Saturday, September 20, 2008

The View From My Birthday Present


My birthday is in September and that's when we officially celebrate it. (It was yesterday.) Last year was a milestone for me, as well as our younger daughter and my dad. Mom had a big party to celebrate our 25th, 50th, and 75th birthdays.

Since it's Romie's mission in life to keep me happy, I usually announce what it is I want for my birthday well ahead of time so he can do what a good husband does - buy it. Okay, it's not really like that exactly, but almost. We don't make a big deal out of birthdays, so if there's something kind of big or special that we're wanting and a birthday, anniversary or Christmas is close, we get it and say it's for whatever one of those holidays we're celebrating next.


I've been wanting a willow chair for the garden for some time now, but any that I've found online are either too expensive or become that way once you add the shipping charges. It's not that they aren't worth the price they're asking, it's just that I keep hoping to find one that is a little more affordable. Well, one Monday back in July was my lucky day.

On the way to Hocking Hills, I was telling Mom how I wanted a willow chair and she said she'd seen a couple of them - get this - in Van Wert. One of the antique stores there had them. So the day after we returned from our trip, Romie and I stopped in to see them.
Ah, yes, just what I wanted! And affordable. The tag said $159. We sat in them, we walked all around them, we compared the two.

We decided to browse the store for awhile before making a decision, and found something else we'd been looking for - an adze. We'd been using Dad's for removing sod, but we kept needing it at the same time Dad did, so we found one and bought it.

As we made our way back to the front of the store to the willow chairs, the sales clerk said she had just talked with the consignor who said she would take 15% off the cost. Well. That sealed the deal, even though we would have bought it at the original price. We chose which one we wanted, paid for it, and packed it in the back of the van.




Once we got it home, I ended up putting it in not quite the same spot I'd planned. Instead of placing it across from the pond, I put it beside the pond. It just looked better there. And the garden looks better from there, too.









Happy Birthday to me!


Note: These photos were taken in late July. I only wish my garden still looked like this in September!


18 comments:

O.I.M said...

the view is gorgeous. happy birthday.
irena

Rosemary said...

Happy Birthday what a wonderful gift and an even more delightful spot to sit ,read and relax.

Lythrum said...

I'd like to have a bench or chair by my pond too. Having it right beside it would let me watch my fish. :) Congratulations on your present. :)

Unknown said...

Happy (belated) birthday indeed, my dear friend! So glad you had a happy day, and yes, wouldn't it be great if things looked in late September as they (normally) do in late July. We're finally fog-free, but being still under the weather has precluded much garden work here.

Unknown said...

The view is gorgeous, but so is the garden! Do you have to bring that willow chair inside for the winter, or so anything special to it to ensure years more use? It's soooo pretty, but looks so delicate. :)

Diana said...

Kylee - that's a lovely story and what a beautiful spot you have planted there for you to enjoy your chair. I especially like the rocks and the curves and the tree stumps. Happy Birthday -- even your plants are all smiling at you on your special day!

Shady Gardener said...

Happy Birthday, Kylee! Thank you for sharing the story of your chair. You have a Happy Garden!! No wonder you wanted to sit and look at it! :-)

F Cameron said...

Awww...that's so wonderful! Happy Birthday! Your gardens are gorgeous. Cameron

Lisa at Greenbow said...

A belated Happy birthday to you Kylee. What a wonderful gift. You are lucky that you got to enjoy it a couple of months ahead of the actual date. You July garden is stunning. No wonder you want ot be out there.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Kylee, and bravo on your birthday present and its placement. But most of all, bravo for actually sitting in it and reading a book. It's good to see you enjoying your beautiful garden, and not just creating it.

Benjamin Vogt said...

What a sweet spread you have! I bet you know this, though. Looking down at older posts, I'm envious of your sweet autumn clematis--mine is doing fine on the arbor in its first year, but I'm already looking to next year and many more blooms. I am so excited by all these September blooms--flowers from May to Sept, yes!

Rose said...

What a beautiful garden! And I think you've chosen just the perfect spot for that gorgeous chair. By the way, you could have subtracted 10 years off your age, and I would have believed you:)

Aiyana said...

Your garden is just beautiful, and the view beyond is great!
Aiyana

Anonymous said...

You scared me for a minute there. I thought to myself, "How on earth does her garden look that good in late September?" Your chair is fantastic, and I can only assume you got it way early of your actual birthday! Love your garden, and I can sure tell it's Ohio. Could be right down the road from here, looks so familiar. The corn fields are a dead giveaway. LOL

Dave said...

Happy Birthday! Those shots of the garden were excellent. That is a great place for your chair.

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

That is the coolest birthday present I can think of! How wonderful! Hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration.

Hugs,
Cindy

Pat said...

Wonderful gardens.
I'm envious of you for having an acre. Maybe it's because I'm running out of space. :)

John said...

I love your blog. My birthday is also in September. I wish I had an acre of land. My small backyard will have to do..Happy gardening..

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