Baxterville: May, my favorite month

There is a lot of hope in April, with Easter (usually) celebrated, spring rains, February ten months away (longest, shortest month ever!) But May is the real deal in the North Country. We can pretty much bet on May being nice weather, having a few daffodils or tulips in our yards and the sun pressing down more closely on us when we venture out to get the mail.

I love May.

I love the three different types of lilacs I have in my new yard, the birdbath that gets lots of use from the wide range of birds we now see. I love the brook that I can hear from the far end of our long porch all day babbling and dancing over haphazardly placed rocks. I love the baby snapping turtles we keep finding and the frogs. I love the willows. The. Willows. The ones I dreamed about a year ago....they're here, and they're real. They brush the tops of the old fence posts in our back yard where acres and acres of field stretch out toward I don't know where. I love the rock wall in the front of our house covered in Creeping Charlie ~~weed~~ vines. I love the two huge cherry trees with dark reddish purple blossoms and the ten apple trees in the long side yard buzzing with bumble bees. I love the hills across the road that echo the sounds of hoof beats as the neighbor’s horses come galloping over to the fence line hoping my girls will come and feed them the "sweeter" grass on the other side of the fence. I love the massive old maples and oaks in our front yard that fill with robins and sparrows and redwing blackbirds each morning. I love coffee with Andy in our red Adirondack chairs that were left here when we moved in. I love reading God's word with him as we take in our surroundings...we're awe struck again and again, thankful and willing to use these gifts in any way God wills. Enjoying ever new sunrise, every drop of rain on our tin roof, ever pile of raked up leaves and sticks in our yard, every late night bonfire, every meal eaten on the picnic table and the ten million 'little red wagon' rides we've given to our also awe struck children.

We're thankful.

But even before this favorite month of May, April was a time of celebration and memories. Birthday's and piano recitals, Italian lessons, Easter Sunday breakfast and chocolate and church, friends and family, quiet times and some loud too. I loved April this year and I thank God for the people He's placed in my days to fill each month with joy, love, learning and His ever present grace.