Getting Back to the Way We Were

As many of you know my husband and I have been married for 27 years and like all other couples we have grown together, learned to accept, defend, read each others minds and have had good days and bad days. Fortunately, for us, the good days have definitely won over the bad days. In fact, to date, I can count on my hand the true number of 'bad' days we've had..

To say that my husband is my best friend and true soul mate seems far less of a definition to explain. Perhaps the words, "True Love" are the better fit.

For weeks we've been working non stop at our jobs and have only now just begun to rise above the demands and get back to the way we were.. In love, spending time with each other, sitting quietly next to one another and reading each others minds. Isn't funny how you can sit in a room with your true love and a word doesn't have to be uttered to feel the warmth of love around you?

This past Monday we had a mini lover's getaway to Lavallette, NJ and today I am still smiling about the retreat.. It was definitely one of the Top 10 days for me with 'him'.

An early morning rise while letting 'him' sleep afforded me the opportunity to walk alone around the beach to soak in the crisp fresh air..

Even the seagulls were greeting me "Good Morning"..

New pine cones...

And then some older cones..

An empty park bench but not for long as the visitors were strolling along..

My theme this week with photography was capturing people doing what they do.. While I could have spent the entire day at this task, here are a few that

inspired me..

The restaurant that we ate breakfast in provides characters daily.. this waitress apparently drew the 'short straw' for the day..

The lone lifeguard patrolling the beach..

Workers across the street talking in their language during a lunch break.

What do you make of this? It's a solar calamity if you ask me.. Yes, those are all solar lights in this front yard.. While driving by I screamed to my husband.... STOP and TURN AROUND!! You know those types of screams don't you?? Upon driving by I realized that the backyard is basically the same way. It must look pretty funny at night! I'll get back to you on that after I revisit the house during the middle of July at night.

What better of a way to end a Lover's Getaway than a fine fair?

What does one do when it starts to shower at the beach? Go Shopping!

My husband and I visited a store called "Globetrotter" and you can bet I'll be trotting back in the first opportunity I get.. The picture above is a spinning balloon that we picked up and is now spinning to its hearts delight in my backyard.

Meditation chains now hang in front of the house and the back of the house.. Between these and the feng shui bells I should be whistling Dixie 24/7!

New terra cotta balls with stars.. Can't wait to see what they

look like at night on my back patio..

And yes... here we are.. "Getting Back to the Way We Were"...

An Outsiders Opinion

Have you ever heard of the phrase, "Cannot see the forest for the trees"? While this idiom is often used in the workplace, today I related it to my gardening experience. Perhaps as gardeners we often get too involved in the overall landscape. We see the things that should be done, the weeds that may have grown too large, the nooks and crannies that could be replanted and spruced up. Sure, we capture the great shots of blooming flowers or unstoppable foliage when the moment presents itself, but how often do we truly sit back and look at our gardens like an outsider does? How often do we say, "WOW!" look at all you've done? Look how beautiful everything looks?

I think sometimes I don't do that nearly enough. At night when I drive in to my driveway I'm so focused on the evening ahead of me, chores that need to be completed, or just blinded by exhaustion that I don't truly absorb the garden as I should on my way in.  I am reminded that the only time that I'm truly at awe or knocked off my kilter is when I've gone away for as little as three days and come home to a garden that suddenly looks like it's grown 12"!

Today however, I had the opportunity to be reminded of my good fortune and beautiful garden by an outsider who casually said, "Leslie.. your gardens are beautiful". I've written about this particular outsider before as he is my wonderful plumber from Frenchtown, NJ. It just so happens that I had another leaky pipe and called to see if he was available. I was happy to hear that he would be stopping by within an half an hour. When he entered my home he stopped and remarked on how beautiful my gardens were. The words  literally melted me like butter. I had been out in the garden weeding with my hands in the dirt, nose to the ground and so fully absorbed in the 'chore' that I forgot about the 'joy' and the 'satisfaction'.  Saying 'thank you' just didn't seem enough but it was all I could muster at the moment.

Yes, I know, it's been a while since I've written a post, but with good reason. As some of you probably realized I've been distant because of the demands at work. It's been a heck of a season for us at the Nursery and a good one at that. Within one week we were toured by the Garden Centers of America 2011 Tour where over 90 people from other garden centers toured the Nursery I work for. This was an honor for us to be chosen to be toured by this wonderful group. Then, during the same week, we had a major sale event. Finally, I can say that my 6-day work week has come to a close and this was the first week I'm back to working 5-days a week. So, hello again!

Old shoes I recently planted ..

If you've been following my blog and remember my last photos of the gardens, you'll be surprised to see what has grown and changed.. Let's go see!

I don't know what it is that I find so beautiful about this narrow walkway and steps that leads to the lower portion of my yard..

Perhaps it is the moss growing in the crevices, the ferns that wave on one side, while the pachysandra hovers on

the other side?

This clematis has been the most recent showstopper in my front yard.

Would you like to guess what this flower is?

The daylilies that make me daydream..

My first green pepper!

Gorgeous squash!

Beans on the horizon..

Potatoes popping up all over!

Fantastic figs!

Caladium, Fern & Ivy baskets being pretty!

And ... just like these baby Robins that I found in our barn..

They are waiting for their mommy to bring them more food, as am I waiting for my garden to further surprise and delight me!  So, tell me.. "How does your garden grow these days?"