Picking flowers....

The first time I walked around my yard, I felt like I was in a scene from Secret Garden.

There is something absolutely magical and calming about being surrounded by trees, green grass, and flowers.  I have always enjoyed sitting under the shade of a big tall tree, over being inside the house on the couch.

I get visions of hammocks hung between huge tree trunks, and summer afternoons spent lazily swinging back and forth.

I don't have the hammock.....yet.....but I certainly enjoy lazily strolling through my yards.

What first caught my eye this morning, and actually made me grab the camera and a basket, was the glimpse of these beautiful pink blossoms waving in the wind.

I really didn't realize what they were, until I got closer and immediately smelled their lovely scent.  Very similar to Magnolia, they smell amazing.  Pink Crape Myrtles, that is what they are, and I have a huge tree filled with these gorgeous light pink blooms.  Oh my, what a blessing for sure.

Also came upon a few bushes of Chinese Privet, so pretty.

And this tree, with it's bark pulling off which creates quite an interesting pattern.

I grabbed quite a handful of blossoms and continued walking around the property, really trying to take in all that I could. There is so much out there and it's such a large property that I'm afraid I will always find something I had no clue was there. I guess afraid is not the right word, really, because it makes me excited just thinking of everything that I have around me and just how peaceful it is.

One thing that I found a ton of, are old tree stumps.  Most will be turned into fire wood for the cold months, but I'm keeping a few to turn into little side tables for my living room, and also some candle holders.  I have been wanting to do this for many years but frankly, living in the areas we did the past few years didn't really provide much opportunity for finding tree stumps.

Hubby and I will be working on these in the coming weeks, as we settle in and as we finally get some time to ourselves.  I will show you all how it turns out.

The field across the street is one of the reasons I so love living in this area.  It reminds me of Little House on the Prairie when the girls come running down the hill and the little one falls.

I can almost picture their house just beyond those trees and it makes me think that aside from all their hardships in making a life in a bare place, it also must have been wonderful to be surrounded by such beauty.

I walked back into the house with a big smile on my face and an armful of different colored flowers. 

I've always loved fresh picked flowers in little mason jars, they immediately change up a room, and when you pair them with a crocheted blanket? 

Oh it's pure heaven!!!

I have yet to see and find all the different wildflowers around here, but I will get to it, if anything it gives me a reason to take a morning walk every day, right?

Well friends, I need to finish my laundry and check on my crockpot chicken that has been cooking all day.  It was a throw together meal using what I had on hand as I still need to go grocery shopping, so fingers crossed it tastes good.  I'll let you know though.