Everyday Living

Truly A Dream Garden

~ Outdoors

“And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed…
…The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:8, 15‬ ‭

If you have been following our everyday living, you may remember that last spring we took on a major project…we turned our back yard space into a garden!  And oh how we love it!  (You can see inspiration for our garden here and the big reveal here) We own almost 15 acres, mostly pasture, and we had wanted to do this for a couple of years.  We finally took our ideas and dreams to a landscaper…and within a few weeks our garden took shape!  He installed pavers, built the focal point, and planted zoysia and foundational plants.  Then it was Butch’s turn…he installed the picket fence that we’ve always wanted!  With springtime upon us, we are making plans to add color and variety with lovely annuals and perennials!  Last week we planted sunflowers behind the back of the fence along with our tomatoes, squash, and okra!  I can hardly wait to sit in the garden, surrounded by sunflowers, and eat farm-to-table, alfresco style!

While browsing around for ideas, I found this garden that would inspire any novice gardener like myself…and it is truly a dream!  But of course, the upkeep would require a full-time gardener and lots of money!  But, these are great ideas for the DIY’ers like us!  So, let this garden relax you as we tour….and just maybe you will find some ideas for yours!

Click each photo for the original source.

The rustic arbor and gate adds charm to the Tudor-style home!


A pathway is lined with dianthus!READ MORE

Stop and Smell The Flowers

~ Outdoors

 “for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
‭‭Song of Solomon‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭

Spring is around the corner, and you know what that means…FLOWERS! You may remember last year when we took you along with us as a landscaper established a garden space for us…it was a complete overhaul of our backyard!  But just in case you weren’t a follower of the blog then, let me take you back.  We started with ideas here and here, then progress of the landscaping job, and finally the big reveal!  Of course we kept you updated as seasons changed too!

The job was completed around mid-June, and by this time annuals and perennials weren’t readily available!  I am wanting to be prepared this year so I get the best selection!  We planted limelight and vanilla strawberry hydrangeas that tolerate full sun and did great during our heat wave of last summer!

I have included some of my favorites that will survive our southern climate and will be great for cutting and bringing indoors!

Click each photo for the original source.
Follow my Pinterest board: Outdoor Spaces


A sneak peek into our garden last summer!READ MORE

Southern Living In My Everyday Living

~ Bookends, Decorating, Food & Entertaining, Outdoors, Recipes

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭

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When you think of the South, you probably think fried chicken, sweet tea, and Southern Living magazine.  You can find the fried chicken and sweet tea on our dinner tables, and Southern Living on our coffee tables. But one of those things is not exclusive to the South. No matter where you live, you have probably heard of, or maybe you’re even a subscriber to the popular magazine. And chances are, you have heard that they recently released their 50th anniversary edition.  I have been a subscriber for more years than I am willing to admit, and it truly is a picture of what living in the South is like.  With the release of their golden anniversary edition, it really hit close to home, and today I want to share with you how my life and Southern Living have had a beautiful intertwining through the years…


There were four covers for their February edition…and you cannot imagine our excitement when they chose a local venue for their anniversary celebration!  All 4 covers were taken at J & D Farms in Southside, Alabama owned by our friends Danny and Jana McEachern…but why is that important to us?!READ MORE