It's all my husband's fault.

He has always wanted to do something like a mural on the side of the garage. It was just a big white "cement over bricks" wall, with a pine tree and a lily garden in front of it.

This photo is over a year old. It is the only one I could find that shows the stark, blank white wall.

I'm pleased to say that he was inspired by a photo I took in the early morning hours at Ocean City, MD. He wanted something like this.....

So he and our son got to work on it, painting the pinkish sky and the purplish ocean.

They painted dark brown rocks on either side. My husband wanted something in the middle, so a few very large rocks were added to the scene. And he also wanted a waterfall, so it got put on the rocks.

Notice that they painted the drainpipe to camouflage it. And if you look closely, you can see a patch of bricks where the cement came off.

My husband wasn't happy with the way the surf looked against the distant rocks, so he changed it. And also added another few rocks on the horizon, which he wants to look like they are very, very far away.

That's our son putting some dimension into the big rocks. You can see how the other rocks look much better with some depth added to them.

So that's where we stand now. I'm sure the big rock on the right will get some fixing.



And there's been talk about adding people, birds, clouds, a schooner....... I don't know what this will look like when they finish with it. Or is it finished?? I don't know. I'm not in charge.


I'll be back if there's more!

I love, love, love it!!!

More talent in your family, Nancy! Really great idea and executed perfectly! "LIKE"!

WOW, I'd hire them in a heartbeat! Beautiful mural, Nancy! And thanks so much for showing us a step by step of it!

Does your garden feel cooler with all that water?

Well, Becky, it is "different."

I resisted the idea - rather adamently - for a long time. He's pretty smart, because it wasn't until he decided to use my photo as inspiration that I gave in!

And one thing I noticed as soon as it wasn't white anymore, is that the lilies look so much better against the pink!

His promise was that if I didn't like it, we could just whitewash it. It doesn't have to be permanent. But if we ever do paint over it, I know now it will not be white. A pastel will be much more pleasing to the eye.

Here they are, admiring their work after day 1.....

Hey, Lee Anne and Susie! Thanks for the nice comments. I will show them to my husband!
(maybe.... )

Nancy, what about putting a gurgling water feature out there ....even a tiny one that you hie would be fun!

Um, maybe I'll not mention that to him, Becky. I am a simple, non-complicated, bland kind of a personality. Fountains sound too ornamental to me.

ohhhh....but it would be perfect!! would highlight the watery background beautifully!

even one you get at Walgreen's that is background noises...they are table top styles.....come on, you'll love it! They just plug in to an outlet and you pour the water in every so often.

Fantastic! Don't what I love more.....the mural ...or the lilies. I guess the mural...'cause I could never do that!
Did I just see a shark?

yes...I thought I did too, Sandi!

No! No! No shark!

(Now I can never show this thread to my husband! )

Nancy I love how you turned a blank wall into a view. Brilliant!!!

My bad...it's a mermaid