Monday, March 18, 2013

Starting Over

I’ve hardly written a blog post in over a year. My life started its descent into a sad country song early last year, but I won’t get into the details of that right now. I suppose I can be happy that, at the very least, there was no pickup truck involved.

Oh…wait…yes there was…

In November, my dog Scout and I moved out of the house that is home to the gardens that I poured my heart into for 8 years. I just now looked at those last few pictures I took on my last day at that house. They are all crummy. I guess they are reflective of my mood that day. The last good pictures from the garden were posted in May 2012 on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, you’ll have to check out that page if you are interested in getting a glimpse at the old gardens.

That statement about pouring my heart into the gardens is true. I know there is a lesson to be learned there. I also pour my heart into my work, my work at an office for a multi-national corporation. Hmm, yes, there is a lesson to be learned. Sometimes when you pour your heart into things instead of the people around you, your life can turn into a sad country song. 

I know many of you gardeners out there are obsessive gardeners. I am one too. However, someone didn’t write the saying, take time to smell the roses for no good reason. And, they also didn’t mean to literally smell the roses! I know what you obsessive types are thinking…but when I am in the garden all weekend, I do smell the roses. LOL

Well, moving on…

My New House
At the beginning of February I moved into a new house in a historic area of Houston. The house was built in 1885 (not exactly new). There is not much here in terms of gardens. However, there is a pretty awesome stand of palm trees. I am getting close to being unpacked and my thoughts are moving toward the garden.
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Bear
Last May, Scout’s brother Rusty passed away. He was 10 years old and Scout never knew life as an only dog. Now that we have our new yard and new house, it was time to get a new baby brother. Last week, we adopted Bear. He’s 7 years old and is getting along quite nicely in our little family.
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Bear is in the foreground and Scout is in the background.
I can’t wait to get started gardening in this new yard. It’s like a blank slate! Stay tuned for all the before pictures. The transformation is beginning!

10 comments:

  1. I adore that part of town and am excited for what is to come from your blank slate!

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  2. I moved to Houston two years ago and started following your blog then. I am new to gardening but grew up in a gardening family. However they all live in the North East and are not familiar with Houston plants. I just wanted to let you know that I have enjoyed learning with your posts and look forward to new ones to come. You new house is beautiful and shall be a fun new adventure.

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    1. Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad my blog has helped you learn more about gardening in Houston, it's definitely a different experience than gardening in the NE.

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  3. Congrats on the new house and the very beginning of your new garden -- and the new dog! So much goodness right there. My sister lives in the Heights too and loves it. I look forward to seeing your garden grow over time, so please keep posting. :-)

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    1. Hey Pam! I'm happy to get back to gardening and blogging. My neighborhood is actually south of the Heights/I-10. It's called Historic 6th Ward. I had never even heard of it until I started house shopping. I'm so happy to hear your book was published. I'll see you in San Francisco!

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  4. Melissa, here's to many happy years in your historic home! Let me know if you see anything on my blog that you'd like to plant in your new garden: chances are excellent that I have divisions or seeds to share.

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    1. Thanks Cindy, I will! I saved some plants from my last garden, but I'm looking forward to finding new things to grow! :)

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  5. How exciting! I remember when I moved...it was one of the most awful, stressful, freaking crazy moments of my life! (I'm not gonna lie lol) So I feel for you. BUT...there is really nothing like making a new space all your own, especially with a yard with such great potential as shown in your photos! And that palm looks so super awesome. Good luck to you and *hugs*.

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