Finally, the time has arrived!

I have been waiting for this impatiently since December 10th! I could hardly wait to get my tools out and get my hands dirty, and it just kept raining, and raining, and raining! Finally, this week, spring has decided to take up residence in the Pacific Northwest and I was able to do what I have been longing for since we bought this house! Transform the patio and flower beds from ugly and overgrown to beautiful and restful.

The picture of the patio before I began working!

I have always wanted to do a color coordinated flower garden, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Friday afternoon I hit the garden departments of Home Depot and Lowe's and began making my choices! I was so excited to bring home a car load of pink, purple and white flowers!

Here is the result of my efforts...I love how it is looking, and in a few weeks when the plants have grown some it is going to be spectacular!

I am looking forward to spending many, many happy hours on the patio this summer!

Musings....

I get so wrapped up in Facebook. Addicted really. I find I use it as my primary means of communication, even with family. I rarely send emails anymore. Phone calls are even rarer. Personal messages on Facebook are so easy and no switching between programs!

I have found that I sometimes forget, totally, that I even have a blog. Until I run across something like this at the local Joannes store:
A beautiful (and expensive) 150 page "magazine" (I would call it a book actually) highlighting beautiful and artsy blogs. Of course, I snatched it up and brought it home...for inspiration I told myself. In actuality, it left me feeling woefully inadequate and un-artistic! Upon careful reading, it seems as if most of the featured bloggers don't do much with their lives except take beautiful pictures with expensive cameras and then write about them on their blogs. Yeah, I'm complaining, mainly because I am insanely jealous that I can't do the same.

What I need is a magazine that can inspire people who have an actual 8 to 5 job, plus are running their own small business, plus are raising children and managing a household. Now that is a magazine I would love to see! I love taking beautiful pictures, and I do have some really good ones. But I don't have the time to fiddle with Photoshop getting those pictures even better. Maybe in my next life called retirement???

Anyway, we have just returned from a long overdue vacation in paradise! We spent a week at our timeshare on Kahana beach on Maui...very soothing for my soul...here are a few of the best pictures from this trip. Hope you enjoy them. And I really have made a resolution to blog more! Promise!