April: A New Month

The buds of  'Jane' magnolia showed their first hint of color on March 18.

I've seen similar small shrubby trees in yards around town since moving to Kentucky, but in ignorance of their identity referred to them as 'tulip trees' referencing the shape of the opening blooms. Blog friend, Mundi, recognized the variety when I posted a photo of a late blossom or two soon after we purchased our property.

The tree is sited near the original house here which burned to the ground [mysteriously] during the tenancy of former owners.

'Jane' is a bit lop-sided due to fire-damaged branches which Howard pruned for me in the autumn.

The flowers continued to open during the breezy blue-sky days of mid-March.

'Jane's petals strewed on the ground after a night of wind and chilly rain.

March was ushered toward her end on Saturday evening when driving rain blew in.

Thunder rumbled, branches tossed.  It wasn't a threatening wind, but the sound kept me awake for more than an hour, yet when I woke toward morning a few stars rode the night sky.

One of the comforts of having 'my own room' is my choice to keep the curtains open at night.

During the nights when the super moon was waxing toward fullness I found joy in waking to a spill of moonlight across my pillows.

Jim prefers the curtains closed, and usually he wants 'lights out' an hour or more before I'm inclined toward bedtime.

Our arrangement of adjoining bedrooms is working well--and the cats are pleased to have a choice between two occupied beds.

I continue to unpack and attempt to organize household goods, although at a much slower pace than I anticipated. 

I've spent [wasted] hours rummaging in the depths of the storage trailer--usually on a 'mission' for a particular wanted item.

I have shoved at pieces of furniture, heaved boxes and bins  about, much to my detriment.

I have lugged up armloads of belongings from the camper trailer adding them to small desolate heaps of items which haven't yet found a place.

Until the lower level rooms are finished, there is a sense of temporary arrangement.

Eventually, I suspect we will have an excess of furniture to give away.

Yesterday afternoon I persevered and sorted three boxes of toiletries and such that had been 'dumped' in the bathroom.

At the farmhouse I kept two bathrooms fully stocked with toiletries, towels, an extra hair dryer. 

There is now a surplus of all such things awaiting the second bath in the lower level.

Extra sheets, blankets and quilts are stacked on closet shelves or still folded away in rubbermade bins.

Going through my collection of quilts it has occurred to me that I need to use and enjoy them!

Accordingly I spread my bed with a fresh quilt in springtime colors. 

This is what happens to quilts in this house.

The flip side of enjoying my quilts is recognizing they must be frequently laundered--and thus will 'wear out!'

Our neighbor/renter when we owned the Amish farm is a skilled plantsman.

He summers amaryllis bulbs in his garden in rich compost, brings them inside in the fall.

Most of them rebloom.

This lovely amaryllis was a gift from Dawn two Christmases ago.

Thanks to Fred's nurturing I can enjoy it again.

It is living in the sunroom which has been cool enough to prolong the bloom.

The men are concentrating on finishing the porches which flank the sunroom.

Soffit has been stained and put in place, discouraging the wrens who were planning to nest in the eaves.

Today in the trees visible from the porch--and through the great room windows--we have watched a pileated woodpecker going about his business.

I've encountered a pair of bluebirds flitting about as I walked up the lane to the mailbox.

The support posts and railings are being fashioned from trees cut on the property.

The bark is laboriously removed with a draw-shave, then the timbers are shaped to fit.

It is a pleasure to be in the new house.

I have to remind myself that the hours of each day--to say nothing of my stamina--are not sufficient for me to do all that I see needing done to make the settling in process complete.

I've unearthed some favorite books [in the last box I heaved out of the stack!]

and I'm allowing myself some [nearly] guilt-free time to collapse into a rocking chair, with books, mug of tea and whatever cat wishes to keep me company.

Eventually the work will all get done--or I will decide some of the tasks aren't really necessary.