Time for Outdoor Living

I spent most of the weekend working in the yard.  Things are greening up quite nicely - the chives are up, the daffodils are blooming and the outdoor furniture is out from under their winter covers.

It is time to begin thinking about grilled asparagus, outdoor dining and just plain enjoying the being outside again.

I am doing something new with the outdoor dining area - more to come as the project moves forward.  Gotta love these four seasons.

A sure sign of Spring

That's right one of the ways to know it is Spring and Summer at my house is that my bedroom changes from the deep burgundies, purple, and golds of the winter bed dressings to these light and airy cream and gold quilts and shams.

Today I worked in my home office and found some time to do a bit of spring cleaning in my room.

One nice thing about being back in my right (or left) or leftover mind is that I am actually remembering to do things on a timely basis. And so today when I changed the bed,  I realized the Cream and Gold Set was in a dry cleaner bag all done up and hanging in the downstairs closet.  Oh happy day.

Today it rained and rained - and we need it so badly.  April showers and all that jazz and my beautiful ready for summer bed.

I am on my way out to dinner with a girlfriend I have not seen for awhile.  A wonderful weekend is ahead.  Enjoy your Friday evening.

Reflections

Our weather is so amazing in Minnesota right now.  This is the first March in over 100 years with NO snow - that's right, no snow.  March is generally our second snowiest month - what a joy.

The loss of my friend Amy has really given me pause.  Back to the old question - what would you do if you knew you were going to die in 10 months?

There is part of me that says, "exactly what I am doing!"  There is another part that honestly doesn't know.  I am grateful that many years ago I had the courage to give up my "paycheck job."  I do love my work, my business partner, our networks and all we have built together.

For example, several years ago we put together our vision of what we intended to accomplish.  We did it in the form of a Mind Map, which is a graphic, intuitive way of planning, visioning, tasking, thinking, etc.  Today, we realized that in 7 years we have achieved most of our dreams and intentions.  Today, we agreed it is time to do a new Mind Map - a new vision.  Reaching for the future to make a difference in our world - that is a blessing.

Then I can't help but think about not working so hard and spending more time on a different kind of creative pursuit - write a book for instance.  Or, how about just waking up in the morning and not think about anything other than reading a book, taking a walk, going to the library, traveling to reconnect with friends, breaking out my art materials, volunteering as much as I want - going to the gym during the day.

I am not someone that has dreamed of "retiring" - once I took the leap from the paycheck to the entrepreneurial side of things I never looked back.  And one nice thing about our business - we are constantly looking to be relevant to community needs and are flexible never static.

On a happy note, I have been able to work in the yard the last couple of nights - raking and cleaning and looking forward to planting those pansies this weekend.  I broke out all the deck furniture and have a plan in mind to change the backyard for the outdoor dining table and chairs.  As those of us who have suffered great loss know, life goes on - life goes on.

Om Shanti.

Happy Spring

Hooray!  We made it through another winter.  Spring begins at 12:32 pm - 3 hours and 9 minutes from now.  I am so happy and look forward to digging in the dirt, blooming roses in the backyard and sitting on the patio with sun on my face. 

I have not been feeling too well this week and have been mucho busy with work and so am just taking it really slow this weekend.  I just finished cleaning the house and it looks so good.  Deb is coming at 2 pm to give me a massage.  I am reading a really interesting book:  Nudge - I started it late last night and immediately fell asleep however, I am looking forward to spending time reading it this morning.

The photo is one of the Parrot Tulips in a big jug on my dining room table - isn't nature incredible?  Natural art that takes your breath away. 
It has been in the sixties here in the Twin Cities (although it is cool today) - it has been glorious to walk outside without hat, scarf, gloves and being buttoned up in heavy coats.  Yes!!! 

I hope whatever you are doing today you are celebrating the arrival of Spring - the season of new beginnings. 

More Spring.....

Here are my tomato seedlings sitting in the garden window being overseen by the Viking, which is a gift from Tor my dear blogger brother from Norway. The other photos are my stove turned into a summer plant stand :) and the backyard starting to get green. The lilacs will soon be blooming. Spring, spring, spring. Hope you are enjoying the new season too.

Happy Easter

What a delightful surprise to open my mail box and find this lovely Easter greeting from Tor and Anna in Oslo.

Since I do not yet have a scanner, I took a photo of it this morning so I can share it with all of you. It has sat on my counter top the past few days and has brought many smiles and lots of fond thoughts of my dear friends in Norway. (By the way - Friday was Tor's birthday - drop by his blog and wish him a belated BDay!)

I am going to the cemetery today to take flowers in remembrance of my dear Tom. It has been a while since I have gone there. One thing, it is very difficult in the midst of winter and the other, Tom does not live in the cemetary. He lives in our hearts forever.

The cemetery is the public place that memoralizes Tom's life and marks the many loving and lasting ways he touched all of our lives.

Happy Easter to each of you who celebrate this holiday. Happy burgeoning spring to all. Namaste.

Spring May Be on Its Way

Today it is nearly 60 degrees outside! We Minnesotans are delirious. People are out in shorts - a little early for me but good for them. It has been a very long and dark winter. It got cold really early and it stayed cold. The snow came early and it has remained on the ground since November. Very unusual.

Couple the cold, the ice, the snow and the dark with the level of anxiety and fear flying around in the world - it is has been a tough time for most everyone. I know I have had my share of feeling down and depressed this winter; enough so that I started taking St. John's Wort for a little boost.

The sun is warm, the snow is gone from my deck. Thoughts of springtime planting and sandals fill my reveries. We made it through another winter in the northland. Content today to just be alive.

Pining for Spring this Weekend

It is unseasonably cold here this weekend.

Yesterday morning it was below zero with tons of snow on the ground. When I bundled up to go to 7:30 am Pilates the birds were chirping - it was like they were saying, "what the heck is going on?"

After exercise I took myself out to a great breakfast then drove to the garden store just to walk around in the greenhouse and be in a growing environment. One of the things I saw was a "Euro-Basket" - it was REALLY expensive - certainly out of my budget. Instead I purchased a lovely new house plant and left it there while I went to Half Price Books. While I was running errands, it occurred to me that I have tons of baskets and green plants were on sale at the nursery.

The photo above is my own "Euro-Basket" that I put together last night. I am in heaven. It is beautiful, it cost a fraction of the pre-made basket and makes me happy every time I look at it. The little spoons on the stand sitting in front of the basket are charming pewter measuring spoons engraved with dragonflies. V gave those to me for my Hannukah gift this year. I love them as well - some of you may remember that dragonflies are an important totem to me.

I have had a really enjoyable weekend. I had my personal training session, did errands, got new books at the used bookstore, gave the house a REALLY good cleaning, made my basket, moved my plants around and now I am cooking a lovely supper. I hope your weekend was lovely - enjoy this Sunday evening. Talk to you soon........

A Busy Spring Weekend

YES - that's right - spring is springing here in Minnesota. I worked in the yard most of the day today - cleaning out flower beds, bagging old leaves and mulch, sweeping, raking and PLANTING PANSIES!! Pots and pots of pansies. So far there little peeps of chives and other early green things poking from the soil - no tulips or daffodils yet - but green and sunny and warm. Finally.

My best friend J is arriving on Tuesday night - oh happy day. We are going to have a wonderful time. Next Wednesday is the two year anniversary of my quitting smoking - TWO YEARS, can you believe it!! We have big plans - manicures, pedicures, walks, lunches, and a fabulous girls' brunch and spa day at my house next Saturday - eight or nine of us getting together to eat, laugh, drink mimosas, and just catch up. Deb will arrive in the afternoon and set up the massage table downstairs - people can take their turn throughout the afternoon as they choose.

I will be off work Wednesday through Monday when J departs for her home in Jacksonville. Oh fun - oh how I need this time to be with the sister of heart. Many interesting and fun things ahead.

Spring Alarm Clock

Good Morning. What a delight to sleep with the window open and be awakened by nature's alarm clock - the choir of birds outside. There are many cardinals in my yard now. Flashes of red among the still- bare branches. I am filled with gratitude for all my blessings.

The beginning of a new season of growth

Out of the depths of the dark garages emerge the pots of perennials that V and I enjoy all summer. She has been my guide and inspiration in growing these beautiful everlasting flowers. Each year I used to buy annuals and while they looked gorgeous, they were expensive. Now there is a real pride in nurturing the pots all summer and lovingly tucking them away in our respective garages to bring them out for another year in the sun.

Yes, it appears Spring has arrived in Minnesota. Birds and warm breezes - the sweet promise of bare feet and barbeques. Gardening is such a relaxing and rewarding pastime. It is good for the soul - being a part of nature and the changing seasons. Everything looks a bit anemic right now but just wait a week or two - green and flourishing.