Jason and Amanda Joy Wells were thirty-something newlyweds who, two weeks after tying the knot in spring 2009, moved into their first home, a beautifully preserved 1949 one owner home filled with charming character (and lots of potential)...not to mention the giant workshop and all the fruiting trees and bushes in the back yard. This site is meant to document the evolution of this house into their home as well as all of the events, occasions and happenings in and around it.


Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Weekend



Last year the irises and blackberries were the only bright spot in this weedy grass patch. I'm surprised that it took us until January to figure out that it could be something more. Well last night my husband said that he couldn't believe that I ever believed that I had a black thumb. I did. Apparently it took the two of us to be able to create something so weird and wonderful. It has very little rhyme or reason...but it is lovely. And alive.



We had our first back yard party with about thirty of our closest friends and family over at different points. Jason and I sodded the back yard with fescue a couple of weeks before which REALLY added to the growing loveliness of the space. We scattered tiki torches and paper lanterns around the hammock and dining areas and Jason put up a mist tent in the way-in-back, next to the home made game of 'washers'. I held all the babies while Jason manned the grill. It was the BEST first backyard party I could have imagined.


When I was a single woman renting a garage apartment, I dreamed of the day that I was a happily married homeowner and our back yard was our paradise. I can finally mark that one off my list :)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Spring Weather

Oklahoma got hit with some crazy tornado weather yesterday. Jason and I stood outside and watched a mass of funnel clouds poking in and out of the storm just south of our city. The wind was INSANE...so I was amazed that the garden was spared. At around sunset we drove around the countryside to glimpse some destruction...we found a crumpled car resting upside down on the side of the road and some felled trees.

Okies are an odd lot. We get curious and social after destructive weather. The countryside was teaming with lookie-loos and all of the drive-in restaurants were packed.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

New Weapon


The irises, peonies, garlic and day lillies that Helen planted years ago are in full bloom...which makes my half eaten baby garden look much nicer. Last week I got to chat with Mike McGrath - of You Bet Your Garden - about my basil and marigold dilemma...as well as a certain spot in my garden that kills everything I plant. He suggested that in the 'death zone' I cut both ends off a metal or plastic can and bury half of it below ground and half above ground. It could be a cut worm. Well it's been over 24 hours and the newest plant is still very much alive...which is longer than any of the other poor plants lasted.


I also received a secret all natural plant nursery insect repellent recipe. Here it is:
1 gallon of water
5 tablespoons of BLUE dawn soap
5 tablespoons of baking soda
5 tablespoons of olive oil
I sprayed all of the plants that have been having bug issues yesterday evening and everything seems to be doing no worse. That's good enough for me...for now.