A Blank Canvas (need some suggestions)

When we moved to this house, there was a porch on the back which we affectionately called "the room to nowhere." Literally, you couldn't get to it from inside the house. On top of that, the crazy former owners decided to close it in, complete with windows and a door. Which of course rotted out because they never did it right. Here is one of the few pics I have of that monstrosity (because really, why would you want a picture of such a thing?)



Last summer we tore off that room. Actually my husband did the tearing but you know I did the supervising! And he built this awesome porch and no - we're not closing it in!


So now we're finally getting around planting around the patio and that's where I need some suggestions. Bless my hubby's heart, he dug it up exactly like I asked, so there won't be a need for any kind of border or weedwacking (you can't see the beautiful straight up and down cut he dug). But this is where I get stalled - picking out the plants. Do I go with my Monkish, perfectionist tendencies that want everything symetrical or do I try to make it look casual, like I've got things all effortlessly under control? I'm thinking low maintenance, and things that we can easily keep under control.


Oh and then . . . while we're on a roll here . . . here's the fence, which sits to the left of the yard when sitting on the porch. It's about 48' long and runs about half the length of the yard so we still have lots of wide open spaces! Notice the "dirt" - that's where an old metal shed used to stand, which we've finally gotten rid of (seriously, we think the guy had stuff buried under there, we kept uncovering junk!" So what if anything should we plant over here? I'm so excited to create an inviting space for my feathered friends, not to mention bring a little of God's beauty back here. Oh and I'm tickled at the thought of being able to put up my hammock without wondering if the neighbors are watching!

Any and all suggestions are welcome - just don't point me to home and garden websites! They kind of frustrate me for some reason. I'd rather know what works in real life!

Movie Review: Akeelah and the Bee

When eleven-year-old Akeelah Anderson's teacher suggests she participate in the school spelling bee, she naturally resists, fearing the negative response of other kids and preferring to hide her smarts instead. But at the urging of her principal and big brother, she agrees to give it a try. Much of the film centers around the coaching sessions between Akeelah and Dr. Joshua Larabee, a distinguished academian fighting his own demons. Along the way, Akeelah learns much more than just how to spell, and long before she competes at the Scripts National Spelling Bee, she becomes a winner.

This was one of the best movies I've seen in ages. I rarely cry over a movie, but anything to do with teaching will usually bring on the tears. This was much more than just a feel-good heartwarmer, so rich with truth and life lessons for us all. The "Behind the Scenes" features on the DVD enhanced my appreciation of the movie incredibly, so I will be watching this movie once more before returning it to Netflix.

Spring Thing Reading Challenge update

It's June 10th and I'm pretty happy with my efforts to hang in there and stick to the books on my list. Three to finish, and one more to read, if I have time.

Finished:
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? (Philip Yancey) (blurb) non-fiction, Christian life
The Garden of the Soul: Cultivating Your Spiritual Life (Keri Wyatt Kent) non-fiction, spiritual growth
Miss Julia Takes Over (Ann B. Ross) fiction
Nurturing Silence in a Noisy Heart (Wayne Oates) non-fiction, Christian life
Boundaries in Marriage (Cloud & Townsend) non-fiction, relationships
The Ragamuffin Gospel (Brennan Manning) non-fiction, Christian life
Bridge to Terabithia (Katherine Patterson) fiction
Quaker Summer (Lisa Samson) fiction
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Peter Scazzero) non-fiction, Christian life
Watching the Tree Limbs (Mary DeMuth) Christian fiction

Left to Finish:
Surprised by Joy (C.S. Lewis) non-fiction, Christian life (currently reading)
Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen) fiction (I won't let myself watch the movie until I've finished this one!) (It's looking doubtful for this one but it falls under the currently reading category!)
Resting Place (Jane Rubietta) non-fiction, Christian life
Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts With The Heart Of God (David G. Benner) non-fiction, Christian life (currently reading)

Removed from the list for now (basically because I don't own or haven't borrowed these books):
The Life You Always Wanted (John Ortberg) non-fiction, Christian life (recommended by a pastor at church)
Gardenias for Breakfast (Robin Jones Gunn) fiction