Sunday, September 21, 2014

A Collection...

Just a collection of all the bits and bobs happening in these parts!

The pit is almost finished!  The water issues in this space have been plenty.  We are just elated to be close to the finish line. 





We discovered once we started digging that the pipes for drainage under the slab were all broken.  One main pipe was wrapped in siding from our house which would explain some things!!!




We recycled some of the concrete to make the steps and walkway.  This space now connects to the upper area off the kitchen and was reduced in size to be used as a small sitting area.


My wonderful husband wheeled 12 yards of dirt back here to fill in this massive pit the day before my daughter's birthday party.   Do you see all of the new space for plants!?!  



Off the kitchen is where I had some of my veggies. 



Now we have a deck for a table.


Big bean is now 5!


For her party I wanted some color for the center of the table so I filled a vase with water and water balloons.  A fun and bright display!

 Apple picking and baking this weekend.  







Cortland apples


Mom's Apple Crisp...

Cut-6 large apples into small pieces
Mix-with 1/2 cup sugar and one tsp cinnamon
Spread into 9 by 13 glass baking dish

For the crumble
Mix-6 tbs of softened butter with 3/4 cup of flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkle on top of the apples

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes



raspberries are coming in


a happy pot of asters from my mom


I went with simple planters this year for the front porch.  Pumpkins and sticks!  



The simple things are the sweetest things!
Wishing everyone a lovely new week!




60 comments:

  1. The yard looks really very lovely! Great progress!

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  2. Amazing! What an enormous amount of work you guys have been doing. You should be so proud of yourselves :) Love apple orchards. Nothing like a freshly picked apple off the tree is there?

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  3. It looks wonderful Nicole!!!!! You know I know how worrying water issues are and what hard work this is, so I am even more amazed at how much you have achieved. It really does look wonderful!!!!! All that new room for planting, no more water coming in, a new cozy seating area outside hunkered down by the wall and the new area on the deck too!!! What could be better!! Oh yes, those wonderful autumn planters by your front door!!! Stunning!!! Really, I love it all!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxxx

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  4. Everything is looking wonderful. The trees that surround your home are just beautiful. Lovely to see a photo of your and your gorgeous beans. Have a wonderful week xoxo

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  5. Wow - you guys have been busy! Love the new deck - and your pumpkin planters . . . also hoping it's not to late to pick apples when we head up North next month (it's something I've always wanted to do).

    Have a wonderful week ~

    eli

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  6. Things are looking good there, you must be so relived. Happy birthday to your big bean!

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  7. I've been thinking about all things appley for work - trying to re-invent Apple Weekend. Let's just say it's not the highlight of the events calendar as it stands at the moment! Your seasonal porch arrangements look mighty fine xxx

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  8. Love the picture of you and your daughter. How precious. Bet you're excited to be nearly finished with the back redo. Can hardly wait to see the end results!
    Cindy

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  9. Also - landscaping works. huuuuge improvement. Sorting out your drains is a beautiful thing - our back yard has a similar sloping situation to yours. Our builder guys dug 30 some thing tonnes of dirt and rubble to rearrange the steps and retaining wall/planter. Good work guys xxx

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  10. Beautiful porch decoration! I love cortlands, they remind me of my grandad, who used to work at the orchard and always had a delicious apples for us.

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  11. WOW you have been busy at your Home. One thing I have learned about remodeling is you will find things you never thought you would.

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  12. Hi Nicole, What a wonderful job you guys have done with your yard! Cudos to Hubby for all the hard work! I love your Fall decorations.......you really are so creative! xxxx Happy Fall to you and the beans!

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  13. That backyard is looking wonderful. I love the water balloon idea! I would love to do some apple picking right now too. I just need a car to go to it. Hubby's truck is still broke down so he's using my car.

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  14. amazing! your backyard space looks wonderful! so much fall and happiness going on here! have a great week!

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  15. Your yard looks fantastic, Nicole! I'm so excited for you. I know you're going to love that huge planting area. I can't wait to see what you do with it. It looks like you're all having lots of fun lately! I'm glad the work is drawing to an end and you can enjoy yourselves more. Happy birthday to your big girl!

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  16. I guess the silver lining to your water issues are your beautiful deck and new yard area! I love how you used the old concrete it looks awesome, your steps and sitting area are perfect! I am glad you are almost done with the issues that is not fun. I love all the peeks into your life Nicole the way you write your posts is simple and just beautiful. Thanks for sharing all the fun photos, and Happy 5 to your sweet girl!

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  17. Your garden looks fantastic. Glad your sorted out thd water problems x

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  18. So many fun things to comment on:
    . well, the drainage pipes aren't a fun thing, but I am glad you got the work done
    ..the berries and the asters are such pretty colors
    ...love the colorful water balloons
    ....love the apple picking

    It looks like fall is beginning nicely in your area. The only way we know it is fall is that the temps drop quickly about 5:00 p.m.

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  19. The simple things ARE the sweetest! Once again, you've made my morning with your lovely pics. The backyard is awesome - what an undertaking for you guys! The photos of the Beans and YOU made me smile - you always catch just the right moments with them. LOVE the orchard pic with the looming clouds - oh, hell...I love everything here this morning. Happy Monday, my busy friend - hope the week turns out JUST the way you would have it. XOXOXOXOXO

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  20. The new deck looks nice... love the aster pot and the apple crisp looks yum.. love the way you've decorated the front porch.. happy day!

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  21. Wow, you have been busy. You've made a lovely job of all of the changes so far. Happy birthday to your biggest bean, I hope she had a lovely day. Your pumpkins and squashes are fantastic. I picked my squashes today, and I was thinking I must try and grow some more next year. Have a good week Nicole. CJ xx

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  22. Look so neat! All old materials will be so useful on your hand. Such a lovely time with your family, a valuable time. The apple orchard looks so interesting, and the raspberry looks so yummy!
    The aster is so lovely, a nice gift.
    have a wonderful week with your family, friend!

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  23. Hi Nicole,

    I agree with you - the sweetest things are the sweetest.
    Happy birthday to your sweet daughter and loved seeing your beautiful photos.
    What an amazing deck and garden you have created - you have both been so busy - great job.
    Happy week dear friend and many thanks for the kind visit to my blog.
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  24. It's all looking fantastic Nicole! Lovely post. Bx

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  25. Lovely collection of photos! We have plans to go apple picking this weekend as well, happy autumn to you and your family!

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  26. What a wonderful wonderful update! A fantastic looking backyard and garden - a super sweet birthday and autumnal fun!!! Sounds and looks very special Nicole xx

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  27. Nicole, the cosy sitting area near the kitchen is a wonderful idea. You are blessed with a sweet family and it brings me joy to see that too:) Belated greetings to your big girl! xx

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  28. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!!! I love that photo of you and her. What a beautiful mother and daughter pair. Your deck looks fabulous, hope you get to use that space lots before it gets too cold.

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  29. Wow you have been busy - such a lot of work involved but it will be worth it in the end. Did you grow those beautiful pumpkins? They give a lovely autumn feel to your front porch. And the apple picking looks like great fun. Loving the deck too - perfect.

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  30. What a busy lady! : D So many wonderful things going on at your house. I LOVE your pumpkin planters. Happy birthday to your little one.... save some apple crisp for me. YUM!
    Debs ; Dx

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  31. You have done a big job, it is looking great!

    Happy birthday for your daughter!

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  32. How I always love your photos. Really I adore them! The display filled with waterballoons. I adore that! So cute and great for children!

    www.writingmonique.com

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  33. What a job guys !!
    But a beautiful result.
    We are going to apples next week and that is funny because I have the same kind of pics in tractor with my kids with apple trees on the back last year...
    Ohh nature lovers!!!
    Have a great week,
    Miss

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  34. Your back patio is going to be gorgeous. I cannot wait to see the finished product.. I know it has not been easy and has involved some major work.... I know the end result will be so satisfying. I love the water balloon centerpiece.. I had a huge bag of apples give to me from a friend.. I made cast iron skillet apple pie.. it was delicious.. the crisp looks great too. Have a great week. Blessings!

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  35. Yay! Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! :)

    Nicole, everything is coming together very nicely in your backyard! Once everything is done and you wield your magic green thumb (hands), that backyard will be a stunning oasis. :D

    I have not had breakfast yet, so that apple crisp looks extra delicious. ;P

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  36. Wow, what a gigantic and enormous job you guys did, and it looks great! I'm so impressed! We are about to put in a new back patio but we took the easy way and hired a contractor. I have fond memories of apple picking from when our kids were small.

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  37. Very nice. The apple crisp looks very tasty !

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  38. oh, wow--your backyard is looking AMAZING! What a great space that's going to be....I bet you'll never want to come inside :). And happy birthday to your big girl!

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  39. Your daughter is so sweet; happy birthday!
    We live near an apple orchard in north GA and we love the honey crisp apples.
    Your apple crisp looks so tasty!

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  40. Wow you worked hard this summer. Your yard looks amazing. Yeah for hubbies who are willing to fill wheelbarrows full of dirt. Namaste. Beckie

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  41. Apple picking and baking sound wonderful!

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  42. Love how your backyard is coming along! The water should drain better now. What a disappointment to find the drain tile is such a shape. The deck, walkway and new garden area all look great!! Your hubby is so wonderful to do all that work. Sounds like a keeper to me!! Looks like you all had a great day at the apple orchard! Great memories!! Bet the crisp was extra good using fresh personally picked apples!! Have a great week, my friend. I'll post something if I ever get caught up with all of my projects. :)

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  43. Apple picking is a wonderful activity with kids!and I love apple crumble! I wil try it!
    www.mygenerouslife.blogspot.com

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  44. Nicole, I almost missed this wonderful post. I enjoyed reading about the transformation of your garden, the new deck is beautiful and the new planting space gives so many perspectives. A belated happy birthday to your daughter bean. Love the pictures of the beans apple eating in the orchard and the apple crisp must be delicious.
    Wish you a lovely day far away across the ocean.

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  45. Happy birthday to the oldest little bean! 5 years old already!The backyard renovations are coming along nicely. The deck is just terrific. I must do some apple picking as well. There are a number of farms literally just down the road, so I have no excuse not to take advantage. Love the combination of pumpkins and sticks- a nice reminder to dig out a few of my own decorations.

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  46. I love how transformed the space is! Isn't it crazy the things you discover when remodeling? I bet your head is swimming with ideas for that space now.

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  47. Happy birthday to your bean!! Love the water balloon centrepiece idea. Your outdoor space is looking fabulous. Such a pity you weren't able to enjoy it all through summer.

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  48. Loving these little glimpses into your space as it transforms. And a Happy 5th Birthday to your bean! Looks like she had one sweet celebration and that pic of the two of you is just precious! Hope you're having a marvelous week Nicole!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  49. Your family is sooooo gorgeous, each and every one of you. Love the back porch, and wooden deck, the apples and a glimpse into your beautiful life.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  50. Exciting!!! We have talked to a few companies to redo our garden (cus we are just not handy that way) AND Happy birthday to big bean!

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  51. I agree Nicole, the simplest things are the sweetest, especially when little beans are involved!
    Happy Birthday to your biggest bean - FIVE is a big birthday!!!!
    The landscaping is amazing and your new deck anchors it all - decks and summer go together!
    We've had drainage issues too - we have some people coming next week to sort it!
    I've added a vibrant bluey/purple aster to my list now!
    Enjoy your weekend and your little beans!
    Hugs
    Shane x

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  52. What a creative momma you are!! What amazing projects, adventure, and activities going on in your days! The simplest things are the sweetest, I agree!

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  53. Your new space looks perfect! UGH...we had a drainage issue like that at our old house! I really need to go apple picking. Our trees produced very little apples this year! Happy 5th Birthday to your bean!!!

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  54. That apple crisp looks so tasty! I just love fall! Your pumpkin/urn display by the door is perfect. Your plants are very full as well! Where do you purchase your plants from? Or do you do seed?

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  55. Oh my gosh, the patio area is going to be SO cool now! How exciting to have all that new planting area! And the deck is awesome, too. I'm so glad you guys were finally able to get all that taken care of. How nice to not have to stress about it anymore.
    Apple crisp is one of my faves and that looks deeeelicous. Happy birthday to the Bean!

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  56. Nic! Everything is coming along so beautifully! I am so very excited to see how things develop more. I adore the pic of you and your daughter up there. Apple picking sounds just lovely. I will make your Mom's apple crisp. Delish! Happy Belated Bday to your darling bean! xoxo Jen

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  57. Oh my Nicole, you guys have worked so hard, everything looks like it's shaping up nicely!!! So much space for your plants and lovely outside seating areas! That colourful centerpiece is just darling and your Mom's apple crisp sounds delicious! Your kids are so cute, I love the picture of you and your bean sniffing your scarf! xxx

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  58. Hi, wow you're working hard on your garden, it looks great. Also I plan to have a go at your apple crisp, which we call crumble over here, I think my boys might like it :-)

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  59. So now you have a deck and a new planting area? Very cool!! The crisp looks delish. :) Very clever, creative centerpiece. :)

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