"late summer HOMESTEAD"

Our lives are surrounded by the simple and ordinary things in life but do we recognize them, do we take the time to notice and appreciate? It could be a wisp of hair laying across your child's face, the delicate nature of an older person's hands or the cozy little cottage down the lane? All these things - simple in nature - and so often over-looked or forgotten.

I was doing something rather simple and ordinary the other night - picking up dinner and as I drove out of the driveway I noticed how colorful and cozy everything looked in this little HOMESTEAD nestled in our community. I had been scouting some spots for photos and happened to have my camera in the front seat. It wasn't until I got home and took a closer look on the computer that I found some real 'gems' hidden in the photograph!

"master gardener"

I enlarged the right side of the photo to show "the gardener" tending the garden near the wishing well - all decked out in her blue denim shirt and coveralls. The lady who lives here, I call "Sister" because she is the sister of the man who lived and tended the grounds for decades and took over the roll of 'master gardener' when he passed away. Just to the left of her I'm diggin' the fabulous blue carved-back chair. Something I have never noticed - the window slightly ajar - I have never seen an open window in all the years I've lived here! The colorful hanging basket sways in front of the faded wood panels that have seen many summer days come and go. Then, just when you think you've found all the treasures - there's the garden globe sitting low and almost tucked out of sight - sweet!

"cozy porch"

This 'cozy porch' delights my soul and makes me happy - how many treasures can you find? Let me tell you what I see:

::: hanging from the porch - wind chimes of all sorts

::: the fabulous door bell hanging on the post closest to the door (love this)

::: the giant tea cup sits on top of a log 'side-table'

::: tea pot near the wood bench & three little birds sitting atop the most delightful green stool

::: little garden shovel and decorative bird house near front door

::: the screen slightly torn (lower right portion of door)

So, take the time to stop and look (and listen) to those things around you that seem so ordinary, so mundane, so familiar and see if you can't find something special and sweet about your everyday surroundings!

Added Note:

I "Facebooked" the first photo (above) because I knew many would relate to this old home and they did - much to my surprise! Here's what they said:

Cami Heward Mortensen Brian Larsen gets to look at that all day! Lucky guy!Tuesday at 10:27pm · Unlike · 1 person




Roberta Ward Boice Guess where dinner came from ! ! ! ! !Tuesday at 10:28pm · Unlike · 1 person





Cami Heward Mortensen Good job Mommacita!! I love Taco Time!Tuesday at 10:30pm · Unlike · 2 people





Kate Poulson That is adorable! I love it! Tuesday at 10:39pm · Unlike · 1 person


Chantri Keele Such a cute little place with the most amazing yard! notes I'm craving a pork burrito....thanks a lot! ;)Tuesday at 10:56pm · Unlike · 2 people


Loom Sun Wow!!! That is a great photo! Brings back a lot of memories, i used to live across the street from this house and visit it almost daily.Tuesday at 11:01pm · Unlike · 1 person





Sam Archibald Great photo! I also really miss the building across the street.Tuesday at 11:05pm · Unlike · 2 people


Roberta Ward Boice You have to wonder how many years it can survive the elements (and apts)!Tuesday at 11:11pm · Unlike · 2 people


Jean Smith I have always loved the charm of this old home! It feels like home! Their flowers and gardens are so well kept and so beautiful! Thank you Roberta for sharing something memorable that I am missing out on.Yesterday at 12:08am · Unlike · 2 people


Kanani Kaaiakamanu Hepworth I LOVE this little old home and all of it's beautiful flowers that it produces year after year. I also love that building that is right across the street from it. It was my home of employment all through high school. Great food, great memories!Yesterday at 3:57am · Unlike · 1 person


Troy Bryant Wow, Memories! Thanks for the great pic!Yesterday at 4:56am · Unlike · 2 people


Mary Zollinger I love that place. Very photogenic.Yesterday at 7:47am · Unlike · 2 people


Quinn Calder I wonder how long it will be there?Yesterday at 7:50am · Unlike · 1 person


Lorie Matthews You did an amazing job capturing the spirit of that home.Yesterday at 7:52am · Unlike · 2 people


Linda Ekins This reminds me of my Grandmother's house over in Arco. She always had lots of beautiful flowers around her place. It's nice to see that people have preserved the charm of older houses.Yesterday at 7:54am · Unlike · 1 person


Ashlee Walters Cornell Is that the house that always has the amazing flower and vegi garden by taco time?Yesterday at 8:46am · Unlike · 2 people





Janell Orme Great pic Roberta..... I dont know who lives there, but its amazing every year!Yesterday at 8:54am · Unlike · 1 person





Loni Gee What an awesome picture; it captures the uniqueness of this home. Here's an interesting tidbit about the home told to us by a real estate agent; the day Ricks was announced as a four year school, the Nelson family (owners of this home) wer...See MoreYesterday at 9:12am · Unlike · 1 person


Roberta Ward Boice Wow everybody - thanks for commenting! You can get a closer LOOK at this photo on my blog - www.rboice.blogspot.com (drop by and say HI!!!!!)




Kirsti Springman Osborne oh i love it!Yesterday at 10:05am · Like


Debbie Virgin Roberta...I love this photo ♥ thank you for taking the time to share it with us! I have admired this property all my life and I personally think it is worth much more than a mere million dollars ♥ there is something to be said about the simple beauty of this place ♥ its priceless ♥18 hours ago · Like

Justin Bell that's one of the rexburg treasures I miss. great pic.

5 minutes ago ·

THEN, there were so many who "LIKED" the photo:

Lynne Christian Clark, Justin Nef, Colette Davison, Jan Telford Alford, Shane Berger, Debbie Virgin, Candice McReynolds, Marcelle Wortmann, Kim Gould, Dixie Burt, Whitney Boice Arensberg, Wendy Archibald Jones, Gailiene Crittenden Rudd, Kurt hawks, JaNan Pope, Darrell Rugg, Tammy Fisher Camphouse, Karen Hart Wilding, Susan H. Porter, Mike Archibald, Angela Hoopes, Ada DeClark, Doug Vdub Boyle, Rachael Clark Harris, Heidi Erikson Arave, Azell Jacobson, Heather Lamph Zentner