Fooled By April

 

Hello friends! Another month has slipped by. Happy April Fools Day! 

Nobody knows how the tradition started, but maybe it was the weather. Every day in April seems to surprise with drastic changes in temperature even in one day. Tricked by either by going out with short sleeves on a lovely warm morning only to be freezing by the afternoon, or the opposite: dressing too warm on a cool morning and sweltering by 5:00. At least that's how it happens here in Albuquerque! 

But I do love the layers of spring whether it's in the choice of clothing or in the unfolding of nature after a long sleep. Every day is a waiting surprise at what has bloomed, or leafed out, or greened up. The great joy of finding a daffodil or a little violet peeking through the winter brush can feel a little foolish, but we are creatures of nature after all!

Nothing cheerier than bringing the outside in! No surprise, but white blossoms are my favorite.

I'm also always wanting a display of nests which somehow seems a challenge to me. But a nice dish or bowl serves well to keep a delicate nest contained.

 

Illustrations from Maryjo Koch's book "Egg, Feather, Nest" get featured too. So many lovely pages to leaf through on a rainy (or snowy) day when the weather has fooled us again!.

I like what's inside to reflect what's going on outdoors, so little vignettes get posted everywhere while we're waiting for more vases to fill as the season moves on. As it will, all too fast.

I'm wishing you the cheeriest of springs! No fooling!

To share something from Third Eye Thoughts on Instagram: Speak positive words into your life every single morning. Think healing. Think peace. Think happiness.

Think Spring!

April bliss to you!

Jacqueline

Little Spring Changes

Greetings friends! It was a longer hiatus for me than expected, but I find that I am lately more letting each day unfold as it comes. I am more than ready to embrace these warmer, if variable, early days of spring however! The season can be a long and protracted one. A frigid morning with a dusting of snow seems as much a surprise as the unseasonable warm day we had just before it here in Albuquerque.  

Home life unfolds quietly for me as the seasons pass. I find I gather up and put away objects much as the wind and weather does: gradually, and in not much of a hurry. On the other hand, like many of you, I am often a step ahead of things. With those crazy very warm days that tease us, I start looking for gardeny things for a long time before it's practical. 

And I am lured by the muted colors of a lingering winter as it unfolds into a gradual green. New Mexico stays brown for such a long time after everything warms up you might think that I want something more vivid, but the soft tones seduce me more in this transition of time. Indoors, at least. 

More garden pots and vases appear on the shelves. Bits of green.

It was so fun to find natural boxwood topiaries in a pair at the fleamarket! I covered their shiny metal buckets in scraps of Jeanne d'Arc Living paper for interest. The sheep have lingered untroubled on my top ledge pasture since December.

My Oxalis has lately kept blooming in such a friendly manner! So easy to have around for so many years now.

Recently my son brought in a goldfinch nest that had blown down into the garden. You can see where it broke away from its branch. I find nothing at all so charming as that wee bit of string woven in! A tiny nest is the sweetest little greeting for the coming of spring.

Not all of my pots need a plant to make good cheer either. Mine are souvenirs of a happy time at the pottery.

My little barnyard friends make me happy in spring too. But they have spent many seasons right where they are.

A few metal ceiling tiles strewn about make a nice posting board for an easy change up. Easy enough to lean against a wall for a new scene.

I love a bunny anytime, but he gets a nice feature this time of year too.

One of my recent thrills was finding this old metal step stool in the softest faded sage green. It felt like a sign!

So sweet that you came by!

Wishing you a lovely gathering up to Spring!

Jacqueline

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As It Comes

Season's greetings friends! I just got back from a few days travel, so I'm shuttering out (literally!) the busy world for a bit. Lit a fire, and put on the softest Christmas background music you can imagine. I wish you could hear it with me.

I'm loving the interlude after visiting the big city which felt like a futuristic movie to me. Glad to be back to my own cozy corners.

It's my year for enjoying other people's decorating (which I am, immensely), and taking a back seat from the flurry. I'm always more into the creature comforts anyway.

One of which is this fantastic treat from Trader Joe's! I was too late picking it up last year. It is crazy delicious with all the flavors of the season built in. I had it alone and warmed up this morning. So delicious and fruity! It's too concentrated straight, so add something citrus or just water. But by all means warm!

Add spirits for a lively celebration with friends. I guarantee it will be a big hit! I'm showing my favorite vintage tumbler here with a couple of new glasses I picked up from a restaurant from my recent trip to commemorate the occasion. They sold them in a set of six, so we all took them home.

I pulled out a few things before I left to get a head start on the decor. It may be as far as I get. But a little goes a long way.

And my shamrock surprised me with a few sweet and cheery blooms to greet me when I got home!

I only have a very few plant friends that never let me down.

I thought I might still dress up this shelf ledge more, but have just a few things stuck on here from my Christmas boxes. But time is running out!

Our crowd shows up more after Christmas, so I am always thinking more Winter and New Year with the decorating anyway. I also like to do it without too much of a shuffle. 

My trumpet vine wreath shriveled while I was away, as expected. I don't mind. I would love it if it faded more too.

It surprised me with a couple of artfully dangling seed pods for drama.

This is the time I usually enjoy tweaking and tucking in small bits as the days move closer to December 25th.

We have a number of holiday birthdays in our family, so there is celebration on top of celebration. It all rolls along so fast. But I always make room for reading my favorite Christmas stories, and of course movies. I may even bake a little something. Or maybe not.

One thing I have slated for this afternoon is pulling out this little evergreen tree. I had high hopes that it would last. But it is heartlessly crisp!

Easy enough since it is small and has only a string of lights. We have a neighborhood tree lot that will be happy to see me turn up a week before Christmas for a fresher little one.

Nice while it lasted with its lone little log cabin ornament.

I hope you are taking time for the small joys!

Love and Joy,

Jacqueline

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