An Alley Walk

We're lucky to have these quiet, almost hidden paths throughout our neighborhood. All we have to do is step out of our backyard gate, into what seems to be, when in full bloom, a secret garden full of Lilacs, fruit trees, fresh mint and even roses.

 

To some, these alleys might seem  like the areas of the city that are unkempt, being used for yard waste and dead leaves, compost bins and sometimes leftover building materials. 

But to us, this is a treasure trove. 

This is a place where we can walk without the sound of traffic, or the danger of little ones stepping off the sidewalk. It's somewhere that we can still see the odd toad, sneaky rabbit, garter snake, bee hive, or in this trip's case, a busy woodpecker.

The boys are always sure to bring some pruning shears and small shovels for different botanic treasures they're sure to find and take home to plant in our own garden.

This trip rendered a variety of golden green mosses to go in a new shade garden that they're  working diligently to establish.
I wonder what the tomorrow's treasure will be!

Mawesome Weekending

I know, I know, my title is pure fromage. I apologize...but not really.

I'm such a sucker for mossy covered ground ground, trees, fences, and any thing else that Moss happens to be growing on.  Including bathmats...

I'd absolutely love to have one of these, but Mark would probably have me committed. 

I've been known to make my children go out to the sidewalks and alleyways with paper bags and pick the green wonder out of sidewalk cracks and bring it home for reward money. 

I've also done this with acorns and maple keys... I have issues.

While out on our most recent walk, it took everything in my power to not pilfer just a little morsel of these beautiful growths that were bursting out on and between everything. But alas, we were in a conservation area where everything is "look but don't touch". That-and I had nothing to take any of it home with anyway.

I fully intend on taking the boys out for a walk in the woods after church tomorrow, weather permitting, and putting them to work.
I've been wanting to mossify (ok, now i'm just making things up) an area in our back yard, and our fence. (speaking of fences, click here for yet another super-duper idea.)

I've found several recipes, but the two that stick out the most are this one, and simply using yogurt pureed with some moss. I think i'll try both and see which one works better.

 

I can't wait to try this on my back fence that faces the alley-I'm just trying to think of something clever to write.

I don't have too many fantastic pictures of our weekend just yet, but hopefully after tomorrow I will. 

I'll leave you with this though. She just loves her evening baths in my old tupperware cake carrier.