i'd like to be...

under the sea, in an octopus' garden in the shade.

Corolla, NC.
* except top left- that was taken in the plane over NYC on the way to NC.

The Outer Banks, NC

Love the Outer Banks!

Who: Us and family from his side.
What: fishing, kayaking, beach bummin, and visiting light houses.
Wear: Lived in bathing suits, tube tops, short/maxi skirts, not to mention my newly found hat.

I had such a great time, I was bummed that I couldn't stay the entire week with everyone.  I have a ton of pics but I will put those up on FB.

Fun things to do in Corolla- Fishin, go Crabbin (delicious blue crabs), fillet 24 perch (okay, 4 and my fiance did the rest), kayak (and try to walk in marshes and sink thigh deep in the mud- my fiance), talk, laugh, and drink with my soon to be family (even though I feel as if they are already), watch an 87 year old grandpa play quarters (he's too much!), get my tail beat by an 8 year old in pool (no lie), beach bummin, boogie boarding, seeing ghost crabs, coyotes, and foxes at night... and to think I was only there a few days.

summer blues

... that make me happy!

Blue Skylines

 

Blue toes

 

Wedges I bought for a steal...

in store for half the price listed on site.

Perfect temperature water

Navy pleated chiffon skirt

-bought on clearance for 19 in store. (doesn't this skirt beg to be paired with a crisp sleeveless blouse, red pumps and a swipe of red lipstick? America the beautiful indeed).

Blue Berries

Tending to your garden.

Most who live in this area are spatially challenged.  Take our house for instance.  We share a 3 family house with my fiance and I on the 3rd floor (yes we got engaged, but as I'm reminded frequently not everyone cares/wants to hear wedding talk so I will try to refrain... for now), our neighbours with one toddler on the 2nd, and newly weds on the first. 

Our yard needs the have the ability to accomidate

• BBQs with respective eating and hanging room
• small bonfires (we have a fire pit yes)
• a toddler who likes to play outside
• a garden

....in a very limited space.

Last weekend I began the task of transforming our backyard into a garden.  The obstacles are...

• over coming the ivy/vines that plague but complement at the same time
• not monopolizing too much space in the yard.
• planting hardy plants that can stand to be investigated by a toddler.
• that are sweet smelling but not over powering to draw bees during our gatherings.
• did i mention we have a very small yard... if i had to guess the entire yard is 25x25.

Last year I undertook the task of digging a bed, weeding, pruning/training a wild rose bush that grows on our old iron fence, uprooted invasive saplings, and planted wild flower seedlings that disappointed me by barely growing.  Looking back I will never put seeds directly in ground (even if that's what the package recommended)  I am going to try my thumb at growing, then harvesting sunflowers, but first let me begin. 

The pictures below are from last year. 

This year I have a better idea of what I'm working with and a new goal... 1.To have fresh cuttings fragrant our (and friends') home.  2. To grow my entire bridal bouquet for our summer 2012 wedding.  This weekend I will update this post with new pictures of the yard after I plant (weather permitting, they say rain)... but here is some inspiration.  On our fire escape/porch like last year...I am going to plant herbs (lavender, basil, mint) and tomatoes. Because of the critters hiding in the bushes it's impossible to have anything grow in the yard, my eggplant flowers last year kept disappearing.

Any suggestions out there?

I am going to give seeds one last shot this year by growing Magnificent Sunflowers...

These beauties can reach 12' and be harvested at the end of the season. 

Word to the wise: Last year I grew these in egg crates on the fire escape and everytime I had one sprout there was a respective bird ready to eat it... Out of 30 I ended up having n0 sunflowers... This year, I will protect them with glass or a cage until they are big enough to fend for themselves.