DIY Sun Shade

Terry came up with this idea for our latest garden project. I'll let him tell you how we went about doing it.

We recently decided to put a retractable sun shade over our garden patio and two swings to provide some mid-day shade. The challenge was we also needed to be able to retract and secure it when we wanted to build a fire in our fire pit or if there was going to be severe weather or wind. We used 3 copper clad 8 foot long ground rods (the types electricians use to drive in the ground) as “curtain rods” over the top of the arbor secured with copper pipe hangers. We used a 9 foot by 12 foot canvas painters tarp we got at Lowes for the shade and clip-on curtain hangers to hang the tarp on the curtain rods. Provides great shade during the mid-day sun. Turned out pretty good but we’ll be working on improving how we retract, close and secure it this weekend. Then it will be done – check out the pictures! These pictures were taken late in the day so the patio wasn’t shaded.

Garden Door

This mahogany door used to be our front door for many years. It had been sitting in our garage for the last 3 or 4 years taking up much needed space. We tried selling it and even tried giving it away, but had no takers. I was looking at Pinterest one night and saw some pictures of old doors that people had used in their gardens. I had seen garden gates, but never a garden door. I asked my hubby, Terry if he thought our old door would fit in the opening of our garden arbor. If anyone could make this happen, I knew he could. A couple of weeks later, here is the finished project. Terry built the frame, I painted it and we both hung the door, which was a pain in the butt. Recently we added some solar lights to either side of the door. Thank you to Terry for making my garden door idea a reality. This is the view looking toward our garden.

A view of the door from inside our garden. This is the side of the door that was facing inside our house, so it isn't as weathered as the other side of the door.

Pretty neat, eh?

July Sunrise

Terry grabbed this gorgeous sunrise shot on July 6th. He is my go to guy for sunrise pictures. Thanks T!

Jessica

We lost our sweet Jessica early this morning. She was 18 years old and passed away peacefully in her sleep. I've had a lot of cats in my life, but she was by far the sweetest cat I've ever had. She loved to be rubbed and scratched and would paw at your hand whenever you would stop. She loved to sit in the garden with us, would come to greet you when you pulled into the driveway and loved her summer haircuts. We're heartbroken over her loss, but know she is running free on the rainbow bridge. We will miss you, Jessie cat!

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....  

Jessie and our dachshund, Sammy, who crossed the bridge in 2001.

Garden Oddities

Siamese twin squash. It's weird how they grow fused together sometimes!

He Who Plants a Garden Plants Happiness

Our garden, our little piece of heaven on earth.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum

During our recent vacation in Tybee Island, Georgia, me and Terry visited the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, Georgia. If you have never visited this museum, please do. You won’t be disappointed. I took tons of photos in the museum, too many to post. I’m going to post the pictures that pertain to my dad’s service.

I would like to dedicate this blog post to my dad, Flynn Mabry, who served in the Mighty Eighth in Thorpe Abbots, England during WWII. He served in the 100th bomb group, 350th bomb squadron as a B-17 mechanic as part of the ground crew. Thank you for your service, dad! I love you and miss you always!

Major General Lewis E. Lyle Rotunda. The rotunda is named in honor of the Museum's founder who flew 75 bombing missions over Europe during WWII , never losing a single man.

Flags from all 50 states are displayed in the rotunda of the museum. If you look closely you can see the Tennessee state flag.

Flags of each bomb group and squadron are displayed in the rotunda as well. This is the flag of the 100th bomb group also known as The Bloody Hundredth.

Painting of a B-17 bomber. When I first saw this I thought it was a real photograph. 

Tribute to the ground crews who kept the Flying Fortresses in the air.

Savannah was the birthplace of the Mighty Eighth.

Tribute and memorabilia from the 100th Bomb Group.

Eight Air Force stained glass.

The museum’s B-17 is being restored in honor of “City of Savannah” which was the 5,000th airplane processed through Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah during WWII. The B-17 is a huge plane. I’ve seen pictures of them, but until you stand in front of one, you don’t realize just how big they are. This is the one thing I was really looking forward to during our visit to the museum. Even with my wide angle lens I couldn’t get the entire plane in the picture. The pictures don't do it justice!

Eighth Air Force Memorial Gardens.

The Chapel of the Fallen Eagles. The first time we visited the museum 10 years ago, we didn't go into the chapel.

Stained glass in honor of fallen members of the 100th Bomb Group.

If you are ever in the Savannah area, visit the museum. As the brochure says it's "One of the world's most powerful museum experiences." Knowing my dad served in the Eight Air Force made it even more special for me!

"Air superiority is the ultimate expression of military power." - Winston Churchill