Visible progress

The big picture window and the french doors have been installed! These two openings both lead into the main, two-story room, and along with the skylights, provide lots of natural light.

We chose a central picture window with side windows that open.

We chose french doors - NOT sliding doors, we've lived with them long enough! - with opening windows on either side.

We have plans for the window over the door, as well as plans for a deck outside that opening. And perhaps, some day, a porch like the front entrance at Juniper Hill. We can dream!

Just passing through

A wild turkey hen, on the move. Her nest can't be too far, those fluffballs, otherwise known as poults, following her don't look like they're up for a long hike. I'm glad the North American Lynx moved on.

Although it is legal to hunt wild turkeys in Minnesota twice a year, they were only re-introduced to the state in the 1970s, and are still getting established this far north. They face a number of natural predators, including owls and eagles, both of which we have in abundance. I wish them luck! I'm fond of turkeys, especially with lingonberry jelly. ;-)

Did you know the turkey lost out by a single vote to the bald eagle  in 1782 to become the national bird?

The garden moves on to its pink phase

The peonies have arrived!

 

Also, roses. Wild roses, but whether they are prairie roses or not will take more study.

And finally, I haven't asked yet, but I'm pretty sure this is going to be watermelons in a while.

That counts as pink, right?

When you live on a 100-year-old farm

You get a 100-year-old garden!

We have white and purple lilacs, on bushes large enough that the prunings provide fodder for the turning lathe:

Lily of the valley:

Peonies (not quite out yet):

Whatever this is:

A closer look reveals two shrubs growing together, Bridal Wreath Spirea:

 

And Grey Dogwood (entirely unlike our southern dogwood, but pretty in its own right):

Dame's Rocket, a noxious weed if it has escaped from an ornamental garden, so we'll keep an eye on it. I think it's quite pretty.

It looks to me as if Mary was cultivating a white and purple garden. I know there are purple iris. I can't wait to see what color the peonies are.

Garage progress

We have framed in the walls at the back of the garage: foyer to main dome entry, powder room, stairs to upper room. No stairs yet, because no upper room yet, because no second floor yet. But things are coming along.

Sir Berry

I want to thank you so much for putting this strawberry out in the yard. I see it has a little spot on it, but I don't mind a bit.

 

Wait. It was for me, wasn't it?

 

I mean, you put it right out here where I'm foraging. Look at my classy etiquette, eating with my little finger extended. I wasn't raised in a  barn.

 

Is there a problem? 

 

Mine now. It's delicious. Thanks again.

 

Cupola walls

Some last shots of the cupola for now. These shots, looking up from below, show the construction of the cupola's bottom walls. Nice as it is to look all the way to the top of the dome from the living room, it feels safer to know nothing can drop on you from that height. In the last photo, note the rectangular cut-out in the cupola floor where the ship's ladder will enter.

And this shot is not of the cupola at all! These are the interior walls at the back of the garage, where there will be a staircase to the second floor, a powder room, and the entrance to the connector.