bottom. I love this because it's one of the first spots of color in late winter.

This is the shrub that Tim can name...it was a joke for a while because I would quiz him every time we would walk by it. 'Pierris Japonica' I love the new growth on the variegated leaves.

So proud. My 2 pathways made with my own 2 hands...it'll never get old seeing them. My favorite is the cobble stone one veering to the upper left. I just flashed back to the flagstone backache. They are really heavy and I was impatient and couldn't wait for help so I leveled them and put them in alone...and what happened? That's right, the second time in my life I threw out my back...the horror!

Spring garden

I can't believe how huge the flowering currant is this year-I love how the sun beams are shining through the top. So pretty. I got this from my dad-in-law bare root many years ago.

This clematis really gave me a hard time it's first 2 years. Now, it's kind of hard to see because of the shadow, but the top is loaded with new growth. I will take more pictures later in the season once it blooms.

This is a neat little specimen-'Korean Spice' Verbascum. I got this from my grandma's garden 3 years ago and it loves it's new home. I have it planted to the right of my garden outbuilding, so when it's in bloom I get to take in the most unbelievable fragrance. It sets it's buds in round rose colored clusters and opens to white looking snowballs. This is also surrounded by a pale blue carpet phlox a hot pink spirea, royal blue delphinium , native bleeding heart and a quaint fern. Another area that emerges later in the season.

Here's the first flowers popping open. Please ignore the dorky curtains. They are 10 years old-I just bought a very neutral fabric to make new ones...funny how styles change over the years.

Happy B-Day Ethan & Abigail

We also celebrated 2 cousins special day on Easter. Abby's birthday was last week (she's 8) and Ethan's birthday fell right on Easter this year (he's 10).

Abby posing with her Webkin that Lila picked out for her.

Two pretty girls, growing up so fast. I sure appreciate each day . You never know what tomorrow is going to bring. God is so good!

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Miller's

Auntie Holly and Evan work the camera. Great picture Auntie Holly!



Uncle D. with the girls, ready for the candy hunt. Thank you Uncle D. for all the plastic eggs filled with candy!

Lila looking high and low...and what do ya know? Treats filled the basket to the top...there ya go!

Cousin Cole watching Lila devour her bunny's ears. Cole did a good job chowin' down on his candy duck, too!

It's always such a good time in DuPont.

Sleepy Easter

Lila was waiting so patiently for her brother. She woke up before 7 am, ugh...She's such a good girl-she didn't even touch her basket for 2 hours. She wanted to wait for him to wake up so they could do it together.

Oh, my...could that boy look any more tired?

Showin' off the loot. Then off to church and Grandma and Grandpa's.

PEEPCAKES

So, I had a vision and my vision came to life...welcome, if you will, my PEEPCAKES:



Plates made for friends.

Happy Easter...HE IS RISEN!!!

Then there was THIS Saturday

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! I love that we all have red kissed cheeks and a skip in our step. Spring is the best! Ah, the royalty in their daffodilly yellow gowns-so pretty.

Nothing but smiles. And so proud to have these flowers displayed on top of our piano. She calls them daffodillies-I haven't corrected her cuz it's so darn cute.

We had to pick more from our yard with some Hyacinths as well.

Beating to her own drummer =)

I love the train station in the background. Such a great shot.

Daddy and his Gracie Goulay. Boy, she sure looks grown up here. Time keeps on tickin', doesn't it?

Scrub, scrub!

Daddy's best helper! What a beautiful weekend...with more great outdoor activities to come. Stay tuned =)

A tale of 2 Saturdays.....

Last Saturday, Lila Grace and her Dad went to the Jr. Daffodil parade. It was very wet and cold.

Even Starbucks hot cocoa was not enough to help keep us there the whole parade.

Thank goodness for Teaching Toys-a place to duck in and get out of the cold.

Poor Ichi =(

Ichiro to start the season on the disabled list with bleeding ulcer

Me and my little sister

My sister's birthday was a month ago...we're behind in this family. We had her and her 2 boys over for dinner last night.Lila giving her a present...and a very sweet homemade card.

Trevor dominating the Wii game that they brought over.

We had scalloped potatoes with ham for dinner (this really great healthy living recipe from Kraft Kitchens that I love), the kids gobbled it up, but they were thrilled with dessert.

Really? When I bake I don't get the kind of response I did. They were jumping up and down when I brought out the floats. It was funny watching them chew their licorice straws, since they became rock hard next to the ice cream.
I'm so happy we spent the evening together. Just us. No chaoticness of having to "entertain". It was a nice relaxing evening with my sister that I don't see nearly enough. I love you Beki! I am so proud of you and how good your kids are. Looking pass the cologne situation, lol =)

Literally speaking

There was no little kid church Wednesday so Tim, Lila and I went out to dinner. After sitting down, Lila had a look of sheer terror on her face, almost to the point of not being able to speak. I asked her what was the matter and she pointed to the menu...


Baby back ribs.

Poor thing, I thought she was going to cry. All she could say was a very soft "ew".

Of course she was upset, why in the world would they have baby on the menu!