Around the Yard

 It seems like time is flying and I haven't been very good at keeping up with my blog or my blog buddies. I miss visiting and hope to catch up with you all soon.

 I've been enjoying the beautiful Alabama weather and working on projects in the yard.

 This crazy garden has got me scratching my head. I'm not quite sure what to do with it but just so you know, this is the better side!

 We moved the picnic table. It really  needs a cleaning and maybe paint or something.

 A new Elephant Ear. Lots of water is needed to keep them happy.

 Flower pot 2011.

 Through the shadows.

 You know I really could have moved the stick!

 Got the old Coal Hod planted up!

 The Oakleaf is such a beauty!

 Ok you'll have to let me know what you think about this. This is Morgan's little girl table and chairs that she has outgrown. We thought about selling it, until I remembered I've been thinking about having some kind of shelving outside the back door. Now maybe just a little rustic looking paint and a few more items? Best part, FREE!

Hope you all had a wonderful and thankful Memorial Day.

My Irish Eyes are Smiling

 My daughter Rachel and her bo, Mike just got back from over a week in Ireland where they saw the most beautiful sights and met our Irish family for the first time!

Welcome home!! I just can't wait to see photos and hear all about your trip!

 

Rachel and Mike took these pictures of each other with Rachel's new G12 we picked out before she left.

I think they are just great!

Flowers of Mother's Day



Morgan's Flamingo boots recycled.





New stones heading to the shed.





Oak Leaf Hydrangea




Peacock Moss

Looking Up

Hoping your skies are full of wonder today.

ABCD with Thoughts and Prayers

 Many of you know about, and some of my good friends have experienced some of the, possibly the worst, storms in the history of the south. My family was extremely fortunate to have made it through the devastation without damage. My mom's town of Guntersville had a huge hit but she was safe in her little apartment.

We here on the mountain heard "the train" and saw debris fly over the house...well, I was actually in the tub with Morgan and Daisy Lu, but my husband saw debris fly over the house when he told us to take cover. We got our power and water on the 4th day after the storms. There are many without power, water, homes. Many have lost loved ones. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who's lives have been sidetracked and our big THANK YOU goes out to all those who have stepped up to help in many ways.
THANK YOU!!!
I wanted to join my friend Gary at USA Tour on a Harley Davidson with his ABCD (a bloggers centerline day) Challenge. As you can see below the weather today doesn't look very nice. I am somewhere in that red dot and am not sure I want to venture too far from home. So I decided to find a centerline very close to home...

My driveway!

I thought this would be a fairly easy task but deciding I would do this on my own it became a challenge. Especially when Daisy Lu came to help. My timer on the camera was set for 10 seconds and it was quite a hike. I wanted to get a little bit of storm debris there in the foreground.

I thought wearing my Harley cap would help.

Ok now Daisy...no one needs to see THAT!!

Come on girl!!

She was not thrilled to be in the shot at all. But I had to laugh the whole time!

Well for what it's worth, here is my set up for the photos. A little upside down flower pot to hold the camera. Running out to the bike was such a joy!

And of course I had to add an artsy photo for all my gardening pals!



Gary you made my day!



Yesterdays Birds

 It's a crazy time here in the woods. There are so many migrants and summer birds showing up I don't know which way to look!

Most are so high up in the trees or move so fast it's hard to photograph, but blurry photos or not, I can't resist posting.



Palm Warbler



Summer Tanager



Mamma Eastern Bluebird (there's 5 little ones in the box)



Chipping Sparrow

 

Black and White Warbler (female)

 

My sweet little Tufty

 

And a very mouthy Yellow-rumped Warbler



What a noisy place it's been around here lately!!



Gardening at its Finest

 Last year I met LaRue in Scottsboro, just off the mountain along the river. She has run her husband John's nursery since his passing in 2000. John had a vision, he made it real and he lives on through is wife's loving care of this spectacular property. She is amazing, and sweeter than southern tea! Her gardens are filled with color, welcoming, and inspiring.
My new friend Deborah form Helena, Alabama joined us for a tour. Please visit her Journal to see her beautiful post on her visit to John's Native Gardens.

Take a little walk with us and enjoy the view.

LaRue specializes in native Azaleas, Rhododendrons, conifers, ferns and many other beautiful southern plants and shrubs. If you are in northern Alabama you should be sure to make a trip to Scottsboro. You will be so glad you did!

I've started a blog for LaRue and you can find more information at John's Native Azaleas

Happy Easter all!

ABCD- Will You Take Part?

I really enjoyed following Gary across the US this past summer/fall.
He's coue up with a fun idea that I am going to try. Here it is.
If you haven't already, check out Gary here.


Maybe you would like to join in with this.....

A Bloggers Centerline Day, or ABCD, will take place on Sunday 1st May 2011.

The plan is to inspire as many bloggers as possible to go outside and take a photograph of themselves on this day, wherever they are in the world. The photo can be creative, arty, contain more than one person, be in any type of location and can contain anything else you like. It must however contain the centerline of a road and at least part of you, the blogger.

There are 5 rules....

Rule 1 - the picture must be taken on 1st May 2011.

Rule 2 - the picture must be of yourself, and you must be a person that publishes a blog. You can include whatever else you like in the picture, including other people if you wish.

Rule 3 - the picture must include the centerline of a road.

Rule 4 – you should publish the picture on your blog on 1st May 2011, along with a few words about the picture and why you chose that location or pose.

Rule 5 - when you have posted the picture on your own blog, put a comment on http://garysusatour.blogspot.com/2011/04/abcd-will-you-take-part.html and include in that comment the address of your own blog post containing your own picture.

Gary France will then pick his favourite photos and publish these as being the winners. There will be a prize of $100 awarded to the overall single winner, as chosen by Gary.

In order to get this event known as widely as possible, please copy and paste this posting onto your own blog, including the title. Please do that today!

As a reminder to yourself to take the photo and post it, put an entry into your diary for 1st May 2011.

Let’s see if we can get as any people to join in as possible.