Transforming a Patch of Weeds

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . to see a larger image, click on picture then on the F11 key.

This is what we see out of our breakfast room window.  It had been a couple of yucca plants and a bunch of weeds, but we're finally getting around to doing something about the yard.  Up until this time we've concentrated solely on the inside of the house.  Now that the kitchen is done we have some energy to give to the yard and this part of the yard is first since it's what we see from the breakfast room.  My husband knows that I don't consider a house a "home" until I have peony bushes, so he bought me five bushes and planted them in this section of the yard. Then we added tulips in between each bush. 

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . to see a larger image, click on picture then on the F11 key.

Fortunately there were some nice roses bushes growing on the fence here too, and they really add some nice color.  There were a couple of daffodils that came up earlier too, but there were only two of them and they only lasted a couple days.  It will be interesting to see what else emerges from our mystery garden.

How about a little side trip to England?

Below is a manipulated/enhanced picture from one of the many photos (13 rolls) I took while my husband and I were in England several years ago. . . back before I had a digital camera.  But I still can scan them and manipulate them in the computer.  It's just a longer process this way. 

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . click on picture, then F11 key to see a larger image.

This was the mews at Windsor.  They tell me that "mews" means the stables.  We noticed that an awful lot of these mews around England had been converted to apartments.  I would have loved to see one from the inside. 

Below is the original photo I started with.  The hardest part was getting rid of that pesky car.  The rest was just fun, playing with the various tools in Paint Shop Pro.

Photo by Chris Duffy . . click on picture, then F11 key to see a larger image.

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on the picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

Sorry, but I don't remember what town this was taken in.  All I remember is that somewhere behind me was water . . . a river, a bay or an ocean, I don't remember, but this road brought us to water's edge.  It's either in Maryland or Delaware.  Perhaps my sister Alice might remember where this was.  She's better at keeping a journal of where all we went and what all we did and saw than I am. 

Some Pretty Strange Weather

We've had some very weird weather the last 24 hours here in North Texas.  Last evening about 8:00 or 8:30 the weatherman started telling us that we were in for some severe thunderstorms and high winds.  There were three storm cells, not just one, heading our way.  It started raining very hard about 9-ish but only lasted 10 minutes or so, but the thunder and lightning were something to behold. Then it cleared up for 10 minutes before starting again . . . harder this time.  Then it started hailing . . a LOT of hail. 

Photo (not enhanced) by Chris Duffy . . . to see a larger image, click on the picture and then the F11 key.

The hail was about the size of large marbles, and there sure was a bunch of it. Then it cleared up again for another 10 minutes before it started at it again with a vengence.  This time the hail was considerably larger, and with the very strong winds it was literally flying sideways.  From inside the house it sounded like someone was moving a bunch of heavy furniture in the attic.  After it was all over we started checking the windows to make sure none had been broken and thought we had come through the storm unscathed until we got to the master bathroom.  The skylight in that room had three holes in it. 

Photo (not enhanced) by Chris Duffy . . . to see a larger image, click on the picture and then the F11 key.

Thank goodness the worst hail came in the third storm or we'd have been up to our knees in water INSIDE the house.  Sunday morning when we got back from church my husband and a friend got up on the roof and secured the area with duct tape.  As if to let us know we're not really in charge, mother nature gave us another short round of hail about 15 minutes after the guys finished.  It did hold pretty well considering, but it wasn't leak proof.  Needless to say we're getting a new sky light installed as quickly as the workman can get around to it.

Down By The Old Mill Stream . . .

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . click on picture, then F11 key to see a larger image.

This old Mill was located at the corner of Main and Mill streets in Port Deposit, Maryland with a little stream running right by it.  It was in bad repair with almost every window broken out, but I liked the stone work.  We couldn't get inside, and in fact it probably wouldn't have been safe to do so, but I always want to get inside old abandoned buildings to see what got left behind . . . what the people who abandoned them thought not worthy of clearing out. 

I suspect it all got started when as children, my siblings and I came across an old delapodated house within a state park we were visiting and my we went inside. Low and behold it was NOT empty; there was "stuff" inside . . .a rickety chair and table, a broken plate, a beer can opener and a torn piece of filthy blanket.  My goodness, you'd have thought we had found a treasure trove.  Now EVERY time I see an old abandoned building I wonder what's inside.

Pretty Purple Posies

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture and then the F11 key to see a larger image.

These flowers were liberally applied to the city landscaping on our visit to an art show in State College, Pennsylvania last year.  These happened to be on a street corner and were lucky not to have been trampled under by all the art show patrons.  I like the color purple and green together.

Can You Stand Any More Port Deposit Pictures?

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

I hope so, because I keep coming across more interesting shots from there.  I'm not sure if this USED to be part of a house, or if someone really went to a lot of trouble to construct this stone wall as part of their side yard landscaping.  I especially liked the cat sitting there as though he was the guard on duty.

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

And as always, I'm a sucker for fences, gates and arches and this lovely old church building had all three.  I'm not sure why the bright red doors on this church intrigued me so much.  But they sure made you notice the otherwise totally gray structure.  And some day I think I'd like to have a garden surrounded by a beautiful black wrought iron fence like this.  Fat chance, but I can dream can't I?

Port Deposit Pics

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

Maybe it was all the charming buildings - maybe it was because it was the first day of our vacation - maybe it was because they had the best ice cream I've ever tasted - or maybe it was because the people were so friendly . . . or maybe a bit of all the above, but my sister and I fell in love with little Port Deposit, Maryland - population 685.  

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

This was the old depot, which is now being used as a sort of warehouse.  I liked the interesting architecture and wished that the building could have been utilized as a cafe or antique shop.  But it looked as though no one had been inside for a long time . . . at least from looking through the windows.

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

This used to be the school in Port Deposit, but it has since been converted into apartments.  We spent a good half hour chatting with some of the residents who were sitting out on the steps in the early evening hours before it got too dark.  All in all we found it a most charming town.  I can almost taste that wonderful "Moose Tracks" ice cream we discovered there. Ummm  Ummm.