My HOMESTEAD'S Front Doors April A to Z

My House-Commonly know as the Homestead

Our house, built in the mid to late 19th century (we have plans to check it out), has 2 front doors. Many of you know, we inherited this house from Mr BC's mom, and since she has owned it, we have noticed a lot of houses here in the mid-west that share this architectural oddity. 

Mr Bankerchick to the Rescue

Yahoo Images
Mr BC was taking the pups out the other night, for their nightly duties and standing on our 'veranda' watching them, I was sitting in my comfy chair watching TV when I noticed him waving his hat around.  The dogs and I joined him and he was trying to swoosh a small, young bird, away from the light and the eaves of the roof out into yard. The bird, (we later decided was a Purple Finch, that might have smacked onto the window earlier in the evening) was flying from pillar to post just inside the porch. He wouldn't cooperate and was becoming more and more afraid as Mr BC waved and the dogs barked.  Totes was in hunting mode and Gwennie was very curious. Mr BC was worried about the bird and I thought everyone should just leave the poor thing alone. So I took the pups inside and left Mr BC and the bird alone. Finally Mr BC caught the small thing in his hat and went over to a young Sweet Gum Maple planted in the front and gently took the bird out of his hat.  It sat quietly on his hand as he reached up to a branch.  The finch jumped from his hand to the branch and just sat there a little stunned. He was still there when he turned out the porch light. We like to think he was simply stunned and eventually flew away. The next morning there were several purple finches at the bird feeder, among the woodpeckers, cardinals, catbirds and chickadees who regularly frequent our feeders and bird bath. I like to think the smallest one we saw, was the little one Mr BC rescued the night before.

The Homestead

A side yard view of the Homestead

  Mr Bankerchick is still in MO today but he leaves for California tomorrow
morning. The next trip will be the week of August 22 to take the MGTF
back along with a few boxes of things we plan to move back there.  We aquired this house when Mr BC's mom passed away in Feb. of 2010.  She left the property in trust for us. His sister and her husband were living with her when she passed as she was in poor health.

They moved back to their own home in December and it has been sitting empty all winter, except for Mr BC's quarterly visits to check on things and move auto's back.  It is completely furnished so we are not going to bring a lot of stuff back. We are leaving the appliances, getting rid of a king-sized bed (old) selling the dining room table.  Mainly taking our clothes, some kitchen stuff, bedroom furniture, office furniture and other things that are important to us after 40 something years of marriage.  Lots of things going to Salvation Army and many of our belongings are worn but still in good shape.

It is a small and cottage-like, with a rock facade.  His folks put in the garage addition at the back including a second bath and a utility room several years ago.  The downstairs has the one bedroom.  The upstairs is the size and footprint of the downstairs and completely open. So essentially it is 2 bedrooms, 2 bath.  We have many plans and upgrades for it when we finally sell here in CA.  It will be a great retirement project for us.

On the road again!

Well that is; Mr Bankerchick is on the Road.  He left Wednesday, for a fast trip to Missouri.  He is taking his '72 MGB to the homestead.  We have three of these trips to make to just to get his classic cars back there.  It will probably take 6 months to 'move' the Bankerchicks, also we eventually have to sell the California property to finalize this move.
This trip is to move the car and to get an estimate for fencing in the rest of the yard, for the puppies.  When, we actually get the fence in might be problematic for us as contractors are very busy with re-building of the city of Joplin. We shall see.
The next trip we will be moving the MGTF and some boxes of stuff and I get to go as I will be officially retired.  We are going to take the puppies and stay for a couple of weeks to, hopefully have the yard fenced!  I am glad to be going to be able to help Mr BC drive.  He has been making all of his trips to MO alone, and I am always worried about him driving alone.  He had a flat tire on the cargo trailor  this trip. But he arrived tired but fine, yesterday.