Picket Fence Love...

I just love the look of picket fences, any design or color. They're so quaint. With dad being sick last year, I never did get around to sharing a couple of very small fence projects we completed in the yard last summer.

#1 - The Ivy Project

 

I absolutely LOVE the ivy that climbs the chimney and covers the ground leading into our backyard. But as anyone who has ivy knows, it is very aggressive. Last summer we decided to rip out the ivy that was growing up and around this window before it started growing through the window! (That's Baby just after we adopted her at 6 months old in August of 2010)

And here we are a year later, Summer 2011. We ripped out the ivy, put down some gravel in front of the window and put a small white picket fence between the ivy and the gravel to define it.

 (Summer 2011)

It's definitely an improvement.

Clearly we need to keep up with the ivy every year at this window. It's not like this little picket fence is going to keep it from growing through to the window (wouldn't that be nice if it did!!)

And most important, the little picket fence doesn't obstruct Baby's view of the garden Sammy Squirrels, Chip(munk)s and birds who come to visit her!

#2 - The Dog Pen Project

After creating our new swingset deck / garden sitting area in Summer 2010, we realized we needed to do more work to this immediate area. In this case, the small dog pen off the deck, overgrown with weeds and fenced in with wire fencing and metal posts.

No matter which way you looked at it, it was not a pretty sight (and let's not even discuss the lack of grass in the yard. That's a future project). We decided the dog pen definitely needed a makeover.

 Any project in our yard that requires digging always results in a variety of rocks. These were unearthed where the new posts went in.

Looking at the bright side, however, we now have a lovely, meandering stone wall separating the trees from the yard due to our many projects over the years!

 First the weeds were pulled and then the entire area was covered with landscape fabric so drainage wouldn't be an issue (after all, it is a doggy bathroom). That was then topped with gravel which can be easily hosed down without resulting in a muddy mess.

Cement blocks were lined on the inside to keep the gravel inside the pen area.

Now that's MUCH better!

(This photo is out of sequence, taken before the fabric & gravel were put down)

Hopefully the next step will be some landscaping; maybe grass seed in the yard this fall and perhaps some hostas or day lilies along the side of the fence. The small back section of the pen is actually a removable gate to get into the pen for ease of cleaning. Mr. J much prefers to do his business on a walk, and other than that he's totally an indoor dog. But it's really nice to be able to let him out onto the deck in inclement weather and have him trot down the steps to his pen (and by inclement weather I mean rainy days and almost the entire winter!).

Here's Mr. J, telling us how much he LOVES his new 'bathroom.'

Quite a difference when you look at side-by-sides...

 ...especially from the same angles.

I think picket fences were the perfect finishing touch for our backyard projects!

P.S. When I talk about "our" backyard projects, it should be noted that my part of "our projects" is coming up with all the ideas whereas hubby's part of "our projects" is doing the bulk of the work  
(for which I am eternally grateful even though I don't say it often enough :)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Donna

All the King's Horses and all the King's Men...

... couldn't put the birdhouse together again. 

But we did!!!

When planning our little backyard garden, I wanted the three gravel paths to lead to a focal point; in this case, a decorative birdhouse on a pole.

And although we had a fairy mild winter here in New England,

we had one particularly windy storm that blew the birdhouse off the pole.

This is what we were left with in the center of the garden.

Not a pretty sight.

And when the old, distressed wood birdhouse hit the rock solid frozen ground below,

it broke in almost every place it could, and then some. It looked like a goner.

I salvaged what I could of the pieces and after staring at the bare pole for six months, 

hubby and I finally decided to tackle this project last weekend.

Now this was a VERY inexpensive birdhouse to start with, but I just loved the look of it

with the windows and door on all four sides and the decorative cupola.

Hubby wasn't so sure it was worth saving, but I assured him that the rustic,

distressed look would be just fine with me!

And so here it is, in all its weathered glory.

With L brackets, screws, a nail gun and glue holding it together from the inside.

Once again standing proud in the center of the garden, just in time for the blooming salvia that I planted around its base several years ago. I also tucked a little vinca vine pot inside each window and door. By summer's end, it will be touching the ground for sure.

Maybe next year we'll have a bit of extra money for the additional bark mulch

the garden sorely needs!

But that minor detail isn't stopping us from enjoying our little garden!

Hubby and I enjoyed feeding our little Chips last week and I'll share photos 

and a short video of that very soon!

 Summer 2007

 I still can't get over the transformation in our little backyard over the past 5 years. Our above ground pool once sat in this section of the yard, right off the deck so I could easily watch the girls when they were young. But by 2007 they had outgrown the pool. It was hardly ever used, so we took it down. It was at that point that I dubbed our backyard "Roswell" because it looked like a flying saucer had paid us a visit!

Summer 2012

Fast forward five years, and here's a pic of old Roswell as it looks now, taken from the same vantage point up on the deck. What a difference!

I hope you're all enjoying summer in your neck of the woods!

This week I'm linking up to:
 White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Cottage Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage

Donna

When Children Grow Up...

Some of you might remember when I posted about our Swingset Deck project here,

complete with [hideous] before & [much better] after photos.

Our two girls, now in their 20's, outgrew their swing set many years ago...

But because of memories like these, and me being the overly sentimental fool that I am,
I couldn't bear to part with their old wood swing set...

... so it became the inspiration and framework for a backyard sitting area where
climbing hydrangea and clematis will be crossing the monkey bars rather than two little girls.

The story isn't too different for the Gnome Home  
(so called because of its current lone inhabitant).

Once upon a time, long before Mr. Gnome
called this place home...

... two wonderful, silly little girls inhabited this magical place,
built by their daddy just for them.

 They spent countless hours laughing and giggling
in this magical little place...

... so magical that they were even able to entice our old Mr. O'Malley
to climb the ladder stairs and join in on the fun!

But children have a way of growing up (much too fast) and
leaving swing sets, tree houses, and all their sweet memories behind...

And no matter how much we'd like childhood to hang on
for just a wee bit longer...

...it's not part of nature's plan.

And so these days, it is little bunnies who frolic by the base of the tree house...

...and a family of birds who wind their way from the birdbath to the ladder steps
to pay Mr. Gnome a visit.

But sometimes when it's very quiet, while I'm out watering flowers or filling bird baths,
just sometimes an enchanted breeze will gently blow through the treehouse...

... and stir up memories so real that I swear I can still hear
two little girls laughing and giggling from inside.

Wishing you all the loveliest memories in your own enchanted gardens.

Donna

This week I'm joining

Tracie's Cottage Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage

and  Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Did you know that heroes come in pink?

"Once Upon A Time...

there was a little girl who believed in the magic of her own imagination. Her parents were wise and caring adults who encouraged the little girl to follow her pixie-dusted dreams."

I've had the absolute pleasure of corresponding with Terry Grahl over the course of this past week. Terry is the founder of Enchanted Makeovers (formerly Terry's Enchanted Cottage), and she's a hero in my book. An incredibly gifted decorator, she is using her talents to enhance the surroundings of women and children who could really use some beauty in their lives.


Terry turns barren, dismal, and sometimes run-down shelter rooms into welcoming, peaceful havens, such as the one above (notice the PINK walls and the incredible painted PINK headboard!!)


(Before photo)
''When I realized I had a purpose that extended beyond clients homes, I was excited and scared. I had a vision of what I really wanted to do with my life, but I didn't know how, let alone believe 100% that the dream I'm living today could be accomplished by a once shy insecure girl."


(After photo)


I know Terry would love it if other bloggers spread the word about her fantastic organization and their mission. She wrote to me, "I woke up this morning and realized how your followers or readers could make a HUGE difference. Lets keep the ripple effect of giving going across the world by women or men featuring a story on their web site or blog about my organization. Every blogger or web site I will post on my web site to help promote there own dream. If we all work together I know we help so many women and children living in shelters.Thank you so much ''many blessings''Terry Grahl

Terry's e-mail is Grahls4@aol.com and I know she'd love to hear from you...


This beautifully painted pink desk was originally a vintage sewing machine! What a cozy corner...


Terry gives much credit for her philosophy and design talent to her mother...


So many 'new beginnings' are being realized by the women and children who find comfort in the beautiful surroundings that Terry, and those in her her organization, have created for them...


One particular project that Terry is very excited about is the Traveling Sanctuary Bag* National Campaign. (*'The Traveling Sanctuary B*A*G is fueled by the healing love of another. It is a home made pillow case that is cradled with love, laughter, tears, fears and dreams. It carries with it, the energy of a knowing heart, a knowing that sometimes can only be found during a state of rest)


Terry is looking for sanctuary bag team leaders for each state. Every donor/volunteer is featured on her web site along with the sewing group photos/events. She is also looking to build partnerships.

For those of you who sew, Terry would love to hear from you! For those who don't sew, donations of pillowcases or fabric is greatly appreciated.

Click here for ten ways you can help Terry make the lives of even more women and children brighter!

You can also see many more before & after photos on Terry's site, Enchanted Makeovers . You will be inspired by her creativity. And by all means, give Terry a shout out on your blogs! There's so much depressing news nowadays; it's wonderful to be able to share such an uplifting story as hers!

Thanks, Terry... The work you do has such a positive impact on countless women and children. I'm so glad you contacted me this week so I could share your story!

Now, be sure to hop over to Beverly's How Sweet the Sound to see her Pink Saturday post and to find a list of all the other pink-loving bloggers participating today!


Donna