Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Winter and Summer




This picture was taken just after John finished the stone stairs in the front rock wall (which was after we did this other job, click if you want to see how it all started) that was a work in progress for several years. He used a total of 115 tons of rock & boulders to build all the garden walls, a in-ground circular firepit and 2 more stone stairways... Heavy work but he liked the physical demands of it.... He moved them all himself. I stuck with the roses and perennials.

It took us and the help of two others, 6 weeks to cedar shingle  our place... The best parts of using cedar shingles on the exterior of a structure is that they will gradually turn to a silver-gray naturally with the salt air quite quickly... no need to stain or paint them, therefore saving much labor and material cost for the life of the building...  other good things about them is that there is hardly any waste material because you can use up many small pieces  wherever needed...  they let the building breathe... they last at least 70 years... anybody can do it that can follow a straight line... they are natural and beautiful.

When you work where you live, it is very different than going off to another workplace every day... space and proper light and pleasant working conditions are necessary .... 24/7  can be difficult without a break with some beauty......



 

We built the house with a sort of alcove in the front where we can be cozy on breezy days ... and it also acts as a heat sink..






ah yes dreaming of long summer days... .... longing for blue skies, fluffy clouds, gardens, and flowers everywhere....



...... the reward of summer, here..... is sheer ecstasy.


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Uh, yes, I can see why you would be looking forward to Spring. What an incredibly beautiful place you have!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thank you, I planted lots of different perennials so we could be treated with an ever changing display from early spring to late fall. The body of water we look out on is the magnificent Bay of Fundy and that is always changing too.
Nature has a way of soothing the soul.
Thanks for checking out my blog.

David Berube BerubeArt said...

WOW!!!

Marie Alton said...

OMG...I too long for spring. What fabulous gardens you have! Perennials...are my fave too. Here at the co-op I have taken on the responsibility of tending over half a dozen beds (with a bit of help from other local enthusiasts)...all populated by splitting mature plants over the years...irises, daisies, coreopsis, Hosta, Black-eyed Susans, Day Lilies, Monarda, Lemon Balm, Forget-me-nots, Lamium, Columbine, Yarrow and a bunch of others that do not come to mind just now...except for bulbs that were the most recent addition.

Will have to get my daughter to snap some pics to share come spring. Come spring!

Gwen Buchanan said...

You are right Marie. Bring on spring, Before we all go stir crazy! Oh... I can hardly wait.

Anonymous said...

Gwen... what an incredibly beautiful home and view! Your gardens are lovely, your home looks like paradise... what a lovely place to live... thank you for sharing those gorgeous photos!

Seth said...

What a special place to live. It looks like paradise.

Don Gray said...

Thank you for sharing your story. What a beautiful home you have made with your blood, sweat, tears and, most importantly, your creative vision.

I had the great good fortune to visit New Brunswick a couple of summers ago when I painted a mural in Sussex. I managed to sneak away to Fundy for awhile--spectacular and soul-soothing.

Ruth said...

I think I'm gonna cry.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thank you kathy, Seth and Don for your lovely appreciative comments... The Bay of Fundy ecosystem is really one worth exploring...

Thank you Ruth.. you comment makes me feel it was all worth while

Serena Lewis said...

Your home and landscaping is amazingly beautiful! You can almost feel the love that went into building it.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks serena, we did have a love affair going on...

Morna Crites-Moore said...

Remember all those locals who thought you were crazy? LOL. They only wish they could be crazy too. :-)

Gwen Buchanan said...

They probably still think we were crazy... oh well when one gets on a artistic bent sometimes one has blinders on and tunnel vision at the same time...
hard to detach yourself from it and stand back and take in what you just did... and once you start you have to finish it.. no other choice...

it was exhilarating though... it fed the spirit...