SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT...

This is the Cottage garden today, transitioning from late spring into summer.

I would like to thank everyone

 who commented on my flower pictures 

from last week.

 You all had such kind things

to say about the garden 

and about my 

gardening habits.

Right here and now, 

I need to set the record straight.

 In the past, 

I have said 

that my garden grows

 with no help from me

 and that is the honest truth 

as it still stands.

The Captain

does all the mowing, trimming

and keeping up the curb appeal,

 and my expertise lies,

 pretty much, 

in giving orders only, 

although they are 

not always followed.

I will say, however,

 the placement of furniture 

and choosing colors

 of plantings and accessories 

(all the fun stuff)

 I will take 

full responsibility

 for...

...and I do have fun

 putting together

 some charming vignettes.

 But when it comes to maintenance,

 I count on Mother Nature

 to help me out...

Here are a few 

of her little soldiers

 that work so hard 

to raise the standards

 around here...

...so that the rest

 can just keep putting 

their best feet forward

 each year.

Even though 

my intentions are entirely honorable,

I cannot take 

any of the credit.

I have an excellent staff

 always willing to help out,

 but sometimes things happen 

and stories get told 

a little out of context, 

or to be more accurate, 

my fingers get working 

faster than my mind, 

so the facts, 

as I know them, 

don't translate too well. 

 As I got a few comments 

about the why's and where-fores 

of the kids 

taking out the swimming pool 

at their house..

this seems to be 

one of those stories, 

so let me try

 to clarify it.

Once upon a time,

 a family moved into a house, 

(can't you tell the family is partial to blue) 

and as time went by,

 they built a pool 

in the back yard,

 so that the kids

 could have fun.

]

The kids grew up 

and moved out of the house

 and the parents moved

 to an entirely different part

 of the state

and to an entirely different type 

of house.

When the parents moved out

and into their entirely different 

type of house,

 the daughter moved back

 into the family house 

with her husband 

and after a few years passed, 

their son was born.

They lived 

in the family house

 and played in the pool 

for many years,

 but one day

 the baby grew up...

...and went to college,

 got a job and a social life,

 and his parents had jobs

 that they worked really hard at

and which left them

no time at all 

for a social life...

so since there was nobody swimming 

and not much free time 

left over for maintenance, 

they decided to remove it...

...and to answer some of your questions:

The pool is not at our house,

 and I don't plan 

to put my brown thumb 

on the garden renovation. 

 The kids have worked so hard 

on this project

 and they will have 

a more manageable yard 

to take care of 

and enjoy

when it is all done.

When we installed the pool 

back in the 1970's,

 a swimming pool was a great 

selling feature 

but since then 

times have changed. 

 I know 

they are still a wonderful addition 

to properties in warmer climates

 but in the 

northern part of this state, 

especially on the coast, 

there aren't that many

 warm days

 and a pool in a rental house

 can be a liability. 

 We would have had 

to remove it 

a long time ago 

if our children 

weren't the ones 

living in the house.

So now 

you know 

the rest of the story 

and I will keep you 

up to date 

on the progress of 

their new back yard 

as it happens.

...Judy...

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