Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE spring??? Aside from the reasons I've already mentioned, in previous posts, I, personally, am just more acutely aware of things. Today, as I was kicking some pesky weeds out of my front garden, I happened to glance at the of the inside of my white tulips. I don't know if my pictures captured it, but the insides were so cool! My senses all seem to be in overdrive and I pay closer attention to details like that. I suppose it falls into the "take time to smell the flowers" suggestion, which I heed willingly. Every morning, as I walk my daughter to the bus, we take a few minutes to study our gardens: in search of new signs of life. We do the same thing in the afternoon and are rarely without a new discovery, during these warmer months. I was never what one would consider a nature girl, so this Pop-a-bonnet-on-my-head and let me tiptoe-through-the-tulips feeling is very new & exciting to me :-) Okay, I know my sister is reading this...you can stop laughing now!
It was a splendiforous day in CT...finally...and we're in for more glorious sunshine this weekend. WOOHOO! I love how there is a palpable shift in the energy level when spring arrives in full force: people are more patient with other drivers on the road, smiling faces are more abundant and simple greetings are friendlier & more genuine. In short, most of the "Eeyores" go into hibernation and the world is abound with "Tiggers". Although I had a "to do" list chock full of indoor chores, I just couldn't keep myself confined by four walls. I did a bit of gardening, cleaning up the garage, had a picnic lunch with a friend and practiced my photography skills. Did the spring & winter clothes get switched around? Nope! Did I sort through clothes the kids have outgrown? Nope! Did I organize the basement, in anticipation of my landlord bringing me dumpsters for a massive purging? Nope...nope...nope! I joined the rest of the springy Tiggers and worked on refining my bounce. Still lacks finesse, so I just may practice again tomorrow :-)
Ohhh....pictures: the flowers are self-explanatory (simple collages of my miniature daffodils & my one, red tulip). The little doors are "fairy" doors that I have scattered around my gardens. I also happened to catch a shadow, from the "GROW" sign I have in my side garden. I thought it went well with my tiny fairy doors when I was doing that collage. Yes? No?
I'm trying to keep myself productive and busy, while I wait for the surgeon to call (evidently, he hasn't gotten to the vet's office yet...it's gonna be a long day!). I'm puttering around the house: changing bed linens, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc. and I happened to look out the picture window in my living room. Oh, HECK NO.....that is not snow falling from the sky. Not on March 20th and certainly not when I need some sunshine today. Did someone neglect to fill Mother Nature in on this whole seasonal change thing....the one where spring follows winter...and so on??? I actually closed my eyes, thinking I could wish it away. Take a look at the pictures and tell me if it worked.
I'm almost afraid to say it, for fear that we'll get hit with another Nor'easter tomorrow, but...today was an absolutely glorious SPRING day!!! The sun was shining, the birds were chirping appreciatively and I was like an overly-caffeinated Tigger all day long. I know that this is the time of year (every year) we New Englanders lament that it has been the longest winter in the history of the world. This year, though, it's true...it really is! I'm sure the meteorologist guys have pie charts and weather graphs that would dispute my claim, but what do they know? It has been LOOOOOOOONG!
Although I have a huge list of (inside) spring cleaning tasks to tackle, I just couldn't stay inside. I picked up pieces of broken planters/ pots that I forgot to move inside last fall, cleaned up my gardens a bit and (only me!) got the hose out to melt away the one remaining pile of snow at the top of my driveway. I called three friends who, much to my consternation, agreed that I could not plant bulbs yet. I was advised to wait until I was sure there would be no more frost. Well, what if I am sure? Does it matter what the weatherman has to say about it???? REALLY! For once, I decided to heed the advice of the masses, lest my gardens fail to produce to their fullest glory. I suppose, since I've waited this long...
Perhaps I will, a little later, write about the grueling 24 hours I have spent with my ex-husband, following surgery he had to rebuild his shoulder...and the insanity I face in trying to now prepare for the baby shower I'm throwing on Sunday. Perhaps I won't. Suffice it to say, I am emotionally & physically exhausted and, somehow, have to find the energy to do what needs to be done. C'mon God, some divinely-inspired endurance would be greatly appreciated right now!
Focusing on the task at hand: Pansies! Well, technically it is a single pansy I am referring to, but one is enough to remind me that: hope springs eternal. Following a night devoid of slumber, my children and I came home this morning and, as I was shuffling up my walkway, in a semi-comatose state, I saw...out of the corner of my eye...a purple pansy. Visual hallucinations wouldn't be out of the question at this point, so I asked my kids to confirm the sighting. They affirmed that there was, indeed, a flower in the garden...albeit with a lot less enthusiasm than that which filled my spring-loving heart. "Big deal, Mom. ONE flower in the garden and it'll die tonight when it gets cold again", says my eldest (very adolescent) child. Big deal, indeed! Clearly the metaphorical significance of this single bloom was lost on his jaded sense of hope and the blessings of things to come. Thankfully, my daughter was indulgent enough to stand outside with me while I snapped picture after picture of this glorious flower.
***an aside: I got a new camera from my best (guy) friend, for Valentine's Day! It has all kinds of bells and whistles, which I still need to figure out, but I am feeling certain that my fuzzy, too dark/ light picture dilemmas are going to be a thing of the past! To make my gift all the sweeter, my new camera is pale pink...I'm such a girly-girl!
Thank you, God, for putting that sweet pansy in my path today. Thank you, Glenn, for such a wonderful gift. As for the other blessings in my day, I'm sure they, too, will become apparent if I can keep my eyes open long enough to see them :-)
