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thanks, bj

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

THE BEGINNING OF SPRING SPRUCE UP OUTSIDE




I saw a robin in this bath this afternoon but he flew away before I could get my camera..... I have a family of 4 robins that stay in our front yard most of the summer. I am sure going to try to get a good picture of them when they arrive this summer.........Maybe the one I saw today is the DADDY and he came to "check things out" before moving his family to their summer retreat?

Just cute, little METAL flowers for now but maybe it won't be TOO long until I will have the
REAL thing.........


My little cottage mailbox is about 8 years old but the colors are still bright and vivid of the little hand painted cutie.......It is located just under the carport shade and I am sure that is why the colors have stayed bright so well. All it really needs for the spring/summer season is a good cleaning......



I had a large star on my front porch LONG before the barn stars became popular. I've just always loved STARS.........



This is one flag that can stay out ALL THE TIME...rain, sleet, snow, darkness. It's metal and my oldest granddaughter, the Lovely Jess, made it for me. I love it...... but not anywhere CLOSE to how I LOVE JESS. :)


I do love the AMERICAN FLAG, don't you? I think it's so pretty.....I ALWAYS have a flag flying in my front yard! And have been known to have one in my living room....if it's good enuf for MARY EMMERLING, it's good enuf for me. She ALWAYS uses one as decoration in her pretty living room.
Someone took a flag I had hanging in this spot last summer....seemed strange that someone would STEAL an American flag....I figured they must have needed it more than I did, so I just bought another one.........

As you can see, our grass has a LONG way before greening up.......... I added some fertilizer yesterday, after Sweet Hubby scalped the lawn and edged it........ We have to water our lawns here regularly as we seldom have rain....... In fact, the last 2 summers, our water has been rationed to some extent. Only certain hours that we could water.....we are in such a drought now that I fear we may be in a much tighter ration THIS summer...........


I LUV bricks.....I almost collect them but I know that is very strange indeed so if you mention it to anyone, I will deny it to my dyin' day!!!!!!!



See those tiny green "things" growing between the bricks? Those are the SWEETEST violets you've ever seen. They will get so thick and lush and violet colored by mid summer. The only bad thing about them is that, out here in West Texas, they only bloom about 2 full weeks......SAD !! But, I also LOVE the luscious green of the flower and the leaves will stay all summer long. They do suffer when it gets hot and dry so I really have to pay attention to them....



There's a few more coming thru......



This is a lovely FAUX wreath for right now...I am beginning to CRAVE flowers....It won't be too long until I can get a real one to hang beside my front door........

I am anxious to get some Boston ferns to hang on my long, front porch and some potted plants that bloom.....Now that warm weather is here (it was 85 here today), I am soooo ready for FLOWERS....COLOR.....GREEN...... As long as the temps were cooler and cold, I was content with WINTER....now however....I am ready to move into SPRING.



I can't even begin to tell you how many fabulous hours we have enjoyed this front porch swing.....our grand kids have all enjoyed it so much, as did our kids before them. It is old, weather-beaten, extra large and I just love it to pieces. I will make a cushion and new pillow covers for it this summer....but I think I may need to paint the swing first........

Do you have a good, relaxing place on your front porch to rest and just watch life go by for a little while? It is sooooo GOOD FOR THE SOUL.


Love, bj

29 comments:

Rosie's Whimsy said...

Yay! I love yard work. A couple more weeks and I'll be in the midst of it ......happy dancing in the yard.

It may get into the mid 50's today....at least they are teasing us with that forecast. If so, I might just have to open the screen porch a little and at least get the first layer of winter dust of it and let the kitties have some fresh air.

The fresh air would do Hubby and I some good, too....that is for sure! (((hugs))) Rosie

Karen H. said...

Good Morning BJ,
I love the outside of your home. "THANK YOU" for sharing it with us. I do love the swing and how you have the quilt on the seat part. I think that is so neat looking. We just have some lawn chairs on our small front porch here. I think those little violets coming thru the bricks are pretty. Too bad they don't stay blooming all summer tho. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Anita said...

Your yard is as charming as your house!

I saved the porch swing from my mom's front porch before the house was destroyed, even though it will need some "fixin'", just because I spent untold hours there growing up... :)
I hope to have a place to use it some day...

Hope your morning is going fabulous, and the rest of your day is even better!

Anonymous said...

You are right on BJ - Yeah Spring!!! Christy :-)<><

Michelle said...

Hi BJ,

I love all your outdoor photos..that swing on your porch looks inviting! I have a glider on my front porch but the best..last year hubby installed a fan on my backyard deck! I am a bird watcher so I hope you can catch that birdy at the bath.

Michelle

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

If it was just a tad bit warmer I might pull some weeds. Soon!

Happy day!
Melissa

Adrienne said...

Oh - thank you for sharing the touches of Spring around your home. Everything is wonderful and so inviting. I'd like to sit on the porch swing and have a good chat with you.

Looking forward to the arrival of your package. Excited! Can't wait!
~Adrienne~

CIELO said...

Ahhhh, I love to see pictures of spring and lovely yards... like yours! Spring fever has hit me hard this year...Unfortunatedly for me, we are expecting some more snow for tonight... yuck!

Have a great day

cielo

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the photo tour around your house. I, too, love the American flag. I wish more people would display it at their homes and businesses.

And, that porch swing looks awfully inviting.

We are in extreme drought conditions, and there is no outside watering allowed. So sad.

Anonymous said...

Looks lovely. now I gotta get of this computer and get busy, Im getting no where just ready about it lol.

Deb said...

Hi BJ, I love your yard, I've been getting my beds ready for planting but, have not made it anywhere near the progress you have made. I'm new at blogging and I've been reading a few also, your's is one that's been added to my favorites. Deb

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Morning BJ!
I loved the tour around the outside of your home. We hang our flag everyday too. And I don't think you are strange for collecting bricks...I collect ROCKS! Yes - where ever we go, I bring back a rock.
Hugs,
Penny

BittersweetPunkin said...

Love all your photos..especially the porch swing...I have always wanted one..I have 2 rocking chairs on my porch...one on either side of the front door...I love them!
Hugs,
Robin

Marcela said...

Hi BJ
I would love to sit there in your front porch..
I love your house.
Marcela

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen any robins here yet, but I did see some at my daughter's house recently!

I thought we were warm at
54ยบ today...I cannot imagine 85!!

You have such a sweet swing...I would love to sit there with you ♥

kari and kijsa said...

Beautiful!! we were moving bricks in the garden today! Its beginning to look a bit like spring....

blessings,
kari & kijsa

Mary said...

BJ,

I enjoyed all of your photos. Are the violets English violets. I have them growing in my front flower bed, but they only last a couple of weeks also. It's a shame. They are so pretty and fragrant.

The porch swing is marvelous. I would love to have one like that but our porch isn't big enough. I've talked to hubby about extending it along the entire side of the house. I would love to have a porch swing. The quilt is wonderful and so many beautiful colors.

It is warmer here today. We had great fluffy flakes of snow coming down yesterday and then after that, rain. I'm looking forward to all the snow melting and a few flowers coming up in my yard.

Enjoyed my visit, as always.
Blessings,
Mary

Julie said...

Oh - I love to work in my gardens as well. We are having a large party this weekend - outside too, and there is a small chance of rain....but I am still discussing this with God... I think I have some leverage too since I had to cancel my outdoor Thanksgiving dinner..ha ha..

Ruey said...

oh, BJ~~
Everything just looks so lovely and inviting. I ADORE that front porch swing. My front porch is about 4 x 5 feet, so not much swinging going on there, but in a few more weeks, I will be getting my patio back up and running...my little oasis. I'll put the cabana up, clean everything off, plug in the fountains and start admiring all of God's creation! I can't wait!
Maybe one day I will have that front porch, complete with a swing! Until then, I'll just come visit yours!
xxxooo Holly.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I adore everything that I saw here. I too love The Flag and have had one in my living room before..Awesome post......

Wishing you a beautiful night,

Mary

Tara said...

I needed this little spring tour, thanks for the lift!
:0)
Tara

the said...

Your home is beautiful! Spring is so fun, but yesterday it was nice sunny and kinda warm, today its snowing :( So, my poor flowers, I hope they make it!
Your porch swing is so cute, that would be so fun to have!! A lot of memories , I bet!
Stephanie

Meggie said...

Oh BJ! I'm getting in the mood just looking at your post. But I think I'm a few weeks behind you weatherwise. Love your porch swing. I have on too and enjoy it immensely.

Unknown said...

Very nice! Starting to look like spring around here!
Hugs,
Robyn

Unknown said...

Oh I love your porch but the most I like your mail box. Fantastic.
Please stop by I have a small something for you.

Love Suzy

Dawn-Hydrangea Home said...

Hi BJ!
I am with you on being so ready for spring flowers. I check on my beds every day when I get the mail to see who is popping up out of the ground!

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

OH I love your swing. We had one just like that, it finaly broke. I sure do miss it.
ginger

Rue said...

I love all those pictures Bj. I feel the need to have a porch swing like yours too :)

Rhondi said...

Thanks for showing us photos of your dear home. Every picture shows how charming it is. I can tell that you have a gift of hospitality. It shows in your home. I think I'll come visit one day! Rhondi