“Don’t allow your mind to tell your heart what to do. The mind gives up easily”
Paulo Coelho
If I had not heeded this quote three years ago today, I would never have pushed the “Publish” button on my first post. And I would not have met all you wonderful readers who have become lovely friends and supporters journeying with me as I ramble through my life and garden.
My original intent was to use this blog to post about life’s lessons as I had been experiencing them through my garden. But it has become so 
much more with my addition of more gardening posts, and my own meme celebrating the change of seasons called, Seasonal Celebrations. There is still time to join in, just scroll to the end to see how to join in before the equinox.
I made a promise to myself and readers that I would post at least weekly on a Monday, and I have never missed a post (even when I was sick I managed a short post explaining why there was no post). This commitment is largely for me as I have developed a weekly habit of writing, photographing and assessing my garden and my life (although not as frequently). Funny how I still struggle with other commitments, but none are as loved by me as writing and gardening.
If you read the first several posts, published in the fall of 2010, you will see I shared many stories and lessons. But the quotes didn’t come until much later around the middle of December. And I did not even know much about or follow many garden blogs. That all came about due in part to Blotanical and Jean@Jean’s Garden and her wonderful review of my blog. I will always remain eternally grateful to Jean for her support.
I have put out 215 posts in three years. Mine is not a big following, but a modest one. And as I have said before, I really don’t care about the stats. If you come and visit then I am grateful to you. If you then leave a comment, I am beholden to you and will always leave an answer that will come to you in an email to let you know I have replied. That to me is what I love about blogging. The communication, conversations and relationships it builds.
As I sit here writing this post, the cool 64 degree breeze is wafting through my window regaling me with scents of summer mixed with fall. The garden is a mass of seed heads with blooms popping up here and there. Birds are making lovely sounds and the rustle of leaves is soothing. These are the views from my garden that I love to share.
And as my garden wanes, it is time to start making plans for next year both in the garden, in my life and with my blog. I have been thinking long
about these, and am making another commitment to myself. As I clear, rearrange and get ready for a long winter’s nap, I am working on my design business. I had to put my business, Purple Door Garden Designs, on hold due to my day job. But I plan to finish some necessary steps so I can roll it out come spring.
And with aging and retirement comes the pull to do those things we continue to put off….I plan to retire from that day job in June. This may or may not happen, and the variables are too great to know if all the planets will align finally. But I have made some plans to travel in spring regardless. Travel is one of those things I always seem to put off.
So with more travel there comes less gardening or perhaps certain aspects of gardening like veggies or lots of containers. We shall see what I can give up if anything, but these things will be calculated into my plans…although I don’t know how I could do less veg gardening as I am adding another bed. Well perhaps travel will be only for a week or so here and there during the height of veg gardening time.
And with a change in life comes closure. Without closure and celebrating what we have accomplished we cannot move forward to the next new beginning. So this post serves as closure and celebration. I have completed 3 years with the blog, and I plan to continue writing posts. I am working on changing the appearance of the blog and adding some pages for some of my series and plant profiles, but that takes time.
I also am launching into a series of posts in January partnering with a local native plant nursery. I am a big advocate of using local merchants, 
and I want to promote those local native plant nurseries that also can ship to many areas of the US. I also was recently accepted into the Garden Writers Association. Thanks to Judith@Lavender Cottage for her support, encouragement and endorsement in this endeavor.
And I have been asked to guest post on a marvelous blog, Vision and Verb. That post will be published on September 24th. I hope you stop by to read it. If you have not visited this blog, I encourage you to do so. The amazing women from around the world that write for this blog have been a source of strength and encouragement for me.
I also will be embarking on a personal writing journey. It will take time, but I feel it is time to launch into this project. I have many such starts with writing projects that have been placed on hold, but this one I feel is the one to continue with. But more about that later.
So it seems as I start my 4th year in the world of blogging, the sky really is the limit. I am taking this journey one week at a time. I hope you will continue to follow along wherever the journey leads. I am so happy to have you along as my companions. Thank you for all your support and here’s to the next new beginning at Gardens Eye View!
***I am using pictures of sunflowers, both perennial and annual, as they represent gratitude and appreciation!!
“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Come Join Us:
Seasonal Celebrations is a time for marking the change of seasons and what is happening in your part of the world during this time. I hope you will join in by creating a post telling us how you celebrate this time of year whether summer or winter or something else. Share your traditions, holidays, gardens and celebrations in pictures, poetry or words starting September 1st.
And it seems so appropriate to collaborate with Beth and her Lessons Learned meme. What lessons have you learned this past season of summer here in the North and winter in the South. Then tell us about your wishes, desires and dreams for this new season.The rules are simple. Just create a post that talks about lessons learned 
and/or seasonal celebrations. If you are joining in for both memes please leave a comment on both our blog posts. Or if you are choosing to join only one meme, leave a comment on that blog post. Make sure to include a link with your comment.
Beth and I will do a summary post of our respective memes on the equinox (the 22nd of September). And we will keep those posts linked on a page on our blog. Your post should be linked in the weekend before the equinox to give us enough time to include your post in our summary. And if you link in a bit late, never fear we will include it on the special blog page (which I still have to create). The badges here can be used in your post. So won’t you join in the celebration!!
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Next up on the blog: Monday brings another Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post intermingled with Garden Lessons Learned.
I hope you will join me for my posts once a month at Beautiful Wildlife Garden. See my most current post now. Most recent post is up.
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