Thursday, August 4, 2011

Drawing Houses in the Dirt

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Until I realized that dividing my yard into rooms

would help me ‘see’ its potential

and really understand what ‘it’ wanted,

I was completely confused about landscape design.

I have since lovingly named its current look

 Rancho Landscaping.

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This all came about by

going back in time.

I was a little girl living on a farm, the Miller Place, that my father farmed

off Hwy. 77 in Ricardo, Texas.

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Enter my crazy fun cousins who came to visit,

and with lots of bossing and mind changing,

we drew our houses in the dirt.

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And so one day, 

I decided to create an outdoor house,

as I once had at

the Miller Place.


Just as I have hauled things home from the flea market

or from other shopping trips,

I also bring things home that I love for my outdoor house.

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So now it makes sense.

***

Linking to

vintage inspiration-fo

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28 comments:

NanaDiana said...

Laura- I love that you did this when you were a little girl. We used to outline houses with flat stones..make rooms and doors of entry, etc. and outlined chairs and beds, etc. That was a wonderful time of life. I need to make some rooms in my yard too! xo Diana

Sandra said...

I swear - you could take a piece of barbed wire, a memory, and make it pretty ;-). XOXO

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Oh DO TELL!

I have the exact problem! I just don't know where to put things and how to make my yard flow... well, right now...It would be nice if I had a yard to flow~ things keep going this way, it's going to dry up and blow away.

That point by itself, has left me greatly interested in Xeriscaping.

This post leaves me wanting to seek more of your vast knowledge... you've only given just a taste of your outdoor 'rooms'...

Pat

A Few Pennies said...

Sweetest posting; love that bird fountain.

Lynn said...

I love everything in this post. Everything. In the fifth grade my "gril fiends" and I would draw our houses in the dirt at recess. Great fun, but I'll bet we were dirty when we came back in to our desks.

Diane at My Cottage Garden said...

So lovely. Your whole post is precious!

deb said...

Simply beautiful memory and garden decor ♥
*hugs*deb

Lana Kim White Austin said...

I absolutely adore you!!! YES!!! I can "see" your house...your yard.....right now....dirt or no dirt!!!

Hugs/blessings,
Lana

Karen said...

This is a very inspiring post for me. It makes me realize how much my childhood influenced so many things I did when my children were growing up. I feel a blog post coming on!! Yayy!! Thanks for the inspiration.
I want to hear more about your crazy cousins... mom's side or dad's??
Karen
Ladybug Creek

trash talk said...

Ahhh...once again L.B. with just a few choice words, you have taken me back in time to my own dirt houses of the past.
I'm willing to bet a dollar to a donut that even as a little girl, you drew a patio for entertaining.
Deb

Alison Agnew said...

i love it when a plan comes together...and i do adore your blog too...thanks for linking up to fridays unfolded!

alison

Theresa said...

Memory triggered here for me! My sweetest ever Mama used to make house in the yard by outlining the house and rooms with pine straw:) Thanks! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!

Kathi said...

This is so sweet. I had a dirt house too. Thank you for sharing. I love your pretty out door decore. Kathi

Earl Mahan said...

thanks for taking me back

love to you and John

Fr.Earl

Karen said...

What a lovely remembrance! Wasn't it fun to have your own 'house' back then? And your garden rooms are so wonderful, too. Your garden is very beautiful, I can definitely see you how creative you are. I'm very glad to meet you on FF.

Ivy and Elephants said...

What a beautiful memory you were able to share. I am loving the fountain.

Paula

Debra@CommonGround said...

I've never made a dirt house, but we used to take blankets and sheets and make tents using the clothesline. lots of fun, but not nearly as decor inspiring, thanks Laura, for sharing a wonderful memory, xoxo Debra

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

I love strolls down memory lane!

Cindi @ Rustique Art said...

Our outdoor living space has been lonely since the heat wave here in Texas has moved in like an unwanted house guest. Can't wait to get back out there and decorate more. I too bring home wonderful flea market finds that are bought specifically for our outdoor home.

My memories in the dirt are the mud pies, with odd berries found throughout my yard. I miss playing in the dirt.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Love this. Have you read Roxaboxen? it's a childrens book by Barbary Cooney. It's children drawing houses.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Sounds like a fun time with your cousins and dreaming about houses. I love the idea of the garden being the outdoor house. Your pottery and fountain are both fabulous. I would love to see more of your outdoor house. Hugs, Marty

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Laura, Your garden accessories are wonderful and I love the fountain!
xo,
Sherry

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

I love everything but the pottery blows me away. Very beautiful. Try to keep cool!

24 Corners said...

Thank you so much for stopping by 24C today Laura, and also for the follow...it's wonderful to meet you and your beautiful blog! As we speak, I am snuggled up in two sweaters, our summers are polar opposites of each other. I'll send you a little coolness if you send me some heat...deal?!
Bythe way...your grandsons are adorable! and yes...boys are 'very' different! ;)
xo Jessica

Teresa said...

An outdoor house....what a fun way of looking at it!
Happy outdoor decorating!

Linda @ bushel and a pickle said...

As a child my friends and I laid our houses out in the big yards we had using grass cuttings! Only a few chiggers and no ticks! Still doing the same thing room by room in my head! Lovely post.

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Such a neat post~ love it and the story. Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

Tootsie said...

I used to do that too! I also used to steal the grass clippings from Dad's grass cans to make walls sometimes...boy did he get mad when I did that! hahahaha
It does my heart good to tour around the gardens that are linked into my little party...I so wish every one of the people who share lived close enough that I could walk the gardens in person. Thank you so much for sharing with me this week...I hope you will again very soon!
Hugs and smiles from Alberta Canada to you!
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

 

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