Finding Peace in my Backyard

The Silver Valley has experienced some exceptionally beautiful mornings this week, and I have taken advantage of them by going outside and strolling around my backyard to see what is new and different from the day before. Today I discovered my snowball bush, back behind some other trees and bushes, in full bloom. If the above picture was a bit bigger, you would see a little spider in the lower center part of the flower posing for his picture.

Here is my snowball bush among some some ferns and other things in the far back right corner of my yard. Snowball bushes remind me of my Grandma Woolum. She had a beautiful snow tree in her front yard in Spokane, Washington. The blooms on them were huge. I think it must have been a different variety than the one I have.

Here are a couple more snowball blossoms from this morning.

Peaches and Sadie, my two dogs, also join me out in the backyard for my morning strolls. They enjoy their morning time in the yard after being inside all night long.

I have two azaleas blooming right now and I love the color of these flowers. I wish the blooms lasted longer, because they are so beautiful. But I will enjoy their beauty while I can.

The bridal wreath sprirea reminds me of the yard in Kellogg where I grew up. There were several of these bushes around the house, and they would bloom most of the summer. I remember playing "Bride" when I was younger, and cutting off their flowers and using them for a bouquet.

I hope this tour of my yard helped bring some peace to your life as well, as you gaze upon God's beauty that surrounds me in my yard. I hope you can find some time today to find a beautiful place and be quiet for a few moments and reflect upon some good things.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philipians 4: 8-9

Barefoot Tour of My Backyard

I toured my backyard today in my bare feet. Oh, the grass feels good!! So soft and warm. What a beautiful day today.

I wanted to see what progress was happening around the yard. And I wasn't disappointed.


I saw some daffodils about ready to bloom. They have come up among the Bishop's Weed, which will soon take over the flower bed with their green and yellow variegated leaves. Maybe the daffodils will open in time for Easter on Sunday. That would be very appropriate. I love yellow flowers. They are so happy and sunny and give you such a boost. Thank you, Lord, for these beautful flower in my backyard.



There are also some irises coming up among the Bishop's Weed and the holly. I think I may have to dig up my iris bulbs this year and transplant them to a sunnier place. It seems like last summer they didn't bloom very well because they are under the shade of some trees and bushes and didn't get much sun. I'll keep an eye on them this summer and see how they do, and maybe get them in some more sun this fall.

H-m-m. What is this? Some kind of rare white spring bloom? Ah, just a dirty sock found out in the flower bed. My two younger daughters like to jump on the trampoline barefoot, so this is a common occurance once trampoline season comes, finding discarded socks close by that have been forgotten by the jumpers. They have been gone this week for spring break, and just finding that small sock made we wish they were home. I can't wait to see them all tomorrow. I'm getting very lonely.

Here is one of my lavender bushes that is growing in the flower bed next to the house. Lavender is my favorite flower. I can't wait until they bloom. Lavendar does okay here in Kellogg, but when I lived in Meridian, I had so much lavender, because that arid desert is just right for lavender. Oh, I can't wait to see those beautiful purple blooms.



My sister, Inland Empire Girl, planted a flower garden beneath my clematis last spring as a housewarming gift. I see some new growth on some of the perrenials she planted. This garden is full of beautiful blue and purple flowers to match the clematis that watches over it all summer. I can't wait until they all bloom again.




Even my rose bushes are starting to see some growth. This is my "Jessie Rose", because our cat Jessie is buried underneath it. We have three different rose bushes for three cats that we have lost over the years. There is a Lynx rose, and a Mikey rose. This rose garden is a very special place to honor the pets we have loved and lost, and as they bring us beauty each summer, it reminds us of the beauty these friends brought to our lives when they were here.

Ah, the raspberry canes are also beginning to bud. I love to pick raspberries when the berries are warm and juicy and sit and eat them one after another. Picking raspberries and eating them tastes like summer to me. Yum! Yum!

Thanks for joining me on this barefoot tour through my backyard to check out the progress. I'll give you updates from time to time as the garden comes to life so you can check enjoy the beautiful flowers as much as I do. We moved in this house a little over a year ago, and were blessed with a lovely, established yard with beautiful plants, trees, bushes and flowers, as well as bringing some of our own.

My backyard is a very special place, and I look forward to enjoying it and sharing it with you.