just in case...

you don't get a chance to drive by, I thought I'd post some pictures of my finished landscaping project. I had lots of help from my kids. In fact, early Saturday morning Cooper was outside with me digging and watering etc... I told him how much I appreciated his help and told him I was going to take him to DQ for a treat when we were done. A little while later, he disappeared into the house and then came back out and continued to help me. Soon after, one after the other came the other kids more than eager to see what they could do to "help." The Dairy Queen is very popular around our house.

Next we will have to work on that front step and porch....One of my favorites is this Rose Shrub... it is called the "Lena" and is supposed to be very hardy for growing in the north.Some of my pots.... I planted lots of geraniums, impatients (and my new favorites the double impatients that almost look like mini-english roses), petunias, and bacopa.

And just so my friends will have more reasons to tell me what a obessive compulsive, Type-A person I am, I will show you the little "garden journal" I've been working on... complete with a map and care instructions for all of my new plants! Yep.... I'll admit it. I'm a freak.

And our sweet Em.... so glad her mommy is done with all that work so she doesn't have to bark and whine at the front door anymore!

my new "thing"

So I spent the better part of last week and weekend making the rounds to all the nurseries searching for plants and flowers for our front yard. I have always wanted to be good at gardening... so I decided it was time for me to give it a try. I think the first lesson to being "good" at gardening is that you actually have to enjoy it.... but maybe it will be easier to enjoy when I'm not digging 428 holes.

I planted lots of spireas, a few hydrangeas and pink potentillas, catmint, daylilies, phlox, dianthus, rose shrubs, salvia, delphinium, and lots of other stuff I can't remember!Thank you to our family "photojournalist" Katelyn for the oh most flattering photos...

And here is miss Em... wishing she could get in on a little of the "dirt" action...

The project is pretty much complete... so you will have to drive by and check it out! [Before I have some casualties!]

sunday night

in the back yard.

there really is no place like...

home.

for my mom

and any other family members wanting to see photos of ME in Africa... you see, since I am the one with the camera I am not IN very many photos. But here I am holding a little boy named Julius who lives at the hospice center we visited last night. They care for babies who are born with HIV/AIDS until they are well enough to go back to live with their families. Only two more days until I get to leave for home!!! Love you and miss you all............