My Happy Place

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

This is my absolute favorite time of year, when I can catch up on so many things around the house that I enjoy.  I have been crafting some special little treats for my nieces who will be visiting soon.  We are having a "Fairy Picnic" in my garden while they are here and I'm so excited to make it extra special for them.

This is on the "upper" level of my terraced backyard and where I will lay down a blanket (pink, of course) for our Fairy Picnic!

I have also been working tirelessly in my yard, catching up on everything I neglected in early Spring when my injury kept me flat on my back and work kept me too busy to find the time to get outside.

My garden is growing, this year I have tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, cantaloupe, red & yellow sweet peppers, Jalapeno peppers, herbs, pumpkins, lettuces, & various varieties of squash growing. 

Every morning I wake up and head directly outdoors to my truly "happy place", my backyard.  I can easily spend hours out there, pruning, sweeping, watering, etc.

It brings me such pleasure to see the perennials that I have planted over the years flourish and fill in every space possible.  I keep a rather overgrown, somewhat "messy" cottage style garden, which works perfectly for me.  The front yard is a little more "orderly", but I really love the overgrown style of an English country garden that is more like what I have in the back.  I do not get caught up in perfection, and if a plant can't survive in my yard, then it's replaced with something that can. 

Our climate is hot and dry, so getting the feel of an English garden can be a challenge.  Roses, hydrangeas, and lavender thrive in the sometimes grueling conditions of summer here, and they are really my favorites.

This is the door to my bedroom, it opens directly out to my backyard, a feature of my 1938 house that I LOVE!

I love to put in several hours of hard work, then relax with a cold drink and a book on the patio and enjoy my garden.  It is a place where my family & friends can share a meal, play some ping pong, and just spend time together.

Still working on this area, had to replace the arch, the old one finally gave in to rot and a storm.  Sad to have to cut back over half of my climbing Eden roses to get the old arch out and the new one in.

I Hope you have enjoyed a peek at my happy place, where is yours????

Happy Thoughts,
Lisa