Sometimes the Grass Really is Greener on the Other Side

My Mom is an artist. She really is a talented artist and has done many excellent paintings. That is not the art I want to talk about, though. I want to talk about how she uses her talents as an outdoor artist, working with nature.

A few years ago my mother bought a vacant lot not far from my sister's home. That lot did not look too nice to most of us, but she could see the potential. The lot next to her's is still vacant and shows you pretty much how her's once looked.

That fence marks the edge of her property, and trust me, the grass IS greener on the other side.

It once looked as weedy and sad as that lot.   One of the first things Mom did was have this little playhouse moved from her old yard to the new lot. Then, in the evenings, she'd come over and hangout at her little playhouse. It is cute and fully decorated. Just imagine what the new neighbors must have been wondering. Some even stopped by to ask about her little house, did she live there? She almost could have, except it has no bathroom.  Click here to see photos my Aunt took of my niece's little girls inside this playhouse.

Eventually her new (real) house was ready. Since Mom has been living there she has worked hard to make it what it is today. From a weedy vacant lot it has become a beautiful refuge.  

We were there yesterday and spent some time in her yard. It is so relaxing!  

I marveled once again at her eye for beauty.

If you do not live in a semi-arid part of the world, you may not realize how difficult it can be to grow the things she grows here.

And she makes it look so easy.

Sprinkled throughout her yard are delightful surprises.

And pretty little personal touches.

Even with Summer fading, her yard still has a lot of spectacular flowers.

 There is color everywhere.

It still has a lovely place to read, which we did.