In the winter of 2012, my husband and I bought our first single-family home. Our kids were five, three, and five months. For the first time, we had this huge yard for them to play in. One of the first orders of business was to make it a safe space for the kids.
We had the yard fenced in and built a deck—all completed at the end of the following summer. Time had gone by, and my 5-month-old baby was now an active toddler. Spending even more time outside became easier and more necessary. More time outside meant it was time to make the yard more visually appealing or, as my now 12-year-old baby would say, aesthetic. So, of course, that meant it was time to plant some flowers, and that meant I needed a flower bed. This is when the digging began.
I decided I wanted the flower bed right at the bottom of the deck and started searching Pinterest for different ideas on how to create one. I came across this adorable idea for the kids to paint car tires, fill them with soil, and plant seeds in them. They painted two tires each, and I allowed them to pick which seeds they wanted to plant and where. We had sunflowers, morning glory plants, and a few other plants whose names escape me. We even have one that comes back every year. This was the beginning of my oasis.
It was a place I could make “pretty” and a safe space for my kids to play. As my kids have passed the age of enjoying kicking a ball around the yard and barely go out there at all now, I decided to make the place my own. A place for me to find peace and tranquility. A place where I could do all the experimenting I wanted with plants and soil. Also, a place where I could whip out the power tools and build something like a raised garden bed or an outdoor couch. I realized I am happiest when I am outdoors, especially if I can play in the dirt or create something with my hands.
This yard is all about me, and in this blog, I will share how I made and continue to make my backyard my oasis.
Crafting My Bliss 