Progress

 I've been accused (teasing) from time to time (by my daughter) of being a blue-sky, rainbow kind of gal.  I'll admit, I am an optimist.  I choose to see the world this way.  I wholeheartedly feel that it's our own mindset that determines what kind of world we inhabit... not the other way around.  One would never know the sweet, mouth-puckering taste of fresh lemonade if one were never handed a bag of lemons from time to time.  

Although moving in certain directions might be painful... I choose to embrace that pain as yet another reminder that I am [very much] alive.  And being alive on this particular day is something to celebrate!  Thank you for the care and concern... but truly, each day brings much improved mobility.

In my youth, I owned a book entitled Notes To Myself  by the American self-help counselor/70's spiritual guru, Hugh Prather.  It is a collection of the author's thoughts on life, and it played a role in shaping my own outlook on life.  In it is a quote that has always stuck with me.  It reminds me to face life's speed bumps as just what they are - not good, not bad, just there to be navigated.

He writes:

"The comment ‘you’re lucky; it could have been worse’, is the kind of helpfulness I can do without. It also could have been better, or actually, it couldn’t have been any other way than the way it was. "

It's funny how a line from a book can stick with you for so many years, helping to frame the way you see life.

I have greatly enjoyed having the time to sit and read and embroider and generally putz around inside my house these past couple of days.  I have also tried a couple new sourdough recipes (I'll share more after baking them today).  However, Spring is happening everywhere here... so I just had to spend some time outside, as well!

 Yesterday afternoon, as the mercury climbed to 70 degrees, I heard this call from my gardens, "Come.  Come.  Come see what is happening!"  As I stepped out my front door, I was greeted by the sweet  "Bubb-zink" song of the brown headed cowbird from high atop the evergreen tree in the front yard.  Yet another sign of spring.

I was drawn to the greenhouse like a bee to nectar.  I couldn't resist the temptation to fill some pots with potting soil and tuck some tiny seeds inside.  Now, entering the greenhouse, I can smell the moist soil, and the warm, humid air - and the promise of life to come.  It's this time of year that the greenhouse becomes a sanctuary of growth, anticipation, and hope as we watch this tangible cycle of life unfolding before our eyes.

As tender shoots emerge from the soil, each tiny green sprout holds the potential for a bountiful harvest.  Gently tending to these delicate beginnings feels like nurturing a secret, precious treasure.  How glorious it will be, this summer, to watch them become all that they are meant to be after being carefully transplanted into the gardens.  

The trays shown above are all flowers - zinnias, hyacinth bean vines, moon flowers, agastache, calendula, Johnny jump-ups, and deep blue asters.  What a feast of color they will be!  I still have some vegetable seeds to start as well... and cold weather vegetable seeds to direct sew in my garden boxes.  And yes, I'll take it slowly.... slow and steady wins the race, right?

Have a beautiful day!