escape to the garden part II.......

so continuing our tour of the back yard of this fabulous place.......

knot garden.

hardscaping softened with espaliered pear trees.

more custom trellising on the coach house and i believe, maids or guest quarters above.

i think this is some sort of family sundial or calendar? except it is hanging on a wall, so???? i am not sure what it is, but i like it.

orchard under planted with more catmint.

veggie garden.

perfect.

oh, how i LOVE all the CATMINT!!

this really illustrates how using just ONE DRIFT OF COLOR pulls the whole garden together and makes such a huge impact.

this is catMINT ( Walker's Low variety),

which is slightly different from catNIP (also known as feline marijuana).

from what i understand.......

cat's like both, but catNIP garners a more intense response and is not as pretty of a plant as you see used here.

i hope you enjoyed this escape, but lest you feel somewhat inadequate about your own garden now, keep in mind that money is NO object here and i can assure you there is a whole team of gardeners on staff. lots of Erin's working here!

small and understated messy gardens are beautiful too!!

herringbone brick motor court (use an "English" accent when you say that, it sounds much more fancy). see.

i guess i really don't need to point out how gorgeous the house is too?!?! and like you, i wanted to see inside.........so i gave a peek, just to find some of the family watching t.v!

oops......i just smiled at them and walked away. Mr. Dan scolding me all the while......

not the FIRST time I've been caught!

mmmm

mmmmm

and thanks, follower DON, who reminded me that the name of the artist in the previous post is Fernando Botero.

mmm

mmm

and now, back to winter.......eegads.

Mrs. Kravitz window...

it was 65 degrees out yesterday! snow gone and a spring in every ones step round here. i even saw a couple golfers go by, wearing shorts. woot. woot.

amazing how spring-like weather energizes me! i spent a good part of the day deep cleaning my kitchen and it felt soooo good. my kitchen windows are at the front of the house.......

and look out towards the street and my neighbors. my friend Jane, calls this my "Mrs. Kravitz window". if you are old enough to remember Bewitched, then you know what i refer to.

i can also see some of my front gardens and this collection of cement shrooms......

and this bird-feeder hanging from the front porch. every time i tried to take the sweet little birdies picture, they flew bye-bye.

bye-bye birdie.

most of my house is very neutral with whites, beige's and greys........

but i love having some cheerful and bright, blues and greens in my kitchen. the morning light streaming through is refreshing.

i made these curtains last year. a spider on fabric isn't for everybody.......but, apparently it's for me.

just doing a deep cleaning can make everything seem so fresh and new and smell soooo good! without spending a dime.

eegads! she has a black fridge!

why, yes, i do. the horror.

i got up there and cleaned the top of IT too.

i was so lucky to find this aqua green drying rack for $3.

call me crazy.........but, i bought a whole set of 6 vintage glasses, just to get this ONE Lilly of Valley odd man out. Lilly of Valley is one of my fave flowers and fragrance. love it!

the very last of the garlic from my garden.

look who else likes to bird watch out the "Mrs. Kravitz window". how could i be mad at sweet Little Miss Daisy?

mmm

nnnn

i sure hope you find a spring in your step this week?

GO GREENBAY PACKERS!!!!!!

she said with a Wisconsin accent.

tiffany blue winter...

our winter wonderland continues, with our fourth round of snow.

very unusual for the south.

and yes, i am still lovin it.

recently, i received the "stylish blogger award" from two of my followers.

first from Anita http://wwwcastlescrownscottages.blogspot.com/.

she was the soul inspiration for this Tiffany blue post, as she is a lover of all things turquoise and her gorgeous blog is a constant source of eye candy and wondrous words!!

you MUST stop by her delicious slice of bloggy and feel the LOVE and PASSION that resides there. you will not be disappointed. i promise.

i am just getting to know Laurie http://heavens-walk.blogspot.com/. the very first post i ever read of hers was a beautiful prayer for her friend Debbie, who is struggling with cancer right now. i was so struck by her caring and loving words, that i knew i had stumbled across a rare and compassionate soul. someone i really want to get to know.

thank you so much ladies for this award!

o.k...... list 7 interesting things about myself.....

eek, i'll try....

1. i am a visual person. that's obvious, i think, at least i hope. but...... i have trouble with WORDS. trouble coming up with them, writing them, speaking them and recalling them. i often worry whether i have used the right words. i am working on this. i am a work in progress.

2. my kindergarten teacher told my mother that i was an artist. i was an art major in college with an emphasis on jewelry making. i started painting just a few years ago and i have a lot to learn. i have dabbled, like so many artists, to find the right medium. i absolutely am in love with digital photography!

3. my hubby and i met while life guarding together one summer. he stole me away from my high school sweetheart, who i was engaged to. that was an interesting summer. mr. Dan and i will be celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. he does ALL the cooking...i think i'll keep him.

4. being a stay at home mommy was by far, my best job EVER! my kids are the BEST!

5. i can sing. i was in "glee club" in high school (also, a "cheerio"). my girlfriend and i sang at a few weddings and in the talent show, but i got away from it after i graduated. i sang once in public since, at a big resort in Mexico. i received a standing ovation and people the next day came up to me to tell me how good i was! that was a great time! i miss singing.

6. mr. Dan and i like to use silly accents when we talk and occasionally get into character, borrowing from skits seen on Saturday Night Live, Mad t.v., Monty Python, Austin Powers (you get the picture).........sometimes we will go for days doing this. don't tell any of his golfing buddies about this! ha.

7. and number seven.........i absolutely love, love, LOVE putting together these posts!! i look at them as really FUN art projects. taking the photos and playing with them has become my new PASSION. meeting all of you has been the icing on the cake, for sure......

but, the whole idea of reciprocating comments has me feeling extreme pressure and i am at a loss for words most times (see #1!!) i struggle with this daily and have been having feelings of guilt (guilt feelings is a whole other story, something i have felt my whole life) . so, now you know, what i am struggling with and please bear with me if i don't get back to you in WORDS.........i'd paint you a picture if i could.

so, i will continue to put together some pretty things to look at, hopefully in an up-lifting way and i'll try using some WORDS too. just keep in mind, i'll probably be using a silly accent whilst doing so........

mmm

nnn

now, i am supposed to pass this award on to 15 other bloggers, but you ALL deserve it! i could never choose. so, please feel free to tell us 7 things about yourself, or 6 or 5.........or whatever you choose. it's kinda fun.

thanks again Anita and Laurie!

mm

nn

big hugs and kisses to you ANITA for the tiffany blue inspiration!

tree shadows...

"when words become unclear,

i shall focus with photographs.

when images become inadequate,

i shall be content with silence."

~ ansel adams