Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.  Anatole France

I find it interesting that some people love animals and others not.  Is that determined during childhood?

My very first dog was a beagle named Cocoa.  When I was in  2nd grade, Cocoa went missing.  While looking out the window of the yellow bus going to school, I saw a dead dog on the side of the road.  It looked like Cocoa.  Of course, I wanted to tell someone but we didn’t have cell phones back then. I wasn’t sure anyone from school would call my parents to share my suspicions.

But it was Cocoa. We (my four siblings and I) had a proper funeral procession for him and he was buried in the backyard.  We all cried and shared our favorite Cocoa stories. It was my first experience with death.

After Cocoa came Peanuts, a mutt. He shared my teenage years with me. Dad loved dogs; Mom not so much.  Here is Dad and Peanuts. Peanuts was a GREAT dog.

Pets, especially dogs, are always happy to see you.  Unlike people, they aren’t judgmental or moody. They are unconditional in their love.  They don’t talk back. When I’m having a bad day, they just seem to know.

We introduced animals into our family when our children were young.  Caring for something other than yourself is a good life lesson. I’m hoping no one at child protective services sees this next photo, but it was where the girls liked to play with the baby chicks.

Currently, we have dogs, cats and chickens.  My mother did not like cats so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about them.  But my two daughters managed to catch both of our cats in the yard.  Once wild, they now lead cushy lives. Meet Tippy and Donovan.

We have two dogs.  Sox, is my youngest daughter’s dog.  She picked him out of a litter and their love for each other is boundless.  We were told he was a pocket beagle, but he may have a little Basset hound in him.

As a pup….

And now…

Cooper, is the 2nd Anatolian shepherd we have owned. An Akbash (the all white version of an Anatolian shepherd), he is a big boy, weighing in at 120 lbs.  His head can graze the countertops in the kitchen.  He has a hefty bark but is the sweetest dog.

He was irresistible when he was a puppy.

And today, he is the protector of our family.

Any chance he gets, he sits his back end down…in chairs, on ledges, the coffee table…doesn’t matter.

We trained him to do this when he wants to come into the house.

I can’t imagine life without animals, but my husband is done being a pet parent. Each animal, with their individual personalities, have provided us with warmth, love and funny memories. In my next life, I hope I come back as one of my pets.

Are you a lover of animals? If so, why? If not, why?

When the children were little, the henhouse was a living school.  Many of life’s lessons were experienced here~~the birth and death of chickens, the pecking order and bullying, healthy vs. sick chickens, the biology of the daily egg laying, hens vs. roosters, reproduction, bug infestation, responsibility and the care and keeping of something other than yourself.

The henhouse aka the poultry palace is located next to the garden.  Any unused greens or vegetables are readily consumed by our chickens. Attached to the back of the hen house is approximately 400 sq. feet of secured, shaded space to free range.

Henhouses need appropriate ventilation due to the ammonia released with chicken poop. We have 3 doors, 4 windows and the eaves have screened circular holes, allowing for plenty of fresh air.

It was important to me for this structure to be attractive.  The decorative chickens on the front door are made from a composite poly-resin stepping stones.  My husband cut the “chicken on a nest” out with a jigsaw and then mounted them on the entry door.

The  rooster decoration above the front door adds a bit of whimsy.

I designed this 6′ x 9′ structure to house both young, mature and ailing chickens.  The mirror layout, both in the henhouse and the outdoor space, allows me to separate the hens if necessary.  There is a pecking order and being hen-pecked is not fun.  Typically the older, bigger chickens will dominate the younger ones.  When we introduce new chickens to the flock, we separate them until they are the same size as the existing chickens.

Upon entering, the center section is allocated for feed, hay, and egg collection. There are 4 drop down panels to gather eggs from 8 collection boxes.

Miscellaneous items are stored in this cute box hanging on the wall.

I add dried herbs to the hay in the laying boxes  This Chicken Confetti is made by one of my favorite bloggers, Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily.  Not only is it pretty but helps relax the chickens and repels bugs. Another chicken favorite is Grubblies~~think of it as treats for the hens.  This dried black fly larvae provides protein and the chickens LOVE it!

The other side of the nesting boxes (access from the side doors) looks like this.  At night the chickens roost on the bar located below the boxes. The small door near the floor allows the chickens to come in at night and roam freely in the outdoor area during the day.

Even though we live in the 5th largest city in the U.S., our neighborhood has foxes, coyotes, owls and other wildlife.  The small black box attached to the sign below, emits 2 red blinking lights at night.   These solar Nite Guard devices frighten predator animals away.  We have several of these placed around the henhouse.  They seem to work ~~so far, so good.

Having chickens (and one duck) provides us with many blessings.   For me, this is my chicken church.  When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, a trip to the henhouse is a bit of a therapy session.  The hens are always happy to see me.  A handful of Grubblies and I am their best friend.  Opening the door to the nesting box generally provides me a gift of a warm, freshly laid egg.  It is the simpleness of it all.  The smell of hay, the gentle clucking sounds….our henhouse and its residents are a gift that keeps on giving.

If you are considering your own flock, I strongly recommend it.  Small hen houses are readily available and a few chickens can provide your family with food, valuable lessons and a restorative place for you.

The love of gardening is a seed once sown never dies.   Gertrude Jekyll

Someone recently asked me if gardening takes a great deal of time…and I’ve been pondering the question ever since.

I’ve been gardening for as long as I can remember.   Having a garden was a way to teach my children to understand food doesn’t just appear on a styrofoam tray.  Growing something from start to finish takes time, love and is often unpredictable.  Many nights we would forage the garden to prepare dinner.   My two (now adult) children will be mortified that I am posting this picture of them!  Gardening became a family affair.

The hardest part of gardening is GETTING STARTED. I recall feeling intimidated and overwhelmed at first. But it’s really not hard and ANYONE can do it.  Plants need 3 things~~food, water and light.

You can start a garden in virtually any container or, if you love it as much as I do, you can set aside a designated area.  My garden inspiration was from Susan Branch’s The Summer Book. If you are not familiar with Susan Branch, her books are filled with sweet artwork, stories and recipes.

After years of loosey- goosey gardening, I decided to get serious.  I purchased a garden organizer, My Green Thumb by Gail Holmen….a big binder that helped walk me through the planning process. In digging through my notes, I found my original drawing for the garden layout.

We designated a 16′ x 20′ fenced space adjacent to the hen house (a great place to toss excess greens). In designing our garden, I wanted raised bed planters for ease of planting and harvesting~~less strain on my back.  There are 5 planters in total made of concrete block, topped with a brick edge.

The garden gate entrance has a rebar arch with grape vines growing above.

Depending on the time of year, the PVC pipe arches support bird netting, shade cloth or plastic covers. By inserting a 12″ rebar post into the ground, you can bend the PVC pipes to whatever size or height you need and slip it over the rebar.

Due to the high heat in Phoenix, a watering system is critical. Alternately, there are drains in each raised planter so the beds don’t get water logged.

Once the infrastructure of the garden was established, then soil was added.  We compost all our natural scraps but sometimes we need to amend with commercial garden soil. Some people don’t turn their soil, but I do ~~this time I found an old garden glove, a plastic pot and previous plastic planting markers buried beneath the surface. Go figure.

It takes a ruthless spirit to yank older plants to make room for a new crop.

Depending on the time of year, I use a combination of seeds and starter plants.  Though seeds are less expensive, they do require a bit more maintenance (thinning).  Radishes and carrots I grow from seeds; tomatoes from starter plants.

If your plants are root-bound, make sure you break the ball apart and give the roots a fighting chance to spread out. The roots on this plants were so congested that I had to use a knife to loosen them.

Please make sure to take into account the lighting available to your garden.  It took me a few years to figure out the best raised planter to raise tomatoes because they require full sun.

I generally try a new plant or variety each year.  This planting season I focused on heirloom tomatoes. Whitfill Nursery has a great selection.

For larger plants, cages or support structures are very helpful. I purchased these resusable cages years ago from Burpee. By the end of the season, you won’t even see the cages! Plus they collapse for storing.

It’s important to select the right plants for the right time of year.  Consult your local cooperative extension or nursery to determine your growing zone, plant selection and whether to plant seeds or starters.

Once your garden is started, maintaining it is fun.  For me, I spend a few hours at the beginning of a new growing season, but for the most part, it doesn’t require much work.  My garden angel takes care of the rest!

And if you think you cannot grow anything and you have a black thumb, see the picture below.  This is red lettuce, growing in my gravel path.  No water, not much direct light and it’s growing all by itself!

Gardening for me, is a form of relaxation.  When my hands are in the dirt, my mind is quiet and calm.  I’m not thinking of ANYTHING else.  Connecting with the earth is always good for the soul.  So if you have the desire to garden, whether it be in a small container or a plot in your yard, take the leap.  There is such satisfaction in picking your own vegetables, fruit or flowers.

Happy Gardening!

P.S. My garden shoes are Sloggers~~best gift ever from my friend, Janie! They are SO comfortable too.

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. Mark Twain

As I watch the effects of snow storms, nor’easters and bomb cyclones in other parts of the country, I am grateful to live in an area with a more mild winter.  Though I do miss the stillness and peace a new fallen snow brings, I remember not liking the variations in weather between winter and spring.

Here at Bella Terra, we are just now noticing the changes that spring brings. Our morning temperatures are out of the 30s and into the 40s.  Duck dating has arrived at our pool.

Last week there were 6 gorgeous mallards vying for the lone female’s attention.  She appears to have settled on the last two.  Who will be the lucky guy?  Her suitor will stay by her side for the next few months.  Soon she will bring her little ones, teaching them how to swim here.

When I walked into our living room yesterday morning, I noticed how the eastern light has changed.  Bathed in softness, the subtle difference is a reminder that spring is on its way.

There is evidence of spring in the yard.  Stretching along the eastern side of our property, we planted Lady Banks Roses, R. Banksiae Lutea.  These roses can vigorously grow to a height of 25 feet and produces pale to deep yellow flowers.  It is not strongly perfumed and the wood is almost thornless. This makes the perfect privacy fence.

Just this week, we are seeing the very first of its blossoms. These roses only bloom once a year, but shortly will provide a stunning wall of yellow.

In the orchard, it is nearly time to glean all the citrus fruit from the tree.  We are prodded to do so when we start seeing the early blossoms for the next cycle of fruit.

The apple and apricot trees are budding and even though I am tempted to cut these gorgeous branches to display inside, I leave them alone and let nature takes its course.

Due to our extreme summer heat, I have only had success in growing Anna apples, which will be ready to pick in June.

The apricot tree is in its 3rd year of production, so I am hoping for a great yield this year. Look at how delicate these blooms are!

One of our peach trees is just starting to show spring growth, due to its “less sun” placement in the yard.

Even the chickens are sensing the change in season.  Our Araucanas have started laying their blue-green eggs again.  Chickens need 14 hours of daylight in order to have egg production.  Some chicken breeds lay more than eggs others.

In front of the guest cottage, the first jonquil has shown its beautiful trumpet.  A member of the daffodil family, the jonquil has six outer petals and slender, hollow foliage.

The flower beds in the front of the house are just starting to come to life. Here the lavender flowers are showing off.

March 20th is the official start of Spring, only 2 weeks away.  I am looking forward to a spring of hope and renewal, and more time to enjoy the great outdoors.

The mudroom is perhaps the most used, and abused room in our home.  Here is a “before the restoration” picture:

And after:

This room was designed to withstand a steady stream of muddy feet, wet bathing suits, dogs, cats, and sometimes chickens (when one is ill).  Located at the back of the house, off the kitchen, it is a hub of activity.  I chose a stone floor, a blue slate, to withstand the traffic.  The diamond sisal rug is from Ballard Designs and still looks new.

The dutch door leads to the back porch/yard.  To the right, there is a broom closet which houses all the cleaning supplies, batteries, light bulbs, vacuum cleaner and tool box.

The kitchen is to the right of the hat rack.  Santa hats are still up but will be coming down this weekend.

Below is command central.  All the brains/technology to the house are located in the top 3 cabinets.  The doors have metal screens for ventilation.

Below there is the gift wrapping area and numerous drawers for miscellaneous items-scissors, tape, glue gun, ribbon pieces, etc.

This also serves as the laundry folding area or a place to wrap gifts. The drawer pulls out when needed and provides a nice, large flat work surface.

The narrow upper cabinet is where various rolls of ribbon are stored.  Notice the old wall color~~a golden rod (what was I thinking????).  I can happily report the entire room has been recently painted white.  What a difference!

To the right of command central, is the back staircase.  This will be a 2018 project.  Since this staircase is used more than the front one, the sisal rug is in need of replacement.  It will be my third rug in 15 years..

We had some fun in designing the railing.  Grizzly Iron, Inc. in Phoenix made a wrought iron snake that winds it way up the stairs. His rattle is at the end. All the custom iron work at Bella Terra was done by Rodger LaBrash and his company.  I highly recommend them.

Behind the pocket door is our “smaller than I would like” laundry room and half bath.  A long story for another time.

I didn’t realize before writing this post, but this small room has LOTS of doors-5 in total!  The one between the laundry and my workspace is to the library.

Next to the entrance to the library is a wall mounted hidden ironing board, which is convenient to the laundry room.

The long countertop and cabinets make up my office/workspace.

As you can see, I often have helpers…

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!  Any New Year’s resolutions you’d like to share???

* designed by freepik.com

A year ago today, I sent my first blog post of Life at Bella Terra.  It was an intimidating moment, because I thought “who would ever want to read this?”  I don’t consider myself a very good writer and I’m really trying to improve upon that.  But your words of encouragement have brought me back to the computer to post again and again.  If it wasn’t for your kindness and support, it would have been easy to just quit.  Thank you for your loyalty and feedback and comments. Truly. From the bottom of my heart.

Each time I send out an email letting you know I’ve created a new post, I am praying you find it interesting, enlightening or even motivating.  I try to share a small piece of loveliness in hopes that I can brighten your day. As I look out into the world, I believe we each need to find sources of joy and create our own beauty.  Whether it be feeling the warmth from a freshly picked tomato, or the scent of a homegrown flower, these moments of perfection can only help feed the soul.

Blogging for me, is a chance to stop and capture a sliver of time, an exquisite photo or a recipe that bursts with flavor. Plus it is forcing me to attack those cluttered corners of the house or undone projects while showing you my progress. But I can honestly say, I am still a long way from feeling confident about creatively illustrating that to you. But I will keep trying.

So here is a look back at the year and some of my favorite photos and posts.

My very first blog post was about the New York Times Bestselling author, Rhys Bowen and the fundraising English tea we had here at Bella Terra.

And other events we happily hosted here…..

Recipes shared…..

My Renovations and Restorations….

Travel and leisure…..

Decorating and Design…

The holidays….

Cleaning, Organizing, and Updating…

Sharing our home and yard….

My attempt at art….

Flower arranging..

Our pets…

And a few DIYs….

My online store….

There is still so much to learn, especially better photography, writing and getting my watermarks the same size on every photo.  So thank you again for following me and sharing my blog with others.

PLEASE send in your comments~~What area of interest would you like for me to expand? What are your favorite topics? How often should I post (trying to do a maximum of twice per week)? What can I do to be better for you?  My goals for the next year are to do a contest or giveaway and conduct a real survey into your likes and interests.

Here’s to one year and onto the next!! I couldn’t have done it without you.

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