Flower fix

Good friends always have good advice. They can help you sort out your thoughts and see the light at the end of tunnel. And if the light is pretty far off, you can count on your friends to find ways to cheer you up. I was having lunch with some girlfriends the other day, sharing some issues and thankful for their attentive listening ears.  Afterwords, my good friend gave me a hug and said, "Go get yourself some flowers to put around the house, they will brighten your day."

She was right. And I did. As simple as it may sound, surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature truly does wonders for your outlook on life. No matter how bad you feel, the vivid colors of flowers and the beauty they add to your environment can make you feel a little less agitated and more hopeful about the outcome of the day.

So why not try and keep yourself a little box of happiness and hope at your house? Pick up a couple bouquets of flowers, or maybe even a few flowering gems for your yard. You'll be amazed at the quick fix flowers can bring.

Got me a Streptocarpus - no, not a sickness, a beautiful plant closely related to the African violet.  It's one of my favorite flowering houseplants. Learn how to care for it here.

Picture Perfect Vacation

BRECKENRIDGE ROCKS.

We had barely arrived and my little man just had to make his very first snowman, whom we appropriately named "Slumpy"

(and yes, I knit both of those hats, thank you very much!)

The view from our deck was awesome, and so were the slopes!

To say Jaden loved the snow is an understatement.

Jaden was a natural on skis, and pretty independent. I only had to dig him out of the trees once...

We had an amazing time, and have already mades plans to go back next year.  

Can't wait.

Spring, sweet spring

Today I'm packing for our ski trip: jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens galore.
I'm headed to a winter wonderland, but Spring is outside my door.

Our fruit trees are in bloom, scenting the air with their sweet fragrance.
No need to play music outside, the birds are handling that.
My garden spade winks at me,
anxious for the chance to do some serious work.
It's been a long, cold winter here,
and I can't wait to dig in.

Spring is on its way.
Take some time to really see it.  Like so many things in life,
blink and you'll miss it.

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,

Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring

Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo

The palm and may make country houses gay

Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day

And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit
In every street these tunes our ears do greet
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

From Summer's Last Will and Testament by Thomas Nashe