reflecting...

I forgot how much I love November.  The air has turned cold and the skies are that deep gray that only autumn can share.  The nights come quickly as we get ready for dinner.  One of the best parts of my day is sitting and eating as a family.  The baking has been steady as birthday treats and school snacks are to be made.  I now have time to reflect on how wonderful October was.  The seeds I planted in my Pop's garden produced some amazing pumpkins in the pumpkin patch.  The beans had fun going to Gram and Gramps' house to choose their pumpkins for carving.  The firetruck cake that I was nervous to make came out just fine and my son was proud of it.  Little art projects for the season have been filling up the walls and my beans are all one year older.  That little fairy up there won't be so little next year so I hug and carry her extra tight right now.

Happy November Friends

thinking ahead...garden solutions 2015

When we finished the deck last month we were left with a gap between the house and the deck.  We left a space because we have a window well there and we did not want to cover it up.

There are several design dilemmas when looking at this space.  The first is the drop off when walking out the door.  Though the drop is only about 10 inches I want to place a planter there for safety and visual interest.  The container will not only act as a boundary but will be a great location for kitchen herbs.


The next dilemma is what to plant here.  Being a gardener who lives on a city plot I don't want to waste any space.  Looking at this little area we have about 3 feet between the deck and the house.  Here are the options I thought would work for the space....

1.   Climbing roses (first choice)
2.   Tall perennials...this could be a fun mosaic of wild in a contained area
3.   Flowering shrubs
4.   My tomato plants...which don't do anything for winter interest



Here is where we are now...

This is where I could take it with a trellis to create height against the house...

There will be some space left under the window for plantings if I go ahead with the trellis.

Jennifer from Three Dogs in a Garden wrote about Rosa "Jasmina" which I thought would make a nice specimen.  I like that it is disease resistant while also having great size and form.

Rosa 'Jasmina': A climbing rose with long-lasting pastel pink roses that deepen to mauve in the centre.  This rose has disease resistant foliage and can reach a height of around 8'.

This winter I hope to target most of the areas in my garden to give myself a head start before spring. 

 What would you vote to plant in this little space???

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing Friends!!!

Here is to a wonderful November!

breathing in fall....

It has been a slow moving fall around here.  My main focus has been to take it easy.  I've been working on making my health my main priority besides my family.   Eating good food, getting extra rest, and running.  

We have had a lovely time visiting one of my favorite fall places to take in the scenery.  I must say that this year has been one of the most spectacular years for fall color in these parts!  The grounds are full of history and charm at the old equestrian farm.   Our family celebrations have been endless but oh so wonderful just to have everyone together.  My new favorite tablecloth for parties is brown craft paper.  Just throw it down with some fun notes about the birthday bean and presto!  You have yourself a table!  The garden is getting cleaned up as bulbs are going into beds and containers.  Always being covered with chicken wire of course, to keep my outdoor friends away!    I have done some thrifting.  I found that tray up there for 10 dollars at an antique shop.  Covered with birds and a pretty gold finish it is perfect for a little fall display.

All and all life is good!  I'm glad I took the break but I'm happy to be back here in my little space to catch up with all of you!

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing Friends!

be back soon.....

Hey friends!  Just wanted to let you know that I will be taking a little break from my space here. I will be back soon to check in with all of you!  Wishing each and every one of you an inspiring month ahead!   

Keep on keeping on!!!!

a digging fool....

I've been a digging fool over in these parts.  I'm not sure if it's the cold air setting in (yep there were officially snowflakes falling here this morning!)  that puts me into overdrive or the fact that I have so many ideas that the work just has to get done!  It has taught me that I'm no spring chicken anymore that's for sure.

After construction we were left with piles of leftover boards and bricks from the old patio.  Extra sand and stones laid all over the yard and my priority was to REPURPOSE, REPURPOSE, REPURPOSE!!!  

Our old railroad ties were used to rim our new bonfire pit area and we used leftover stones to fill the space.

Here is where we would like to take this area minus the lake (which would be nice right?!?)....

{Via-Thom Filicia} 

The lower patio is done!  And I finished the little path with pieces of old concrete and edged the path with leftover stone.

I left spaces in-between for our growing stone collection.  We collect stones from all the places we visit as a family.  I thought this area would be the perfect place to display them.

 I wanted some space for my veggies so I used more of the leftover stone to create two veggie plots for the spring.  The next step is to get some average sized shrubs in along the back of the patio wall so my beans don't go walking on that ledge.  I transplanted some shrubs to define the space and look forward to filling this area in with perennials, vegetables, and grasses in the spring.  To be honest with you I don't plant anything but shrubs and bulbs in the fall as our crazy squirrels can smell freshly moved perennials in my garden and they go right there to dig them up!

More bricks were used to create a stoop by the garden gate and I still have a huge pile of old bricks to create a walkway/sitting area by the shed.

Beyond the garden it has been all about cozying up with my little people to take in the magic of fall.  Art room play, trips to farms, and walks about...

One of my favorite things about my beans is that they like to collect blooms to show me!  It melts my heart and makes everything worth it!  

Happy Making, Baking, and Growing Friends!

I hope you are enjoying the season wherever you live!