How Time Flies: Spring Update

Many, many apologies to my readers for my absence.  I honestly didn't realize it had been two whole months since my last post!  And the last couple of them haven't even been about my place.

I do not know if I can make up for it, but I can recap some of what I've been up to.

The door to nowhere finally has steps!  This sat undone for almost a year after a friend and I took down the old dry rot porch.

I also painted the side of the garden shed a light green, although pictured here is just the white primer.

I have been out in the yard doing whatever presents itself as far as weeding and maintenance goes.  It's been a lovely cool Spring here, just like we like it!

I'm thinking about some artistic paint projects for when it finally quits raining, like a couple of fun murals on the garden shed walls.  I also found some lovely yellow paint I'd like to add on the house for accent color.

I'm building a very small deck off another back door that will require some design tweaks for the steps, stay tuned!  I will also add some potted plants back there as it gets great summer sun.

I think my front porch / mud room will hold up a while longer.  It's not settling anymore and the structure seems sound.  The dry rot was replaced a couple years ago and the steps and deck are new.

Robynne if you're reading this, I lost your email!  Contact me, I'm curious as to how your mudroom is going.

 Last week the majestic Pileated woodpecker stopped by to devour an old piece of log I had sitting around.  What an amazing bird!  I did also get a shot of him on the tree.

 Well it's a great day to stay in by the fire while it pours outside.  Hope you're having a good weekend.

Think Spring!

My sister blogs about gardening and this month she wrote about getting out her seed catalogs and planning out her garden.  She said she gets out last years photos to use for planning. 
I think this is brilliant and gave me the idea to do the same.

Normally at this time of year I dread looking outside as it is cold or wet or just plain unattractive.  Actually the native vegetation looks nearly the same year round, so that's a save, but the ornamental grasses and flowers are dormant.

I did move quite a lot of plants around last year, so not sure how last years photos will help, but they sure are inspiring! 
So here are a few for you to enjoy while you're waiting for winter to pass.