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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Drawing Houses in the Dirt

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Until I realized that dividing my yard into rooms

would help me ‘see’ its potential

and really understand what ‘it’ wanted,

I was completely confused about landscape design.

I have since lovingly named its current look

 Rancho Landscaping.

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This all came about by

going back in time.

I was a little girl living on a farm, the Miller Place, that my father farmed

off Hwy. 77 in Ricardo, Texas.

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Enter my crazy fun cousins who came to visit,

and with lots of bossing and mind changing,

we drew our houses in the dirt.

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And so one day, 

I decided to create an outdoor house,

as I once had at

the Miller Place.


Just as I have hauled things home from the flea market

or from other shopping trips,

I also bring things home that I love for my outdoor house.

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So now it makes sense.

***

Linking to

vintage inspiration-fo

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28 comments:

  1. NanaDianaAugust 4, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Laura- I love that you did this when you were a little girl. We used to outline houses with flat stones..make rooms and doors of entry, etc. and outlined chairs and beds, etc. That was a wonderful time of life. I need to make some rooms in my yard too! xo Diana

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  2. SandraAugust 4, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    I swear - you could take a piece of barbed wire, a memory, and make it pretty ;-). XOXO

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  3. Patricia @ 9th and DenverAugust 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    Oh DO TELL!

    I have the exact problem! I just don't know where to put things and how to make my yard flow... well, right now...It would be nice if I had a yard to flow~ things keep going this way, it's going to dry up and blow away.

    That point by itself, has left me greatly interested in Xeriscaping.

    This post leaves me wanting to seek more of your vast knowledge... you've only given just a taste of your outdoor 'rooms'...

    Pat

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  4. A Few PenniesAugust 4, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Sweetest posting; love that bird fountain.

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  5. LynnAugust 4, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    I love everything in this post. Everything. In the fifth grade my "gril fiends" and I would draw our houses in the dirt at recess. Great fun, but I'll bet we were dirty when we came back in to our desks.

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  6. Diane at My Cottage GardenAugust 4, 2011 at 8:50 PM

    So lovely. Your whole post is precious!

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  7. debAugust 5, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    Simply beautiful memory and garden decor ♥
    *hugs*deb

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  8. Lana Kim White AustinAugust 5, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    I absolutely adore you!!! YES!!! I can "see" your house...your yard.....right now....dirt or no dirt!!!

    Hugs/blessings,
    Lana

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  9. KarenAugust 5, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    This is a very inspiring post for me. It makes me realize how much my childhood influenced so many things I did when my children were growing up. I feel a blog post coming on!! Yayy!! Thanks for the inspiration.
    I want to hear more about your crazy cousins... mom's side or dad's??
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  10. trash talkAugust 5, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Ahhh...once again L.B. with just a few choice words, you have taken me back in time to my own dirt houses of the past.
    I'm willing to bet a dollar to a donut that even as a little girl, you drew a patio for entertaining.
    Deb

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  11. Alison AgnewAugust 5, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    i love it when a plan comes together...and i do adore your blog too...thanks for linking up to fridays unfolded!

    alison

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  12. TheresaAugust 5, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    Memory triggered here for me! My sweetest ever Mama used to make house in the yard by outlining the house and rooms with pine straw:) Thanks! Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!

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  13. KathiAugust 5, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    This is so sweet. I had a dirt house too. Thank you for sharing. I love your pretty out door decore. Kathi

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  14. Earl MahanAugust 5, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    thanks for taking me back

    love to you and John

    Fr.Earl

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  15. KarenAugust 5, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    What a lovely remembrance! Wasn't it fun to have your own 'house' back then? And your garden rooms are so wonderful, too. Your garden is very beautiful, I can definitely see you how creative you are. I'm very glad to meet you on FF.

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  16. Ivy and ElephantsAugust 5, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    What a beautiful memory you were able to share. I am loving the fountain.

    Paula

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  17. Debra@CommonGroundAugust 6, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    I've never made a dirt house, but we used to take blankets and sheets and make tents using the clothesline. lots of fun, but not nearly as decor inspiring, thanks Laura, for sharing a wonderful memory, xoxo Debra

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  18. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesAugust 6, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    I love strolls down memory lane!

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  19. Cindi @ Rustique ArtAugust 7, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Our outdoor living space has been lonely since the heat wave here in Texas has moved in like an unwanted house guest. Can't wait to get back out there and decorate more. I too bring home wonderful flea market finds that are bought specifically for our outdoor home.

    My memories in the dirt are the mud pies, with odd berries found throughout my yard. I miss playing in the dirt.

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  20. aspiritofsimplicityAugust 7, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Love this. Have you read Roxaboxen? it's a childrens book by Barbary Cooney. It's children drawing houses.

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  21. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeAugust 7, 2011 at 7:55 AM

    Sounds like a fun time with your cousins and dreaming about houses. I love the idea of the garden being the outdoor house. Your pottery and fountain are both fabulous. I would love to see more of your outdoor house. Hugs, Marty

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  22. Sherry @ No Minimalist HereAugust 7, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Laura, Your garden accessories are wonderful and I love the fountain!
    xo,
    Sherry

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  23. Ann from On Sutton PlaceAugust 7, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    I love everything but the pottery blows me away. Very beautiful. Try to keep cool!

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  24. 24 CornersAugust 7, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    Thank you so much for stopping by 24C today Laura, and also for the follow...it's wonderful to meet you and your beautiful blog! As we speak, I am snuggled up in two sweaters, our summers are polar opposites of each other. I'll send you a little coolness if you send me some heat...deal?!
    Bythe way...your grandsons are adorable! and yes...boys are 'very' different! ;)
    xo Jessica

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  25. TeresaAugust 7, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    An outdoor house....what a fun way of looking at it!
    Happy outdoor decorating!

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  26. Linda @ bushel and a pickleAugust 8, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    As a child my friends and I laid our houses out in the big yards we had using grass cuttings! Only a few chiggers and no ticks! Still doing the same thing room by room in my head! Lovely post.

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  27. Courtney ~ French Country CottageAugust 9, 2011 at 10:04 PM

    Such a neat post~ love it and the story. Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  28. TootsieAugust 11, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    I used to do that too! I also used to steal the grass clippings from Dad's grass cans to make walls sometimes...boy did he get mad when I did that! hahahaha
    It does my heart good to tour around the gardens that are linked into my little party...I so wish every one of the people who share lived close enough that I could walk the gardens in person. Thank you so much for sharing with me this week...I hope you will again very soon!
    Hugs and smiles from Alberta Canada to you!
    (¯`v´¯)
    `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
    ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

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