The Spring Equinox Is Here ....

Today is officially the first day of Spring and for some reason, it feels different. The air feels lighter, the heart feels livelier. It feels like there is more hope and happiness around ..... new beginnings!! 

I was digging around some old pictures and found these beautiful pictures of cherry blossoms we had taken a few years ago. Lovely! 

With extra daylight hours today, I wanted to walk around my neighborhood after work, in search of signs of Spring, like so. 

However, the nasty wind made it sooooo cold to be outside, which could have otherwise been a nice walk on a beautiful spring day. 

With the spring in my step today, there are two things I want to say: 

1. Always follow the nudges from your heart, you will never regret it. 
2. Stop working too hard. If you are working too hard, you might not trust the process (a new realization for me today .... ). When you stop trying too hard, you play a bit more. When the mind is put at ease, wonderful things start happening. And then you will start blowing yourself away with all the things you had never imagined you could accomplish.  

Spring Yesterday, Winter Today!!

Blizzard, blizzard on the roll,
I think it's time you left us alone!!

.... Photo taken on March 11, 2014

On a Spring day ...

Yesterday was a lovely spring day and we accomplished quite a bit in our garden. We pulled out the grass in the small area in front of the house to create flower beds.

This one needs a border.

We intend put some tiles in the back side area near the basement window.

Can't wait to head to the nursery to get some of the beautiful flowering plants!!

Tricks of Nature!

Today morning we got flurries, when we thought March 23rd was the last one of the season. We got six inches of snow that day and that is what they call taking a dump in March. There was an outrage across the city that day in March because just the previous weekend was a beautiful 11 degree Celsius spring day, all the snow had melted and it truly felt like spring. The outrage could be felt at work, on the radio, on TV, during my drive .... everywhere!! We had definitely received a strong blow from Mother Nature.

Strangely, it reminded me of something my friend Cathy had mentioned not too long ago. Why did we love snow so much as kids? What changed as we grew up to be adults? We both agreed that the love faded because now all we focus on is shoveling, the commute, the traffic, the not-so-much fun things about snow. We no longer make snowmen, snow angels, have snowball fights or can do all such fun activities without a few eyebrows being raised. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why people have kids; it gives them a reason to be kids again.

By now, you must be thinking it is high time we leave all the wintry thoughts behind us, but I just couldn't get rid of this one from my head without spilling.

Well, all the snow has melted now, which is good reason to be happy. Only 2 of the 25 pots of Pansy seeds in my "Indoor Greenhouse Kit" have germinated so far. Looks like I will need to sow some more seeds in the rest. Hoping to have at least half of the mini-pots to germinate so that come summer, I can make my flower bed full of pansies this year.

Till then, ciao. xoxoxo

Spring is in the air .... or is it?

Sunday, March 20th was officially the first day of spring. Last week the temperatures were fabulous ... touching 12 degrees. It truly felt that spring is in the air. But alas, this week we are forecasted to receive a fine layer of frost. Hopefully, the chill will be over soon. I am already dreaming of spring flowers. Tulips and cherry blossoms are my favorite.

I have already started dreaming of what flowers to plant in the small patch in front of my house. I am thinking lilies might be beautiful. Or anything bright in color, grow no more than 6 inches tall, low maintenance and can survive the strong afternoon sun. Any suggestions are welcome. :) However, one thing is for sure. I am definitely getting 2 hanging baskets of petunia, of the variety below, to hang on two sides of my front porch. Ain't those pretty?