Spring Cleaning

I don't know about everyone else, but I love this time of year.  The time when the flowers start to bloom, the weather is not freezing out all day, and when your internal clock tells you to wake up, get off the couch, and get back into life.  It is almost like a dethawing after a long winter, and suddenly, life feels exciting and vibrant again.  I feel like each year I get to these few weeks and am totally re-invigorated and motivated all over again.

Usually for me this means a combination of reclaiming my "grown-up" responsibilities and Spring Cleaning.  I think it all starts with the warm weather which makes me crave salads.  And then once I eat a salad or two I am all energized fromt he healthy food and get on a roll.  . . . Then, once you add in the sunshine, I am reminded of the fact that I am an adult and I need to do the dishes, change the laundry, and help with meals at least occasionally.  My wonderful husband picks up the slack all Winter, as I tend to hibernate on the couch, but by Springtime I am kicking my own butt to get back in gear to be a better roomate and homemaker.  Then, once I get on a roll with that, I want to redecorate and reorganize our living space, which usually means Spring Cleaning.  I find that once I start going I can't stop, which can be dangerous in and of itself, because I get on kicks where purging old stuff becomes like a drug -- I almost get high off of letting go of so much physical junk. 

Its this wonderful time of year when anything seems possible.  I can get back in shape, I can read more, I can be a better homemaker and wife, I can eat better, I can paint more . . . . its like once the Spring comes around there are so many more hours in the day!

Given all that is going on with my husband's and my respective jobs, I haven't full hit my "Spring is Here" stride but I am getting there.  Over Easter weekend we planted our little garden and used some of the last of our wedding registry money to buy cute table decorations for a fun Easter lunch with friends.  Last week, I managed to drag myself to a 6am yoga class when a friend of mine was teaching, and inspite of my preconceptions, found I love yoga that early!  I also went to a back-bending yoga workshop this past Sunday, which was very fun.  We also got a bread maker this weekend (at the suggestion of my friends from twodc.blogspot.com) and that has been great!  I don't think we will ever buy bread from the grocery store again.  My husband and I have started to purge out some junk from our little apartment, but have been doing it in small pieces.  As our apartment is up for sale, we have had untold number of strangers trapesing through at all hours of the day to view it, which doesn't lead easily towards deconstructing the entire closet!  (which makes me grumpy - but that's another post.) But it has lead to daily efforts to tidy up, do the dishes, make the bed etc., just so the place looks respectible.  Which is definitely progress in our household.  I even did some laundry on my own this weekend . . . .

Lastly, Spring has started off with some wonderful news -- The best man from our wedding recently got married to the most amazing girl.  We just found out this weekend and it couldn't make me any happier (I was literally giddy all day Friday from the neww!!)  We are so lucky to know each of them and to have them in our lives and are ecstatic that they have found each other.  I couldn't think of two people who deserved to find real love more. Congratulations!!

I hope the joy of Spring is finding each of you, and touching you in your hearts and in your homes.

Namaste,
Clare