I’m home. We had a rainy spring and our hostas are giant sized. Everything is larger than life, including poison ivy. I didn’t get to our house until 1 am on Monday and even in the dark I could see that husband had, once again, neglected certain areas of our property. He has suffered from lyme disease off and on for a few years now (and at times the lyme has made him very sick indeed) and because he fears getting a tick bite, he doesn’t mow the edges of the yard that border the woods. Of course, I tell him that by not mowing those areas there will be more ticks because they like the long grass. We usually check each other for ticks if we’ve been working in certain areas of the property. Obviously, this becomes impossible when one of us is away. I don’t blame Don for being wary.
This time, the area behind the kitchen is completely out of control. As is part of the dogs’ corral that we sectioned off from the main corral. He “forgot” about it.
He felt guilty. So guilty that he bought a weed wacker yesterday. I will be the one using it, but at least it’s a form of atonement. And hey, he might use it, too.
Oh, and he had a few yard sales while I was gone and everything he didn’t sell is still on the porch. The same porch where I love to sit in the summer, where I go to look at the lovely bluestones and the potted plants and the pretty view.
Insert the sound of a scream here.
I would throttle him save for the fact that I love him dearly and I’m happy to see him again and his birthday is Friday. And he takes wonderful care of our dogs. And he’s a wonderful person. By the way, it’s a big birthday. More later.
Here’s a mini trip around the garden.
I planted this New Dawn rose bush right before I left. I’m a little hesitant because I think the location isn’t sunny enough. If I can just get it to climb a bit more, the sun will hit it perfectly.
A bee sipping a little nectar from the Spirea.
I planted some yarrow when we first moved here – about 6 years ago. It didn’t last. Today I found some that had reseeded about 15 feet away from the original site.
Another bee on a Jacob’s Ladder bloom.
Here’s another surprise. I planted this Clematis at least 5 years ago. Though it always had a lot of leaves, it never flowered. This year? Pretty purple flowers.
Roses peeking through the porch railing.
Hydrangeas and roses – such a cottagey look.
Riley is a little under the weather – his right hip and leg are bothering him. If you read this blog, you know he has hip problems. We’re watching him closely and giving him Rimadyl. My poor little boy has had a tough time of it, but he seems a little perkier today.
I have lots of weeding to do – everywhere. I did the major yanking and pulling and pruning Monday on 4 hours sleep. Today I mowed. The next few days are supposed to be rainy.
That means I’ll finally have to unpack and work on the inside.
Well…. the flowers and the bee look happy to see you! :-)
DI
your garden looks lovely to me….love the porch …looks so summery…and you know i LOVE the doggys !!!! darling little guys
teddy says Hi to them…
sending Summer Love,
kary and teddy
xo
Claudia, if I went away like you did, there would be nothing left but dust and a few cacti when I returned. Walter doesn’t think that plants need water at all….
Welcome home and I love all of the green stuff in your yard!
Claudia, is the position of the gate in the top pic (askew) sort of what the whole place reminded you of when you got home? Did Don have to go stand in the corner? (A very tall corner?) That’s it. He cannot be left to his own devices anymore. He is helpless without you, as are most men when it comes right down to it! (Please tell him I love him anyway though.)
Brenda
The flowers know it’s summer! Pretty garden for one that’s been a bit neglected!
ciao from Newport Beach
Welcome home Claudia … I’ve enjoyed your postcards from the road … but you’re right there’s no place like home .. if if it’s a little overgrown ; )
xo
Jill
Welcome home Claudia!!! I feel your pain with the weeds- but look at all the lovely flowers you have going on right now! I wish I could hop over to help you out…especially because if you are anything like me you’ll pull until you can’t move :) Early Birthday wishes to Don and a big hug for poor Riley–hope he continues to feel better ♥
YEY!!! your home….feels good huh?
Why do us women keep expecting our hubby’s to change their behavior?…I’m glad I’m not the only one…I keep telling myself not to expect anything different but I guess deep down…I can dream about it…lol Look at your reward from his slothfulness…lol Big Beautiful flowers…just gorgeous!!
Give Riley a big smooch..
bunny
Welcome home. Gardens do that when you are away. A few good surprises though.
– Joy
Well I am not surprised as it would be the same here. john went for a two hour bike ride last weekend and I weeded.
Your babies look very glad you are home. And let me say I know exactly where my baseball crush Johnny Damon came from and I refuse to give your first place RS’s any print.
Mere
Glad you got home safely. The garden looks great. Just think if you hadn’t gotten all that rain and it was in perfect shape. What would you have to do then. Can’t wait to see you out and about.
Hi Claudia! Glad to hear you got home safely, but I can’t help but say what a chuckle I got for what your Dear Hubby did and didn’t do!!! (0; I’m sure he and your furbabies were all thrilled to have you back again!.. Enjoy, and don’t work too hard! ~tina
New follower here … your photos are lovely as is your writing … think I’ll get a cup and read some more!
Thank you so much for that beautiful trip through your GORGEOUS garden!! And….you are such a loving lady the way you wrote about the untidy yard and porch but how much you adored your hubby!! We all have that stuff…it’s how you handle it that makes the difference (I think). I’ve missed coming here…I feel right at home…thanks for that.
Don certainly has the male genes ‘looks okay to me, I didn’t notice, I didn’t know’. Don’t we just love them.
The dogs are smiling, your garden is looking very pretty, the house is still standing, the sun is shining, I’m sure it is lovely to be home again.
Hugs Alveen
Welcome, welcome, home. Overgrown it still is wonderful. Isn’t it? Don and the dogs are thrilled you are home I know. Please do not over work your self catching up. hugs♥olive
Welcome home Claudia! Even though you have alot of work ahead of you; I bet you are breathing a sigh of relief to be finally home with your family! It’s the best feeling isn’t it?! Blessings, Joanne
I love your New Dawn Rose. I live in Canada and have tried to grow them for years but have had no success. I look forward to watching yours progress. Great garden by the way, even if it is a little overgrown, so is life sometimes but it all works out in the end.
Sue
Claudia, welcome home!!!
Did the house smell like home when you came in? Every time I go away I can’t wait to walk back into our house as it smells like us. I just read that & it sounds weird but I’m leaving it in cuz I think you’ll know what I mean.
Love your cottage garden, especially your mutant hostas. Mine didn’t make it thru the winter.
Lisa
Hi Claudia….Glad you’re home safe and sound! I am sure you were missed by your better half and sometimes men just need to have their better half to supervise them. It’s a man thing. Have fun getting everything back to normal!~Hugs, Patti
Hi Claudia! Nice to see your homecoming pictures. I like the Spirea the best. I find it hard both leaving and coming home. I worry upon leaving, and have a little dread about what mess is waiting when I get back. I think homebodies and control freaks are like that! haha You have my sympathy. I’m sure you already know it takes no time at all to reposition! You have such a sweet little place.
Wow- you hit the ground running upon your return!! Your garden looks happy to see you. I love your garden photos and tours so much.
I’m happy to hear that Riley is feeling a little better. I bet he’s so happy to have you home again!
Hugs,
Jill
Welcome home Claudia! No matter what, it’s always better to be home:)
Hope Riley get’s to feeling better, maybe you being home will help.
hugs,
paula
Hi Claudia,
Welcome home, I’m sure everyone is glad to have you back.
Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Meri
your roses are so pretty! The weeds, hosta and ferns are huge here this year. I clean a bed and the next week I have to weed it again!
Welcome home! You must be so happy to finally be reunited with Don, doggies and other comforts of home. Even those weeds and overgrown plants are probably a pretty sight for your road weary eyes. Enjoy!
I so understand your concerns….I hate to leave home for several days only because I know I will have more work to do than before I left. Your garden looks gorgeous and thriving perfectly!
Don’t work too hard and tell Don Happy Birthday from me. Hugs to Riley….
xxoo
Becky
Welcome home, Claudia!
Your garden photos are beautiful! I love the roses around your white porch railings. There is a certain truth about homes needing a “woman’s touch”….the guys mean well, but they just never see things at the home the way that the women do. But….we LOVE them and couldn’t live without them! :) Hope little Riley is feeling peppy soon. I know just seeing you again perked him up some… I have been trying to get out and work in my yard, too. We fight a weed here that is called “horse tail.” You cannot pull it out by the roots or it spreads from another source. You have to keep breaking it off at the ground level until it finally loses it’s energy to keep growing. It drives me mad at times…but I am determined to get rid of it. I love roses and hydrangeas, too, and have them at my home. I had to go out and spray the roses with a soap spray yesterday….the caterpillars are out right now and love eating the leaves. Happy upcoming birthday to your hubby and have a great day! Welcome home! xoxo Kim
Isn’t it amazing how the garden can get out of control so fast if not tended on a regular basis.
But…that being said, I must admit that you flowers look absolutely beautiful. Love the roses by the front porch.
Have a happy day and enjoy each moment.
Hugs, Cory/Dogwood
WELCOME HOME , MY FRIEND……YOU SOUND GREAT, YOU CAN TELL YOUR BABIES
ARE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU. MY SON-IN-LAW HAS LIMES TOO, AND HAS THE SAME REACTION AS DON DOES. IT IS REALLY A SHAME. YOUR FLOWERS ARE GORGEOUS, I BET THEY ARE GLAD TO SEE YOU TOO. HAVE A GOOD WEEK, RIZZI
Glad you’re home safely Claudia – knew you’d probably be facing gigantic garden chores, it’s unavoidable when one travels in Spring!
Sorry about dh’s Lyme Disease – I know that can be quite debilitating, and is very scary! I panic when I find a tick. Hope he is well to celebrate his BIG birthday – give him my best wishes please.
Looking forward to hearing more when you have had time to get organized.
Welcome home – love the pics – so glad you’re back.
Hugs – Mary
Welcome Home, Claudia…
– Wind pants- are great tick repellent when working in the yard. Lyme disease is a dreaded word here in NH as well! My parents live in what we refer to as – tick alley – Now to worry about the new flu like symptoms that come without the rash with a new tick related disease. VERY SERIOUS from what they’re reporting.
It’s a wonderful kind of tired from working the gardens and so rewarding! Love the birdbath, Claudia. After several years of searching I found my vintage beauty this spring. Now to find another to enjoy from the front porch after it’s enlarged and repaired! Lots of projects here on spruce drive… New England weather is so – UNFORGIVEN – BUT I can’t imagine living anywhere else!!!!
Good Luck with your yard sprucing… it’s looking beautiful!
How exciting you are home and able to have a good look around and see how everything is doing. The plants you have photographed look beautiful. You must have breathed a sigh of relief when you came home!
Happy Homecoming!
Hugs,
Terri
Your garden, thanks to the crazy amount of rain we’ve had, looks gorgeous and lush. Just beautiful!