[red wing black] bird is the word

We're in!  Now, I don't mean that we're living in the house...not for another couple of weeks, I think.  We still have to paint and pull up/replace carpet.  But the lawn is mowed, the front beds are weeded, and our daily trips there are taking on a pleasing regularity as we settle into some sort of a schedule.

I've spent nearly as much time working outside in the beds as inside, painting.  I filled 4 garbage bags with weeds from the front beds, clipped the shrubs, and took lots of pictures. 

There's a lilac blooming!  It smells amazing.

There aren't a lot of perennials, just a shabby rose bush (red...shudder), some hostas, a nice spread of creeping thyme, and one of the largest bleeding heart plants I've seen!

You can see why they're called bleeding hearts...see the shape of the tiny flowers?

There's a gorgeous apple tree blooming in the side yard, too. 

The former (!!) homeowner told us that the tree in the front yard was a pear tree, but I knew that it was some sort of maple.  But I'd never seen one this color...and she said that the leaves stayed maroon.

I did a little research and discovered that it's a Royal Red Norway, and that the leaves will turn a deep red in the fall.  I can't wait! 

It's not all manicured lawns and pretty beds, though.  The barnyard is a mess.

The grass is mowed every 2 weeks, so at least that is tidy, but the chicken coop is an absolute disaster.  I asked Todd if we should just tear it down and build a new one, but he said that the foundation is great and the current coop can be repaired.  He's an optimist!  :)  It's a nice size, though, and I'm willing to do it if it can be done.  

The fences are in need of repair all over the property, and after our recent survey showed that they don't even follow the property line, have decided to just replace them next year.  This year, they're going to look tatty and weed-lined, unfortunately.  

I found a nice picture of the animal barn online recently...

But it does not look like that now!  

It's structurally sound, but has not been used for years.  This photo is from March, but it's even worse now, with huge weeds growing up all around it.  Big rusty coils of wire are scattered around...old doghouses and coolers...brush from a fallen tree in a haphazard pile...it's kind of a mess.  The pastures, too, are already overgrown with weeds, so much so that I'm afraid to walk through them for fear of stepping on a snake.  We have to have it bush-hogged later this summer, but unfortunately, it's going to remain a mess until we tackle this whole area next year.  So for now, I'm trying to look OVER the barns at the nice rolling hills behind them...

...or in FRONT of the barns, in the fenced pasture where I'm planning some fruit/nut trees and a large flower and vegetable garden...

...instead of directly at the big mess behind them.  A weed trimmer will take care of some of the fence jumble, but I'm already planning a trip to our new neighbors' house to apologize for the temporary eyesore!  Our lawn mower guy had a great recommendation for the fields:  "Get some goats."  We can't wait!  

Meanwhile, we're enjoying the undisputed leader of the bird cacophony at the property...the red-wing blackbird.  They're so pretty and have a beautiful call that has apparently been translated into conk-la-reeee!  ;)  They are EVERYWHERE.

It takes me a long time to attach to things and places, but I had a funny urge this morning to drive over to the property with a book to enjoy the sunrise on the front porch with a steaming cup of tea (note to self:  MUST learn to like tea!).  It's a great space to sit...

...and I've already added the first bouquet, all with flowers from the property...in a red Solo cup!  :)

It's not "home" yet...but it's a great start.

Have a nice week!