Monday, March 10, 2008

Nobody puts Baby in the corner......

I'm sorry it's taken so long to write a new post. Life has gotten busy lately what with doctor appointments, field trips with the grandkids, deadline sewing and yard work.

This past week we had a new fence put in the back yard. Now for you non-Californians, we fence our back yards in with a six foot high fence on three sides. My family from Georgia cannot understand why we do it. At times I wonder myself. When I lived in Michigan we didn't have fences. Your neighbor's lawn just blended into yours and created a vast green expanse. It was strange at first when we moved out here. However, as a homeowner I have come to appreciate fences. Fences do truly make good neighbors. I care how the front of the neighborhood houses look as it affects property values . However, I really don't care how a person keeps up their house inside (whatever makes you happy!) and I don't care how they keep up their back yards as long as there are no weeds peaking over the top of my fence. I am very meticulous with my yard as noted by my aching back. It would be disappointing to put in all that work and expense only to have it overshadowed by the neighborhood "messies" if there was no fence to screen it.

While the old fence was down I had a lovely view of the almond orchard blooming behind us and horses in their pasture. But alas, I knew that the cons would outway the pros for putting the new one up. So I am just thrilled to have a brand new fence. It defines my space and encloses my little piece of heaven on earth.

Speaking of space. Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favorite movies. I remember dancing around the family room with my daughter during the last dance scene. It was majic-the movie, not my dancing! There is a great line in in it where Johnny is teaching Baby how to dance. "This is my space!" "This is your space." You may have heard by now that Patrick Swayze is fighting pancreatic cancer. I'm sure that you all join me in sending him your thoughts and prayers for a speedy and full recovery.

8 comments:

Trudy Honeycutt ~ Folk Artist said...

Sending healing thoughts and prayers out for Patrick....and blessings for the new fence!! We have fences here in Colorado, at least where I live!! ~~Trudy~~

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Oh goodie goodie gum drops! Your fence is up! Now you can have a safe place for your little scotty to play in - when you get her!!

Jean, Doogs said to tell his Aunty and Uncle that he is tired, but they got out the little wire. It looks like he may have picked it up in a friend's garage. Our friend recognized it as a wire brush used for polishing. So little, yet such a bother to his little tummy. Come by any time to visit. I am almost always home.

xo
Becky

Susie said...

Dirty Dancing is one of my favorite movies too. I was so sad to read of Patrick's pancreatic cancer.
You must love having a view of an almond orchard at this time of year.
We've had such lovely weather.

Esther Sunday said...

Hey Miss Jean - my parents live in Half Moon Bay and the backyard is fenced as is everyone around them. Here in North Idaho, at our home, there is no fence, so I know what ya mean! Yes, here is to hoping the best for Patrick. Love, Esther

Thimbleanna said...

Some of us knew you've been gone 'cause we missed you! I remember when I was a little girl we moved from California to Ohio and oh how weird that was -- no fences! Now, I've been in the no fence world so long (we aren't even allowed to have fences in our neighborhood) that it's funny for me to see them. Can you pick almonds off of the almond tree? -- oh my, I'd be in big trouble!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I live out in the forest with mountains all around me and when the leaves are on the trees we can't see our neighbors houses...so we don't need a fence...

Loved dirty dancing...sending healing thoughts to Patrick..
Penny

Heidi said...

Hi Jean! I have not visited you in a while and so enjoyed reading that you do the same in California as we do here in Holland. Here the reasons behind it are very obvious. Space is a premium! We have a postage stamp sized garden and you need it to be fenced to give you privacy. No luxury of space as in the US. We are planting up a living fence at our cottage up north and have a hedge fencing here in our city garden. It is beech and stands very tall. It is so nice to look at the green fencing and it gives us the illusion that our garden is bigger than the tiny plot that it is. It does nothing to help give us the privacy of not hearing our neighbors. *sigh* We have tried to make our garden look like a 'secret garden'. I would love to see some photos of your garden as it sounds really beautiful.

Hugs ~
Heidi

Trudy Honeycutt ~ Folk Artist said...

Hi, Jean!! Hope all is well over on your side of the country!! We are having a gorgeous day as we await our next big snow dump!! But today.....it is SPRING!! Even the snow in the shady areas is long gone!! Just stopping by, as I do almost every day, to see what is new....and to tell you....I gave you an AWARD!!! Please stop by to pick it up!! Hugs, Trudy in Colorado