Winter Porch

Well, I finally undressed my Christmas porch! I mean, it’s February and it’s 70˚ outside!!! Who wants to have winter!? Well, I do.

I actually took down the obviously Christmas decorations a couple of weeks ago. I thought I could make the rest work a little further into February. I mean, gosh, I still have a pumpkin on my porch! Why not keep the winter looking decor?!

We have had several days when there were snowflakes in the forecast. We just can’t seem to get the cold and the moisture together! I’m sure we’ll get snow in March! Ugh!

The flocked trees just seemed like a wish that was left ungranted.

A store at the mall was tossing these trees after last Christmas. They had used them as store displays. Did I want free flocked trees? YES, please! You should have seen the mess it left in my car! I was not ready for that mess in my house, so I used them on the porch. They definitely looked wintery.

I left the red ribbon on the pillows. It can be for Valentine’s Day, right?

The ice skates, sled and snowflake pillows stayed out, too. I’m still hopeful we will see snow before Spring.

 

Christmas Porch 2015

When I was a kid, I would spend HOURS outside–riding my bike, building a clubhouse, just wandering around the yard. I still enjoy my outdoor wanderings. It gives me a minute or two to “unplug” from the world. I guess that is why I enjoy setting Christmas decorations out our porch so much.

Of course I made my favorite Christmas Wreaths again this year. They are a little different each year! The porch is just a little different each year, too. See last year’s here.

One new thing I used this year was absolutely free!

When we got our tree and free greenery this year, I noticed several slices of tree around the greenery bin. You know, they always make a fresh cut for you when you get your tree? Those kind of slices. So, I grabbed them and shoved them in one of my greenery bags.

I simply wrote on the slices with a Sharpie! Of course you can get all fancy and use a wood-burning tool if you like. (Warning: I did wear gloves to keep the sap from getting all over my hands.) I was happy with them the easy way.

Luke 2

Another easy project was these pillows.

I just used my regular porch pillows and wrapped Christmas fabric around them. I was not ready to commit to actually cutting my precious Christmas fabric! The pillow in the middle is a sweater from Goodwill that I sewed up rather quickly. I didn’t even close the bottom-shhh. The red ties are rescued from some old kitchen chair cushions. Save! Save!

A few vintage items and things were starting to look pretty good!

A little more…then use the broom and all done!

All ready for the coffee drinkers.

 

Scenes from a walk 3-25-15

The weather has been gorgeous for the past few days! Nice weather makes for a very nice Spring Break-sunny and high of about 75°F.

We didn’t have a big Spring Break trip planned, so we are enjoying being at home. We have done a little yard work and a little housework.

This morning Megan and I took a walk. It is always nice to have a walking buddy!

I love the Miller’s Easter flag!

Mrs. Carla’s daffodils are so pretty every year!

Here is another variety we saw in a pot in town.

The pear trees that line Front Street are so pretty–but stinky!

A camera could not do justice to these glowing forsythia bushes.

I don’t know what these little wild flowers are called. My sister and I always just called them Easter flowers. Seems like our yard was covered with these every Easter.

Spring has definitely sprung here in Central Arkansas! I’m glad I could get out and enjoy it before the pollen gets too bad!

 

Scenes from a walk 3-5-15

I think today was the seventh day the kids have missed school on account of snow this winter! That is practically unheard of here in central Arkansas. Looks like they’ll be in school until the 4th of July! Let’s hope not.

Last night’s snow storm produced the most winter weather we have seen this year. We had about 3  inches of sleet followed by about 3 inches of snow.

I know some of you from outside the South are laughing at that. I get it. We used to live in Indiana. This stuff shut down the schools, the malls, offices. Chip drove home yesterday as it was all getting started. He said the Interstate was bad.

Check out my fancy snow trekkers! They are little slip-ons that go over your regular shoes. Nifty, huh?! My in-laws got them for me for Christmas. At the time, I wondered if I would ever use them-that’s how little winter weather we get around here.  I sure was glad I had them today! I didn’t slip once!

We are all home today. Our “to-do” list consists of drinking hot chocolate, playing board games and strolling around the block.

So, here are scenes from the walk!

I was happy to have a walking partner today.

Many of these buildings and houses are on the National Register of Historic Places.

We weren’t the only ones out and about–

some folks, however, might wish they had stayed home!

Looks like this awning had all the sleet and snow it could handle.

Having 4-wheel drive means you are invincible, right?

Here is Chip-standing in the middle of the road while there is zero traffic.

Hey, look! Signs of Spring!!!

For some reason, I don’t think our little solar lights are going to gather much sunshine like this.

Even the winter decorations on the porch (okay, they are leftover from Christmas) look pretty with snow on them.

I hope you have enjoyed your snow days this winter. I was glad we got a really good dose this year. I think I’m ready for Spring now.

 

 

Scenes from a Walk 12-15-14

I decided to go on a walk this morning. Never mind the fact that there is a list of things to do today that is long as my arm! I figured I needed to walk since the high today is supposed to be close to 70–ugh! Don’t worry, it will be back to the mid 40s later in the week. Ahhh, Christmas time in the South!

I’ve been busy lately, like the rest of the world. Unfortunately some of those holiday pounds have found their way into my jeans!

A walk was necessary. It actually was even on my mile-long list, so was blogging!

So, for your viewing enjoyment, today I bring you the second installation of Scenes from a Walk. You can see the first one here.

Our neighbors put up this HUGE wreath every year. This year Kim added lots of magnolia leaves. It looks fabulous, especially with the spotlight on it at night.

Several of the shop windows downtown are painted.

The beautiful old Christian Church has pretty wreaths on the doors.

The county courthouse is decked out, too.

I may have to take another walk soon just to see more Christmas decorations!

 

Scenes from a Walk 10-29-14

The weather has been beautiful the past few days!

Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 50s make for good walking weather.

I never use ear buds when I go walking. I like to hear everything around me–like cars!

I really enjoy hearing the leaves rustle in the wind and squirrels scamper up tree trunks.

Morning walks are a good way to sort through all the junk rattling around in my brain. Sometimes I even go on prayer walks and pray for the people in the houses and schools I pass along the way.

The other day, I decided to snap a few pictures while on my walk. I have actually done this before in hopes of starting a blog series. Well–here is your first installment of “Scenes from a Walk”. We’ll see if it becomes a series or not.

When I was a kid visiting my grandmother, my sister and I would get bored with “grown up” talk. The city park a couple of blocks away was a welcomed escape. I loved climbing on the sidewalk that had been displaced by tree roots.

I reminisced about those days and climbed on the concrete just like I used to do. What you don’t see in this picture is me almost doing a face-plant about 10 steps past the broken sidewalk! Unfortunately, the car whizzing by didn’t miss it!

We are just starting to see a little fall color here in Central Arkansas. I love it!

I like seeing other folks’ fall decorations.

Are you seeing fall colors in your neck of the woods?

Is your house ready for trick-or-treat festivities tonight?

 

Moss Mountain Farm Part 7-Vegetable Garden

After hanging out on the porch for a while at Moss Mountain Farm, it was time to go home.

Our soggy tour had been a blast, even if we didn’t get to go to the vegetable garden.

But wait….

as we headed toward the car, we realized the vegetable garden was “just right there”. We decided to take a speedy look before anyone realized it was past 3:00!

I’m so glad we did. I think the vegetable garden was my favorite!

I love the “salad garden” planted in wheelbarrows.

Even the gardening sheds were neat to see.

There was an extra second or two for us to see the stone-fruit orchard–

and more chickens!

I hope you have enjoyed your virtual tour of Moss Mountain Farm. Trust me, it is even better in person! If you go, I want to hear all about it.

 

 

Moss Mountain Part 6–Rose Garden

With only about 30 minutes left in our self-guided tour window, Mom and I made a mad dash for the Rose Garden. We felt like we had to make a decision between the Rose Garden and the Vegetable Garden. Roses won!

I so wished for my great aunt to be in the rose garden with us. She had the most beautiful roses in her backyard in Atlanta! She always sends gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, and such wrapped in rose paper. The same rose paper! She must have a ton of it.

I’m sure Auntie could tell you the names of all these different roses. I just know them by color.

They were so sweet-smelling.

Raindrop on roses–now one of my favorite things!

The color and fullness of these double peach roses was incredible!

After the roses, we peeked over a fence to see the back-side of the vegetable garden. We still had the Summer Kitchen and Art House to see!

I failed to take any pictures of the art house. Wouldn’t you love to have a private little get-away place to go create?!

Wouldn’t you love to have a second kitchen?!

You may see a little reflection on these photos. I was shooting through the window!

Time was just about up on our Moss Mountain tour.

One last look at the roses on the side of the house. These are the same roses you saw from the upstairs bedroom here.

I guess the only thing we saw on the tour that we didn’t like was this…

Yikes!

Move along!

Mom and I took some selfies on the front porch-which all turned out horrible! So, here is a picture of just Mom on the porch.

I love the coral benches. I would have never thought to use that color.

Allen and Laura were busy heading to Allen’s next engagement. Mom snapped this picture of Allen taking a picture of peonies under the big tree out front.

Later I saw where he posted the picture that we saw him taking on Facebook. Kinda cool!

See it here.

As we headed toward the car, we stopped at the barn to take a picture of the carriage.

More cool lighting…

We enjoyed our tour so much. We were sad it was time to leave–

–or was it?

Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

Moss Mountain Farm Part 4-Gardens

The gardens on the back side of Moss Mountain Garden Home are just lovely. They called the area we toured next something specific like the South garden or something like that. For the life of me I can’t remember that name. Whatever it was differentiated this garden from the vegetable garden and the rose garden. I’ll share those with you soon.

Here is a view of the back of the house. I love the two-story screened porch.

In this photo we are standing on a path between the Summer Kitchen and the Art House. (I failed to take a picture of these.) These facilities were not part of our tour, but we were allowed to peek in the windows.

Here is one of the water features on the property. If you squint at the middle of the picture you can see the Arkansas River. Remember, it was overcast the day we went.

The plants and flowers were lovely. I really enjoy touring gardens. I think I like it because I have a bit of a brown thumb. Seeing someone else succeed in that area is inspiring.

A couple of years ago my friend, Cathy, gave me some herbs to plant. I actually had success! I even planted more this year. There is hope for me yet!

Being the “green” gardener that I am, I am not 100% sure of all the names of the plants. I tried to look them up on the internet. You know, if it’s on the internet it must be true! wink wink

I believe this is called Allium. I really like the height and shape of these. The looked great in the kitchen.

Lamb’s Ear always remind me of when my oldest was little. We would often stroll around the neighborhood after dinner trying to wear her out for bedtime. One of our neighbors had Lamb’s Ear around the mailbox.  Megan would always have to stop and pet the fuzzy leaves.

The pink roses with the purple “whatevers” layered in front was stunning.

This is Mrs. Big Fig, the huge fig tree in the middle of the path.

 

I never knew this is what asparagus looked like in the garden!

The lilies in my yard are no where near this tall.

There was a large variety of irises. I love the smell of irises. For some reason the smell reminds me of the taste of those marshmallow candy eggs we used to have at Easter when I was a kid. You know, the ones no one but Dad liked? Maybe the association has something to do with hunting Easter eggs while irises bloomed in the yard and I chowed down on candy! Dad wasn’t actually the only one who liked those things. The yellow ones were my favorite.

More irises around another water feature.

Some of the plants were ones I had never heard of or seen before…

…like Nicotiana. What a unique looking flower. I almost looks like a sea urchin.

Smoke Bush was a new one to me, too. I understand the textural difference in the landscape. However, I found myself wanting to bring this one into sharper focus for some reason.

I don’t know the name of this flower. It was just so tiny and cute, I had to include it.

Our guide showed us the way to the Rose Garden and Vegetable Garden, so we could tour on our own after lunch.

On our way to lunch, we visited the swans, Fred and Ethel. I saw on the P. Allen Smith Facebook page the other day that Fred and Ethel will be proud parents soon.

You can click on the gallery below to see these pictures better.

 

On to lunch–thank goodness!

How about you? Do you have a green thumb or a brown thumb?

Are you a Master Gardener or a novice gardener?

 

 

Moss Mountain Farm Part 2–Waitin’ with the Chickens

After cramming our sneakers in our  purses and our boots on our feet, Mom and I were ready for our Moss Mountain tour!

One other thing I wish I had added to my purse was a bottle of water. Consider taking one when you go–lots of walking.

Our instructions were to arrive at 10:30 for the 11:00 tour.

We were a little unsure what we were supposed to do once we got there. We followed the crowd to the gift shop area. Of course we had to take some goofy pictures.

 

The chickens were happy to pose for us.

 

After perusing the gift shop for about 15 minutes, we decided to ask one of the ladies wearing a name tag what the plan of action was. (You can only take so many chicken pictures.)

She motioned toward the vegetable garden and the sheep pasture as she told us we were free to roam until 11:00.

We kicked things into high gear in order to cover as much ground as possible. We were both grateful for our boots as we trekked across the wet field.

Moose, the donkey, was not nearly as cooperative for his photo shoot as the chickens had been for theirs!

 

The little garden house was so cute! It was a wire frame covered with burlap. I wish I could have seen it when the daffodils were in bloom!

I remember seeing  on Facebook back in the fall how Allen covered the little house with pumpkins.

 

Joyce’s House was featured in Southern Living not too long ago.

 

It was getting close to time for the “official” tour so we had to head back. We did do more self-guided touring after lunch.

The Barn is where we had lunch-more on that later.

 

In front of the garden home is this beautiful 300+ year old tree. Don’t you like the lights strung up for a party?

 

While the house is only about 10 years old, the crew did a nice job making it look as if it had been there 100 years or more!

 

The yellow “knock out” roses near the house were incredible!

 

You never know who you will run into at Moss Mountain Farm. I met Ceri, a fellow ARWB food blogger. at the blog conference I attended last year. She and her friend, Vanessa, drove down from Fayetteville, AR that morning.

 

Next up…inside the house!