My Emerald Green Forest

The winter months are finally over and all the leaves have grown back on the trees. I can't get over how green and lush everything looks. Everything has come completely back to life again. It's just so amazing how beautiful it is. 

When I first moved up here to NC, the first thing I noticed was how lush the forests looked. I remember making a comment to someone about how amazing the trees were, that it looked like an enchanted forest! She said, "Hon, this ain't no forest, we calls this here woods!" LOL So, she can call it woods, but calling them woods just doesn't justify the beauty that I see when I look at them. 

I went for a little walk yesterday by my house just to take it all in. Hope you enjoy the little tour with me as we walk through the emerald green forest. :)

 This is standing in the 'woods' looking at my house from the side.

 Beginning of the walk.

It only keeps getting greener and more lush.

 Small brooks running through out.

So lush. So beautiful.

Blooms still all around, too.

So blessed to be able to just walk out my front door and see all of this.

Not long ago, I saw the movie The Hunger Games. It was filmed here in North Carolina and the setting was breathtaking. I would say just to see the scenery alone, it would be worth watching, but there are some gorey scenes in it just as a warning.

Here are a couple of pictures from the movie.

They call it God's Country here.

I'm just so thankful for the 4 seasons, I'm especially thankful for my favorite season, summer that is coming up!!  

Hope you're enjoying the scenery where you live, too!

Hopefully I will have beach photos to post soon, I'm hoping to make a trip down to Florida this summer.

I took the photo below standing in front of my parents home today.

Organized with a Chalkboard & Post it notes

My magnetic chalkboard to organize my life.

I am a post it note junky. I have post it notes all over my home, in my purse, my car, anywhere to help me with my little To Do lists and projects.

While browsing around, I stumbled upon this Pinterest photo below of a way to organize all of your post it notes. I love it!!!

Photo from Pinterest.

So I made my own Post It note organizer.  I used the Ikea Spontan Magnetic board and painted it with chalkboard paint. That way I can also attach papers with magnets to it so I don't lose them.  I just threw it together over the weekend, but I know this will get a ton of use and I can add more columns to it as I go. 

 I'm doing spring cleaning and trying to find more creative ways to organize my things so I don't collect a bunch of clutter around the house.  I'll post more organizing ideas soon. 

Chive Blossom Vinegar

The Chives I planted when I first moved in are still alive. This is the 3rd year it's come up.  You may remember when I posted it last year with the little purple flowers on it that I wanted to make chive vinegar with it, but never got around to it. Well, here it is, I just got through making up a little batch of it. The longer it sits, I guess the  more purple the vinegar will turn? I will continue to add more of the flowers as they bloom.  I only have 3 chive plants, but now that I know it grows so easy, I may plant me some more.  It smells just divine. Tastes good, but it still needs more flowers for a more pungent flavor. 

My lawnboy had even mowed them down and I thought they were goners, but these are some really tough plants!

If anyone has made these before, let me know how yours turned out. 

This is my first time doing this, so I could use any pointers.