[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!  

anxiety spree

I've barely touched my camera over the past couple of weeks.  We've been so busy with house details, then stepping on a piece of glass several days ago ended my plans for a nice weekend hike.  I've been spending a lot of time at home, trying to relax. The house deal is not done, which creates quite a bit of anxiety for me.  Lap cats to the rescue!!

What I'm feeling right now is, unfortunately, very familiar.  I've always been prone to anxiety.  I grew up in a very tumultuous household and was on prescription Zantac for a 'nervous stomach' by junior high.  Back then, I suffered from extreme nausea, insomnia, and frequent vomiting.  All of my friends knew that I needed a book or a stack of magazines if I stayed the night, because I'd certainly be up with my 'tender tum' at some uncomfortably early hour.  I did a lot of traveling in college, but I paid the price with pre-travel nausea so severe that I could barely stand (thankfully, it disappeared as soon as the actual travel began).  As I've gotten older, my anxiety has changed.  I don't get nauseous any more, but I feel constantly "sped up."  My hands are like blocks of ice, and if I remain in this state for too long, I will develop a migraine. I become an indiscriminate and mindless eater, sometimes gaining up to ten pounds during any given particularly anxious month.  I become even more tied to the comfort of my home, my pets, and my routine. 

This is exactly what's happening now.  As I wait impatiently to find out whether we get our farm, I've been feeling jittery.  I wake up every morning at 4 a.m., no matter what time I go to bed.  I graze constantly (5 pounds gained in the past 2 weeks).  I hate leaving the house, preferring to hole up and zone out.  I alternate between obsessively planning house details, spending hours agonizing over paint minutiae (is Silver Satin too cold?  Is Classic Gray too beige?)  and watching hours of mindless T.V./reading much-loved 'comfort books' that aren't too taxing (Twilight, I'm looking at you!). Ah, anxiety.  The good news is that we should have an answer by April 1st.  Until then, I'm in my stretchy pants, trying to keep a soothing routine going.  A little outside time...

And plenty of comfortable inside time with a couple of cats that are very familiar with the concept of relaxing!

Hopefully I will have some GOOD NEWS soon!