in search of SPRING: March 23

Hello Dear Ones,
This is our last in search of SPRING post for this year but thank you for all who joined. We have a newcomer who will be posting for a bit longer. So visit Adela and say a friendly welcome.

Wasn't it wonderful to see what March looks like in everyone's neck of the woods?

[our little explorer, who now plays out front 'by-mytelf']

[Day dreaming Izzo]

[bikes in the front yard]

in search of SPRING: March 19

As I'm typing this, there is a inch or two of snow covering all the lawns and trees like a thick coating of powdered sugar. It's a dark morning, and the house is still quiet, so different from yesterday's 60 degrees and sunshine. I'm guessing this weekend's search for spring may be a little more difficult. But this always happens, we ebb and flow back and forth between light snow and sunshine. And that is perfectly fine.

Actually I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with two tastes, beautiful white blankets and glorious lighted afternoons. Nature, if a politician would be seen as wishy-washy. I, if a poititian would be seen the same.


Here are a few images from the week:

[our weather vein a top our barn... yes we still live in town. 

And we have a barn for a second garage... only in Iowa]

[Bright sweet clementines. Are tangerines the same thing?]

[Wilted fresh spinach with fried egg...
a springy quick mommy-meal]

 [a project in motion]

in search of SPRING: March 16

[Inside]

  

'basking in the sun' while playing beach

helping me wash the floor or playing cinderella

a boy and his dog

a bonnet for Izzo on the needles

[Outside]

sandals and a coat

bikes!

looking for fairies

tulips inching up

weather worn mailbox

running water

in search of SPRING: March 15

It's finally warm enough to start exploring the outdoors again! This is just a short walk we too, you can see the grass growing from under the snow!

Eric will be joining us here this week, with TWO posts, one about his famous lattes and another about homemade donuts.
Adirondak Mama, the abstracted pea, Birds and Seashells, Conservative Knitter, Elder Family, Into the Wind, M Loves M, McClain Photo Journal, Musings on the Simple Life, Once Upon a Parent, There is a TIme, Young Ones
Unearthing This LIfe,

in search of SPRING: March 12

Early spring takes so many forms: it's looking for the tiny signs of green, planning for the garden come, listening for the birds. Feeling the temps change, watch the snow melt, hearing the rain outside my window.

Sunsine and Lattes::

Iris bulbs budding::

Last years planning for new ideas::

Garden dreaming too::

Wistful for lilacs::

End of winter making::

 [baby bonnet]

  [cowl]

These are some of my favorite shots of my Vintage Swap package from a very generous Heather.
You can see the rest of it here!


You can check out more from these beautiful bloggers:
Adirondak Mama, the abstracted pea, Birds and Seashells, Conservative Knitter, Elder Family, Into the Wind, M Loves M, McClain Photo Journal, Musings on the Simple Life, Young Ones

in search of SPRING: March 11

*So they don’t stand still enough to get a good shot of them together (:

Ring by Spring
Last night in the midst of my marathon of laundry folding and America’s Next Top Model watching (I'm a little embaressed to say I actually watched).

I watched my kids run in and out of the room, in several states of dress. They were dressing and redressing. Preparing and moving chairs, toys and stuffed animals.

I asked what was up, and Isabel sing-songed, breathlessly from running around.
“The prince and princess were getting married!”

 Isabel was being a bit of a bossy princess, and Truman a little passive. But she taught him how to dance, “No your hand goes here!” “You have to wear shoes to get married!” “Truman!”

He ran around the house smiling, with no other purpose than to make his ‘princess’ happy. He kept saying, “Mama, I play with Izzo!”

They even stopped to bake ‘cupcakes’-- strawberry muffins. They made perfect post-wedding, pre-bedtime snacks. We sang happy birthday to Auntie Mayme (my sister whose birthday was on Tuesday) since we couldn't be with her this year, living so far away... 

Happy belated birthday and princess wedding to you! 

Search out SPRING: 

Adirondak Mama, the abstracted pea, Birds and Seashells, Conservative Knitter, Elder Family, Into the Wind, M Loves M, McClain Photo Journal, Musings on the Simple Life, Young Ones 

in search of SPRING- March 10

In search of spring were getting out of the house, stomping though puddles, in the fog, avoiding mud on our walk to Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie's house.  

Grass!

"Mimi, lets hold purple hand to purple hand."

What are you seeing as signs of spring?

To join, comment here and I'll add you. Click the button on the right for more bloggers in search of spring.

in search of SPRING

Friends I've changed my thoughts on winter lately. Seriously, I'm over it. I've been over it for a while. And usually my mantra is contentment. Be content where things are, be content in the snow drifts of life. Learn the lessons while they are at hand.

But I've started looking at the winters of life for what they are. But also for what is to come. Contentment is not necessarily forgetting what is ahead. Looking forward may mean more mindfulness. I am now waiting and watching for this moment. The sun that was so present at breakfast on Saturday morning, and the drip drip of the melting snow on Sunday. The two degrees warmer this lovely mid-day. The bird noises arriving back in the trees. Just little tiny moments. The slow thaw of winter.

Maybe the slow thawing of my funk. The up-tighted-ness of dealing with road conditions, coats and hats, the perpetual finding of lost gloves. Waking up in the dark. I'm sorry it's blizzarding again and I don't want you to blow away so NO you cannot play outside.

There is something in the promise of sunshine that gets me going and the sound of the word "March" so hopeful, no? "Do not be surprised that the return of the light lifts your spirits. Do not be surprised that warmth on your back calms you and makes you glad. Feel your spirits lift as the sun rises higher in the sky: this is part of you, this snaky gladness, part of who you have been for a million years. Find the warm places; do not expect them to come to you. When you find them, stay there and be still. Be still and watchful. In this quiet, taste the air. Lick up the taste of it. Listen. Listen with the full length of your body against the ground."
{From Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature by Kathleen Dean Moore} (via Soulemama)



So I'm proposing that we join together to look for spring-- a cardinal in a tree, some blades of grass, returning of the light. 


Will you join me? Two weeks? Starting today? 


Comment here for a button and I'll put you on the list so that other's can see your spring too! 
Adirondak Mama, the abstracted pea, Birds and Seashells, Conservative Knitter, Elder Family, Into the Wind, M Loves M, McClain Photo Journal, Musings on the Simple Life, Young Ones