No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. -Hal Borland
I open my kitchen window and immediately hear the song of the birds. The air is crisp and cool, with some added warmth. I don’t need a jacket when I take my dogs for their walk. It’s still a bit cold, but I reach a point in early spring where I refuse to wear a jacket. Spring is here, and that is that.
I open all the windows in my house and turn off the heater. That delicious spring air! The daffodils sprout up, one by one. The squirrels lose their minds over their hidden nuts. I see them in the trees, their tails twitching. Later, the tulips bloom. Then, the peonies. Bright pinks, white and even burnt orange. The grass turns green and everything else with it. I wake up on Saturday morning and hear the lawn mowers going.
I plant a big bag of zinnias. I spread the soil out and toss handfuls of zinnia seeds. I buy a new sectional for my patio and hang up new bird feeders. A doe enters my yard as I’m reading outside. She sees me but continues softly to the bird feeders. She takes a few bites while side eying me. I watch until she’s had her fill then tell her to get goin.
I go through my house and put away all the winter things. I pack my winter clothes into a box and shove it under my bed. With the new space, I add my summer clothes to my closet. So much color! I do a deep clean of the kitchen and living room. It feels good to do a tidy after the dark months. The sun sets later and already I feel happier. More time for gardening and being outside.
I spend time in my kitchen baking cakes and cookies. I cut down some branches from a forsythia bush and hang colorful, foam Easter eggs from them. I make whipped honey butter and colorful deviled eggs. I hide Easter eggs throughout my yard and tuck away the golden egg. Everyone arrives and it feels good to have a home full of people.
I bake banana bread with chocolate chips. As soon as it’s out the oven, I cut it and place some pieces on my favorite yellow plate. With the piping hot banana bread, I head outside to the patio. The projector is up and we watch Cinderella while eating our sweet treat. The bats flit above and a cool wind blows through the trees. Evening slowly turns to night.
I write letters to my friends. I fill my journal with all the thoughts swirling in my head. I read scriptures and write the ones I like on post it notes. I cut out pictures from pinterest and put them on my vision board. I dream of my future but also feel content and happy in the present. I plan out my week and jot notes in my planner. I watch as Oscar and Theo nap by the front door, their feet twitching with dreams.
I take the dogs on their morning walk. They sniff around at all the same spots. Oscars trots along with his short legs, trying to keep up with Theo. It’s warmer, so Theo is not as fast as he usually is. I wave to my neighbors and check the mail. The roads are busy with people heading off to work. I see new spring blooms and stop to take photos. I visit my favorite street with the pretty house and the border collie.
I wake up on Saturday morning and visit the farmer’s market with my sister. I browse the rows of flowers, the pretty plants and the teacup candles. I pick out peppermint and lemon balm plants and carry them in my yellow bag. The food vendors are lined up and everything smells heavenly. We grab coffee in town and spend the next hour talking. We meant to stop by the used bookstore but forget in all our chattiness.
It takes me two hours to mow my lawn. It feels good to be outside. I talk with my neighbor about gardening and our local nursery. She tells me what she’s planting and we bond over our shared dislike of the neighborhood squirrels. I finish mowing the lawn and feel satisfied over the work I’ve done. When I go inside, the dogs greet me at the door. I give them their dinner and we go on another walk. The sun is setting and the sky is golden.
I sit out on my porch and read. My coffee is burning hot, just the way I like it. I sit silently, listening to the birds and the breeze. My dogs stare up into the trees, their eyes following the squirrels in the branches. I hear the lawn mowers start up again. I don’t mind the noise. Spring is here.
With love,
Addison
