SEARCHING FOR THOSE SPRING BULBS

With the snow melted in most of the garden, a quick walk around to check if any little green is starting to emerge occurred yesterday. Not yet. The ground is soft and mushy, even on the paths. So perhaps in a week some green may start to emerge. Meanwhile last year's pictures will have to suffice!

Underneath the ground there are spring flowers waiting to face the sun. If listening carefully, the song birds can be heard. On my walk to work, the chirping has become louder and louder. Nice sound to hear! In the house, some corners are slowly being scrutinized and cleaned. Little projects under way that can be completed in a day or 2! Oh Spring! Love the renewed energy it starts to bring! Of course all that energy renewal does require some weekend afternoon naps!! Are you feeling the energy of Spring yet?

DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN

Darkest before the dawn sometimes sums up a crisis in a life. Just hanging in there! Keep going! Making it through the night! Dawn always brings a new day! A chance to begin again! Knowing there are second chances sometimes is all that is needed to survive! Are you facing a new dawn?

SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER

Warm in the valley but cold on the mountain tops is typical for most of Canada. With Daylight Savings, our mornings are darker for awhile. Adjusting to the new time and the new season is more tiring than anyone wants to admit. Adapting, adjusting, and renewing are words that come to mind. Seeing the sunrise beyond the mountain! Facing the new day! Waiting to feel energized! Staying positive! But sometimes just wanting the weekend to arrive so sleeping a little longer can be achieved! Outside-hoping the dirty snow will melt! Spring with all its glory! And work! I think we need the energy so we can begin the yard cleanup unfinished from the Fall. Perhaps waiting is not a bad thing!

2013 IN WITH THE NEW

Each January 1 brings hope of a good and successful New Year! Looking forward rather than looking backward! A new calendar on the desk or the wall with a total clean slate for the year ahead! Putting away Christmas items cleans up the house. Returning to those unfinished projects and picking up those books to read during the winter months. The days are really starting to get longer again as the Sun  returns to us. For me there is not much new but renew! No resolutions- just continue with my goals! Write! Photograph! Exercise! Healthy eating! Read! Craft! Knit! Crochet! Sew! Play! Love! Connect! Travel! Explore! And yes- work- at home and work! What about you? Any resolutions? Or just continue as is? Are you finding new activities or renewing?

EARLY MORNING- A TIME FOR RENEWEL

Each day brings a chance for renewel. New goals, new conversations, new hope! Mornings give us a chance to forge ahead! To look down the road! To observe our world, our community, our street! To wait for the shadows to leave! A time to walk, jog, drive to work! If wanted, a time to pray and be thankful for another day! A quiet time with few people around to make noise! Mornings!

MAY- MY FAVOURITE MONTH

A new month always offers a chance for a new beginning. It is my favourite month as it is really the start of the real warmer weather. The trees and flowers continue to bloom. Althought this year, it felt like May from the middle of April with all the vegetation about 3 weeks ahead. My anniversary occurs in May so there is an opportunity to celebrate. I like to take a vacation week around the long weekend to give me some time to work outside, tidy inside and yes- a day trip or two! Eating outside starts to become the norm. After a day cooped up in the hospital, it is welcoming to sit and eat dinner on the back porch. As the days continue to become longer, renewed energy and the ability to be more physical. I try harder at staying up later. Do you have trouble during the winter months making it past 9 p.m. at night? I love the extra daylight as it means more can be done at night which seems like day! I like the idea there are 4 months of "summer" even though it is not officially summer until the end of June. Perhaps it is just psychological but it goes to my soul! May- renewel! Time to get going! Be outside! Enjoy the flowers, trees, birds, the walks, bike riding! How do you feel about the month of May? Is it just another month to you? Sometimes it is just the idea of doing and going that gets me charged! What gets you charged this time of year? If we do not find the time to do the things we enjoy, life can become a blur!

SPRING CLEANUP

When the weather becomes warmer and sunny, there is a urge to clean and exercise. Yes I went for my power walk with weights Sunday. Spring with its renewel is always a time to reflect. For many, like myself, it brings a new sense of life- brighter days and longer nights. There is aways a chance for another snow storm or colder weather but if one more we do not get discouraged. One last big gas bill before the furnace is used less. Almost time to put away the boots and jackets-almost! Another month than the spring/summer clothes come out. Delayer! Declutter! Clean the house for the Easter celebrations! Or if you celebrate Passover- cleaning is in the air! I love the sound of the Spring birds chirping. Our red cardinal sits and sings in his tree. The red robin is trying to find some worms. Spring and its message of hope!

THE NEW YEAR, A CHANCE TO RENEW

Many people have new year resolutions. I prefer a renewel of the important areas of my life. Continue to exercise and eat well. Continue to write, to photograph, to craft, to spend time with family. Setting achievable goals, often little daily ones bring more success than trying to believe a change in a day will make a new person out of me. If it is change then the effort is much harder and often too tedious to prevail. The winter is a difficult time for many people. Although there are sports enthusiasts, too many just barely tolerate the season. So resolutions during the cold months may be harder to keep. For example, taking up jogging is much easier in the Spring. Deciding to eat more salads is good in the summer since warm winter soups have more calories and are comfy food. Cutting back to reduce weight is more challenging in the Winter. Why do people make resolutions anyway? When did the idea actually start? Do you know many people who have really kept their resolutions? Perhaps since the hoopla is gone after Christmas, we must have something to keep us going. A resolution- a thing resolved on or an intention! Do you have any resolutions! Or are you renewing your membership in this beautiful life? What do you think?