Around the Home…plus Family too

It’s been a rainy but uneventful spring season…at least so far.  We’ve had lots of rain but the spate of nasty storms around the Midwest and Southeast has skipped by us.  All the rain means that our water bill…a huge increase in rates this year…stays relatively low.  When we need to use the sprinkler system for the lawn and gardens, I suspect that the bills will take our breath away. 

Time for repairs, upgrades, etc.  Some home care items cannot be avoided.

One issue that needed to be addressed was the condition of the small balcony or deck off our primary guest room.  The posts and spindles were built with untreated wood and despite painting them a couple of times, the paint was peeling off and they were beyond saving. 

In the second photo you can see that one of the spindles had rotted out.  Others weren’t as obvious but several had ‘issues’.  In addition we learned that the primary posts were loose as they had deteriorated at the deck level.  We’re sure glad that guests didn’t lean on the railing! 

After having the old railings, posts and spindles removed and replaced, not only does the ‘balcony’ look much better, it is now a safe place to be.  Another lesson learned in this process was that the price of raw materials and skill labor is significantly higher than it was just 3 or 4 years ago.  We hear about inflation and rising costs in the news but ‘living it’ truly brings it home.   Nevertheless, one’s home is a key asset that has to be maintained…

When Laurie pointed out the blossoms on our Japanese maple tree, I was surprised.  I had no idea that these trees produced blooms.  Either this year was ideal for the tree or I had overlooked these delicate blossoms (soon to be seed pods) in previous years.  Typically individual Japanese maple tree flowers feature 5 red or purple sepals and 5 whitish petals.  These trees will also produce a ‘fruit’ in the form of winged samaras…or ‘helicopter type’ of seed pod.  Despite the fact that we’d had this tree for 14 years now, I don’t ever recall seeing a seed pod…but it looks like this is the year!

The side yard between our home and our neighbors is scheduled for some drainage and reconfiguration.  When we have heavy rains they tend to wash away the mulch in our garden.  Despite that issue, our 3 weigela bushes have managed to thrive and put forth these bright red blooms.  I believe our weigela are the “Sonic Bloom” variety.  We will have to monitor these bushes over the next couple of years as they can grow reach up to 5 feet in height as well as in width.

I included this photo of the back of our home just because I love the 'chill' look of the house with all the variations of greenery and the flowers framing the structure.  We do have a small red azalea bush too…but it’s hidden at the lower right of the photo.  Our back yard is like being in a small and peaceful woodland…

Other than flowers and bushes, we aren’t in a neighborhood where crops could be planted.  Of course we could plant tomatoes in pots on the deck but they don’t look great once they’ve yielded their fruit.  Consequently Laurie decided that we’d stick with herb plantings.  First of all, they just keep growing if you cut them back and secondly they add a nice pop of green to the deck.  Then of course we do use most of the herbs in cooking.  Another plus is that about half of the herbs are tough enough to survive an East Tennessee winter.

In the first photo from left to right the herbs are: dill (under the tower), sage, mint, sage again, germander and marjoram. 

In the second photo from left to right the herbs are: French tarragon, thyme, basil, spearmint, chives, mint julep and rosemary. 

Now for a couple of family photos.  Laurie’s sister Bonnie sent Laurie photos of two of her granddaughters all dressed up in their high school prom dresses.  Then I asked Laurie to have Bonnie send her a photo of the girls when they were much younger…

They sure do grow up fast don’t they?  In the first photo Avery is at the left and she was 8 years old.  Delany was 9 and a half and posing already.

In the second photo Delany is 17 and a half and Avery is 16.  Both are of course driving, both are into sports in a big way and both are good students.  From little girls to young women in only 8 years!

Here is Delany’s pre-prom formal photo.  She is a dedicated volleyball player who’s hopefully working toward a college scholarship.  Compare the pose in this photo to the one when she was 9...notice any similarities?

I love this classic photo of Avery… I’ll bet that you can guess what her sport of choice is and even what position she plays!  Another scholarship in the offing?  

We’re wishing both girls…both young ladies…success in everything they choose to do.  Time does fly!

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave