succulents {a love affair}

just a little inspiration, there are so many varieties.
 went to wal-mart and came home with a few of the echevaria type.
i can't help it, i am drawn to them.
can't wait to plant them.

butterflies

i have always had an affinity for butterflies.

when i taught second grade, it was my favorite unit to teach.

i also think there is something amazing about the butterfly

  it starts life as an egg, then a caterpillar

and as a caterpillar it must feed itself to grow,

get ready to morph

into a beautiful unique creature.


image from here

i feel like a caterpillar right now

feeding my soul, learning about myself, taking a leap of faith.

getting ready to morph into something uniquely created by God.

I must be honest with you
 i am a little scared but i know through God that i am not alone on this journey.

God is with me and he does not abandon us.

He calls us to live the life that he has purposed for us.

"For I know the plans

I have for you"

declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you

hope and a future"

jeremiah 29:11

 

doesn't this pillow look comfy?


aren't these butterflies beautiful? i found them here

Hope you have a great weekend!

backyard dreamin'

Spring has definitely sprung here in California.

we are enjoying great weather in the 70's.

My roses are off the hook blooming.

{silly me to do all that worrying about the pruning}

 they have never looked better.

hubby and i have been busy working on the backyard,

 we have lived in our home for over 10 years.

when we first married we were just starting out and did not do a thing to the backyard but water the grass. I did have a few potted geraniums, and whatever plants we inherited from the previous owner.

when we got doggy number 1 things plants slowly started to disappear including all the roses that we planted in the patio planter.

1 geranium and a hydrangea managed to survive the massacre {the super curious boxer} and now they reside in my front garden, doing really well.

we planted some white iceberg roses

i love that they grow abundantly and are nice and full bushes

they look great in borders.

{this is not a picture of my garden, rather an image of how i hope mine will look in the future}

hubby just bought some hydrangeas to plant along a north facing border that does not get a lot of sunlight.  i can't wait to do more planting back there.
i will be posting some pictures soon
{as soon as i learn to use my new camera that hubby got me for mother's day}

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i received the pottery barn outdoor spaces catalog today.

here are a few of my favorite spaces



i love the look of furniture outdoors

these futons look so comfy for having an outdoor movie night



i just love the idea of having an outdoor fireplace
i am hoping that we can work one into the backyard plans.

i am left so inspired to get my backyard summer ready for hubby, kids, doggies and i to enjoy

I can't wait for summer!
i am counting the days

pictures via Pottery Barn