A WARM, WELCOMING SPRING...

 

For the past couple of years,

 I have written about the time

 known as Sprinter. 

 That is when the calendar says spring 

but the weather acts like winter. 

 However, that is not the case this year.

  This is the best spring in recent memory.

  The sun is shining, 

it is a little breezy

 but, oh, so comfortable.

  The air is fresh and 

it is obvious that spring has sprung! 

Wisteria budding out over 

the Secret Garden

"The slow breeze and the warm sun

Write our memories".

Debasish Mridha

It is still a bit cool in the evenings.

  Cool enough for burning fireplaces 

and the smell of wood smoke, 

when taking the dogs out before bed,

is delightful.

 

A few Cottage rooms 

have been released 

from the throes of winter, 

and I will show those in awhile,

 but first I want to tell you about

 the baby steps

 that are being taken around here. 

 I have been dragging my feet

 when it comes to 

rejoining the world after Covid. 

 My trip to Safeway last week, 

even though I got some pretty flowers, 

was a disaster.  

The Captain and I finally decided

 that we would take on 

something new each week 

to see how it could go.

  This week we decided

 to make a run to Trader Joe's 

to check out if that would work for us.  

We were hopeful 

as it is quite a ways to travel

 for no reason.

Trader Joe's has set up

 a pretty good plan.

  Certain spots are designated 

for lining up going into the store.  

A clerk stands at the door 

and distributes carts to those

 who want them 

and as approximately 

two shoppers exit from another door, 

then one shopper can enter.  

There are not too many shoppers

 at one time in the store 

and if you are watchful 

it is not hard to keep

 the required distance.  

We went in together and divided up the list 

then I want out to the car

 to turn on the air for the dogs

 and the Captain paid 

and loaded up the groceries. 

 On the way back home,

 we stopped for lunch at In-N-Out.

  On the whole, 

it was a very good day.  

Not only did we have a pleasant drive 

and got some more pretty flowers, 

the price of groceries is so much better.

  It was well worth the trip

 and a good start to using

 our first baby steps.

As you enter the Cottage 

you are greeted by

 welcoming words along with...

...a grouping that fulfills

 the promise of spring.

The shelf over the sofa in the sitting room

 is dressed befitting spring. 

 The whole-house wreath 

turns up now inside a fancy frame

 with some faux spring flowers adorning it.

A picture depicting 

some more springtime objects 

sits beside metal candlesticks

 in the shape of spring flowers

with a set of little birds

 and their small nest. 

 I like the exchange of

 spring colors played against

the touches of black.

The shelf 

and the sofa pillows

 add a cohesive touch.

...and the addition of 

pink and yellow tulips

 in a rustic tote 

completes the look.

A purposeful nod 

to the vibrant greens 

and soft colors of spring 

are displayed on the game table.

Because we live in the Gold Country, 

ore carts are a symbol 

of the days when gold mining

 was the sole industry. 

 It appears that Raggedy Ann

 is sitting next to an ore cart, 

filled with our

 one and only harvest of

 daffodils from the garden 

that bloomed in time for Easter Day. 

 But, in reality...

...it is just a cart

 being pulled by Goatzie

 along the dining room table

while her pal, Raggedy Andy,

 comes along for the ride.

The kitchen table

 got another round of springtime.

  Alstroemeria and some garden greens 

look elegant in a farmhouse container 

with a simple bottle of cream 

in the form of a candle

 from The Milkhouse Candle Co.

 that I purchased from 

Marmalade Mercantile.

I love the newest set

 of farm style dishes, 

but when I take them off the table, 

they still deserve to be seen 

and I didn't want to hide them 

away in a cupboard, 

so I added them to the crock shelf

 in the dining room.

I hope you all are enjoying spring

 in your part of the country.  

This last year

 has not been an easy one for most of us. 

 Spring is a new beginning. 

 Although not everything is 

as it should be yet, 

my thoughts are that,

 going forward,

 it will be a healthy, happy and hopeful

 season for all of us.

Stay Smart

Stay Well

Get Your Vaccine

Wear Your Masks

...Judy...

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