A Symbol of Love & Loyalty ~ Day 66

I planted a Japanese Maple in the center of our "Garden of Love" today! Yippeee!

The Japanese Maple brings a symbol of celebrating in the change of season, an "Autumn welcomed as a friend" and longivity if you are interested in meanings.


It is exactly what I needed for my beautiful Cranes standing there! :)

Then, it occurs to me, to ask myself, why I have been drawn to Cranes in my home and in my garden?
I have NOT seek them out  but the Cranes have been my common theme in my home and garden, so I did a little searching on the symbolic meanings behind them.

Cranes ~ A Symbol of Love and Loyalty.


..."cranes hold a symbolic representation in many cultures including the eastern cultures which worship these birds for their love, peace and harmony. Because cranes are faithful birds and mate for life, crane statues are popular choices for gifts to young couples starting their lives together. Many of us also offer crane statues as goodwill and longetivity for a wedding or an anniversary. The cranes are symbolic for young and old, an inspiring symbol of love for two people who are bound to the other through the ties of marriage. The Japanese for instance, hold the cranes very dearly as symbols of loyalty, love and peace ..."

How perfect!!!!!

That is exactly what I wanted to convey to my husband when I created his "Garden of Love" as a surprise for him on our 8th Anniversary!!!

It was all of my labor of love in the shape of a heart with an eternal ring with messages written for him!

"I made a wish"

"and you came true"

"I love you, James"

8 (symbol) is eternity

 I didn't have the pair of Cranes in my Garden of Love yet but the Garden itself was already very symbolic from my heart!

Little did I know, the Cranes were the meant to be there, soon after it was completed during one of our antique shopping trips with my husband in Ohio.

I do believe you are drawn to what you want, even when you are not sure how to express it completely! :)

With Love & Cranes,

Hai

No weeds, no mowing Garden, EVER! ~ Day 65

This is my Fall gardening project... I have NOT been on the couch and eating bon-bons this week! :)

Even my honey will be surprise!( He didn't know I was going to tackle this project!
Just for you, dear to have a better view from our new Master Suite, when you get back.

Since I do all the gardening projects around our cottage, going on 5 years, I finally learned how to create a beautiful yet carefree, low maintaince yard for us to enjoy! ( I am a slow learner! ha!)

We just moved our master suite to this side of the house and boy, did I have a challenge ! A tough spot to create something special.

Mind you, it is still young and not established garden yet but the idea is  to create privacy & a "hidden secret garden" where we can see from our bedroom windows and also to hide an ugly propane tank in view.

I'll just let my pictures do the blogging today! :)

First cut any existing grass down to the lowest level. I use the weedeater.

Rake the site clean

This is IMPORTANT! Cover the yard with black plastic, like paint protection plastic. I've tried all kinds of weed blockers out there, even the most expensive tough commercial weedblocker but this is cheaper & the best to get rid of weeds!!! We live in the country and our weeds are very aggressive.

I  cut the areas where I want my plants to be only. I also laid old concrete pavers from this old house exterior when we put in doors and windows. (I save everything until I find what to do with them.)

Mulch, mulch, mulch and LOTS of mulch! I get my mulch free from the county when they cut down trees and need a place to dump them. I am one of their sites! :)

Remember all those "Knock- Out" roses I brought home from Ohio?  Lots of rose bushes in my secret garden here with one Olive Tea tree in front of the propane tank to cover the unattractive view. Our charming path and mulching are done!

I use truckloads of mulch...especially to protect my plants through winter but also an inexpensive way to cover your plastic,weed defense!
See why I have lots of mulch? 

My no weeds garden! ( I left the right side incomplete until our other renovation is done. Meanwhile the black plastic cover will kill all the weeds & grass underneath until I am ready to do that side next Spring.

Our  better view from inside our bedroon

The lattices are there to hide the propane tank as well as the Olive Tea Tree in front of it will grow and produces the most wonderful fragance in the spring! ( I need my husband to install the lattices later)

The T with green wires used to be our cloth lines. I am keeping them to use as an ivy arbor I planted at that corner to climb up to create that "hidden garden" ivy wall!

A view from our Master bedroom with no propane tank later. Notice, I filled my pavers in with peebles

Honey, this is your view, sitting on your side of the bed! ;)

I hope you picked up a few good ideas for your next gardens. 

Happy Fall Gardening, everyone!

With Love & NO weeds! 

Hai

A Beautiful Life! Day 64

Just a short blog tonight! :)
I am exhausted from working in my garden all day but I feel so blessed being so close to nature all day too!   With all my hard work, I was able to cut a fresh boutique of roses, given to me by my garden!

I brought them inside for my office tonight! :) They smell as sweet as they are beautiful and they are perfectly at home in or out of my cottage! :)

A simple reward for me to enjoy my fresh roses as I am winding down for the night with my Chamomile hot tea and writing my blog. Ahhhhhhh... What a beautiful life! :)

Flowers just make any life, any room, any day even brighter! There is magic in flowers!

Nature gives me such beauty and happiness in my life.  I think that's why I love to be in it and grow and surround myself with flowers so much!   You can't help but smile when you see flowers!
See that magic working right now! :) I hope you are smiling and enjoy these flowers with me! :)

So, why not create a beautiful life with flowers in your life everyday!

With Love & Flowers,

Hai

Obsession~ Day 63

My husband calls me " obsessed" every spring and fall when I am in my garden!

I was up early to be outside all day. I forget to eat, drink and lose all track of time when I am gardening. I don’t know where about my cell phone is and I don’t even to think of it until I am done at the end of the day.  I came in at 8 PM  to hear my phone! I've forgot to call my hubby!

That’s when he lets me know that I am too obsessed when I am working in my gardens! 

Sorry Dear but you’re right!  I should have called to let you know that I am okay. :)

It's just that I have much to do, to create our "Garden of Eden" so you can enjoy "home" more, dear! :)

Besides, I am One with God and Nature during these obsessions to forget everything else in the world, but not you, honey!:) 

Yes, he knows to expect me to have this crazy obsession twice a year, especially when the weather is "gardening perfect for me!" I don't know about you when you garden but I, especially like after it rains for a few days with steady showers and it stays overcast with no sun! 

I work better and longer with no sun in my garden while the soil is soft so I can pull weeds and dig holes for transfering plants with ease, like today! :)  I am very sore but a happy gardener and ready to do it again tomorrow!

Yes, I love to be obsessed with working hard from dawn to dusk, even in trash bag in the rain with my gardens!  

With Love & Obsession,

Hai

Change of Season ~ Day 62

After Labor Day Weekend, we all tend to shift into the Fall Season!

This heavy rain and storm Lee has cooled our temperature down to 67 degrees from the pre-Labor Day weather in the previous hot 90's! A great sign that cooler weather is here and Fall is near! :)

It's such a natural shift from Labor Day into Fall Season for most of us this week. Hooray for that! :)

I find that it's also true that we all have seasons in life too but we often fight it! We hate to change and/or we want to stay with just that one season with life on autopilot.
That's just NOT a natural cycle if you want to grow and to live your life to the fullest! You must also recognize your personal change in seasons for yourself, in order to grow!

I must admit, I don't stay in one season for very long.  Matter of fact, I have more than four seasons. I have MANY seasons as I allow myself to expand and to discover all facets of who I am.

A change of a new perspective in my office setting.

A thought occurs to me to encourage everyone today to embrace a change of season, like Fall Season after Labor Day!  :)

Moreso, embrace and allow YOUR "change of season in your life" with an open mind to be renewed, refreshed, try something different and Grow!

...with a different view!

For each new season or a new perspective adds a growing dimension of who you are, so please be kind to yourself and allow that shift to take place and go with the flow into your season, wherever you are! :)

Perhaps that season, may be your new commitment in a new romance, ending of an old relationship, step up to a new challenge or letting go of an old dream. Create a new beginning (season) in your love life,  your career, your creativity, your spiritual, financial, fitness journey and/ or in your role as a partner or a parent!

Whatever that change may be for you,  embrace the changes in order to explore a new you with a new season.  It's just part of "living your life" with all your personal seasons!

I hope you will be courageous to welcome your season with joy and with new hopes!

Just let it be, one day at a time, my friends! :)

With Love & Change of Season,

Hai

Labor of Love~ Day 61

My hard working husband had his big breakfast and went back to bed for a quick nap while my teen daughter is still asleep in her bed and I am enjoying my coffee and the stillness in the house as I write my blog. :)

My well deserved handyman is enjoying his big breakfast and a break today from our ongoing renovation!

It hasn't rain here in a month in Georgia until TODAY! :) Yeah!

This rainy day allows us all to slow down, winding down from all of our LABOR of LOVE this weekend. We have done so many projects this weekend and this rain is our perfect reward! :)

On a perfect rainy & cloudy day...

There is a sense of peace, with our many projects accomplished and a calming feeling to be inside today.  Indeed, we are appreciating this Labor Day to rest! :)

Our honey do list included..

A temporary Master bathroom opening to start our NEXT major renovation..
Cauling and painting addition room
Caulk, Paint porch
Prime porch floor to paint
Install gutters
Mow 2 acres before the rain
Redo two rooms
Plant rose bushes

All my plants in my gardens are loving this rain... especially my new rose bushes~ ;)

All is well in our world of Labor today! :)

With Labor of Love,

Hai

Nesting ~ Day 60

There is something so special about nesting with your family! A relaxed pace at home !

My teen is comfy anywhere...

Of course, while the parents are working hard, we are thrilled to see my daughter is enjoying being home with us on this Labor Day Weekend.

Teddy is happy snuggling with Lauren inside all weekend.

What a treat for just hang out with my family during this time and getting things done around our place too! :)

Even our dogs are enjoying their Labor Day Weekend treats! ;)

Harley

Jojo

Charlie

Awwww.... Home Sweet Home with all my favorite lovelies at home! :)


With Love & Nesting,

Hai