Spring Has Sprung

Here’s this week’s reflection. I hope it resonates with you and ask that, if you enjoyed, please comment and share on your social media. Heartfelt thanks for all your support!

Keeping the light on for you,

Carol

It’s time to check in on a personal note. Spring has indeed sprung in my part of the country, albeit still with a bit of chill. Thank goodness blooming relies on extended daylight and not warmer temperatures. There is a lot going on here at Chez Craig, so I wanted to check in with you, Dear Readers, since my postings have slowed a bit.

Winter has left its usual debris on our few acres and it’s time for the annual yard clean up. Even in the brisk temps it’s lovely to don a favorite flannel – such as one of my late father’s – and head outside. I used to abhor spring’s cold and rain but have come to appreciate this swing season on a much deeper level. Yes, it’s a bit woo woo, but connecting more deeply with Mother Earth and appreciating just how hard she works to wake up is always a marvel, not to mention optimistic and soothing. So, with old boots and coveted plaid, I will be armed with gloves, rake, and a utility trailer to tidy up.

Since I tend to be impatient (and eager to beat the crowds) to get a jump on the growing season, a visit to my favorite nursery a few weeks back resulted in 2 small wagon loads of perennials to add to “Mother’s Path,” a rock-lined passageway down our front lawn from back in the day, connecting a mother’s (across the road) and daughter’s (my) homes. The original matriarch and daughter have passed, but maintaining and beautifying this path has been a priority of mine since we moved here eighteen years ago. I love family history, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, I can’t help but savor the pathways that (hopefully, yet sadly, not always) exist between moms and daughters. That familial shady causeway on my property represents far more than convenience, hinting at connection, legacy, beauty, a cool respite from the world, and love. It is well worth the effort to cultivate and make florid.

Speaking of family and new blooms, two young ladies in our house will become college graduates, entering the work force and professional school. They are both excited and apprehensive. Life now begins for them as they propagate roots in adult careers, having been nourished in family values. Their father and I don’t take this excitement for granted or take sole responsibility for their success. While we were indeed a very large part of their upbringing, it takes a village of external influences and events to fine tune their character. These next few weeks will be a celebration of these bright flowers in our family garden.

As the heaviness of winter passes, I continue to lighten up inside the house. Floral teacups are being pressed into service along with more familial vintage goods unboxed from the basement. I realize not everyone has this luxury and am extremely grateful for the items in our cache. As I have described in prior posts, vintage is my vibe, and our predecessors were (thankfully) careful packrats. While I am not a true minimalist, I have carefully decluttered to showcase what really makes me tick – family stuff. And I USE it, all of it, as often as I can in daily use. I encourage you to also give it a try – even if it means a trip to a thrift store for a pretty teacup and saucer. It really will elevate the everyday.

I hope your spring has sprung with lots of beautiful blessings. You all are my blessings by subscribing and reading. And like the magic of spring, it’s something I NEVER take for granted.

Thank you for believing in me – it means the world to me!