Simple Joys

It's been so incredibly beautiful in Alabama these past few weeks. When I left for New Orleans a couple weekends ago, my trees had barely any leaves on them. As I approached my driveway that Sunday evening, everything had exploded into a shimmering mass of green. Blossoms are beginning to open, and the air is heavy with the scent of honeysuckle and jasmine. Trees once stark and draped with Spanish moss in a Gothic fashion have now been dotted in with bright green shiny leaves... it's such a breathtaking time of year here. The air is still relatively cool, and there is a hint of dampness that makes everything feel new.

Because of this, I have been working outside a lot. The house is coming along very slowly on the inside; I've wanted to dedicate all my time to getting the landscaping just how I want it before it gets too Hellishly hot to do anything outside (other than drink cold beer and sweet tea on the deck). I'm just about finished with the outside. Wanna see?

I've made a leaf pile that is most impressive:

(It's no Springfield Tire Fire, but it's getting there.)

One day I will replace the hippie chairs with real outdoor furniture, but right now they are perfect.


Mister Boy loves the deck almost as much as I do:


Aside from some pansies out front, I haven't planted anything in the ground yet. But I have thrown together some flower pots:





(I picked up the blue bottles at a yard sale last weekend; I plan on making a bottle tree sometime this summer)

The front yard is thrilling me as well... I love my little Dogwood tree!


Finally, one of my favorite things... my own sort of Terabithia right outside my front door. You can see my house in the background:


If only it could be like this all year... le sigh.

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"In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

- Margaret Atwood
Candadian writer (b. 1939)