Re-Connecting and Some Projects

Hello Blog Friends, if anyone is still following me I just want to say that's AMAZING considering the fact that I haven't posted in well over a year!
Yes, I'm still here and  I do still pop in on your blogs to see how you're doing.
For those who remember that my husband Toby had been battling cancer I would like to give you all an update.  Just to recap and bring you up to date Toby had been diagnosed with cancer. He had undergone surgery,chemo and radiation but it was a very aggressive cancer and was still growing. Well more surgery wasn't an option and he entered a clinical trial in the summer of 2017 and he is still in that trial. I am so grateful and happy to report that the cancer is 99 percent gone!!! It has been an amazing thing to see the results on the MRI's that are done every 2 months. We have every reason to believe he will be totally cured from this cancer that has taken a devastating toll on his body. I must tell you that blogging became too difficult as we went through this journey and all of my energy was focused on helping him get through the most difficult time of his life. God NEVER left our side and His strength and love is what enabled us to get through it all. He'll be in the clinical trial for another 4 months and then go into maintenance mode.  For anyone who has been given a cancer diagnosis I just want to say NEVER give up hope. New therapies are opening up at a rapid pace such as the immunotherapy drug Toby was on, research clinical trials if the standard therapy of chemo and radiation is not working and trust in God to help you through. We will never forget the love, support and prayers so many of you gave us during the hardest times of his cancer journey and for that we are eternally grateful

So now on to decor stuff....we've been in our home for almost 3 years now and I think I finally have the energy to start doing some serious decorating. I had done up a couple fall planters for our porch and wanted to show them to you before I replace them with Christmas planters.

I also completed a few more projects that I had be wanting to get to....



Here is an arbor I purchased a couple of months ago, I planted a Madison Confederate Jasmine on it as it has a more compact growth than other jasmines and the flowers are more abundant and sweeter orange blossom aroma. You can't really see it in this pic but since first  planted it's put on about three feet of growth in a very short period of time, I'll show you it in full bloom next spring and summer.

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When we moved in the yard was mostly dirt and weeds, I was able to buy some sod squares from home depot and fill in the bare spots in the front lawn as well as spray and dig up the weeds. It's looking much better now.

A group of Limelight Hydrangeas planted along the back fence with blue plumbago in the foreground. The mulch hadn't gone in yet so you still see the drip lines.

A blue Vitex Chaste Tree planted in the corner with coneflowers in front of it.

These Impatiens looked beautiful but our frost last week did them in, boo hoo.

Randomly planted coleus but of course the frost got them too but I did manage to take some cuttings and root inside to plant out again next spring.

I've got a few big projects planned in the near future with the help of my daughter. We plan on putting in new counter tops in the kitchen and putting shiplap up in the master bedroom so stay turned as I hope to be posting on a more regular basis.
Well that's it, I just wanted to share some of what is happening in our lives and reconnect with you all. I hope you are all doing great and are ready for the holidays.