When we were house shopping we had several criteria: location, layout, quality, setting and price. We found houses that met one or two of these but all five together? Elusive!
Setting is the most intangible. We wanted someplace that felt like a home, that had something pretty to look at outside and a home with plenty of privacy and plenty of space between us and the neighbors. Our new front yard is pretty, set back from the road with maples and birch.
Veterans Day 2011 First Snow Front Yard New Home
The back yard has a fenced in lawn with a big ol’ empty prairie behind. We thought it was flat and dull, right until the day we closed. The former owner said “and it has the best views anywhere”. “Best views”? I didn’t know what she was talking about. Our old house had a creek in the back yard and there’s nothing like winter with snow on the banks and water flowing dark and mysterious through the trees.
But once we were here and opened our eyes we saw beauty. Three weeks after we moved it snowed.
Veterans Day 2011 First Snow Back Yard Trees
The camera flattens the view.
Veterans Day 2011 First Snow Back Yard
The back yard isn’t flat! And it isn’t boring. The ground slopes about 15 feet from our back door down to the fence, then undulates with rolling terrain to a row of trees. Yes, I miss the creek in the winter with the icy dark water, but I don’t miss the mucky back yard. I miss the ducks but we have hawks and crows, and herons come to the neighbors back yard.
It took a different eye to realize the spectacular sunrises, the beautiful trees beyond the prairie and the hills on the other side of the valley are beautiful.
Grass Turning Gold in October
jj says
Lovely!