R is for The Road

This is Mr. Shady's favorite poem, I think. R also stands for Robert. Robert Frost happens to be the author of this poem.

The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I ---
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This is last year's foray into the woods for Morel Mushrooms.
Is this the picture that comes to YOUR mind when you think of this poem?


Probably not! ha.
Have a great day!
:-)

Visit Mrs. Nesbitt's site (click on the logo below) to see what's posted for the ABC Wednesday Meme. THEN, click on the same logo at her site to see who else is participating.

Nothing shady but the woods...

Hey There, Handsome!

Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday Meme

You might want to click on the logo-link below to seek
other participants this week!
(Click this same logo on her sidebar to view the list)

Hey there, Handsome! How are you?

?

Have I ever seen you in this neck-of-the-woods before?

How about an introduction?

My Handle's Shady Gardener . . . and yours?


Hesi-tante

Hope-ful

Heady

Hazel-y

Haggard, Horrid and Harold-ly (or Hardly)?
or perhaps I'm being Hasty?

You want My name?

John Brown. Ask me again, and I'll knock you down!

Hey! John!
between You and Me...

Here's some advice.

Click on your photo above to see:
How you're supposed to behave around here.


Otherwise - Out to the Compost Pile you go!

Wasn't that YouTube video Heavenly?

F for Fair-ness!

Shall we discuss "Fair-ness?" Let's!

One definition of the word fair is beautiful. It fits everything in this post.

Part of my front-of-the-house garden

In front of the lattice with the water walkway.
(I do tread on this little walk periodically, but it was constructed to direct rainwater away from the house.)

A glimpse of my backyard from the Woodland Walk
Another part of my backyard...

Another definition of fair is promise... to illustrate this meaning, you can see the contrast and purpose for change below.

One more view of a backyard garden that changed from 2008 (left photo) to 2009 (right photo) - click on them to compare. :-) I moved the Dappled Willow 'Salix integra' and replaced it with Hydrangea 'Quick Fire' - giving the DW a little more bright light. Click on the photos for nice enlargements, so you can see the changes for yourself. :-)

Now, another definition of fair is impartial. In the spirit of impartiality, I give you an example of how "Everything Might Grow Better in My Neighbor's Yards."

:-)

First, meet a couple of Friends located in the same shady neighborhood!
(wish I had photos of others' gardens!)

Dixie's Garden

Chris' Garden
(forgive my blurry photo)

Now - Friends in town.

Susie's Garden
Nancy H's Garden


Meet my friend that may have begun the 'gardening movement' in town years ago!
This is her berm...

Dorothy's Garden

looking at the top of the berm

A Friend on the way to town and back home again.

Suzanne's Garden

A gardening friend on the other side of town,

Kris' Garden

A couple of Friends in our little, local garden club

Nancy's Garden
(the photos of which will be changing, as they recently moved)


Joan's Garden


Kathy's Garden

Now... presenting

Family!

Dad and Mom's Garden

Our Daughter and Son-in-law and their childrens' garden

Our Son and Daughter-in-law and their childrens' garden
(note the markers - last Summer's project!)


Aunt MEA's Garden

Marilyn's Garden

My sister Barb's Front Garden
This stands for Fond memories.

And I've had a Fantastic time reminiscing about visits and walks through these gardens... Wish I could pick a Fistful of Flowers... but the time will soon come. For now, we continue to Forge through Winter's Fleet of Snow.

;-)

Are you ready to visit other sites in this ABC with Mrs. Nesbitt? Click on the logo below to visit her site. Click on the same logo there to find others that are participating. (You can join this meme at any time, yourself!)

B for Birds! (that was easy!)

Mrs. Nesbitt began this meme over three years ago.
Visit her site by clicking here.

is for Bountiful Birds

a Bevy of Beauty
a Bonanza of Bridd

We returned home Friday afternoon (Jan. 22, 2010),
after having been gone for a few days.
We found...
Lots of ICE ... (Check out our driveway!)

... and hungry Birds.

Click on any of the photos below.
Most enlarge somewhat.

American Goldfinches on the left and a Common Flicker on the right.

Common Flicker (yellow-shafted form)

Below, left to right:
Purple (male) Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Goldfinch

For most of the day, Saturday, it rained.
On Sunday we could see the grass!

More Birds - photos taken Sunday, January 24, 2010.

Again, left to right, American Goldfinch, Purple (female) Finch, A. Goldfinch
Is it not a wonder how these little birds can crack open shells, and eat the seeds without losing the "goodie?"

Purple (male) finch

Purple (female) Finch (so cute?)

"Hey! What does a fellow have to do to get in on the grub around here?"

(I heard the chickadee say, quite plainly!)

The same sentiments were echoed by the Red-bellied Woodpecker,
not more than a few minutes later. :-)

This next photo was taken January 6, 2010.
It's a female Northern Cardinal
at the
Birdbath.

A veritable Battery of Birds in and around their Bathtub and Beyond!

B is for Birdhouse
The photo below was taken May 18, 2009,
shortly after it was put in the Sunny Corner Garden Bed.

Monday (1/24/10) I walked past the living room...

More SNOW! Actually, I'm relieved.
We're supposed to have snow at this time of year.
It's beautiful and I love to watch it fall.
(esp. if you don't have to travel far!)

The same Birdhouse, as taken from the kitchen window
at 8:00 A.M. Monday, Jan. 24.


The photo below was taken December 31, 2009:

Bluebirds
in Barbie's (one of my sisters) tree!

The tree is now 2 1/2 years old. Isn't it great that it's being used?
:-)


Best Wishes for the day!

Nothing shady here, besides a few shifting shadows.