Showing morning...

My inner child was not only tapped...

...she came bursting out and had me running full speed ahead over the bridge in to the “No Boys Allowed” zone in the treetops. I spy the enchanting fairytale backyard treehouse of my childhood dreams!✨❤️

Curb Appeal, during COVID

Local St. Louis Homeowners have really stepped up in Spring 2020 to deliver smiles to their neighbors!

I spotted this adorable homage to the Saint Louis Zoo in Glendale last night. 🦒❤️

Spreading Smiles During Quarantine...

Without a doubt, tough times always bring out the best in mankind.  This week, the Internet has been flooded with lovely random acts of neighborhood kindness from across the nation...  

As Americans quarantine and spend extra time outside near home, their neighbors are flooding them with random acts of kindness delivering the smiles!  How are you spreading joy?  The Nenonens gave our whimsical sidewalk surprises an adorable Spring makeover...

A peek in my garden, the Fall edition.

I have mentioned before that Casa de Nenonen is a bus stop corner, and before the school year kicked off, I hid whimsical teeny tiny village scenes at the base of the shade trees lining our sidewalk... 

Most neighbors walk right past them, unnoticed, but littles somehow see them right away!  Just for giggles, I gave the scenes a spooky little Fall makeover this morning over my coffee🎃 ...

Spotted in Town & Country today...

“Children see magic because they look for it.”✨

 ~Christopher Moore

Name those blooms- Identify The Most Common Midwest Spring Flowering Trees & Shrubs

While it seemed like it would never arrive, Spring has definitely sprung in St. Louis! Colorful blooms abound in the city, leaving me SO inspired to spend time in my yard during this time of the year.  Our city is in FULL BLOOM- just lovely!

Steve and I have one general rule when it comes to trees in our yard: we never cut one down without replacing it.  It not only maintains our curb appeal, but also our utility bills and privacy.  Unfortunately, as we live in a 47 year old house, we have had to do a lot of cutting of our property's original plantings over the last 14 years.  Currently, we have 2 trees that have reached the end of the road, including our gorgeous front yard redbud.  It saddens me, as the tree provides amazing color every April.  In addition, it has been the boys' favorite climbing tree over the years and acts as home to my songbird feeder... 

My babies back in 2010- so little. 🙁

The plan is, of course, to replace it with another Spring-flowering tree so I have been on the lookout!  As I venture the city for work, I pay extra close attention to the Spring blooms to make the decision easier.

In fact, Spring is the IDEAL time to identify trees in the Midwest, as most ornamental trees are in full show-stopping bloom!  Curious of the identity of the glorious blooms that you currently see around town?  This guide will help!

Wisteria

Bradford Pear Tree

Red Bud Tree

 Crabapple Tree

White Dogwood Tree

Pink Dogwood Tree 

 Weeping Cherry Tree

Forsythia

Lilac Bush 

Ornamental or Japanese Cherry Tree 

Snowball Bush aka Viburnum 

Pink Magnolia

Just For Fun: Pretty in Pink

Sweet Spring.  Welcome back!

Every house deserves the perfect backyard tree swing, don't you think?

Thinking back on my childhood, hour upon hour spent swinging on our backyard swing remains one of my favorite childhood memories! I was charmed by this one in West County this morning.