Trying To Look Forward

It's been a while, right?  

I mean, since I've posted anything here, right?

But even with all of the madness around us these past few month this year, the world has not stopped spinning.

I shake my head daily.

Try not to look at the gloomy news, but let's be honest, it's too hard not to look when they are all important issues.  It's overwhelming, and that's putting it mildly.

I try to look ahead to a positive future.

A future where my brown skinned grandchildren won't even have to consider the color or their skin when they step out of their door to go play a game of basketball at the local rec. center.  Take a bike ride to play at a friend's house, walk to school(should that ever be allowed again), have a picnic or go bird watching in a park without being harassed.  These simple pleasures are what I wish for them.

And how about a former President who can't even get his portrait hung on a White House wall without it being an issue for the current man who lives there??

Our eldest grandchild can't even experience a normal high school graduation this year or make a memory of her senior prom.  Will she even have a normal university experience?  Will that learning be online as well?

My husband and I are still staying away from other people, due to our age and some health issues, but we will get through all of this madness much better off than many others, but still.... it does not stop us from worrying about others.

To take my mind away from dwelling on all of the negative, my husband helped me hang drop cloth curtains in our screened porch.  He'll tell you that he got 'Huckleberry'd into it'.  AND he's right.  He did.  I am guilty of making him do much of the work, but he is totally enjoying that the porch is a bit cooler temperature-wise this year and sits out there much more than he has in previous years.  If your porch is hot due to late afternoon sun from the west beating in, then I highly recommend doing this to your porch.  Get your husband to help you!  LOL

 We celebrated Memorial Day in a quiet way.  Hung some red, white and blue buntings on the porch and stuck small flags in all of the planters on the porch.  It looked festive, but it was for our eyes only since Covid kept us from inviting friends.  BUT, my husband is a veteran, so it's his day and I make it special for him despite not having any guests. We grilled burgers and hot dogs and I made potato salad, which was plenty of summertime food for the two of us to enjoy.

(Buntings are from Plow and Hearth and they are superb quality)

Our wisteria on the trellis has bloomed, a sight that always takes my breath away, and I am already looking forward to seeing them again next year.

Next year.  Yes, we always have that to look forward to, don't we?

Thanks for stopping by.

The Arbor Project

 

 Some weeks ago, before the rains of May hit us, we ordered a super nice cedar arbor from Wayfair.

We had considered a large pergola to be placed in the backyard, but we simply could not locate a spot that would have tons of sunshine for the Wisteria vines we wanted to cover it one day.

So, I chose a spot in the front yard, and instead of a large pergola which would have looked too large and out of place there, we instead ordered the arbor.

It arrived in two boxes and needed to be constructed from all of the pre-cut pieces of cedar.

Luckily I have a husband who loves projects and was more than willing to put the arbor together in his basement workroom.

 Then the arbor sat on the front porch while my husband dug the holes to pour in concrete for footers since the arbor had to be kept from blowing over in a windstorm.

And once that was done it was time to erect the arbor

A wonderful neighbor friend came over after my husband had attached the two sides and the top to make it into one structure,

 and together they lifted it into place and attached it to the four footers which would keep it in it's place on high wind days.... we hope.

 

The four wisteria were planted, one at each corner, and they already seem to be growing quite well with all of the spring rains we have had. 

 Next we placed furniture beneath the arbor to get an idea of the look we want at the end of the project.  A neighbor gave us this three piece set, but the metal chair legs sink into the soil and would easily tip over, as would the love seat.... it's a very sweet set, but in the end we decided that this look would be a bit 'over the top' in the front yard, and would most likely never be used as a social seating area anyway.  

We do like the love seat without the cushions, and without the two side chairs....

so we decided to keep it simple.

The chairs would not be used

 We both liked the simpler look of just the four foot love seat, so in order to keep it from tipping over we decided to order the cobble stones and mulch.  There is a small concrete square beneath each leg hidden beneath the mulch so this sitting space can be used without fear of tipping.

This look also means that my husband will not have to use a small mower or weed eater under the arbor.  He can just stay on the riding mower and go around the arbor area which means less hassle for him.

 Here are some shots of the final look of the arbor.

 The look as you come up our driveway in the evening.

 We are very happy with how this project turned out, although the cost was more than just the arbor itself.

Arbor

Four Wisteria plants

Concrete footers

Cost of upgraded nuts and bolts 

Weed netting

Cobbles

Mulch

And someday I think I want a cedar bench rather than the wrought iron one.

Accomplishments And An Ambulance Ride

 It's been a month since I posted so thought I would catch you up on Life On Sprinkle

Grandchild #1 went to Iowa state in track and placed sixth in the state in girls 100m Hurdles.

She's totally pumped for next year since she is very young to have done this well.

Only a sophomore and rapidly moving up in the track world.

We are totally proud grandparents.

Woot Woot to Madeline!

Grandchild #2 took his very first trip to Washington D.C. after raising money to be able to to.

This is a huge step for him, and Anthony really enjoyed the trip.

We are soooo proud!

Another big woot woot!

Grandchild #3 played in his very first basketball tournament and took second place.

Check out that big bling bling medal hanging around his neck!

Go Drake!

You rock and Grandpa and I are totally proud of you.

That was woot woot number three!

 

 We ordered a very large cedar arbor for the backyard from Wayfair, but considering we want to plant a 'full sun' vine on it, we are instead installing it in the front yard.

 

 The arbor comes in nicely done pre-cut pieces, and then you build the arbor yourself.

Two sides with slats for the vine to grow on, and also a top piece to the arbor.

It didn't take my husband long to lay it all out and screw the pieces all together.

 It's all sitting on the front porch waiting for the cement footers (which he dug a few days ago before the RAIN fell, and fell and fell) to dry completely. 

 We decided on wisteria as our vine for this arbor.  They are so gorgeous in the spring with great looking lavender colored hanging blossoms.

 Needless to say, the front porch is a jungle at this time.... but a lovely one I must say.

Yesterday was my very fist experience with riding in an ambulance due to not knowing what the terrific pains I was having, along with heavy nausea and vomiting.

They arrived at the house and after I had settled into the ambulance administered pain and anti-nausea meds.

Four and a half hours later we were home from the hospital.

I slept a lot in the afternoon, feeling only tired and worn out.

A CAT scan determined that this was a single kidney stone and there are no others awaiting their turn to be born into this world.

What a pain and waste of an entire day.

So, today I spent the morning lounging on the porch, and then picked lettuce as well as the last of our asparagus from the garden, some of which I delivered to the neighbors.

I'll be grabbing a few groceries this afternoon, and hopefully discovering that my iPhone still works, the one that I rinsed in the colander along with the freshly picked lettuce.... my bad.

What's new with your world?

In The Long Term

 We have a plan for our backyard, once we get dirt brought in to lessen the steep incline and make certain spaces more accessible to our aging knees.

It can be difficult climbing up the hill from the garden area to the seating area at the back of our home, but we intend to fix that.

 Do you have a long term yard plan?

Perhaps you want to add an area of clover to attract butterflies, or certain flowering bushes to attract hummingbirds and bees.

These additions to a yard not only make the yard a better experience for you, but also to the creatures in nature.

 The above photo is one sent to me by a friend who lives in the country, they have a pool and nearby a pergola that flowers in gorgeous purple wisteria each year.  I envy her pergola!

 *image from Pinterest*

This photo from Pinterest is similar to what her pergola looks like when the wisteria is not in bloom, it's completely shaded and a great place for sitting with friends, or on an evening with your husband.

Alone and lovely place to be.  A hideaway of sorts.

Love love love this pergola!

 *image from Pinterest*

Here is another pergola with wisteria... and by the way, wisteria is a fast grower, so one could attain this look in their yard within a couple of years.

This is similar to what I want, a stone surface with posts, but I want the top of the pergola a bit lower for a cozier seating experience.

Do you have a plan for your yard?