Snow clings to the north-facing slopes, rivers rise. The sky cradles the sun longer; dinner time inches toward bedtime inches toward double digits. Birds happy, vocal and thick as popping corn smothered in oil, at its ideal temperature. It’s all bubbling up, melting away and brightening.
Oh blessed spring.
I’ve long loved to celebrate and acknowledge seasons, seeing the changing of the sun’s relationship to my place on the planet as an opportunity to think about that. Becoming a mom has deepened my desire to connect with and truly notice subtle seasonal changes, to create ceremony around the annual life cycles of our environment. This is because I love learning with my kids and I am amazed with their amazement. Alongside my daughters it’s like the year’s first robin is seen for the first time ever in the history of the universe. How awesome.
The collecting of stuff encourages the noticing of stuff. “Does this mean it’s almost summer?” Ruby asks as she deposits aspen catkin, a millipede, green grass and mossy rocks onto our kitchen table. “Or maybe it is already summer because I feel like wearing my bathing suit right now.”
spring nuggets.
:: Ruby gathers and gifts little arrangements nearly every day. Here: crocus and a chicken feather.
:: Bits of spring have made their way into nearly every corner of our home.
open door!
Including a shake up of the Holiday Stick.
click to see Holiday Sticks in Nov-Dec and Jan-Feb
:: Ever since the first time we made it (just a few weeks ago) we can’t get enough of the Irish Soda Bread. We love this recipe and sub cranberry for raisin, on account of my husband declaring raisin to ruin all baked items. We served with maple butter, made by room temp butter whipped with maple syrup.
bread rides shotgun on the way to a potluck
:: Margot: Mama? Wouldn’t it be awesome to be a mermaid? I pretty much am a mermaid except when I am under water, every once in a while, I need to come up for fresh air.
:: For the first time in years we didn’t make natural dye. We made it with good ol’ food coloring, vinegar and hot water. Specifically: 20 drops of color, one teaspoon white vinegar and enough hot water to cover the egg. It was fun to have such instant and bright results.
:: I do believe my kids will be wearing the Easter dresses gram bought them until the sleeves pinch their biceps. In the garden, to school, around town…they are endlessly appropriate. Ruby prefers hers with tights and flip flops. Margot prefers bare legs and winter boots. Last night as Margot slipped out of her taffeta and lay down for bed she whispered Don’t forget to wash our party dresses for tomorrow. I think you should go put them in the wash RIGHT NOW. Ruby refuses to acknowledge hers is ever dirty, claiming every stain to be an intentional design element.
:: My mother-in-law (Joan) was in town and, as always, it was fun and funny.
:: On Easter eve, Joan and I stayed up late crafting tiny felt flower fairies that I was certain my kids would adore. Baskets were also stocked with jump ropes and blank books. Our E. Bunny is a touch granola. The girls all but stepped on the fairies to get to the little bit of candy tucked in the bottom. I picked them up and set them on the coffee table saying out loud how sweet and lovingly crafted they were. The girls didn’t break their downward stare as they counted chocolate pieces. Joan turned to me and smirked, “I’m sure they’ll fall in love with them soon honey.” We then headed out for our neighborhood hillside hunt.
:: Margot and Ruby walk hand-in-hand up the hill behind our house every day. I stop and stare every time for it is an amazing measure of their growth. Not long ago, Ruby couldn’t hike up very high and needed Margot’s hand for security. Now, they hold hands out of habit and affection. They are nearly the same height. They run. Amazing.
:: In today’s mamalode column, I wrote about the bittersweetness of memory and today. Click to read mama digs: then, now.
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17 Comments
I agree 100% with Andy, raisins are evil 🙂
Yay nuggets! I’ve missed them.
I think I clutched my heart the entire time I read.
🙂
Such beautiful little bits and pieces of spring. I miss the changing of the seasons, here in ever-sunny LA (not complainin’, just sayin’). And those Easter dresses are aaaadorable!
I too am amazed at my daughter’s amazement. Watching the world through their eyes…oh, it’s a gift to feel the unbridled experience of childhood AGAIN but a day at a time. I love to feel that excitement build in my chest as I watch her eyes grow large as saucers and as the words of a story pour out of her mouth in one exuberant jumble.
And wouldn’t it be nice to be Alice for a day lounging on the hill in the warmth of spring. Or to own a party dress that is thick with love and experience.
Sweet Dreams!
Oh Spring! How I long for the warmer temperatures and to feel the sun on my skin! Our temperatures are still in the minus digits and this is feeling like the longest winter ever. Coming here today has brought me some sunshine though!
Love the photos of the girls together. I have one son and found out two weeks ago that I am expecting my first daughter! I cannot wait to watch my children grow together and form a bond.
Liane x
Oh boo! My comment disappeared. Ok, let’s try again.
I too am amazed at my daughter’s amazement. Seeing the world through their eyes is a gift to experience the wonder of childhood all over. I love when I sense the butterflies in my stomach listening to her detail a story or an experience. I’m right there with her in the 4 year old world.
I wonder how awesome it must be to be a dog sitting in the sunshine and to watch spring emerge. Or to be a party dress, worn and dirty and still the object of desire for more love and adventures.
Burb ~ What a wonderful place for “my” girls to grow…all 3 of you! The Easter Egg Hunt is amazing, perhaps next year I will hop on over for it!
Margot ~ I wish I could see you every week! I cannot believe that you are soon to be in kindergarten….where has the time gone?….I Love You A Bushel & A Peck!
Ruby ~ Are you really almost a tall as your big sister? I think your creativity & gifts of little arrangements are over the moon! I will be seeing you both soon…You Are My Sunshine!
xoxo, Mom/Gram
ps….love you in your Party Dresses….everyday should be a party!
Love how perfectly you explain spring. Thank you for sharing!
I like your people. And your life. And you.
(Are you tired of me saying this?)
just STUNNING. the words, the images. love your blog so very much. and what a wonderful life you live :))) i Adore the way you ‘tell’ those little gals!! they are so colorful and lovely. just like your writing. much admiration!
OH! and holy smokes your living room is looking Awesome!!!
I just love the little bits and pieces of your life! So inspired, creative and sweet. I feel the exact same way about the seasons changing, and yes, it was definitely part of becoming a mom. The world has become new again 🙂
Hello, Spring! I love your nuggets and the nuances that you notice, appreciate, and share through your writing here. It’s inspiring, always.
*sigh* so much goodness xxx
I just adore your blog. Your writing, your love for the simple things, but most of all the parallels in our two-girl lives. It’s amazing to me the shared language of little girls. One, in particular, that I’ve noticed more than once is the “Princess” dresses that they wear until ratty (and beyond – so funny about Ruby and dress stains…my youngest – 3 years – does the exact same thing). I can’t even think of more examples right now, but I do know that I always smile because you notice and appreciate so many of the same things I do about my girls. I would have loved to experience a little boy, don’t get me wrong, but holy moly…watching this sister bond is like nothing else and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
~Lisa
Oh, I love this post. It seems like just yesterday that my two girls were wearing out their Easter dresses and holding hands as they clamored up a hillside together. Now they’re both in middle school and like to trade clothes and compare school-day stories at night. Still precious, but different. Enjoy them while they’re tiny.
x
Jenny (also in Missoula – hasn’t this Spring been dreamy so far?!)