A snowy roadside barn

It's been months since I've felt like blogging, but a letter I recently received from a reader spurned me on to post some wintertime images as well as work up a new header. 

Thank you, Marianne.

As everyone knows the winter has certainly been long and cold. On the bright side it has produced some beautiful snow storms. And plenty of them! This barn and fence sit right along side the road where there is very little space to pull over. So glad I made the effort.

Snow tends to only enhance old fences and barns. Bringing out the charm that can only be found in New England.

Looking over the fence when all I really wanted to do was go right through the gate and into their backyard. I would never be that bold.

I don't think hydrangeas ever really go out of season, do you?

Only 12 days until we turn the clocks forward. March 9th will hopeful be a bit warmer than 20-something degrees. I'm SO done with cold weather! 

Are you seeing any signs of Spring at your house?

York, Maine, Cliff Path

One of my favorite local places ... the Cliff Path in York, Maine.

Have you ever been? If not you really should go next time you're in the area. It's beautiful anytime of year but there's something about early Autumn that I love. The air seems a bit crisper, the water a bit bluer, and the Cormorants are just starting to head south in large formations.  

The path twists and turns along rocks, buildings, gates, and rocky shores. In total it probably takes only about 10 minutes to walk the whole way, but it's 10 minutes of discovery and bliss.

Part of the path is concrete, part of it rocks, and part of it dirt. At about this point it seemed like the perfect place to stop, sit down, and look out towards the ocean for a few minutes. 

It's like the old saying ... 'The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea' ~ Isak Dinesen

Whenever I need peace of mind it's to the ocean I go 

As I sat on the rocks I thought about my close friend, Carrie, who had to move back to the mid-west. I know she wishes she could come home to New England and when the time is right she will. Sitting with my shoes off, looking out over ocean, breathing in the salty air, and loving the view, she was right there in my heart. 

Spectacular New England style home is what you'll see out on the point 

I can't help but wonder if they ever actually use their hammock that overlooks the ocean

At the end of the path you can choose to either go back the way you came, or take the long way and head up a grassy knoll towards the road. I generally like to take the road because I love looking at the beautiful homes and gardens. 

The apples were lying in a driveway I walked passed.  Seeing as how the apples were all still perfectly intact, it left me to assume the house was probably just a summer/week-end residence. 

Love the ornamental grass in these window boxes! Talk about low maintenance! Next year it could be an option for my own. Of course I'd have to add a flower into the mix. Something light and airy. Any suggestions?

So glad I chose to take the sidewalk back to the car ...

A tender moment

Hydrangeas only seem to grow more beautiful with time

I hope your Fall is a beautiful one. Here in New England the weather couldn't be more perfect. Day after day of sunshine, with temperatures in the 60's to low 70's. Nights are crisp and perfect for sleeping. 

This past Wednesday my husband and I spent the afternoon in Wolfboro, NH. I'd hoped to capture some great foliage pictures but was left somewhat disappointed by the color remaining on the trees. Still, I'll have to look at my memory card and see what I came up with. 

Have a great week-end! 

Sweet floral mosaic ~ Instagram style

Okay, I know Pioneer Woman is doing it, and Lisa Leonard is doing it too, but I really didn't pay much attention until my daughter mentioned it.

Instagram

And now I'm mildly addicted.

Above are a few images I've Instagrammed over the past couple days. It's just so much fun!

Unfortunately it's also an iTunes app so if you don't have an Apple product you're pretty much out of luck. At least for now anyways. Instagram is working on an app for Droids, as well as a desktop version.

The good news is that you don't have to have an app to see someones photos! Here is a link to my images, here are PW's images, and finally these are Lisa Leonards!


Linking up with Mary's Little Red House for Mosaic Monday

Hydrangea bliss

I've had so much fun photographing Hydrangea's this winter!

All the colors, the magical backgrounds, the different kinds and sizes of flowers ... who knew they could be such a delight!

The flowers look particularly lovely with a bit of a snow cap. Just enough to frost the ever fragile petals.

Now the flowers are starting to fall off the stems and roll around like tumbleweed. Out with the old, in with the new! Kind of like my blog.

Lately, as I've been looking around at other blogs, there was one thing that struck me: white, just white. No distracting backgrounds or busy headers. One blog that really caught my eye was Garden by the Sea, and if you haven't stopped by, you really should. Though I usually try to do my own thing when redesigning my template, I love Lupen's simple style so much that I decided to try my own variation of her design.

Maybe it's Spring, maybe it's age, I don't know, but lately I feel the need to de-clutter when ever I can. It probably won't last, but for now I hope you enjoy the new look. One thing I do miss is seeing all my favorite blogs on the side bar, but, I hope visitors will still go see them from the Blogs icon.

Early morning in New Castle

Don’t you love those Adirondack chairs? Imagine having that view on a daily basis, watching the boats come and go through the harbor, as well as the big tankers.

I’m just having fun messing around with Picnik. I like it so much that I subscribed for a year! Using Photoshop constantly is starting to wear on me, plus my younger daughter loves what she can do with Picnik and all her profile photos for facebook.

Don’t you love a juvenile Robin? Those spots are too cute!

My blog has been active for just over 2 years now, and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m starting to lose my drive. How much longer I’ll stay with it I’m not sure. Hopefully I’ll get a second wind, soon! 

Going to New Castle on a warm summer morning was something I loved doing last year, and went many times. This year I’ve yet to go. Of course lately it’s been so darned hot and humid in the morning that I don’t want to go anywhere! After last Summer’s month and a half of rain, I’m trying not to complain. Yesterday and the day before it was pretty brutal outside.

Speaking of Adirondack chairs, I’m about to paint ours, from a deep forest green to a red color. I’ll try to show it to you when I’m done. We’re also going to paint the house yellow (it’s a grey-green right now), re-stain the decks, and repaint the railings on the front porch. Just saying all that makes me sigh. Luckily my husband is quite ambitious.

Are you enjoying the Summer? Doing anything special? Is it blazing hot where you live, too?

Forever & Ever

 

I bought new Hydrangea’s

They’re called Forever & Ever ~ Together Hydrangea

I fell in love with the double flowers and multiple colors. Have you ever seen anything like them before? They were $11 each at Lowes so I brought home 7 to plant out in front of my house. My husband worked until almost 9:00 at night getting them all in the ground, while I trimmed the out-of-control Wisteria and Double-flowering Cherry tree.

It might be almost July but I think the garden if finally coming together.

 

My sweet Lily

 

A somewhat rustic view of the new Hydrangea’s. Some flowers have more green than others. This particular flower was all pink, though they are all the same variety. Another thing I like about the Together Hydrangea is that it’s low growing. Only 25”.  high. Most are up around 36”, which won’t work for the low windows in the front of our house.

  Winston! You better not pee on the new flowers!

He looks guilty already.

Hydrangea's for Mom

It's been a long day so I thought I'd post something pretty.

My mother finally had her surgery this morning and everything went very well. Tomorrow the PT nurses will have her up and around after breakfast. Glad I don't have to be there to watch. Hopefully she'll finally be able to walk without severe pain in her legs. That pain has worn her down for far to long.

If you'd like to see what type of surgery she had here's an excellent short video to view. Mom had 3 vertebrae fused instead of 2.

One of mom's favorite flowers is Hydrangea so I know she would love these. She'd cut the stems long to place in tall vases for the winter. Then next year she'd do it all over again.

I know this because she has a Hydrangea with a limited amount of flowers but she saves every one of them.


Old fence, old Hydrangeas, and a perfect fall day. A great combination.




Thank you for stopping by

Morning Glory

All of these photos were taken in New Castle, NH around 7:30 am, hence the long shadows

You might be wondering why the red post is there next to the fire hydrant, not to mention that they are so close to the stone wall. It's because the road is about a foot away and it's a very sharp curve. In fact I had to stand in the road, watching my back the whole time, just to take this photo. I risk life and limb for you people. LOL!

So many old homes in New Castle and Portsmouth were built with the road going right by the front door. This family is lucky enough to have a little bit of a yard as a buffer.

And on the side of the house . . .

I can't help it, I'm just a sucker for flowers and white picket fences. Someday I WILL have one of my own.

Just a dab of morning dew still remains

I hope you had a wonderful morning!

* Interested in a home in New Castle, NH? Here's what's available (it isn't much), and you better have good credit!

Where's the Glory?

It's been 51 days since I planted the seeds: 'Morning Glory: Giant, Mixed Colors'. Since then there have been a lot of Mornings, but no Glory. At this point I'm wondering if my Morning Glories will EVER bloom. And look at the foliage!


Wanna hear the kicker? The packages says, ' If lush growth but no flowers, stop watering.'


I stopped watering, but Mother Nature has other ideas. In July alone we had 18 days of rain. So far this month we have seen rain 11 of the last 12 days, with much of the state being under a flood watch most of those days. Many New England businesses and students depend on tourism for a healthy income. It seems to be the Summer that wasn't. Yes, I know I'm whining. Currently I'm following an auction for an SAD light on Ebay.


Also in the picture are rather sparse first year Day Lilies

I couldn't post just bad news. Below are a few pictures I managed to take on Sunday while the sun was actually shining!

The Blue Hydrangaes have changed over to their fall colors, though I can't recall the flowers on this particular Hydrangea ever turning white before.

And finally, a Moment of Inspiration: One of several late summer buds ready to bloom on the Wisteria!