Grab a cuppa and settle in. Let’s chat a bit! As I write this we are expecting a day of drizzle and showers, maybe some winds, too. March seems to have run the full gamut of weather. All of it. I don’t know about you but I am over it.

April sort of feels like it might settle down a bit to allow us to ease into Spring. Preferably without snow drifts (not the plants) or ice storms.

As you might have noticed, I’ve recently been reviewing my pantry and my interest in updating my menu. The warmer months lead into lighter fare and more fresh fruits and veg. I’ve been browsing my cookbooks and seeing what they suggest. Some have given me ideas, others reminders of what I used to cook…way back when. <G>

As grocery prices rise and Spring is in the air, it might be a good time to check out the local garden center to see what veg and fruit plants could be incorporated into the garden or into pots on the deck. It would be a disservice if I did not remind you to seriously consider how much time and effort you have and are willing to put into such gardening. Granted it isn’t a 24/7 requirement but there is sufficient effort involved.

I’ve pondered adding an indoor hydroponic garden to my home for years. Over on YouTube, Stacey’s Simple Meals received one for Christmas and has shared her experience with it. As with traditional outdoor gardening, size and space are important considerations, in addition to figuring out what you want to grow. While Stacey’s hydroponic garden is not that expensive and she has had positive results. It might be worth checking out.

Around The House Projects

No matter if you live in a home or apartment, owned or rented, there always seems to be some sort of project that needs to be tackled. From Spring cleaning to decor update to just shifting the furniture around, there is always something to be done.

My mom used to shift the furniture around twice a year. It took me a while to realize that part of this update was to freshen the room and make it feel ‘new’ again without buying anything new. Moving things about – when you can – changes the way the room functions. You actually find yourself paying attention as you maneuver through the space rather than operating on auto pilot.

Now, my space doesn’t allow for major shifts but I can swap out curtains, cushion covers, throw rugs which gives the eye something different to see. It is astounding how we get so familiar with a space we forget what it looks like!

Local Places and Events

It is always a good idea to keep abreast of what is going on in your area. When and where is the next Farmer’s Market? What’s going on at the local library? Are there local groups that interest you? Is there a community garden you can join? Are there classes you might be interested in taking? Sewing, gardening, canning?

You never know what you will discover simply by taking a few minutes to check on local activities.

As we are easing into Summer*, it is a good time to see what we can do to improve our lives, ease our stress, and bring some joy home.

*Spring is around the corner but Summer is closer than we think!

I have lived in a variety of spaces over the years. I also have a rather eclectic taste in decor. My mentor once took me to the Los Angeles Design Center and when we walked out the door (after hours inside) she looked at me and said I was a designer’s dream because I liked almost everything. <shrug> She wasn’t wrong.

I was raised by a mom who understood the use of color, texture, and light. She, who had no formal training, could put a room or house together in a way that looked easy but I know she put a lot of time and thought into her rooms. Needless to say I not only learned a lot from her but I ‘caught the bug’ and learned to love learning about home design.

Recently I came across the following video from Homeworthy on YouTube and couldn’t resist. My home is a little over twice the size of this home.

I love the colors she chose. I love the patterns, too. The use of space is amazing. I admire the way she took a chance and created spaces using furniture and paint.

Small homes are not for everyone. I happen to have a cozy home where space and storage are minimal requiring some creative thinking.

This apartment is one of the more creative homes I’ve seen in a while. The beauty of the design is you don’t notice just how much, or how little, space there is.

Would you attempt a design like this?

Daylight Savings Time changes can be … uncomfortable … annoying … no big deal … brutal.

It really depends upon your situation. I have a friend who has a lot of clocks. A lot of ’em. She’s been known to start updating them the night before the Actual Date. Most of my home time pieces reset themselves but there are a few spots that require my attention. Some of them, quite frankly, are ignored. Tells you how much I use that clock to tell the time…

Saturday was a quiet day after several major storms passing through during the week. The kind you have trouble sleeping through. I tend to have certain things I watch on Saturday – mainly my YouTubers who post then – and depending upon my mood I might fill in with odds and ends.

Sunday has been interesting. I awoke not too long after the time switch. Something that always amazes me because I really don’t know why I do it, but <shrug> I do. I got up when it occurred to me that I wasn’t going to turn over and return to a snooze. Both Mr. Carrington and Luke Catleugh had videos up. Once Mr C’s video was over, I headed back to bed. It was 4 a.m.

A few hours later I started to feel Human again and ate a nice lunch, watched a few videos and tunes and managed to nap on the sofa.

What is it about a time change that seems to require more sleep?

I do feel more myself rather than when I was first up and around wondering whether I should make some coffee… <chuckling>

While I can’t say my weekend has been ‘productive’, I can say it has been peaceful. The storms have passed and we have a bit of a respite until the next one(s). I am contemplating my grocery order (keep an eye on this blog for more about that). I’m slowly catching up on some shows that I missed due to the storms.

That coffee is starting to sound a bit interesting…

Monday is far enough away to allow for a quiet enjoyment of a Sunday afternoon.

I remember a conversation I had with a work friend years ago. We would start for home on Friday evening and she would be talking about Monday… I reminded her that my weekend began on Friday afternoon and work talk would be off limits until Monday morning so I could enjoy my weekend. Work talk shortened what should have been a nice long couple of days. Frankly, she was surprised. It took a while before she admitted that I might have stumbled upon something. That perhaps ‘work’ could be left for work days and not allowed to intrude when it wasn’t necessary.

Imagine that!

Put on some nice music. Grab a cuppa. Contemplate a nice meal. Put your feet up. Recover from the unnecessary adjustment of the clocks.

Ciao!