A Beautiful Sanctuary

Well, after nearly 24 hours, it's still raining in VA! It rained lightly most of the day yesterday, and then last evening a downpour started that continued throughout the night and is still coming down hard now.

In the light rain yesterday, I did manage to get a few photos taken of my SIL's friend Kathie's backyard oasis. Actually, it's more a sanctuary than a "garden". I have been over to Kathie's house before when I came to visit my SIL, and have always loved it. Kathie and her husband Jack have worked and putzed in this "sanctuary" for years, building it from the ground up. And they haven't designed it in the "perfect sense" with traditional landscape items. Kathie is a avid garage saler, and most everything she has found and put in the garden has been "repurposed" in some way, shape or form to create something new! It is an experience to walk through their backyard and see the wonderfulness of their creation! You are surrounded by towering trees, so it feels very private, yet it feels really cozy because they've created paths for you to walk through to each little cozy area out there. Can you believe she really does have a chandelier hanging from one of the towering trees that actually WORKS!! I think she found it in Denmark (I'm not positive though) and brought it home with her! I forgot to take a picture of it, but we might be going over there tonight, so if we do, I'll take a picture....

Here is a funny old water fountain.....do you think this is some sort of Budda dog? I think Kathie named him George....
This is a creeping plant called Sweet Woodruff, and it's scattered throughout the rock steps that line the garden....

This is an archway made from found items.....

Jack built this pergola himself, and he attached a gate they found to the bottom of the pergola...

This is one of my favorite pictures from yesterday! Isn't this little grouping of table and pottery pieces utterly amazing? Again, Kathie and Jack have nestled these little "garden vignettes" throughout the sanctuary to feast your eyes on as you walk through it....
The azaleas are in FULL BLOOM everywhere in VA right now (although after the rain stops, I'm sure most of the flowers will be toast)! I wish I could stop at every street corner we drive by and take pictures. They come in mouth watering colors like the ones I took in this picture as well as in red, coral, white, purple, etc........Kathie and Jack have planted them EVERYWHERE! On a little side note, their yard is located on the edge of a lake, so at sunset, this oasis is stunning. It reminds them of MN, which is where they are both from, originally.

Here is a pinky-coral azala....

Here's another water feature in Kathie and Jack's garden. This little rock pond has tons of goldfish swimming around it! I wish I could come live with them for a few weeks just so I could experience everyday the peacefulness of this beautiful landscape they've created. I think it would be so easy to be in touch with God out here, in the midst of this beauty that He ultimately created. He just entrusted Kathie & Jack to put the finishing touches on His work. God truely gave them a gift to be able to create such beauty in their backyard. I wonder if they'll come do the same to my suburban backyard?????????

Ok, as promised, here's the star of the show, Kemo, or Moe for short. This adorable little guy can be quite the stinker. He'll sit at my feet and nip at them constantly. He's definitely teething, chewing (or trying to chew) everything in sight!
But seriously, how can you stay mad for long at a face like this? Impossible!

And finally, here is Ken as he was getting his chemo treatment yesterday! Doesn't he look great? He was in the middle of lunch when I took this picture. I think the whole process yesterday took about 6 hours. When he got home he took Moe for a walk and then sat up chatting with us for a little while. He said he felt drained from the process. He laid down for a little while and then got up for some dinner with us later in the evening. I am praying today he feels well. Last night he was planning on going in to work for a few hours, but we'll see. If he does go, Jayne and I will drive him there and pick him up when he's ready to come home. We don't have any big plans for the weekend just in case he ends up getting sick. He really is such a trooper and has an amazing attitude.

Well, that's about all for now. I will continue trying to touch base with you once a day if time allows. I hope you're all doing well and making lots of cards! I totally miss my craftin' time peeps! What's a stamper to do when she's not surrounded by her stamp supplies? {{{{Sigh}}}}.

Hugs,
Amy