Monday, July 14, 2008

Blessings

Remember the Bing Crosby tune about counting blessings instead of sheep? That's what I was doing last night. I just wasn't tired, and it took me a long time to fall asleep. It was cool enough to sleep with the windows open, and the frogs and crickets were in full voice! If I fall asleep before they get started, I have no problems, but last night the little creatures beat me to the punch!

Dave spent most of his vacation week working in the garden. He said he needs another week to finish up, but since gardens, yardwork, and housework are always works in progress, I'm pretty sure he just meant that he didn't accomplish all he wanted! This picture is of my favorite little flower bed. I can see it from my computer/sewing room. There's a honeysuckle vine climbing up the pole... the yellow and white kind that smells so heavenly! Dave's pink oleander tree is in its third season, and the trellis he built will soon have mandevilla climbing to the top. I have several bird baths in the yard, but this one is the favorite. I've seen robins, finches, and cardinals in it so far this year. See all those beautiful rocks? About 15 years ago, Dave made deliveries in southern Indiana, and there was a farmer who had piles of rocks. Dave asked the florist about the rocks... the florist knew the farmer... the farmer wanted the rocks gone... and Dave collected rocks for the entire summer! The girls would groan every Wednesday (or was it Thursday... maybe Tuesday) because they knew we would be unloading rocks at the end of the day! But, we have rocks accenting all of our garden areas, and all they cost us was some time and labor.


Here's my resident gardener resting for a moment. When we first moved to the farm 26 years ago, there were no trees. A man stopped by one day and asked if we would like to trade vegetable plants for trees. We said yes, and expected to receive maybe three trees. After all, trees last a lot longer than vegetables! Jake gave us 44 white pines... enough to plant a wind screen on the north and west sides of our little trailer. Some have died out, and Dave's cut off a lot of dead lower branches, but is was the beginning of our landscaping project.


When we first moved to the farm, the only sounds we heard came from the semis and cars passing by. It was very lonely. But now, thanks to my wonderful husband and his love of gardening, we hear frogs, crickets, birds, and the sounds of water from the pond/waterfall in the front yard. I can sit on my front porch swing and read or do handwork and enjoy all this beauty... until the mosquitoes attack!

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post Diane. A great glimpse into you little "Garden of Eden." When I click on the pictures, the detail is great. Your Dave has done a great job. You forgot the hostas under the trees! I can just see you sitting on that front porch tatting and wish I was there to enjoy it with you. Thank you for sharing so much of your world, and yourself, with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your right, Laura! I did forget the hostas, and we have tons of them! I'll try taking some pictures of my favorites for another post. Maybe some day soon we'll be able to spend some time tatting together!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, more pictures please! Humm, does your mother have a front porch?

    ReplyDelete
  4. No, but she has a beautiful air-conditioned sun room! ; ) I don't do heat very well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That works for me as I don't do heat at all!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, your favorite flower bed is just beautiful...I love the little arbor in the background. It looks like a little garden gate. Mandevilla is one of my favorite flowers. It will look beautiful climbing over the trellis. I hope you will treat us to a picture of it when they bloom.
    It sounds like you got the better end of the deal with that trade and 44 white pines! What a beautiful little grove you have now. How lucky to have a hubby who loves gardening so much. You really scored with him...LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a beautiful garden! I am a big rock "junkie"! Seeing your lush lawn and garden makes me long for the south/midwest. Lawns are hard to maintain here in the high desert :) Thank you for sharing your blessing with us--we should all count our blessing more often.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely photos, lovely garden, looks idyllic, all those fields. I spotted the Hostas too, just like ours but not a slug in sight on yours.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Diane, this looks like a paradise! Lucky you! Your hubby sounds fantastic. Someday I hope to have a little "paradise patch" of my own. What a fun post to read!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh it looks and sounds like a little Paradise.

    ReplyDelete

Just like you, I love getting feedback!