gardening

Morning Light. Grateful Heart.

Morning Light. Grateful Heart.

I love being up early especially in spring. Catching the light dancing on my newly chalk painted park bench in front of my house is one of the rewards.

The perennials on either side of the bench, planted two years ago are finally feeling established producing lovely purple/pink blossoms.The hummingbirds love to flit in and out, feeding from them.

Another reward, which has my heart swelling in my chest at this very moment, is the landscapers from Willow Acres and Land Steward Enhancements are here placing the plants around our house and my writing cottage.

We moved to Elkhart Lake about 28-years ago, but never really kept up with the landscaping as it should have been. I’m going to try much harder this time and I’m feeling grateful for a second chance.

It’s so exciting seeing this new life pop up all around me. Pinch me, is it really true?  Can’t wait to share with you!

P.S. And I’m happy and quite relieved to say that Gidget seems to be fine after the rug chewing episode from yesterday. Whew!

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My Zen Writing Cottage. Phase Two Begins – Nine Years Later.

My Zen Writing Cottage. Phase Two Begins - Nine Years Later.

You know the saying, “Good things come to those who wait?”

It was late summer 2007 when my dear John built me my writing cottage. A place of my own, off the corner of our deck. My private sanctuary to listen to the birds, write, feel connected to the world, or just a quiet place where I can think or just be.

The world turned upside down in 2008 when the economy sunk to an all time low. We were so scared, like many, that we may lose so many of the things we worked so hard for – John’s construction business or our home, or both.

We had to make some difficult decisions regarding our retirement savings, but we couldn’t risk losing the home we had come to love so dearly- our safe haven.

This also meant any landscaping we wanted to do, plus a white picket fence I wanted around my writing cottage, had to be put on hold.

It didn’t matter. We had a roof over our heads. We learned to cut even more from our personal overhead expense and from the construction business overhead. And we knew we were so much better off than many. We had nothing to complain about. We would do what we needed to survive.

Though there was much uncertainty and at times scary, we grew by leaps and bounds. Our determination and love grew stronger. We were a team and planned to stay one, no matter what.

And today as I sit in my writing cottage, the Pandora radio station playing Tuscany instrumental music, the wind blowing a brisk breeze for May, the sun shining, and the birds a flutter outside my window, Gidget curled up on the wicker chair next to me, I give thanks for the life I have.

Just outside the long five foot windows of my writing cottage, my heart smiles as John puts skirting around the bottom of my cottage. And this week if all goes as scheduled, the landscaping with an English garden theme will begin.

The long wait, though frustrating at times, has made it all the sweeter. And oh, how I look forward to the warm days ahead to see the flowers blooming all around me as a warm breeze will soon blow through the open windows too– and I shall be sitting here in complete bliss inside this sacred space that means the world to me.

And I picture myself a bit like Tasha Tudor, who loved to walk around her flowers for a little break in her day, a corgi or two in the lead.

Tasha Tudor

I do believe I just might think I’ve died and gone to heaven!

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Bentley the Landscaper. Come Meet Him.

Bentely the LandScaper. Come Meet Him.
Bentley – Official Garden Center Greeter

Meet the owner of Willow Wood Acres Garden Center and Land Steward Landscaping. Well, okay, Bentley isn’t really the owner. But he is the sweetest and most handsome greeter ever!

Well, that is, if you aren’t afraid of his low growl while at the same time his tail is wagging when you come in through the doors.  I’m pretty sure the growl means, “pet me please” as he loves attention, which I was happy to bestow upon him.

Today I was excited to review our landscaping plans with one of the real owners of the garden center, Kathy. We’ve not had anything done with our landscaping since we moved into our home over 25-years ago. It is sorely in need.

John built the owners of the garden center, Kathy and Stuart, a beautiful home last fall and winter on the same property as their business. And Kathy designed a beautiful and colorful, low maintenance landscaping plan for around our house and my writing cottage.

It was so nice to see all the pictures of the plants, trees and shrubs with lots color on this cold and dreary day of spring.

But before you know it, the sun will be shining again and the temperatures will rise along with the work to begin at what I call my little “cottage in the village.”

And this time around I’m going to try really hard to make sure I take as best care of everything as I can. I’m not exactly a green thumb type person, but this time I’m determined.

Maybe after reading about children’s book author and illustrator, Tasha Tudor, and children’s book author, Beatrix Potter, and their beautiful gardens this past winter, they just might rub off on me.  One can certainly hope!

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