We met in college. At 20 and 22 we married. Though it hasn't always been a piece of cake, we've survived-even thrived-and are blessed to be the parents of our 2 wonderful kids.
Without you Mike, the other 2 loves of my life wouldn't exist! (And I'm not talking Plants and Garden Blogging here!). No, those are some of my latest addictions, but without you, Sarah & Michael wouldn't be here-and without them, well, you wouldn't have the gift of being a Father!
So, even though you rarely look at my blog (but put up with my blogging, none-the-less) I want to say thank you for always being there for me, and for doing everything to make my life, and our children's, so very comfortable. We often take you forgranted and this is a time to honor you--and all that you do for us.
"Hey, you didn't think this was all the compost I moved, did you?"
"Heck no! This job took truckloads compost, field stone, river rock...and lots of muscle!"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~During:
Just in case you're wondering why we used the lawn fabric, we had so many weeds in the back, to include 'day-flower' and 'wild violets', that they would have continued to take over the new garden area and lawn, otherwise. I enjoyed the blue flower of the day-flower, and the sweet bloom of the wild violet, but too much of a good thing is no longer 'good'!
We had a pond a few years ago, and I wanted to put one in again. So he dug me a hole. But then I remembered how I needed to clean it out more often than a pond should have to be cleaned out...even with a filter. Just too many leaves and debris falling into it from all of the trees. SO,
he took the pond out, and filled it back in again! If you go back and look, he also removed the river-rock path he'd installed (as we [I??!!] didn't like the way it looked afterwards--and he re-did and re-shaped the stone wall he'd built--as it was higher, and shaped differently, than we [I?!] liked.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After:
In future posts, I'll talk about the plants I put in the new back gardens, and what I planted in the large planters. I am the one who spread all of the compost, once it was carried back. I also put in the stone path in the garden, and around the outside of the garden. And of course, I'm the one who planted the plants!
We had a gardening landscape company install the sod. The grass wasn't my idea! Dear Hubby was set on putting grass in the back, after years of only mulch and mud back there! The landscaping co. also installed leland cypress trees around the perimeter of the yard. I'll show more of those later.
Happy Father's Day, Mike;-)
PS: My ankle, while still swelling up when I walk on it, is feeling better and healing. I still wear a supportive bandage but am using the 'boot' only rarely now. My muscles and nerves have been causing me pain in my neck and back, and my hands and fingers get numb and swollen and ache...but I'm taking my medication and hoping I don't have to deal with 'long term' effects of lyme disease. Thank you, all of my garden blogging friends, for your words of encouragement;-) I know I haven't been frequenting your blogs much, as of late--but I think of all of you and am so glad we've met!
--Today I am thankful for my husband, Mike.
PS: My ankle, while still swelling up when I walk on it, is feeling better and healing. I still wear a supportive bandage but am using the 'boot' only rarely now. My muscles and nerves have been causing me pain in my neck and back, and my hands and fingers get numb and swollen and ache...but I'm taking my medication and hoping I don't have to deal with 'long term' effects of lyme disease. Thank you, all of my garden blogging friends, for your words of encouragement;-) I know I haven't been frequenting your blogs much, as of late--but I think of all of you and am so glad we've met!
--Today I am thankful for my husband, Mike.
Jan- Your yard makeover is wonderful! Very pretty and I love the lines and overall design. Happy anniversay, 32 years is something to be very proud of!
ReplyDeleteJan, what a wonderful post. It's easy to forget that a garden is rarely the work of just one, those we love influence it in many ways (not all as hands on as in your case). Keep icing and elevating that ankle, and I hope you're getting PT for good range of motion.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Jan and Mark! Together, you are doing such a great job with the garden! I am glad you feel better, Jan!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful yard you and hubby have created.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better than marrying a good man (who helps in the garden!)
Many blessings to you both :)
Hi Jan
ReplyDelete32 years is a long time and the years just run so fast, if I look back. I have bin married scince december 1976 .
Your garden looks lovely and what a wounderful house you have.
Thanks for the inspiration maybe I can take the idea and put it somevere in my garden.
Have a great day
Gunilla
What a tribute to your hard working husband. He has done the most amazing job with your help and direction, of course.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting post.
Keep on taking the tablets until two months after any symptoms, is what the ILADS doctors recommend. Yes I know that sounds drastic but I assure you the alternatives are far far worse.
Good luck
Happy Anniversary to you and Mike. We had 29 yesterday...seems like yesterday doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing transformation in the backyard!! What an oasis.
Forgot to say hope the meds continue to improve your lyme disease aches -- and take care of that ankle!! We have gardens to explore when you are able.
ReplyDeleteJan girl ! Hope you are feeling a bit brighter ? .. those are wonderful before, during and after pictures .. we too have been married over 32 years .. April was our month .. and yes, surviving a marriage while in the military is an amazing event on its own.
ReplyDeleteI will be using landscape fabric to do almost the same thing in my garden as well .. husband has grass out front to mow and keep him happy ! LOL
Your backyard looks magnificent!!! A hard work to build the new bed, but the reward is great!
ReplyDeleteI am happy that you're feeling better!
Happy husband day! :)
Congrats on 32 years of marriage! And what a big job! It looks great. Hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteThat looks great! I know it was a lot of work but the rewards will be worth it. I like the lawn too.
ReplyDeletei so like that grass addition in the backyard...makes it all work perfectfully.
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful day.
First off Jan I am so glad you are doing better. I am so far behind in my blogging responses it is pitiful. Too much to do in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI love the transformation you have done to your back yard. It looks so wonderful! I agree with you on the gravel paths.Looks better now. I like the added green sod to your back yard redo.What a lot of work, wheee, makes me tired thinking about it but it was worth all your hard work.
Congratulations on your 32 years of marriage - that is a great accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteThe new gardens are looking fantastic!
WOW!!! That was QUITE the project! It looks AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! You are blessed to have such wonderful men in your life
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing transformation! It's beautiful! I love the stack stone around the trees.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a wonderful husband, and he sure did put a lot of work into the yard.
I think the grass looks really pretty.
Take care of yourself.
It looks wonderful Jan and in woodland gardens the spot of grass sets off the garden beautifully...gail
ReplyDeleteI love the before, during, and after...what a difference! Love it! Congrats on such a long and happy marriage, we just celebrated our 25th...never though we would have a 2 year old tagging along, lol! Great post, Kim
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Jan. He's a star doing all that heavy work - and not minding you changing your plans mid project :-)
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking lovely!
lovely work and what a good man you have there!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Jan, it looks like you have two wonderful things to be proud of today: A long marriage and a beautiful yard make-over! It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue to heal and that indeed you won't have to suffer from the effects lyme disease.
Happy day to you!
Your new garden is lovely! This post reminds me of my own dear husband, who works so hard to help me with all my projects. He made me 3 new garden beds this year, and another is still in progress.
ReplyDeleteJan, WOW! that is a lot of work accomplished.Your pictures are an excellent reord of all that went into the redo. Your hubby does indeed deserve special recognition for doing such a great job-even changing in the middle. I'm nit sure mine would have been good natured about that. :)
ReplyDeleteI do like the addition of the grass. It sets off the planted area so well. I also like the pathways in there, all the better to get closer to the plantings. It will be fun to watch them amture and to see what else you add.
I hope your hubby reads your post so that he knows just how proud you are of him for helping with this and of course for being the great father he is.
Hi Jan
ReplyDeleteWell. there's a serious amount of work going on there.
I really like the dry stone levels.
I hope you continue to improve from the rotten Lymes. I'm sure Joanne would gladly give you any guidance and such like if you feel you need it.
Rob
Jan!
ReplyDeleteHow great you yard looks! Such a big project with such wonderful results!
I thought I would stop by and say hello and check up on you. Looks like you're doing very well!
Peace
Brian
http://beyondtheglassdoor.blogspot.com/
32 ears is quite long when you just think of numbers, but time flies, faster and faster, it seens :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a difference! It looks great, Jan :)
Jan, you and your husband did a beautiful job. I love the shape and I love the low wall. The grass look nice, men seem to have an affinity for grass;) Can't wait to learn the different plants you used.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Gosh, Jan, it's been awhile since I've been here and I'm so sorry to hear about your health problems. :-( Glad to hear though, that you're on the mend.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a great partner for life, too, as have I. Life is so much better when you have someone in it like that, isn't it?
Everything looks WONDERFUL!!!
A belated happy Father's Day to your husband, who definitely deserves a big hug for all this hard work! Your makeover looks great, and I can't wait to read more about how you accomplished all this.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know that your ankle is healing; I do hope you have a speedy recovery from all the effects of the Lyme disease as well. After reading this post, I would guess you have some great help around the house.
You two did an awesome job, Jan. He's a sweet hubby. You're lucky to have him and so are you. Belated Father's Day wishes to your hubby from me...
ReplyDeleteNice to hear that your ankle's healing. My prayers are still with you...
I'm glad you're doing better too Jan and I hope your dear hubby reads your blog soon and sees this post about him. It is really lovely and great that you work so well together. I hope he had a good Father's Day too.
ReplyDeleteYour new bed turned out very nice. I really enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteJames
You've done an amazing job creating that space. It's beautiful, and I'm glad your husband got his grass ;-) Can't wait to read more about what you've done there.
ReplyDeleteHi Jan, nice project your back yard looks fantastic, congratulations and a late happy fathers day to your husband.
ReplyDeleteWow - looks great Jan! How good of your husband to be the muscle behind the garden. I hope he had a wonderful Father's Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your bout with Lyme disease, and hope your recovery is uncomplicated and swift.
Great Father's Day tribute! I should have done something like that, and much of what you said, applies in our lives, too.
ReplyDeleteYour yard looks awesome! You're like me in changing your mind about things.