Spring Forward

I wish that March meant that spring was here. It doesn't. But it does mean that it is reasonable to at least start thinking about spring.

I have spring time plans -- lots of them.

Improving My Garden. I like to stock up my seeds now so I am ready to go when the ground warms up (plus I can get pots of lettuce and radishes going in late April). Gardening with my kids is one of my very, very favorite things to do (I like it so much in fact that I wrote a story about it here). I can't wait to get out our (big and little) gardening gloves, our (big and little) watering cans, and our (big and little) shovels. I am ready for the type of therapy that only digging in the dirt can provide.

Our First Foray into Composting. I am going to explore my composting options in the hopes that I can find a method that works for our family and space (would love any tips from you experienced city-dwelling composters). And I am thinking about installing rain barrels too (would also love any tips on that).

An (Outdoor) Room of My Own. I am fortunate to have a lovely little deck right off of my bedroom. I have dreams of sitting out there, warm cup of coffee in hand, enjoying the morning sunshine. Or maybe having glass of wine by candlelight after the kids are in bed. Doesn't that sound delightful? Wouldn't you like to come over and join me? Well, you can't because I don't have any furniture out there.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I want to use this space, but I haven't been able to bring myself to actually commit to anything. Wicker? Teak? Day bed? Chaise?

This year is my year. I am going to buy some sort of chairs and sit out there on them.

More Yoga for Mama. In an effort to shed my post-partum bum, I have resumed yoga classes (the challenging kind, not the relaxing, more-like-just-stretching pre-natal kind). I have been taking classes at a new studio called Vessel -- good, fun classes. I forgot how great it feels to stand on your head for a few minutes every day.

So far, I have only been able to swing one class a week. It isn't enough. I am going to be greedy and try to get to a class three times a week. It is never going to happen, but I am going to give it a go.

Alright fellow winter-survivors . . . what are you most looking forward to this spring?

Fighting the February Funk

Not too cold for us, Mom.

Snowman courtesy of Dad.

Is February really only 28 days long? Really? This is not my favorite month.

In an attempt to avoid any sort of winter gloom, I am adopting the attitude that Eleanor and Brendan have (i.e. if we put snow pants and ski gloves on, we actually can go outside and have fun).

Plus, I am going to get regular manicures and pedicures to avoid that dry winter skin thing that tends to happen.

Oh, and I booked us tickets to Florida at the end of the month. Only 23 days until our toes hit the sand (and Colin makes his first trip to the beach).

Pretending

Even though it looks like this outside . . . .

Inside, we are trying to believe that spring is here. If only it were true.

Oh, Hello There October

Fall is decidedly HERE (brrrr).

We are starting to get into an autumn mood around here and we have lots of "fallish" activities on the agenda for next week:

(1) Soup -- tons and tons of soup (potato leek last night, lentil and vegetable next Monday)

(2) Planting daffodil bulbs for the spring

(3) Picking up some funky gourds from the farmer's market to go with the pumpkin collection on the front porch

(4) Fall baking with my little helpers (pumpkin cookies and an apple crostada)

(5) Knitting, knitting, knitting because I know two heads that are going to be in need of hats very soon

(6) Drinking warm apple cider at every opportunity

Can You Feel It?

You noticed too, didn't you? Summer managed to hold on through most of September (and wasn't it beautiful?). But now, changes are afoot. I can feel it. I can see it.

We adore this sweet book about a leaf holding on tight to his branch because he isn't quite ready to let go. I can relate.

Cute book courtesy of Grandma :)

Holding on Tight

I cannot stop buying summer produce (no doubt because I am trying to stave off the inevitable end of summer). I have gotten myself in such an "over buy" situation that I can't even figure out how we are going to eat all of this good stuff.

I still have yukon gold potatoes, zucchini and summer squash left over from my trip to the Wicker Park Farmer's Market last Sunday. Today, I bought eight peaches at the Green City Market (why eight -- what am I going to do with all of these?). We couldn't pass up the golden raspberries for snacking (those shouldn't be around for long). We helped harvest tomatoes at the Edible Garden and we ended up taking some of those home with us. We added them to the already overflowing bowl of tomatoes from our backyard. I am not going to even get into the blueberry situation.

Tonight, we pick up our CSA box which will bring melons, apples, broccoli, celery, herbs, patty pan squash, plums, and onions.

The bottom line is we have some serious eating to do. I am going to make zucchini bread while it rains this afternoon. Then roast chicken, sauteed squash and caprese salad for dinner. Maybe followed by a peach cobbler of some sort? Yikes.

Don't Go!

Do you think that it is odd that I have actual sadness over Labor Day's approach? I am seriously sad about September's arrival and all that it brings. I know that September has lots to offer and I will get in the mood for pumpkin bread and sweaters soon enough, but I am not ready for it now.

I don't want Ellie to go back to school. I don't want to make soup. I am downright depressed to see some of my plants winding down for the season. I wish the temperature wouldn't go down into the sixties at night. I don't know what I am going to do when the pools and beaches close next week. Probably cry a little bit.

I have not had my fill of summer yet.

I still want to eat three meals a day on my porch. I want to lounge in the yard and weed and admire my thriving vegetable garden. I am going to continue to wear flip flops every day and night. I want the baby pool to become a permanent fixture. For the first time in my life, I have a near-perfect tan. Instead of spending dark fall afternoons making muffins, I want to work outside and paint more lovely decorations for the garden (like these masterpieces from my little artists).
Damn you, seasons.