OUR 1900 FOLK VICTORIAN FIXER UPPER COTTAGE

OUR SMALL TOWN COTTAGE perked up when 10 Baby Gem Boxwoods were planted out front.  Makes me smile that these were planted so quickly by my Hubby.  He made quick work out of it.  A brick border was already there in place and it will remain.  

Lilacs are one of my favorite bushes of all times.  
This pic is from a previous property of ours.

On the grounds is a large Lilac bush that hasn't flowered very well this year.  It will be pruned in May.  The bush will be shaped into a tree.  Hoping the pruning encourages next years flowering.  I will be checking into when to fertilize, etc.  The bush seems to have been stunted this year.  Very few blooms.  Not enough for making jelly.  sigh.

https://www.almanac.com/plant/lilacs

~Irises at the COTTAGE~

Along the side yard is a flowerbed full of white Irises plus a few of purple with white blooms.  This one is called Mariposa Skies Reblooming Bearded Iris.  The coloring reminds me of a stormy Kansas sky.

In the backyard, there are two long flowerbeds that Hubby created during the Summer heat of 2021.  He worked on it during THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER during the HOT month of AUGUST making the flowerbeds a reality.  Hot and sweaty, the beds came to fruition.  We were pretty sure we'd be relocating to the COTTAGE from our larger house, so I was adamant about bringing our Irises with us.  The flowerbeds had to be prepared before relocating the Irises.  

He prepared three large flowerbeds and planted close to 700 Iris bulbs.  They'd be waiting for us when we finally arrived at the COTTAGE in October 2023.  This is the forth year that the beds have been present.  The third year of  blooming Irises.

One bed beside the house is basically all white Irises, another one next to the chain link fence is full of colorful ones of a variety of various shades of beauty.  Then there is one along the backyard sidewalk that is four rows deep with Heirloom Purple Irises that smell like BUBBLE GUM.  What a treat.  We have moved the Heirloom Irises from the 1885 Rock house we lived in then moved them to the 1883 house we recently sold.  Now they have migrated to our COTTAGE.  

Our love for Irises started at the Rock house that we moved into back in December 2006.  It took 4 years for my Husband to plant Irises along a fence we had there.  The collection has grown since then.  We've been at this for 17 years.  This is something the two of us have bonded on making it even more special as a married couple.     

The chain-linked fence flowerbed is starting to develop blooms that will be very colorful when they open up showing off their beauty.  I'll have to mark each one so I can identify them in case we move them elsewhere in the yard next Autumn when planting Iris bulbs is ideal.  

Not trying to grow dandelions, but we sure have them this year.  Even with the yellow dandelion flowers being edible when they bloom as well as the leaves, we don't eat them.  Maybe we should as they are very nutritious.  Yummers.  Dandelion Tea.  Greens for fresh salads.  

Please excuse the mess in the backyard.  When we eventually get to cleaning up the place it will look so much better.   Much to do.  This long flowerbed by the sidewalk has the Heirloom Purple Irises that will more than likely bloom next week.  Once again the dandelions are present. 

 

Afterward when the Irises are dormant, I think we will thin the bed out and line the other side of the sidewalk with two rows of Heirloom Irises on both sides of the walk then the sidewalk will be in between two flowerbeds.  It will be lovely.  

We have collected bricks for a future PATIO outside the back door.  Scheduled for 2025. Nothing is in concrete so it can all change in a blink.

The area to the left will become a raised vegetable garden along a fence that I'd like to use for a long Vegetable and Herb Garden.  We're thinking about fencing the yard in.  This would clean up the backyard for the better creating some privacy, but until then we can groom the lawn and tend to the flowers.  

It is one of the best ways to LIVE LIFE and have something to show for it. 

The 1900 COTTAGE is our HOME for now as we slowly work on her.  Each day, something gets done which is a BLESSING.
  

I am beyond pleased that SPRING is here.  We moved into our RETIREMENT COTTAGE the last part of October 2023.  At the end of April, we will have been here half a year.  Six months.  This time has been one of unpacking, trying to get settled and resting.  Making plans on what to do on the COTTAGE and living DEBT FREE for the first time in nearly 50 years.  Praise the LORD.

How to stay out of DEBT is a work all its own.  How do you stay out of debt?  By living below your means, rethinking how one's money is saved and spent.  Spend NOTHING if possible. Don't keep up with the Joneses, buy 2nd hand, trade with others, do without, look for bargains when something is truly needed.  WANT and NEED are not the same thing at all.  God can show you the way you are to go.  Amen.    

A modest lifestyle is to be admired and coveted.

~d

PLEASE MOW THE LAWN AT MY CHRISTIAN HOME

PRODUCTIVE FRIDAY AROUND HERE.  Somehow the Dining room table had become a catch all.  I worked throughout the day tidying here and there then when I'd walk past the table, I would deal with items on it and then go off to do something else.

Today I will finish this task and go ahhhhh, back to normal.  

I have a couple of packages I need to wrap the contents in the box and get mailed.  Knowing the way my day will go I'll just get the boxes filled, taped shut and addressed.  They'll make it to the post office on Monday.  A few personal letters need typed up and included in the boxes.  

Yesterday, I worked on five loads of laundry.  Another one needs to be done to say I am caught up once again.  Hurray.  That's a great feeling.

We took some things over to the COTTAGE on our way to pick up our GRAND who said she'd mow the lawn.  

Hubby got a Eastlake Parlor table out of the Carriage house and loaded it into the lil car of ours.  Took it to the COTTAGE and placed it in front of the bay window.  It looks nice there.

I was reading about Eastlake furniture which was made for COTTAGES.  I thought how appropriate to place this table in the COTTAGE.  I'll Scott's Liquid Gold it and she'll be good as new.  I imagine a vase of flowers on her after we get the remodeling completed and the Parlor will need some flowers in the room to brighten her up.  I have a lovely crystal vase large enough to hold a flower arrangement in the Parlor.  Ideas are coming to me about how to decorate a small room in a large way.

This isn't a picture of the exact table, but close enough to give an idea of what I'm talking about.

Took Grand out for supper first then we drove to the main house and she mowed.  It was awfully hot.  The grass had grown quite a bit due to all the rain we've had.  She did a super nice job mowing.  It took her two hours to complete then we took her home. 

 

A storage box full of Christmas garland went to the COTTAGE.  Slowly we are making progress one tub at a time.

In a few weeks, all the Christmas decorations will be over at the COTTAGE and out of the basement, carriage house and bedroom.  Except for the artificial trees we still have.  I have to downsize quite a bit.  Can I do it?  I have gotten rid of some, but have a ways to go.  

In my thoughts I can imagine how the outside of the COTTAGE is going to be decorated.  The inside is coming along.  She's charming.  

While at the COTTAGE we turned on the tele to watch an old episode of a police show.  At ten, I drove HOME and we watched an old movie.  Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler.  It was a bit too violent for me.  Not funny.  

Enough movies for a few days.  

PLANS THIS WEEK-END:
*Donation Drop.  I will continue gathering things to donate to thrift and make a donation run this week.
*Clean the HOUSE in preparation for company.
*Work up a menu for when company is here.
*Grocery shop.
*Write out bills.
*Prepare for the 4th of July.
*Shall see what else needs done.

Saturday is here.  Another week flew by so quickly it hurts.

AS FOR DIETING...I bought more veggies/fruits making plans to eat salads/soups this week along with a mid-week BONE BROTH day.  The benefits of BONE BROTH are wonderful for losing weight with still getting plenty of protein.  Shall do this.

How shall my Christian HOME be?  Full of order and tidy as a pen.  I am not in maintenance mode yet with all the decluttering going on while going through drawers, closets, shelves, cabinets, etc.

I envision my Christian HOME to be a pleasant place with everything in it's place and a place for everything free of clutter.

My Christian HOME is full of prayer, fellowship, food and rest.

My Christian HOME is in the making so I must do my best to be pleasant to be around while there are messes everywhere.  Some days I am not a good example of being pleasant.  Lord help me.  Amen.

  May you have a blessed week-end,

~d