Signs of Spring

Cool mornings, warm afternoons, more daylight, and the end of formal schooling for the year.  Typical signs of the blessed break we all prayed for and lovingly remember from our childhood.  My middle child has been busy at work becoming a photographer.  I thought I would share with you her best picks yet.

Yes the clover grows abundantly in our fields, it must know we are Irish

Our cherry tree in full blossom

How fragile after a strong storm, always sad to see blooms on the ground

The promise of more beauty to come

In a matter of days, God is good

Crazy wildflowers that bloom all summer and spread, LOVE

I love the water on the leaves and Maggie's exclamation after a rain "Mom I  have to get out and take some pictures before the water dries up!"

And my personal favorite

What was your favorite?

Making a house a home

We are now on our 4th house and while I love the process of remodeling and making it ours, I love hate the middle state.  I am impatient to have it done and to sit, drink and enjoy the fruit of the work.  I spend endless hours in my abode homeschooling my children and dreaming about the feeling I want myself, hubby, children, family and visitors to have when they are over.

My husband and I joked about the lack of curb appeal of the house below, when we drove by in our house hunting.  Be careful what you joke about, as it is the house we ended up buying!!

Third photo is with some of the overgrown bushes taken out

A wonderful couple had raised their son here and were moving to be closer to family.  The house was immaculate.  I often cringe about her walking back in here and discovering all the dirt and cobwebs that inhabit the house now.  

My husband is constantly reminding me that I will miss the hand prints and dirt that my kids, as well as the neighborhood posse, drag in my house.  We have a wonderful cherry tree in the front yard that is great for climbing.  Last summer was the meeting spot for the Spirit Club (don't ask, adults were not allowed in)

Kind of like this times 7

In bloom, about the best feature of the yard

So last summer, my husband dusted off his rotor tiller, shovel and power tools.  We add curving flower beds to softern the lines of the long driveway, planted over 10 trees and added round columns to the front porch.  We added a whitewashed beadboard ceiling and fans to keep the southern breeze going and the bugs at bay.

We (hubby) took out ceiling and rebuilt porch for the bigger/wider columns.  We added a bead-board ceiling with fans.  My advice to all is to whitewash before installing boards.

Gotta love the look of construction.  Getting in the front door was an obstacle course for a few weeks, but it was worth it in the end.

Still a construction area, but a major improvement.  Notice the new plantings, that always helps with curb appeal.

Is anyone else impatient?  What are you impatient for?