It feels a bit silly to say anything about spring, because yesterday it snowed. Through the large glass windows of the office building, it felt like being in a giant snow globe and people looked weary, bored, irritated or horrified as I caught the train to go home even though at that point it was mist and rain. Everyone was talking about April blizzards, which don't happen very often but this winter has been one of oddness and lots of people seem to think we're due.
My 10 reasons to be glad it's spring:
1. Longer days. I have a hard time sleeping, but I mind less if I woke up and there is a glimmer of light out there. Of course, that doesn't help me at all when I wake up at 0300 (that was yesterday), but it does help me if I wake up at 0430 (eventually).
2. Warmer days. I have been a bad doggie mom this winter, relying on the huge fenced in back yard rather than giving him twice daily (or more) walks. With the exception of the past day or so of cold and wet, I'm back to giving him walks and longer ones. Summer and fall are my favorites for doggie walking.
3. Gardening. I suck at it. It's true. I have a very shady back yard and a desire to grow vegetables and they generally don't mix. I keep moving my tiny plot around the back yard each year, but it hasn't made a difference yet. We have both shade from buildings and trees, more trees than it first appears, blocking the light. I also have a tendency to start late. For example, I will be doing my seed starting in April and putting things outside probably the first weekend of May. Norma has been talking about seed starting and her seedlings look gorgeous already.
4. Vacations. Spring means vacations to me. Either little day trips to celebrate our anniversary or slightly longer trips to visit friends and family. We don't always take them this time of year, but often enough that I associate spring time with them. Last year we went to this cheesy inn in North Conway, New Hampshire where they had themed rooms (like a caveman room or an Oscars room).
5. Shows. I don't get to be in as many shows as I like, because despite evidence to the contrary I like to preserve my remaining sanity. However, there is a run of Yeoman (my friend, J, is playing Dame Carruthers) and another of Rent that I really want to see.
6. Food. While I do love the heavier winter foods, it is a good time of year to eat something other than heavy pasta dishes and mashed potatoes. Fresh produce and the start of the farmer's market!
7. Half marathon training. My training started March 7th, and I immediately caught a cold that has stopped me from running much of the past couple of weeks. This week marks the first full week of training I'll have done (starting with a 4 mile run on Wednesday). As the weather gets better, I will move some of the short runs and the Sunday long run outside. Treadmills are good, but I don't want them to be all of my training.
8.Pussy willows. When we got married, I took $100 with me to a local florist the day of the wedding (or the day before - the memory is fuzzy) and asked for in season flowers and pussy willows and we built our own bouquets. I loved our flowers all the more because it became an impromptu craft between my maid of honor (madam of honor) and myself, while the less crafty people sat around and chatted. It was one of the least stressful parts of the wedding planning, probably because I was doing this with friends.
9. My birthday. I normally consider my birthday to be in summer, but it is in the first half of June (I'm still a Gemini, no matter what people say about the new horoscopes) so I am still a spring baby. This year I am having an early birthday celebration by going to Squam. I keep hoping that this will be as good as I've been told, but if I go to it with an open mind rather than my streak of grumpiness I'm sure I'll have fun!
10. Lace. Spring and summer are the seasons of other crafts: weaving, embroidery, and lace knitting. While I still will knit sweaters and socks and other heavier items, I don't need to wear them. So, I look to spring as a time to work on other things! I'm already trying my hand at cut work for this week's Iron Craft, so I'm taking the try something new feeling to heart!
