Spring Thanksgiving

April is dancing her way toward May - I better get in at least one post this month!

I scrolled through four weeks of photos, being reminded of the fickle nature of Montana's weather at this time of year.   The heavy snow on March 11 added to the two feet that already blanketed our property.  Not complaining of course -- just look at this scene from cross-country skiing on the property of my Dear Neighbor Friend!

And now, the snow has all but receded, leaving behind flattened grass and bushes, bowed down by five months under the weight of the white stuff.  It's not attractive, but the House Finches have returned to the feeders, and in the afternoon we hear the haunting calls of the Sandhill Cranes as they do a flyover of Hodge Lake - "Open water yet?" they seem to be asking.

Speaking of birds ... Spousal Unit went to Ohio in March for a Bruce Springsteen concert (unfortunately postponed for illness) and came back with several items that have been taking up space at the house of my oldest sister - I was worried about shipping delicate items that belonged to my Mom, and my sister has generously been storing the box.   We have been hand-carrying fragile objects - the "mom and dad" birds above are the last of the collection to get here, joining the seven individual birds that represent the siblings!  He also brought home two pieces of Mom's china and eleven red ruby glasses.

On March 19, 2018, our household goods were delivered to our log home (see this post), possessions that had been in storage since June 23, 2016.  And on April 14, 2018, we made the move we hope will be the last we ever do (see this post).  Off and on for the last five years, we have looked at the large open wall in the kitchen, and imagined a piece of art to fill the space.  Until recently, we always discussed a metal sculpture.  And then we saw paintings by Kylie Mahood Trull, a neighbor.  And together, we dreamed up an idea.  Is it just a coincidence that Kylie delivered this masterpiece on March 19, 2023????

We gave Kylie several of our favorite pictures from Glacier National Park, and specifically requested a moose, a fly-fisherman and an island.

She came up with the flowers, and I love them!!!  Isn't she incredibly talented?

Installation was fun ... if your kids (or grandkids) ever ask you why they need math, this is it!!!
 

At the end of the month, we made a trip to Idaho Falls, an early birthday trip for #1 Son.  Most of that trip will be the subject of another post, but for now ... check out these paintings from the Museum of Clean.  Elise Wilding stated that this was one of her favorite undertakings and it shows her love for sea creatures that we are eliminating by polluting the oceans.

And I will leave you with pictures of Daisy and Ruby, the divas who really run #1 Son's apartment.  We miss having cats (maybe not the fur and the litter boxes and the vet bills), and so a weekend with the girls was a bonus!

*** I am joining LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color for I Like Thursday.  Her prompt for this week is:  are you a morning person or a night owl? what do you like about being this way? Would you prefer being different?  I am usually in bed by 11 or 11.30 pm, and I am drinking my first cup of coffee by 8 or 8.30 am - what does that make me?  Generally, I do not like having to get up early in the morning - I did that for 30 years, and one of the greatest joys of retirement is the freedom from an alarm.  I do sometimes wonder if I could get more done if I rose earlier, or if I am missing morning wildlife by "sleeping in", but it hasn't bothered me enough to make me change! 

Linking to Thankful Thursday

Linking to Mosaic Monday