spring ’24 {seasonal list dreams}

You can see in the background, above, that garden clean-up is on a spring list! These narcissus + fritillaria are some of the many bulbs I buried last fall.

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The vernal equinox is long past, so this list arrives more than fashionably late. But it feels like the kind of season when it’s most necessary.

First, because it’s moving fast!

And second? Just…the nature of spring. There’s always lots to do come warm weather, and this list started out feeling too much to-do‘ish. Exactly what seasonal dreams are not supposed to be. (Somewhat, sure — but the idea is to keep joy + delight on the daily radar. To habitualize tiny, or not-so-, celebrations.)

So I edited.

I’ll highlight a few today —

[ ] visit the Audubon Nature Center

{ X ] Erie Philharmonic Plays Broadway @ the Warner, for Mom’s birthday

[ ] ferns in black pots by garage

I love ferns — their simplicity…fullness…and if you find their sweet spot, they’re even low maintenance! This season I’ll try some in a shady spot that’s usually naked — the garage doors. I think they’ll look nice with the brick, too.

[ X ] spring break* road trip (Annapolis, OBX, Savannah, FLA]

*Keep in mind next year: adjusted hours/closures on Easter (second year in a row I’ve forgotten to take this into account!); break up the return trip, 7-8 hours driving/day (the max for my back).

[ ] May retreat

[ ] finally(!) paint cottage interior, June 1 deadline

This has taken far longer than planned — mostly because I don’t like to paint. Correction!! I don’t like the prep that painting requires. The painting, itself, is pretty darn satisfying.

[ ] Bluestone Perennials field trip to pick up fall mums

[ ] Patterson After Dark library fundraiser is happening May 11!

Planning meetings, recruiting volunteers, working. Local? I’ll have tickets for you!

[ ] visit Roger Tory Peterson Institute to see Wildwing, West Virginian nature illustrator Rosalie Haizlett exhibit (closes 6/2)

…and tune in to her virtual art talk at noon on May 3, if I can!

[ ] experiment with lemon recipes

A few I’ve recently come across stick out in my head — hard lemonade (with herbs, I’m thinking). An Italian lemon ricotta cake. And I just put a batch of preserved lemon through the food processor. (Which we added to chicken soup with orzo last night. Yum.) This Algerian-Portuguese coffee also intrigues me…

[ ] sing in spring concert on May 5

…and I made a separate list for the chores!

How about you? What’s on your [literal or proverbial] list this spring?