“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” – Nate Berkus
This week Tina suggests we think about where Home Sweet Home is to us. We may consider the country we live in to be our home, a neighborhood or our residence. My husband and I live on Kiawah Island and our home sweet home is a special place for us and our family. The house is surrounded by tall trees, blooming plants and an abundance of wildlife. There always seems to be pretty colors in our yard from a tree or two that is blooming at the time. Now our large trailing Sasanqua Camellia Tree (see below) is full of flowers.
There always seems to be constant activity in the yard with song birds flying about, going from the brushes to the bird feeder. Many species have made their year-round home in the shrubby while others stop when migrating from one region to another. When they are not feeding or sleeping, they are busy calling to each other across the yard. During the warmer months Crows like to congregate in the yard and when a larger bird like an owl, eagle or hawk happens to appear they make a loud racket and run the bird off.
Each year a House Wren builds a nest for his family in the awning cover over the kitchen window. I felt lucky to get this picture right before he flew up to the nest to join his mate.
The pie-bald deer and her friend use to be another constant visitor, our daughter took this picture a couple of years ago as they were wandering around in the front yard looking for a snack.
This is the same group of friends who occasionally considered the backyard to be one of their many homes.
Often a young buck would stop by to nibble on a few plants.
Last year there was a small birdfeeder on the deck where the squirrels love to visit. One day this particular squirrel ate so much bird seed he collapsed near the feeder and slept for about an hour. I love seeing how the female cardinal is checking out the scene!
Several cardinal families live here year-around and this male looks like he is communicating with one of his neighbors.
Lots of hummingbirds are everywhere. They dart among the flowers and only pause long enough to sip the nectar (upper right corner).
When this lemon tree outgrew it’s pot on the deck many years ago, I planted it in the front yard. Every spring it is covered with beautiful, fragrant flowers and then months later, it bears a large crop of oranges.
“Home sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn’t find it here, one doesn’t find it anywhere.” – M.K. Soni
Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the reasons why my Home Sweet Home is where I live with my husband. Thanks goes to Tina for suggesting this great topic! Be sure to visit her site to see wonderful pictures of her favorite places in the United States.
For those of you who are enjoying the holiday season now, I would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday. And to everyone, please be safe and stay healthy.
“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine they see all day.” – Catherine Pulsifer