Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Part II---Our Yard (minus the leaves)


Be sure and read yesterday's blog if you missed it. This is Part II of the pictures I took on Monday afternoon ---after George and I finished blowing and raking the leaves in the yard. Guess what that picture above is?????? That's one of several squirrel's nests we have around us... Now that the trees are bare, the squirrels lose their privacy!!!!









I took this picture from the driveway --looking across the front yard. You can see some roses, the new flowerbed in front --and the 'lamppost' flowerbed.









Here is a close-up of the Lamppost Flowerbed . We have three round flowerbeds in our front yard. This past week--besides blowing and raking leaves, we also planted 48 Pansies in these three round beds. That will give us some color through the winter. Pansies do well here --unless the temperatures dip extremely low for a long period of time.









This is a close-up of our Confederate Jasmine bush. You can see this bush in the first photo of yesterday's blog. IF you remember from my Summer posts, this beautiful and fragrant bush has fabulous white blossoms all summer. This time of year, the blooms start disappearing leaving a deep pinkish color on the bush. So pretty!!!









Here's one more picture of our front yard ---absent of leaves!!!!! Look across the street into the empty lot. Can you see that big pile of leaves????? Most of those came from our front yard!!!!!









Now you can see the 'lower' side of our home. As you can tell, the English Ivy and our Periwinkle are great ground-covers for this area. In the background, you can see our large woodpiles. The wood to the left is THIS year's wood (which has been aging for a year) and the pile on the right is our new wood for next year.


Well---that's our yard in LATE Fall... I love all four seasons with Fall being one of my favorite times. YES---even with all of the work , I still love Fall. Now I'm getting ready for Winter---a time when hopefully, I can stay inside more and work on my Family History. And of course, that will include enjoying roaring fires in the fireplace most every single day.


Hugs,

P.S. Two Prayer Requests today please:
1. Let's remember ALL of our VETERANS today on Veterans Day. These men and women fought and died for US---and for our FREEDOM. Remember them and their families.
2. Please remember my blog friend, BETTY, upon hearing about the death of her sister.

50 comments:

Kathy W said...

Betsy your lawn sure is nice. LOL I told my mom once that we plant pansys here in the winter and she had a hard time believing that. Love you rose. =)

Anonymous said...

It is a lot of work to maintain such a large space but when the wood is dry it is comforting to know you are safe and sound at home and ready for the winter.

SquirrelQueen said...

Before I forget again, I love your new header photo. Perfect for the season.

Your roses are so pretty, they make it hard to believe it's fall. The yard is looking good and you have your supply of wood, looks like you are ready for winter. It's just around the corner here.

Judy

diane b said...

Me too, I keep forgetting to say how nice your Autumn header is.I must change mine one day. You still have lots of colour in your garden and those roses are so tough and beautiful, like their owners. I would be useless in a real winter. I know nothing about wood piles, or open fires. All those trees without their clothes look so strange to me. It is nice to virtually experience your seasons.

pam said...

You have a beautiful yard!

Peggy said...

Your yard looks beautiful even in the fall when things are dying away for winter. So rainy and muddy here that everything is a mess. I will keep your friend Betty in my prayers. Service men and women are always in my thoughts and prayers. Have a blessed day!

Jayne said...

Your yard looks wonderful Betsy! Indeed, we should all remember the brave men and women who give their all to protect us and our freedoms. Prayers ascend for Betty and her family.

Connie said...

Betsy, we have several squirrels that have lost their privacy here too. Sounds cozy for you to sit by a roaring fire and work on your family history. :)

Thistlebrooms said...

Yard looks lovely Betsy...
Our Summer Squirrels nests usually fall to the ground with all the Winds & Rain. We watch them gather their food for the Winter months & store them in their NEW Winter lodgings in the abandon holes in the trees.
As we sit on the deck overlooking the woods its a joy (for us) to watch the wild life scamper to prepare for the oncoming Colder weather...Life or Death issue with them...
Enjoy The Warmth of your Fire...
Always~Marilyn

Cherry said...

the second photo looks so inviting, makes me want to stay in your beautiful yard forever. :)

Arkansas Patti said...

If you can grow Confederate Jasmine, surely I can. I looooove the fragrance.
Your yard looks better in fall than mine in spring. Very nice.
You all ought to start a compost bin with all those leaves. The roses would love that.
My prayers are for Betty and her sisters family.

T said...

You have a beautiful yard - I'm a tad green over it!

Mary said...

How nice to still have some roses! That jasmine is beautiful. I'm glad your leaves are gone, but how nice that you left the squirrels enough to build all those nests :-) We'd got enough squirrel nests to make me wonder if they have several homes each!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Your yard looks lovely, as always. Love your fall decorations too Betsy.
Yes, prayers of thanks for our veterans...sending warm thoughts to Betty.
XOX
Suz

Susie said...

I can't believe how bare ya'lls trees are already! We still have lots to come down. Unfortunately, they like to come down right in our yard.

MadSnapper said...

I envy you your seasons, down here in Florida, the trees all look the same year round. Great shot on the rose in the foreground. beautiful shot in fact.

Dorothy said...

Looks like we went to see the color at the right time! Now it's all bare! Your yard looks great! Now, make hot chocolate or cider, put your feet up and sit on your 'throne' by the window with your camera and ENJOY!

Roses and Lilacs said...

I dearly wish I could grow jasmine here. I miss the fragrance. I spent a lot of time moving leaves last week too.
Marnie

Beth said...

Betsy, you are a blessed woman to be able to sit by a roaring fire and look out on that gorgeous yard. I especially love that Confederate Jasmine bush---I'm going to look for one of those next year. I remember how it sheltered that family of brown thrashers back in the summer. Pansies are one of my favorite flowers---I love their little faces. I know you'll enjoy yours.

Beth said...

I meant to mention, as well, that I will certainly say a prayer for Betty and her family. God bless her. And God bless all our veterans and their families and the families of those that never made it back.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I enjoyed all your yard pictures. Your lawn is so pretty. I spent the entire day yesterday getting up leaves and some are back already this morning. I have one lone rosebush still blooming! Your Christmas cactus is beautiful.

Snap said...

The jasmine is gorgeous. Lovely shots all. I chuckled about no privacy for the squirrels now -- they build big nests in the local trees and "squeak" at us. I do worry about them in a big wind!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Looks liek you're all stacked up on firewood too!

You have a beautiful yard Betsy.

Sunny said...

Even without the leaves your yard looks lovely.
You should be nice a cozy with all the wood to burn, our woodpile is pretty good size...in anticipation of winter's arrival.
Enjoy your day.
Sunny :)

Small City Scenes said...

Lots of hard work but sure is a nice time of year. Of course this is the rainy season--well now until May---!

Enjoyed all your pics. MB

penny said...

The squirrels will be snug as a bug in a rug up there. Your roses are beautiful for this time of year and with that stack of wood your all set for the winter.
I enjoyed viewing the fruits of your labor, Betsy.

Sharon said...

hi Betsy! I'm new here but wanted to say "great job on the all the raking!" It's a lot of hard work! The flowers look beautiful and the squirrels look embarrassed! ~smiles~

I will join you in prayer for your friend Betty and the loss of her sister... And continue praying for our brave soldiers who sacrifice so much for us.

I enjoyed my visit! If you're interested, I host a blog carnival on Thursdays called 'just for the JOY of it' -- would love to have you link up. Seems like you have a lot of JOY in your life!!

Blessings!

Mary said...

You two have made your yard beautiful, Betsy--a haven to enjoy in every season. Here in coastal North Florida, we are just beginning to see signs of autumn. We do have trees that change color and drop leaves in the winter as well as many types of pines, huge live oaks, palms, and others that stay green all winter. Autumn is my favorite season, too. Thank you for the super photos.

Cheryl said...

Before I forget AGAIN Betsy, I have been meaning to tell you how much I have enjoyed your Thankful notes. Wonderful. Your yard is absolutely wonderful. Poor Squirrels, maybe thats why they sometimes get into attics...they've lost their privacy and need to hide! I didn't know that pansies would bloom all winter either. Nice of you as well to remind us what today should be about and I will keep Betty in my prayers.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

The yellow rose is sooo beautiful...m..

Pat - Arkansas said...

Your yellow rose is beautiful. I'd be very envious of your wood pile, if I had a fireplace... lol! Your grounds are very close to immaculate; you and George must work hard to keep it that way.

Betty said...

Thank you so much for you prayers and kindness.I am over whelmed by all of the kind words from your followers. Thank you again.
Your yard is lovely even with out the leaves.
~~Love,Hugs asnd Good Thouhgts~~

imac said...

Busy bees, you both.
Remember in silence.

LV said...

Betsy, what a beautiful post today with words and pictures. I enjoy my yard, but yours is so very pretty. Of course, it gets a lot of tender care. I still do mine, it takes longer and I have to rest often. You live in such a lovely area and have a lovely home.

Joe Todd said...

Lot of work done very nicely. That wood pile was some work to I've had a few like that in my day but don't have a need now. Great post and have a wonderful day.

EG CameraGirl said...

I do wish pansies would bloom here all winter, I guess I'll have to visit your blog for winter colour. ;-)

Jen said...

Oh I hear that wood pile calling your name! enjoy!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Betsy, I sure wish I could send you a pair of white squirrels for your squirrel nest, then both of us could enjoy them!!!

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hey Betsy,

Glad to see someone has all of the leaves blown away...not here..haha They are all slowly being blown into the valley....Thomas can do it at Thanksgiving.

Oh, and the title of my post for the dressform light lady says what her name is..hehe...you are the second person to not notice the title of the post. Is it Monday...again??..hehe

We have had constant rain from the hurricane that went in at the Alabama coast...it went in near Mobile Bay where we used to live.

Hugs,
Steph

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

The end result of all that work is a lovely yard.The grass is still so green and pretty.
Blessings,Ruth

Tina said...

Betsy,
You and George sure have put a lot of hard work into your yard..but all done with love I'm sure!! I love George's wall he constructed and am jealous that you will have pansies blooming over the winter!!
Nice post!

Diane said...

YOur yard looks pretty and ready for winter. Now what happens if the wind blows from the direction of that big pile of leaves????

Shelley said...

Everything looks so nice in your yard Betsy! I can picture myself sitting back there! LOL!! I am getting ready for the 1st snowflakes.... Hope you are too!
I think I'm back on track for blogging regularly - I had a lot of tests and homework these past couple weeks. I've missed ya!!
Hugs,
Shelley

Cookie said...

Wow! What a difference in your yard. The jasmine still looks beautiful. When can you and George come to work on my yard???

Janie said...

You have such a beautiful yard. It's obvious that you and George put a lot of work and love into your home.

Karin said...

Love visiting your blog and seeing all your lovely pictures! Beautiful yard! Love that yellow rose!
So sorry for your friend's loss. My sympathies!

Lola said...

Your yard looks marvelous even tho the trees are bare for now. Love the pansies in the planters.
I well remember how a newly raked yard looks in the Fall. Can't forget the beauty.
My prayers are for Betty. May her pain lessen in time.

Joy said...

Crazy squirrels. Earlier this year I was outside by our pool and heard this awful racquet and saw something falling. A huge squirrels nest came tumbling out of very tall tree in our back yard. I should have taken a picture of it on the ground. It survived the fall.

I love English Ivy.

Joy

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The Retired One said...

Do you get any snow there?
I sure wish we could grow pansies and have them blooming year round!
But we get tons of snow and below zero here....so no plants survive here during the winter. ha