August 12, 2026

A Landscape Renovation Part 2: Progress Made

It's been two years since I brought you along for A Landscape Renovation, From the Beginning, an explanation of the changes we made to my MIL's yard. After she purchased the house she had been renting, she wanted to address her yard which could honestly be described as boring (or at best as ho-hum) with nothing but strips of overgrown builder-grade evergreen shrubs and a rundown entrance bed. So we began a multi-phase project, with the first three phases described in the post referenced above. We have since completed phase IV, which comprised additional perennials, and phase V which primarily involved replacing perennials that had not thrived/survived and installing a tree and several shrubs.
 
Let's see the progress made thus far —for a garden is never truly finished! 
 
   

August 06, 2026

Summertime Tea al Fresco

Hello! I wanted to share with you a special tea on an overcast — almost ready to rain — day. There is something inherently relaxing about brewing a favorite tea, adding something sweet or savory, and spending quiet time in a lovely setting. 
 
For today's tea, I've chosen loose tea and tinned biscuits that my husband brought me from London, and set a tea table on the deck overlooking the backyard. I set the table for only one, but I won't be alone for tea — 
 
     
For I'm joined for tea