Mr. Handsome and I walk every morning along the river. The water is high now and peak run off may be about to begin. The traditional marker for this is the blooming of wild roses. They have just begun. This has been such a strange Spring, weather-wise, that who knows, anything can happen.
Watching the Osprey, Eagles and all the smaller birds is a delight. Daily, we see a huge Bull Snake. Beau is mystified when it disappears.
Here’s Beau, enjoying the view through the newly installed French Door.
We are moving into the very beginning of Gardening Season in my part of Montana. The weather has been alternately very hot (85), quite cool (40) or raining , as it is today. In between watering the weeds and pulling some, not much is happening in the gardens. I had intended to plant the scarlet runner beans and sunflowers today, and may yet, if the weather clears.
The primary focus has been on the house improvements and promising myself and others, to reopen my Etsy Shop, begin the now very late MayDazed Sale and trying to maintain what passes for sanity as I move into Year Two as a person without a partner. We never quite know how much our partners actually DO until they are not doing it. <G>
Right now, all the sheet rock dust is cleaned up, the floors are mopped and the space is being restored as a place to live and use. I love the change and am glad the work is nearing completion.
The State of the French Door:
This is what we see (looking North East) as we come in through the South facing front door. The cats love it. The light is wonderful.
You may not be able to see the Russian Iris, 3 feet tall and purple but they are lovely and aromatic. The arbor was originally built for privacy, for the birds and for grapes. Alas, the grapevines are dead now. I have to decide what to replace them with. This year, for quick growth and color, it will be scarlet runner beans, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, but for the long haul, perhaps clematis.
FWIW, the blinds are “temporary shades”, accordian folded Tyvek shades, sold at the Box Store Home Improvement places. They block heat but allow light. Thanks to Sarah and Bob for introducing me to them !
Looking South East, you can see the “living fence”: Silverlace Vine, aka Polygonum, aka “mile-a-minute”. <G>. I am training it again this year to cover a curved arch over the side gate and will aim for all season visual interest combined with privacy. It’s a daily exercise, going out and braiding or twining the vines.
The workers, my current heroes, will be here this weekend to finish the exterior work, weather permitting (crossed fingers for us all!).
As you can see, I am not re-painting the inside walls and ceiling yet. That can wait. My next priority is updating Gallery Four and the Etsy Shop so we can begin sending the new work into the world.
Stay tuned and thanks for visiting.
