In An Autumnal Garden. . .

Drawing close to the time of year
when "Mr. Ed" and I take our Annual Trout Fishing Trip
to Bennett Spring State Park!

I come to the garden alone. . .

while the dew is still on the roses,

Although "Mr. Ed" will tell you he goes for the Trout Fishing,
being in nature and total relaxation. . .

And the voice I hear

falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

. . .and I might tell you I go for the creative design planning,
the shopping and being alone with "Mr. Ed".

And He walks with me,

And He talks with me. . .

Each year, we return for a time of rest and relaxation.
A time to draw closer to one another.
A time to draw closer to God.

And He tells me I am His own!

Seeking His direction and guidance in our lives.
No phone calls, no computers, no pre~determined schedules!

Oh, the JOY we share as we tarry there!

None other, has ever known.

Annual Trout Fishing Trip
to Bennett Spring State Park. . .
here we come!


Until next time. . .


Tranquil Garden Hues. . .

Those who know me well ~
 know I'm NOT an 0ut ~ of ~ doors person!
However,  I do love a beautiful lawn and garden. . .

But ~ once I learned that the garden could contain rooms ~
I began to orchestrate a subtle make ~over On Crooked Creek!


Much like interior decorating ~
I began with a three color palette. 
To keep order and bring tranquility to our urban setting,
I chose. . .

creamy ivory. . .

                                           buttery yellow. . .

                                                         and variations of purple hues. . .

                                                             
against the numerous shades of greens that encompass the lawn On Crooked Creek!



The newest addition, On Crooked Creek,

now in its second year ~
is the Fairy Garden!

Grown from seed, purple hued Saliva serves as backdrop.

Surviving last years drought ~
I could NOT contain my JOY as it began to reach its mature height and delicate, petite purple blossoms burst open!

Giving continual movement ~

a clump of Tiger grass sways

in the ever blowing winds on the Prairie.

As in home decor ~

a pop of color was added in the form of rose variegated Coleus!

A softer, more subtle, shade of rose is found in the Calla Lily

that balances the other side of the Fairy Garden!  

 Oh ~ the thrill that grows from my inner being
as the blooms begins to make their appearance each season!

I adore the feminine,
tranquil appearance of this bloom in its full leaf!

                         Such a vision of beauty and grace for the garden!

I was truly smitten by the beauty and grace

of this Garden Fairy

during an early trip in the Spring 

to our local Lowe's Garden Center.

Certainly appearing at bay ~ 
as she lingers in her very own natural surroundings ~
the Fairy Garden On Crooked Creek!

This is her usual tease ~
as I view her from our deck each morning! 

Positioned to hide her face ~

as one approaches her from any angle in the garden. . .

and yet ~

it is as if she summons me to draw near!

Late afternoon ~

and evening shadows summons me to the indoors

On Crooked Creek!

Perhaps ~

                    another day ~

Season by Season. . .trial and error. . . failure or success ~

we'll explore another room in the gardens ~

                                                                             On Crooked Creek.

Until next time. . .

www.thetablescaper.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek is joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays! This is my first time to join after her kind invitation! Be sure to drop by and enjoy the Seasons inspirations!

Birds in the Entry. . .

Feathering our nests ~
is one thing most bloggers enjoy doing with our home decor. . .
                                                 and On Crooked Creek is no exception!

Therefore, greeting your arrival On Crooked Creek
                                              are our gold statutory birds in the entry!

The doting pair is nestled between a pair of boxwood topiaries.

Keeping in the freshness of the Spring Season ~

                sprigs of airy fern meander throughout the the vignette!

The ruffled, linen table runner in a natural hue, keeps the arrangement from becoming too heavily ladened.

A framed and easeled orange branch ~ 
                                        bearing fruit and blossoms ~
                                                                        balances the vignette.

Feathering our nests ~ 

                                                   in the entry

                                ~On Crooked Creek !


Until next time. . .

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

On Crooked Creek will be joining our dear hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday! Please be sure to visit for some of the best inspirational ideas for feathering your own nest! 

Spiritual Garden ~ Revisted. . .

Most all of the plantings in the back yard gardens On Crooked Creek are in soothing shades of greens, creamy whites ~ buttery yellows and suttle purple hues. Calming and serene.

The reasoning behind the color palette is due, in part, to my previous employment as a middle school para educator. I needed rest ~ and ~ relaxation after dealing with challenging students throughout the day. Also, due to the huge volumes of traffic that goes with living off a State Highway access road. . . and oh, yes. . .then there's the railroad track and the municipal airport flight pattern. Needless to say, soothing hues were definitely in order!

Since my retirement from 33 years as an educator, we've begun to add a few additional hints of pink. Our 1970's Ranch~Style home was overgrown with mature plantings when we arrived On Crooked Creek. "Mr. Ed" , our son and daughter~in~law, and I spent one entire Spring ridding the property of dying trees and bushes. We were desperately trying to enhance the surviving landscape.

Earlier in the Spring, I posted The Spiritual Garden by Rosamond, Lady Langham. I have, truly, found solace and peace On Crooked Creek. And this Spring. . .so did someone else!

While directing the orchestration of this years Herb Garden and a newly developing Fairy Garden, I came upon this discovery. My eyes turned upward to the massive Cottonwood Tree ~ and then ~the Sweet Gum Tree. Since the fullness of the lush leaves on our trees, it was impossible to find the nest. Or so I thought. . .




The very next day, while looking out my window, I noticed something orange in my delicate pink, flowering Crab Tree. I went out onto the deck for a closer look and there at the fork in the branches of that delicate tree sat a robin on her nest.

This time when I came outdoors, I was armed with the two~step ladder and camera. Beware. . . I was dangerously close to wildlife to capture these shots. The second shot is blurred because as I was photo shooting ~ MaMa Robin to the rescue. She frightened me!!!

Directly above my head ~ she is r e a l l y upset with me!
Good thing I couldn't understand a chirp she said. . . but notice her beak. . .and l o u d !!!  From that day on, I never revisited the nest. I honored her motherhood and kept my distance.

Returning from a weekend trip, I couldn't see any movement in the nest. Closer observation affirmed my suspicions. The baby Robins had left the nest.

I miss seeing those little Robins with their beaks perched upward awaiting MaMa Robin's a~la~carte menu.

I miss their soft high pitched chirping.
I miss MaMa Robin's stern look darting its warnings towards me.

I'm thankful for the Robin's nest.
Thankful that the nest was revealed to me.
Thankful for its discretely hidden existence in our garden.

Thankful for the empty nest~
evidence of their visit On Crooked Creek.


Until next time. . .