Baby it's cold outside...

We are not doing much, so more chilly photos for you. The pond is bringing all kinds of birds since there are not many fresh water sources around in these constant freezing temps. We keep the pump running and a heater coil just warm enough to keep the pond from icing over completely.

Fall color in a maturing garden install.

More in the life of a landscaper. It's been very wet these days as fall is coming on strong in the Northwest.

We are back at a clients garden we installed a few years ago to add a short doggie/baby fence. All of the gardens are carefully thought out to give great color year round and plenty of interest. This garden is one of my favorites. Someday hopefully, I want as much color in my own as yet unfinished garden.

Red door, yes please!

Another great thing about this one is the sweet smell it has. There are some great Daphne bushes in full blossom that smell wonderfully sweet, as well as a Katsura tree that smells like carmelizing sugar as the leaves turn and drop for the season. This garden has year round color that just brightens up the whole area!

I would sit out on the porch with the morning paper (laptop version) and a latte. As a bonus, they have a great local coffee shop just a few blocks away. What a lovely view to enjoy.
And for the full effect, above shows the after, and below is where we started...

Thank you to my followers, and a note on future "scheduled programming"

I just wanted to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been so supportive of me, and of others!

For the time being, I am keeping the giveaway post at the top of the page, so that everyone who wants to enter, can find it easily.

I have been asking around about what people want to see more of and have made some decisions about the ongoing edition of this blog...

This is a list of what to look forward to seeing during the next few months:

I will be updating the photography tutorial soon specifically as it applies to jewelry photography.
Stay tuned for more recipes including dinners and links to online stores where I get specialty products for cooking with.
I'll be promoting other handmade sellers as well
There will be ongoing special offers and giveaways.
I will probably be talking about my cats, the garden progress, the weather, and look forward to taking photos of the holiday decorations at my house.

Let me know if you want to add anything else! I always enjoy your input!

A day in the life of a landscaper....

So now that we are done digging in the mud and mixing concrete, we come to the more glamorous portion of the job. The plants. It's a wonderful time of year to be doing a design as well because of all the wonderful transformations that the plants go thru. Nowhere is this more evident to us than at the nurseries that we frequent.


I am always fond of the tiny little changes that take place on a smaller scale. The wonderful rattling seedheads that loose their seeds as they bend in the wind...

The fiddleheads of ferns that emerge with the newly moistened soil...
And the little landscapes in each individual pot that are so adorable in their petite expressions...


The planting starts soon, and I will keep this blog up to date with the progress.

Not so Sweaty Palms.....

So, they said snow, and when they say snow, half of Seattle hides, and the other half are just as skeptical as my cat Maggie. So they said snow, and I waited, and waited, and waited.... because I like the snow, and it means that we may be able to burn out beloved 10 year old "snow log". A log that came with the Greenlake house when James bought it, that we moved to the new house.... It has gone thru some snows, but we have not burnt it. I have gotten used to seeing it sit next to the woodstove, in it's solid wholeness.

In any case, it did snow. Which makes for untraditional views of the house...and not so sweaty palms.

Crispy

So, I did what I said I was going to do. Got up, did my AM Yoga, had breakfast, and went for a walk. It is very crispy out, a slight degree above freezing. Saw plenty of little winged foragers.

There was a knock on the door at 8:30 this morning, which is unheard of. But it was just the insurance guy needing to measure the house. Did some money saving adjustments.

Rocky freaked out as usual to any idea of another person coming to the house. The cats just sit there at the end of the hall peeking out with wide kitty eyes. They are so funny.

I think I'll make some earrings.