THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

ALL MY AFRICAN VIOLETS AND ORCHIDS FROM OUR OLD HOUSE HAVE A NEW HOME IN THE GARDEN WINDOW IN THE KITCHEN. THE VIEW LOOKS OUT TO THE GREENHOUSE AND GARDEN. THERE IS THAT FAMILIAR BIRD WATERING CAN THAT MY FRIEND ARLENE GAVE TO ME. THERE IS THAT BIRD HOUSE THAT USED TO SIT ON MY CUTTING TABLE. THAT OLD MEAT CLEAVER FROM MY GRANDMOTHER HAS FOUND A NEW HOME HERE TOO AS WELL AS THE DARLING LITTLE YELLOW CHICKEN TEA POT THAT MY SISTER BROUGHT BACK TO ME FROM COLORADO. SAME WONDERFUL THINGS JUST IN NEW WONDERFUL PLACES.

THE NEW GARDEN CAME WITH SOME NICE RAISED BEDS FOR THE VEGETABLES AND LOTS OF WONDERFUL PLANTINGS SUCH AS THIS LAVENDER AND SOME CALIFORNIA POPPIES. I HAVE FOUND MANY GRAPE PLANTS, STRAWBERRIES, AND SOME OREGANO ALSO. I'M SURE THAT MANY MORE PLANTS WILL MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES.

MY BUDDHA SEEMS VERY HAPPY POSITIONED IN THE OUTSIDE CORNER OF THE GREENHOUSE. SOON, SOME PLANTINGS WILL BE AROUND HIM MAKING HIM ALL THAT MUCH HAPPIER. I (OR SHOULD I SAY B) HAS TO FINISH GETTING THE 6 FOOT FENCING UP TO HELP DETER THE DEER. I SEE LOW-GROWING GROUND COVERS SURROUNDED BY MAPLES.

I CAN JUST VISUALIZE THE INSIDE SHELVES FILLED WITH POTS OVERFLOWING WITH PLANTS. THIS GREENHOUSE WILL GIVE ME MANY HOURS OF SATISFACTION AND WILL BE A PLACE OF SOLACE TO ME WHEN THINGS GET A BIT STRESSED.

THIS PIECE IS SOMETHING THAT I FOUND TUCKED IN AMONGST SOME WEEDS. WHEN I FIRST SAW HER I HAD A SENSE OF DEJA VU. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT I HAD SEEN HER SOMEWHERE BEFORE BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU WHERE. WAS IT A SIGN THAT THIS PLACE WAS JUST WAITING FOR ME (US)?

MOTHER'S DAY WAS OVERCAST AND A BIT WINDY BUT PERFECT FOR SPENDING TIME OUT IN THE YARD AND GARDEN. AND AS A SURPRISE, MY TWINS AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER ARRIVED WITH THEIR GARDEN GLOVES IN THE AFTERNOON TO HELP ME WORK IN THE YARD. THIS PLACE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO BUT IT IS NOTHING THAT A BIT OF HARD WORK CANNOT REPAIR. NATALIE EVEN BROUGHT HER OWN SHOVEL TO HELP ME DIG WEEDS. SHE ENDED UP BEING THE "OFFICIAL WATER PERSON" SINCE PLAYING IN ANY KIND OF WATER SEEMS TO BE WHAT SHE LIKES TO DO BEST.

NEXT YEAR MAE WILL BE HERE TOO. SHE IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAITING THAT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE EXCITING WHEN IT FINALLY ARRIVES. IT'S A BIT LIKE CHRISTMAS AND HAVING TO WAIT TO OPEN THE GIFTS. THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS AND BUILDS UNTIL THE MOMENT IS UPON US.

MOTHER'S DAY WAS QUIET BUT FILLED WITH JOY AND WONDER. AS WE WORKED, EACH IN OUR OWN SECTION OF THE YARD, WE EACH FELT AS THOUGH THIS YARD HAD THE SAME ENERGY THAT MY PREVIOUS YARD HELD. IS THAT REALLY A SURPRISE TO ME? NO...I FELT ALL ALONG THAT THIS PLACE WAS WAITING FOR US. IT CALLED MY NAME, BECKONED ME TO COME AND RESCUE IT AND MAKE IT SHINE.

I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF TAKING THIS PLACE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. I PURCHASED A NEW JAPANESE MAPLE AND PLACED IT IN THE GROUND ALREADY. AROUND EVERY TURN THERE ARE FAMILIAR PLANTS JUST WAITING TO BE RESCUED FROM THE WEEDS THAT SURROUND THEM.

THIS YEAR AND THE YEARS TO COME WILL BE FILLED WITH JOY AND WONDER. IT IS PEACEFUL HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS YET TO BE UNVEILED. I MISS NOT SHARING IT WITH SOME WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US BUT I FEEL THAT THEY ARE WITH ME IN SPIRIT AND PERHAPS THEY ALREADY KNEW WHAT I HAVE YET TO DISCOVER. I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING IT WITH YOU TOO. WE CAN TAKE THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER. SOME THINGS WILL CHANGE BUT YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME THINGS REMAIN THE SAME. JUST DIFFERENT. LIKE YOU...LIKE ME.