...in winter enjoy!

" In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."

The unusual southern snow sparked my passion to shoot photo after photo of the new white blanket covering a formerly russet landscape. And taking photos is a new hobby that I really enjoy. I've learned so much from many of you who share with me the passion of photography. So joining in on Mary's Mosaic Monday and seeing what all of you have to contribute is such a pleasure for me!

Looking through my photo collection, I noticed I'd taken these same Adirondack chairs in past seasons; spring, fall and now winter. So I thought it'd be fun to group them in a mosaic to compare.Now, since I'm a southern gal, I don't own a pair of snow boots but that didn't stop me from braving the icy snow and the bitter cold. I just tied some plastic bags over my shoes and secured them with a rubber band. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! LOL!

And was it ever COLD! BRRRRRR!

You can see here, the accumulation of snow from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning.

I'd say at least three inches.

I know. Some of you northerners are silently laughing. :) My cardinal friend looked me right in the eye as if to say,

"So what are you waiting for? Fill up the bird feeder!"

And then he played peek-a-boo with me.

Even the dried up crab-apples...

...and crepe myrtle buds transform to a renewed splendor in the snow.
Of course, I'm not the only one in our household who enjoyed the snow.

pretty boy wasn't too sure about this makeshift sled (really a trash can lid),

but it didn't take long riding with mom...

before he got the hang of it!

Sunday Eve

Sharing this post with others at Spiritual Sunday and Mosaic Monday.

april to august

"Fairest of the months! Ripe summer's queen

The hey-day of the year

With robes that gleam with sunny sheen

Sweet August doth appear."

~R. Combe Miller

Summer's passing quickly. I can't believe August is upon us, can you? I'm contributing to Mosaic and Metamorphosis Monday sharing with you the natural metamorphosis in our gardens from April planting time to mature August.

This was our patio/pergola in April. We had just freshly stained our pergola and planted our flowers. If you would like to see that transformation, click here and here.

Here it is today. Notice how the Wisteria has grown! We planted it five years ago and this year it is barely covering our pergola to provide us shade at last. Oops, there's hubby reading the morning paper.

And this is where it all began in April with a little sweat and hard work and a lot of God's blessings - rain and sunshine!

Here's one of our planters at the end of the pergola freshly planted in April.

And here are our lush planters in August. I also persuaded hubby to secure a hanger to the post to hang one of my watering cans. It just took him 3 months. ;=) Isn't it odd how the smallest of jobs take the longest?

Freshly planted sweet potato vines. Aren't they puny?!

But not anymore!

Will this pretty little mandevilla ever make it to the lattice work??

I'll say she did!!

Here's the view from our water fountain in April - kind of bare.

But in August, the black-eyed Susan's peek out from behind it.

And in April, a mockingbird laid her eggs in our rose trellis.

And raised them till they were old enough to fly away.

So in August, we're left with an empty nest. :=(

In April, I transplanted some ground cover from other parts of the garden to this vintage container. I wasn't sure whether it would catch on or not.

Lookie here! It's growing like crazy. Well, thanks so much for visiting with me. Hope you enjoyed an August tour through the garden. You know in a blink of an eye it will be Autumn and all this will be gone until we do it again next year, Lord willing. Check out the other party goers at Mary's little Red House and Susan's Between Naps on the Porch. She may be taking a nap on her gorgeous porch, but just give her a click and she'll wake up for you. Thanks Mary and Susan for a wonderful party!!