I love to walk - but I also like to take a break and 'sit a spell'. My husband built several rustic benches and placed them around the property so I can just rest and observe nature.







He didn't build this one (but I think he did put it together). It's my favorite spot.



So, where do YOU like to sit?

GrammaChar said:I love to walk - but I also like to take a break and 'sit a spell'. My husband built several rustic benches and placed them around the property so I can just rest and observe nature.







He didn't build this one (but I think he did put it together). It's my favorite spot.



So, where do YOU like to sit?

You'll have to ask me again in a month. I'm replacing the cheap rotted pine wood on 2 bought benches with cedar. But for what it is worth, 1 will be facing the pond and one will be under the shade of a Saucer Magnolia tree facing the flowerbeds as soon as I move the finch feeders (they poop there a lot).

The line about the finch feeders cracked me up!
Your view of the pond is one I'd love to see, and shade is always a good thing.
Cedar definitely lasts longer than pine. Happy woodworking!

Love that bottom picture. Wow. I'd love to sit there. Here is where I sit. This is from January, so no plants out at this point.



This is facing southwest. Lovely place to watch a sunset.

Any spot that has a waterfront view is perfect!!! Please post more photos once you move the plants out; am sure it will look like a tropical paradise. Are you a swimmer? Great pool for it! And sunsets? Added bonus for sure!

Plants are out now. LOL I'm still working on what to put along that wall. I have a crossvine there, but anything else I plant, the dog digs up and eats. It's too hot along that all for containers. I love my dog, but he and I are having words lately!

I am a swimmer. So I have the swim lane in addition to the splash area. I have a short john wet suit, so I can actually swim Feb through November. I'm thinking of getting a long sleeve jacket to extend the season further in the fall.

Have we seen a picture of your "digging dog"? I'm not sure...so share please. We love dogs!!!
I'm a swimmer too, but no suits involved. (edit that to no 'wet' suits involved.... )
Please update photo with plants included. Arizona? It's gotta be warm there by now.....
We're waiting......

The digging dog is Chinle. And listen, he is such a bad boy that my main email account won't accept pictures of him sent from my phone. I tried 5 times. All the other pictures went through but his. Had to send him to gmail. And see this pretty nose? Well, there is a huge raw spot on the top of it now where he uses his nose in the digging and destroying process. So don't let this sweet face fool you. He is Plant Destroyer, King of the Backyard.



Here are some views of the container garden from my seat. You can't see what's behind the shade cloth from here.


Behind the seat are containers with pak choi, rhubarb that hasn't emerged yet, potatoes, brussel sprouts, peppers, and tomatillos.


Dwarf lemon, brussel sprout and tomato.

Awww...Chinle doesn't LOOK like a dirt devil, but looks can be deceiving. Pictures won't email? My dog doesn't dig or eat plants, but no plant stake is safe - plastic, terra cotta or metal, doesn't matter - they all get pulled out. Now I have to write things down on paper that's kept in the house or I'd forget what everything is that I've planted.
Your container garden should provide you with lots of yummy stuff this summer. And your backyard looks like a spa! Water is so soothing.

Char I love those benches, may have to steal that idea. My husband always has pieces of old boards laying around.

Liz your pool is fantastic, I love it. Something on my bucket list to have one day Does Chinle swim too or just dig

Oh, he is a dirt devil, aloe killer, and he's got his eyes on the tomatillos now! And I love him anyway.

I know it's not funny to you, Liz - but "aloe killer"

Does he have any chew toys???

I like to sit here in the glider. It overlooks the river bottom and the Iowa fields and timber.


Good resting place on the side yard

Oh, what lovely settings - and seatings! Just beautiful!

Here's my evening perch, glass of wine at hand. In the middle of my herb labyrinth.

Deb and Ginny, your sitting places are gorgeous!

Char, he eschews chew toys. He has many tennis balls, which he treats like they are babies. He moves them as a group. He is really a funny dog. I call him a reverse retriever. He will take something off my counter, let's say a package of dixie cups. He will them carefully distribute the cups around the house one at a time. I'll find them in corners, on bookshelves, under couches, on the bed, pretty much everywhere. He's done this with cups, uncooked spaghetti noodles, and towels. My acronym for him is DORC - dog of random craziness. He has never destroyed anything in his life - until I started planting aloes in the back yard.

Liz, could it be possible Chinle thinks you are his pet and he just wants to keep you entertained/busy?

Ursula! I think you have hit the nail on the head. He is an insecure dominant dog, so he is always trying to asset some control, and I really annoy him by not letting him have it.

By the way, I forgot to add that I have had to take extreme measures to keep him out of my compost bin. We have had a major disagreement about what it means to "turn the compost."

That sweet and noble expression in his eyes tell how much he loves you, Liz. Not easy for Chinle to realize you don't appreciate his cooperation with the compost!

@Bonehead.....WOW!!!! What a gorgeous garden!!! Wish you'd tell us what the plants are because I recognized nothing but the poppies. You truly have a mini-paradise there in the northwest....too bad there's not a 'drool' emoticon. Looks like the perfect spot to drink a glass of wine!

Liz, you have a very interesting dog with some strange behavioral habits. He must constantly astound you with his antics! You'll never be bored with Chinle around!