Shade Garden

Last summers shade garden was really pretty. I worked all day today in the garden
and took a different direction with the shade garden. Lots of fushias and impatients were added today. One of those funny Spring days with rain while the sun was out. While I get the vegetables and summer annuals planted, I'm all the time
thinking about the Red Barn garden. First step will be to get precious son out there
to roundup the existing grass. I took an organic gardening class last Saturday and the woman who lead the class gave me the okay to use roundup for the first step. For the record, I used organic feed on all the fruit trees today with a big dose of mulch! Hopefully, I'll become completely organic in the garden. A very good goal!

Garden Possibilities

Oh the new
garden space...

The horse pasture fence had to come down for much needed repairs.
So, it just took two or three conversations to move it in a bit.
Now there is more room for another garden right by the old red barn.
There is much to think about as far as what type of garden to put in.

Sleepy Papa and Grandbaby

After a wonderful, sunny day, Papa and Grandbaby fell sound asleep.
Such a lovely sight....

Paint by Number

Is it possible to do a paint by number and have it actually turn out like the picture? I have always wanted to buy old paint by number pictures to hang out
in the garden room. They are sort of cool in a not so cool way! Anyway, I figured
why not do one myself? So, I'll let you know how it turns out. Just maybe it will hang in the garden room someday.

Three Pretty Girls

Here are my three pretty girls. I love them so much. Tomorrow I'm heading to
San Francisco with 5 friends. Six girls, 3 hotel rooms, shopping and dinner out.
It sounds just perfect.

A Garden Angel

Life Outside My Door

After a very difficult morning, I decided to stop and look at life outside my door..
It is beautiful and I am blessed.

Water Bottles from England

Last summer we went to West Sussex, England. Every estate, garden or manor you visit has their own water bottle label. It seemed silly at the time to put empty water bottles in my suitcase, but I am so happy that I did. They look so sweet with a daisy or rose in them. I am hoping to get a few more for my collection this summer when we return to England. We will be able to spend a couple of days in Paris as well. I have never been there and quite frankly can't wait. I wonder if they have glass water bottles there.......

Springtime

Today was spent in the garden! What joy..... okay, so I did plant a few things. It is just too hard to wait. Two new roses joined the rose garden. They are "Topsy Turvy" and "Take it Easy". Both pink and really pretty.
I fed most of the other 100 plus roses. Tomorrow I'll get some more rose
food. It was such a lovely day outside that we decided to eat our dinner on the patio. Darling husband and I took a walk through the vineyards and peach orchards after dinner. Holding hands and watching the sunset was a perfect way to end a very pleasant day. I am hoping to get back out there for a couple more hours tomorrow. But, in the meantime,
there is always garden dreaming.

A country home just isn't complete without a couple of dogs. Here is one of our three during a much needed rest. Of course, three hunting dogs on a property that houses chickens often proves to be an interesting combination.

Spring is coming! My daughter and I pulled out the Easter decoration boxes last night. We found this bunny hat that was a part of her first Halloween outfit. Grandbaby looks adorable
in it. It is cold and windy here today. The temptation to buy flowers is so strong this time of year. It is still too early here in the Central Valley. In a couple of weeks, all bets are off! I am
so ready to get my hands in the soil again. The peach trees are in bloom behind our property. Their pink blossoms remind me that planting time is very near. All of the borders are weeded and ready. This is one of the best times of the year here. Garden magazines are arriving by the number and ideas keep me up at night. I can "mind garden" for hours. It will have to due for
just a few more weeks.

Today is my first blog posting. I am excited to start a journal of my families life here in Hughson, California. My husband and I live in the country in a very small Central Valley farming town.

We share our home with our son who is a freshman in college. Our daughter and her husband live in the house next door on our property. My first grandchild has just joined our lives, this is a journal for her.