Take a closer look at the trees (A spring walk)

One day this week, Daily Challenge suggested a walk to take notice of the trees. We decided to take DC up on this challenge and check out our neighborhood trees this time of year.

Along with the trees, I couldn't help but stop and smell the flowers too.

My 80 year old rose bush.

Along with my own rose bush, Ralston Park has their very own rose garden you can walk through. I've covered this park before in a post here, where the roses were in full bloom. They are absolutely stunning when all of the colors come together.

A marker still stands in the Ralston Park location in honor of Jeremiah Ralston. The Ralston family was the first homesteading family of the Lebanon, Oregon area and Jeremiah Ralston was said to be the man that named Lebanon, Oregon after Lebanon, Tennessee because of the trees near the water that reminded him of his hometown in Tennessee.

It was a great walk to view the trees and nature in our neighborhood. We even saw a chalk drawing of trees on the city sidewalk. Spring has sprung here in the Willamette Valley.

If you aren't on Daily Challenge, jump on there! It's a great way to help boost daily reminders on being a healthier you.

What happened this time last year?

Five simple things

It's Friday.....Well, the weekend, at least. I've been MIA the last two Fridays posts with North Carolina Charm due to being ill. and my Friday and Saturday were so busy. Oh, my goodness, where does the time go on some days? We had a round of sickness come through our house that put us all under the weather for a few days each time. But we are all over it now and it's time to get back on track. This past week has been a bit slower for us. We didn't have as much going on and some baseball games/practices were canceled due to rain, so it was a nice break from the running around we did lately. So with that said, here's what made my week awesome.

1. This Book.

Because it's this month's book club selection. If you haven't been participating in the SNS Reading List Selections, I really urge you to check it out. You can always find it at the top of the page under the tab (SNS Reading List), or here. This month's selection is Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities by Jeff Mapes.

2. This Tree house.

Because anyone who loves tiny houses can appreciate this one. I mean come on, WOW, right? Check out my Pinterest board on tiny homes that I swoon over.

3. These Magazines.

Because I'm on this crazy kick to finally get organized and I have stacks and stacks of magazines that I am going to conquer and destroy in the next few weeks.

4. This Grammar.

If you follow me on Twitter, you saw it. Sometimes grammar and the English language makes me laugh.

5. This Listing in the Shop.

Because now the Burlap Double Heart Print is listed for both prints at only $15. These are hand painted and come ready to hang.

Some other listings include:

These Earrings.

SALE! Zebra Print Glass Earrings

(They are now marked down to $5)

This new listing.

The Falling Stars Hanging/Mobile.

These Falling Stars Hanging/Mobile is listed for $15 and comes ready to hang on a hemp twine. Check it out at the shop here!

Spring daffodils

Every year we head over to the Daffodil Farm off Highway 34, here in the Willamette Valley, to pick some wonderful daffodils and jonquils to brighten up our house for the spring season. The Daffodil Farm isn't something popular to many people around the Willamette Valley, but I think it's the most wonderful field of yellows and whites. We just love how beautiful the colors are and it helps to bring us out of the funk of the gray, wet winter season.

March Flower Lore.

Although this is a smaller farm, there are daffodil farms throughout that offer a spectacular wow factor when it comes to bringing in spring each year.

• Martha Stewart's Bedford Farm:

The original daffodil border was begun in 2003. Added onto in consecutive years, it stretches from Girdle Ridge all the way down Maple Avenue past the stable, ending at the Japanese maple grove.

Narcissus Red Rascal

Narcissus Actaea

Nearly at the bottom of the border

This is about two-thirds of the way down.

Her daffodils are always something to envy.

(All photos of Martha Stewart's Bedford daffodils came from the Martha Stewart website and belong to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. I have shared the photos here as visual representation of the company and am not affiliated or getting paid to do so. Any questions or planting instructions on how to recreate her plantings should be directed to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.)

• P. Allen Smith's Moss Mountain Farm Garden Home:

Of course I had to give props to the gardener that lives in Arkansas.

(All photos of Moss Mountain Farm Garden Home daffodils came from the P. Allen Smith website and belong to P. Allen Smith Garden Home. I have sharedthe photos here as visual representation of the company and am not affiliated with or getting paid to do so. Any questions or planting instructions on how to recreate his plantings should be directed to P. Allen Smith Garden Home.)

Check out our Daffodil Farm visit from 2012 and 2013 here. (Unfortunately, 2014 was a rainy year and we didn't get a chance to go because of the rain flooding the farm.) :(

What happened this time last year?