Hooray for Spring!

I've spent the last couple of days, while at work on the ambulance....and not running emergency calls....trying to teach myself a little more about blogging.  I must say, I can easily confuse myself!  *LOL*  I have managed to add a few things, added the blogs I am following, added the links to my other internet sites, posted a picture and a link to the to new "A Primitive Place" Magazine that will be published in August, and few other small things.  I was finally able to customize the appearance of my blog to be cute and "Primmed"....Thanks to a template from Tammy at Twin Creek Primitives.  I didn't have to have refresh my HTML skills...I was able to follow Tammy's simple instructions and viola!....I love the new look....and found the perfect picture for now.  The picture is one I snapped a few years back at a friend's barn.  He thought I was nuts taking pictures of his rusty junk, but I love the pics.  I just wish I could talk him out of the actual wheels themselves!  ;)  If you have been looking for an easy way to update the appearance of your blog be sure to check out Tammy's graphics.

My goal for this week was to finish the revamping of my flower beds, but  finishing that goal will have to be postponed.  We've had several rain storms with some pretty severe weather, but nothing damaging in our area, thank God.  I'm not complaining, as we really needed the rain for the garden and the flowers....so I'll just rearrange the schedule of my goal list.  Here are some pictures of the shape my flower beds had gotten into, after a lot of neglect last summer, along with some after pictures to show what we've done so far.  We aren't finished yet, but should be if we have just a couple of days of pretty weather, without other "life distractions".

Front Yard Before

Front Yard After (Sorry for the glare)

Large Watergarden Before

 

Large Watergarden After (ignore the pool ladder in the background...didn't realize that the wind had blown it back there until I was proofing!)

Fireplace Bed Before

Fireplace Bed After (we still need to complete the area in front of the steps....we won't leave it like this!)

Small Watergarden Before

 

Small Watergarden After

We still have more work to do....not quite finished with these areas, and then we are going to do narrow beds with landscape timbers the full length of the east and west sides of the house...but that will be a "piece of cake" after reworking all this.  I'll post more pics as we get more finished next week, hopefully!

I'll share a few more shots of some of the front yard below: 

A shot of the small watergarden with the fall running.

My water Iris are such delicate flowers.  Beautiful, and the humming birds love them!

I need to do more in this area to add some color and some height.

 

A couple of shots of the Wave Petunias in old tubs, I am looking forward to the time when they grow and "wave" over the edges with their cascades of bright blooms.  I was going to use the flat stones to make a path through the flower garden, but I think I like the look around the tubs better....and a LOT less work!  :)

Here's a little encouragement for those blooms to grow! :)

A couple more shots of the large waterfall.  I am going to be spending some time trying to get the water cleared of the algae that has built up so that I can actually enjoy watching my fish.  I have some Koi and some LARGE gold fish, but I haven't been able to get clear water the last couple of years.  I've tried the "natural" rememdies, so I guess I will resort to the "fish/plant safe" algaecide in the very near future.  If anyone knows of a good product let me know.

While we've been slaving away in our yard, a friend of mine has been working hard in her's too.  She shares my love of flowers and the primitive style.  She sent me some pics, and graciously gave me permission to share them with all you here on my blog.  Don't you just LOVE what she's done? 

She's also promised to send me more pictures this summer when she has everything planted and the flowers have filled in.  It will be stunning to say the least.  I plan to "steal" her idea with the birdhouses to give some height to a couple of areas in my yard.  I think I will also try something with the standing landscape timbers to create an archway of sorts to plant my Carolina Jessamine on.  I'll be sure and post pictures when I get it finished and let you know how I did it, and whether it was easy enough to recommend.

This has definately become more lengthy than I'd planned, but I just had to share.  I'm so proud of how it is looking, and I wanted to let you all know why I haven't yet posted more about my Primitive crafting adventures.  Those things have been put on hold to work outside.  Keep checking in, though.  We are getting ready to make some major changes in the family room and kitchen that will involve a lot of Primitive changes!  In fact....look for a post in the very near future asking for some ideas/suggestions about a couple things that I'm still undecided on.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend...full of sunshine...and avoiding storms!

{{{{HUGS}}}}