No room in the hammock...

The hammock that hangs in our garden gets so much use in the Summer.

 It has finally taken all the abuse it can possibly take, and I couldn't be happier about it.

It is usually filled to over-flowing with grandchildren when my own children visit.

Often you find my husband in it taking a nap under the trees.

Next Spring I will be buying a new one.

The ropes are all frayed and breaking from the use it has gotten over many years of children 

playing together or sisters sitting together, chatting away the hours. 

It is funny how a bunch of rope twisted together on two sturdy pieces of wood

can bring so much pleasure to so many.

So now this beloved hammock will go to our property in the mountains to entertain

the children when we are there.

 It still has another year of mild use in it.(I think)?

The garden blooms are winding down now.

 I took some of these photos about ten days ago while things were

still blooming abundantly.

Geraniums and sweet potato vine growing on the studio wall.

Beautiful echinacea growing alongside 'Bright Eyes' garden phlox and 'Winnipeg Parks' roses.

I love this combination for Fall.

Garden phlox has got to be the quintessential

 'granny garden' flower. It, and hollyhocks.

I don't know of many flowers that bring as much pleasure to me than these.

OK...

I know I say that about almost every flower in the garden.

...but they truly are gems in the border.

I adore the smell of the big flowers held high on sturdy stems.

Isn't this pink phlox just like candy????

Another pretty favorite...

 a lovely shade of lilac

I think the lavender one is my favorite though.

And I just wanted to share some of the views around the garden.

And on the porch...

And in the gazebo...

I have enjoyed this Summer so much.

But now it is time to welcome a new season to the garden.

Soon the trees will be turning and the grass will lose it's green.

I will be busy with garden clean-up soon enough.

So...

 it is time to say goodbye and

 beat Dale to the hammock!!!

White in the garden...

I have a few wooden structures in the garden that I love. The round gazebo was a gift

from a friend, and the arbor my husband built for me is now

covered by a very large grapevine and a climbing rose. All of them started out

in their natural state, but over time have ended up white.

This gazebo that I am showing here is a square structure and was in it's natural state

until a few weeks ago, when I finally decided that I would

probably love it more if it were white.

This gazebo was built by a man in town who builds adirondack chairs

 and picnic tables and sells them for extra money. He uses lumber left over from

homes that he builds for a living.

My husband had gone to his home to buy a picnic table for our daughter.

While visiting with the man, he commented on this lovely garden

 house that was in his yard. The gentleman said that his wife thought

it was too big for their small yard and wanted it moved.

So my husband being the nice guy that he is, bought it for me and soon it

was coming to our place on a flatbed trailer to live in our garden.

It had been stained a redwood color and had faded badly and needed to be re-stained

 (or something)and of course that something happened to be white paint)).

It sits out back by the pasture fence.

 It took me days to paint it,

 but I think it was worth it.

You can see that I got in a hurry and didn't paint the ceiling yet.

Of course I had to make some pretty linen curtains to hang in it.

Even the willow furniture that I bought at a yard sale years ago, ended up white.

No surprise I'm sure. You know how I love white!!!

It's falling apart slowly, but I love this set of furniture.

They got their coat of white paint several years ago for

my daughter's wedding.

Not too comfy without cushions, but they add interest

 even if they aren't real functional.

The pergola over the front patio is my favorite of all the structures in the garden.

This is where we hang out most of the Summer.

My husband built it and I love him for it.

 He is so helpful that way.

I think he really does enjoy his contributions to the garden.

He hung an old door in the hedge just because I said that I would love to have

one there. It seems that all I have to do is say "hmm, wouldn't it be nice if"

and he puts on his trusty tool belt.

Ya gotta love that!!!

(and a man in a tool belt)

There are some lovely blogs sharing their whites today,

and I am linking up with Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.

I must write today of blessings...

Today I feel like writing....

Writing about the blessings in my life and the gratitude that I feel in my heart.

   

The other day I was speaking with a friend in town, and she was asking me about life with Landon (my son with Angelman Syndrome) and the care that he requires daily. She was wondering things like how long it takes to feed him and get him ready for the day and other personal care issues.  She wanted to know how much he understands, and does he let me know when he needs something? (Landon has no speech and is severely mentally impaired, as most of you know already) She also wanted to know if Landon expresses love and how he expresses it, if able.

This always makes me stop and reflect about this life...

this life I have with my son...

this great blessing...

And today I need to write it.

I needed to write it down.

I needed to be grateful again for this gift I've been given.

When I think back to the time when I was trying to accept this gift (and not doing well at it) the grieving process can be hard...very, very hard)) I remember the days and weeks and months, and yes, even years,

that I lived with the color drained from my life. I was consumed by grief for a time. 

I dwelled on the 'will nots'

 the 'he will never run and play...s', the 'he will never get married and have a family...s'. 

All the things that moms and dads think when they get the news that their child is not like 'other children'. 

I was able to seek help... and I prayed A LOT!!!

Soon the color started coming back into my life. And this was literal. I had been living life in what seemed to be black and white (more like grey really). It was amazing to me how things took on color and brilliance again. Something that had been missing for a time. Then I started noticing that I smiled more and could actually feel joy again over the smallest things.

Over time I was able to see the blessing...the enormous blessing that I had been given. This child, this very amazing child...who, at almost twenty-four, needs to be fed his food, and have his teeth brushed and his baths and all the other things done for him that I took for granted with my other five children before him.

That by doing these things for him daily,

 that it really is a gift.

That it really is the greatest blessing that I have been given in life.
I don't take things for granted as much as I used to.
 I appreciate more, I love more, and I feel more, than I ever did before.

And yes, I told my friend...

he does express his love for me...

in his eyes,

in his smile,

and in his hugs.

These are my greatest blessings.

and I needed to write them today.

***

Because of the gift of Landon in my life, I have the opportunity to stay at home and have the time to also plant and care for this garden that brings Landon and the rest of my family joy.

And for this, I am thankful.

I wanted to share the hollyhocks that grow out by the pasture fence.

Thank you to all who visit here.
I want you to know I appreciate it all so much.