Spring Equinox and Celebrating Spring

Our Holiday Journey

March 20th marks the Spring Equinox and the official beginning of Spring. It's a good time of the year, with the difficult challenges of winter behind us (for the most part).

One of the things I have been doing to celebrate Spring since the beginning of the March is the 40 bags in 40 days challenge. The goal is to discard one bag per day during Lent (which started on March 1st).

I wrote two posts about the challenge so far: March 1-7 and March 8-15. This is helping to create a sense of order and restore the balance of our home which I am enjoying.

Doing a deep cleaning of each area of the home and continuing to get rid of clutter will be an ongoing process this year. I'm eager to see the end result in December.

Other things ones I plan to begin starting the first day of Spring (today...March 20th) inspired by the list at Rhythms of Play:

- Get Outside & Connect. Now that it is warmer and wildlife is more active, it's a  good time to look for new life and wildlife that is migrating back north.

Rhythms of Play suggested these great ideas too: "Watch the sunrise and/or sunset, go for a walk in the park, take a bike ride, lay in the grass, or take a hike. As you do so, observe all the new life beginning around you."

Flower in Louisiana on

March 20, 2015.

- Plant New Life. We have to wait a bit longer to do this since the ground is still frozen. Next month, we'll be able to add some cold-weather annuals for brightening up the yard. In May, we'll be able to plant our gardens.

Starting new African violet plants.

March 20, 2016.

- Bring Spring into your Home. Rhythms of Play suggested picking or purchasing a bouquet of spring flowers. We have tried to put vases of flowers around the home, but the cats like to eat the flowers. Potentially they can knock over the vases and then I have to clean up broken glass.

This year, I'd like to figure out a way to hang vases on the wall or put them up in places that cats can't reach.

The other suggestion that Rhythms of Play had was to refresh and renew your home and body with essential oils. I've been doing through March by creating new blends using a variety of essential oils. I put these in our diffusers as well as use some in the bath water or on my skin.

- Prepare a Spring Feast. I have some recipes for egg casseroles to try in March and April. Olivia has a couple of different types of breads she needs to make in her Five in a Row Cookbook. There's not a lot of seasonal local produce yet, but in June (when our CSA begins distributing food again), we'll have a weekly box of fresh produce. I can't wait!

Making onion rings to go with the chicken pot pie.

March 20, 2012.

- Have a Bonfire. We have a brush pile that's quite substantial in size in the backyard. I want to burn it because if we don't, the birds and rabbits will nest in it and then we aren't able to burn it until Fall. I'd like to - once it is burned - to re-seed around the area and then have a smaller campfire area that we can enjoy during the summer and fall.

- Enjoy Spring Arts and Crafts; and Decorate the Home. There are some ideas on Pinterest that I've posted on my Easter board that I'd like to do. I also want to make some more window stars in new patterns in pastel shades.

Window star that I made.

March 20, 2014.

- Begin Something New - Like Learning Yoga and Start Riding My Bike. With nicer weather and no mosquitoes, there's no reason not to get outside and enjoy nature. Yoga I need to learn on my own watching videos that I have. The nearest yoga studio is 11 miles away (each way...or 22 miles total)...a bit too far to travel for each class.

Olivia feeding a goat for the first time.

A picture taken on March 18, 2010...

as close to the Spring Equinox I could find.

- Establish a Daily Rhythm. This is something that I just wrote about the other day. According to Rhythms of Play, "Establishing a rhythm will help you get organized and provide a framework for your day. It increases your ability to stay focused and get things done. Children also thrive on rhythms in the home."

Shadow and Meenie resting together.

March 19, 2011.

(The closest picture to March 20th that

I could find in 2011.)

As I look back on raising Sophia and Olivia, having a predictable rhythm of the day was beneficial.

Setting up the leprechaun trap

on March 16, 2013.

(The closest picture to March 20th that

I could find in 2013.)

For the most part, we still have an over-arching rhythm of the day. However, there is more variation in what each day holds - in and out of the home - than when they were younger.

Chocolate candy in a fish shape.

March 20, 2009.

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year...and being able to celebrate it in different ways is a great way for me to get the most out of this beautiful season.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - March 2, 2017

For Today...

Looking out my window...I'm enjoying seeing grass and no snow. Spring is definitely around the corner.

A view to the northwest.

I am thinking...about the 40+ trumpeter swans that we saw on the St. Croix River on Monday. We crossed the bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin four times that day and each time they were there. They are such beautiful birds.

I am thankful...that the veterinarian was able to get Cooper in on Monday since he had been licking the carpal pad near his right dew claw over the weekend. They found that he had a small puncture wound and the skin was starting to turn pink where he had been licking.

He has two medicines that he has to take - one orally and one topically. He was wearing the "cone of shame" because it was still bothering him even with the medicine. When he leaves the wound alone and during the night, the cone is off.

One of my favorite things...open, undeveloped space for wildlife. I like knowing that the majority of the land we have (about ten acres - which is a small hobby farm) can be enjoyed by wildlife.

I am creating...two pillowcases. Both of them will be entered into the county fair in August.

I'm getting a head start on doing some projects this year rather than waiting until the summer. Have been enjoying crafting again after taking a break for a while.

I am wearing...comfortable clothes since I'm at home.

I am reading...a book I got earlier this week from the library, A Thomas Jefferson Education. I have the companion book as well.

I heard someone refer to it at a homeschool conference a couple years ago. Read a bit about the educational philosophy online and wanted to learn more.

I am hoping...that I can reach the goals I have set for the next 40 days in terms of decluttering (40 bags in 40 days) and letter writing (40 notes in 40 days).

I am learning...how to better balance my time so that volunteering doesn't consume as much time as has in the past at the expense of things I enjoy doing and people with whom I want to spend time.

In my kitchen...I'm using up what I have on hand which is a good feeling.

Olivia with a salmon burger.

We have quite a few of these in the freezer

from Fare for All.

My goal is to greatly reduce the items in the cupboards, freezers, and refrigerator before the summer so that all new produce can be preserved (frozen and canned) to enjoy during the upcoming year.

In the school room...I had Sophia do a career test to determine what her areas of interest are and what a possible educational/career direction she could take. It was a very comprehensive test - 44 pages in all - that revealed information and a direction that she can use.

One of Sophia's strengths and interest areas is animal care.

Here she is with Danny on the day we adopted

him and his brother (Scooby) in January 2017.

She was happy she took the test (as was I) to help her focus on what classes to take, volunteering to do, and leadership roles she should take on.

In my garden...everything is uncovered in the vegetable gardens. Nothing is up yet since it is still too cold. The flower (perennial) gardens have straw over them still. The butterfly garden is needing a major overhaul this year. I'm hoping to get the little pond and waterfall working again. It was nice seeing the birds drinking from the waterfall and the butterflies sunning themselves on the rocks.

Board room...I was looking at my St. Patricks' Day board on Pinterest and saw the idea for gifts in a mason jar. I have the whole month to look for green and Irish-theme items. It would be a nice surprise for everyone on St. Patrick's Day.

Source

Post Script...with the weather getting warmer, I'm looking forward to having some picnics outside before the mosquitoes are out. Found this pretty table setting on Pinterest which I'd enjoy sitting at any day:

Source

There's just something so peaceful, elegant, and inspiring about that table.

Shared Quote...this quote is a good reminder and something to reflect upon:

A moment from my day...on Tuesday, I take the girls to the homeschool co-op and Sophia to harp lessons.

It's also a day for doing errands which I try to group as much as I can on one day.

Amongst all the driving, there is a lot of time for me to enjoy what I see around me on the rural roads - like cows in the pasture (see photo above).

The larger ponds and lakes are starting to open up now. Things are still shades of brown, for the most part. It's kind of a dull period of the year with such dismal colors. Yet, the absence of snow makes for easier days - in terms of driving and errands.

Closing Notes....thank you for coming by and visiting.