10 years of blogging (with big time lapses...)

I was thinking the other day about this blog.  I haven't posted in 4 years, but I was reminded of how many people I've met through blogging.  I mostly frequent Facebook these days and have continued my friendships with many of the people from all over the world that I first met right here on blogger. I thought I would at least do a 10 year anniversary post, the first trick was remembering how to sign in to my blog. 

The Littlest Gardener baked a Vasilopita - a Greek New Year's Cake

Since I first started gardening in this yard (almost 21 years ago) up until I started blogging 10 years ago my style of gardening has changed.  I first started gardening by just planting pretty flowers.  After a few seasons I understood why more experienced gardeners say to start with the "bones".  So I started working backwards and added more trees and shrubs as well as hardscape. Then, I went back to just planting flowers because I think they are pretty.  I truly love perennial gardening more than any other type.

Our garden late summer 2018.

Over the past few years I've had issues with my neck and back which has again changed my style of gardening to a more low maintenance style.  Gardens are fun but they require a lot of hard work.  I realized I realistically couldn't keep up the type of gardening that I was doing forever.  So back to the "bones" of gardening I'm heading and using more containers for the flowers.

Signs of life in the winter

What's changed around here?  Well, first off Sweet Pea is now a junior in college majoring in astronomy and physics.  She has continued in her passion for the outdoors and now is very into hiking, rock climbing and backpacking.
The Littlest Gardener is now 12 and in 6th grade.  She loves soccer, basketball and baking.
The Muscle (aka my husband) is still getting nervous every time I mention that I have an idea, and he still is the best vegetable garden waterer there is.  That has become his favorite part of the yard.
Stella, our labradoodle, is still around and driving us crazy 🤣.  We love her, but she does have a never ending supply of energy and loves running laps around the front and backyard kicking up gravel and everything else while she does.

Sadly our "little white dog" Gracie died in February.  During the summer we added a tiny little puppy named Maizy to our family.

 We made the pond about half the size.  It has been much easier to clean and take care of.

The pond is about half the original size.

 We still have chickens, they are currently in two different coops, but I'm working on combining them into one so it'll be less work. One of our original chickens Sunny is still around and even lays eggs once in a while.

We gave one of our Silkies fertile eggs, she hatched all but one!  It was so much fun to watch.

After a long hot summer, followed by smoke and poor air quality, followed by my back going out I'm more than ready for spring to arrive.  For now I'll keep wandering around the yard looking for flowers and and signs of spring.

Mason bee house.  All tucked in for the winter.

Maybe I'll even get to posting on this blog a little more often.  What's been going on with YOU?

PS I have no idea where the green word press box came from.  Any suggestions on how to remove it?

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.