My Simple Life - Friday Fragments

I worked in the yard for hours yesterday.
It has rained so much lately that we couldn't mow or anything else, it was way too wet.  But finally it's dried up enough for us to get some work done.  And we did.  And now I am sore!  I moved rocks like a weightlifter, push-mowed, and weeded, and I am old.  And tired.  But - the lawn looks great!

This dragonfly flitted around us all day as we worked.
Finally I held my hand out, and he let me hold him for a while.

Things grow so nicely here.  My gardenia plant is already blooming, and gardenias can be difficult to grow.  I got some Mexican petunia from a friend a few weeks ago, but I didn't plant it right away and it was looking kind of sad by the time I planted it (she just pulled some of hers up for me).  But I planted it anyway and now it looks fantastic!  My jasmine is climbing up the tree it's planted by and is literally as tall as me.
I am also starting a rock garden.  I dug up rocks and found pieces of flint and shells.  I think it's a good start.

Once it got dark, I made a fire in my fire pit, turned on my fairy lights, and kicked back with a cold beverage or three.  I love my simple life.

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday while driving down our dirt road.  Her husband is in the ICU, very ill.  While talking to her, I looked over my shoulder and saw this double rainbow.
It didn't rain here yesterday - at all.
I truly believe it was a sign and told my friend about it!  I had chills.  We decided it was a double rainbow so that there was one for each of us.  Good things are coming!

I took this on our dirt road the other day for an Instagram photo prompt.
It was so pretty I wanted to share it here.

At the hospital where I work, there is a large duckpond.
So it's not unusual to encounter ducks while walking in or out.
It is unusual, however, to encounter ducks trying to walk INTO the hospital!
What a couple of quacks!

Visit Friday Fragments at it's Summer Home!

And have a wonderful weekend.

Home at Last

Since the weather warmed up, we have been planting. We planted pear trees, caladium bulbs, heather bushes, purple hearts, and most recently, a jasmine plant.

baby elephant ears
(a.k.a. caladium)
(a.k.a. chlamydia, if you are my husband.)

I still have a list as long as my arm of things I'd like to plant: a dogwood tree, a weeping willow, a gardenia bush, a camellia bush, azaleas, hydrangea, ranunculus....I could go on and on (and on and on.....).

there's no partridge in our pear tree.
to the best of my knowledge.

I love planting and gardening for all of the obvious reasons.  It's enjoyable.  I find it pretty amazing to plant a bulb in the ground and, just a short time later, have a beautiful plant growing there.  I guess I should've paid more attention in science; then maybe I'd understand how the bulb magically knows to start growing once you stick it in a hole and cover it with dirt.  Instead, I say "WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!" and just watch, awestruck at the whole process.

I love the beauty of the colorful plants.  I love the smell of fragrant flowers.  I love the deer that will eventually come and eat pears from the pear trees.

"Dude, are those pears on that tree?  SWEET!"

But there's another reason I love planting HERE, at our home.

It's because I know that I will be here forever to watch these plants grow and bloom, year after year.

I have only been a homeowner one other time in my life.  It was when I was a single mom the first time, and I ended up leaving that home after I married John.
With my first husband, we 'rented to own' a few times but never got to the 'own' part.

But now, I am home.  We are home.  It's not home 'for now', it's home forever.
It's an amazing feeling.

Five acres of creeks, rocks, trees, plants, wildlife, and woods.

Home.

One of my favorite places on this planet.

In the one home that I owned as a single mom, my youngest, Elayna and my Dad planted a cedar tree.  Obviously, we left it behind.  That was about 6 or 7 years ago, and Elayna still asks about that tree and wants to go by and see it when we're in the area.

Now, finally, we can plant a tree for her here, and know that she can watch it grow.  Forever.  

And that feels....indescribably good.  

P.S. I updated my About Me page.

Go look!  =)

Change.

I've never been a big fan of change.  I'm sure I've mentioned that here before.
I don't rearrange my furniture.  I get in ruts.  I usually keep the same hair color and style.  I'm  little outdated.

But sometimes in life we find ourselves in the middle of a whole lotta change, and we just have to roll with the punches.  Let me tell you what has changed in my life, just in the past six months: 

My marital status, twice: (divorce and then remarriage)

My last name:  (technically twice also. I had my maiden name restored when John and I divorced but didn't officially change anything since I knew I was marrying Byron.)

My job:  I started a new job in October.  Even though it's still in the health care field which I've worked in for almost 7 years now, it's totally different from what I've done before.  For the most part, I love it.  Just last week I had a sweet little old lady hold my hand and tell me there is a special place for me in Heaven.  But, it's definitely challenging as well.

My home:  I moved out to the woods with my love in December.  My husband welcomed me into his beautiful home and I could not love it more.

   



My car:  I kept the car when John and I split, but gave it back to him a few months ago  It needed more work than I wanted to pay for. It wouldn't survive the trips down the long dirt road to our home, anyway.  Now we just use Byron's big red 4x4 truck, which I LOVE.

Pets:  Byron came with a cat and dog, Mama Kitty and Patchy, whom he loves.  Since we got together, we acquired a little ankle-biter dog for me, Mackenzie, and then ended up with Byron's son's dog, Bo.  I adore all of these animals, but Patchy most of all.  He is an American Bulldog, about 11 years old, and just a wonderful animal.

Byron & Mama Kitty

Sweet Patchy

A-dork-able Bo

Crazy Mackenzie

 

Family: I have gained a Mother-in-Law, a stepson, and a brother-in-law.  Also, my stepson has a girlfriend whom we consider another one of our kids.  And a whole, wonderful, loving extended family.

Lifestyle: I now live in a world of hunting and country life.  My husband has outfitted me in head-to-toe camo.  I have learned so much from him.  Our yard attracts turkeys, raccoons, opossums, deer, hogs, coyotes, and who knows what else. I learned how to cook wild hog in the crockpot.
 Yes, these are MY boots on MY feet.

His & Hers Phone Cases

Home.....

        

For a girl who is resistant to change, that is a WHOLE LOTTA CHANGE in a short period of time.
It's no wonder I get a little overwhelmed sometimes.

But there is a contentment in this life that I have never before known.  A security and a feeling of protection and safety.

I guess sometimes.....change really is good.


Linking up with:

   

Mosaic Monday

Um, April Showers?....

....y'all better bring some awesome May Flowers because 

OMG THE RAIN!!!!

Since we just moved here in December, we haven't seen all of the seasons here on our property.
Just Florida's version of winter, and now the beginnings of Spring.

It's fun to watch the land change and transform.

One big change is A FERN INVASION.  They are everywhere.

We planted caladium and they are just beginning to sprout.  

I love little elephant ears!

 I've watched these spiky purple flowered weeds grow and had no idea they were such butterfly attractants.
They were surrounded by butterflies on my walk today.  Most of them flew away when I approached, but this one wasn't budging.

This bee wasn't deterred either!

 I sat by the creek for a long time, reading my Kindle book and just enjoying the quiet and the fresh air.

Have I told you lately that I LOVE my home?

*all pics taken via iPhone*

Visit Unknown Mami for more SIMC posts!

Rainy Sunday

Today was a perfectly.....icky day for a nature walk around our home.
It rained most of the weekend.
But some days, I feel like I have spent too much time cooped up indoors.
Too much time breathing hospital air, then closed up in the bedroom sleeping.
I literally crave the fresh air and feel as if I must go out and soak it in.

Wellies are a must.
These are not REAL Wellies, of course.
What would you call them?
"Alrighties"?
"Good Enough-ies"?
Anyway....

Mud, mud, everywhere.

Also everywhere are blackberry bushes!
I can't WAIT till they produce yummy berries.

I mean seriously, EVERYWHERE.
Bumper crop.
I can almost smell the cobblers already.

The moon was peeking over the trees.

She cranks,
she cranks,
she cranks my Tractor

Rusty

And now, a few shots of the various wildlife that appears right outside of our back door.

Most of these were taken with Byron's motion-sensor camera.

Male wild turkey

deer and female wild turkey

very alert deer

I took this picture from my kitchen window.
Byron puts corn out every day for the deer and other wildlife to eat.
This raccoon on the left literally filled his belly for about forty minutes,
and on the right is a female wild turkey (hen) who joined him for much of that time.

Hope you had a great weekend!