Welcome Spring, 2018!

Ernest Hemingway wrote in A Moveable Feast that “When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest…People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.”

Take a minute; stop and re-read that quote nice and slow.  Let each word soak into your heart.

Now, take another minute and look at how those pesky rabbits ate my crocus in the picture above.  Drats!  For the last year, I’ve been telling a certain coworker that I don’t have a rabbit problem, and clearly I was wrong because those buggers ate those flowers to the ground.  I’ll get you my pretties…

I digress…

Now it’s no joke, y’all, the Gringo loves quotes.  I used to spend lots of time in the high school library reading the Bartlett’s book of quotes.  For me, reading a good quote is like listening to my favorite song, or eating my favorite meal.  It brings a sense of joy and happiness through reflection.  Spring is like that for me, too.  Spring gives the impression of renewal and new beginnings, but it is also a reminder, for me at least, to find happiness in life.  I find happiness in spending time with my husband.  I find happiness in cooking, taking pictures and writing.  I find happiness in combining those things into this blog.  I find happiness in Kelly Clarkson’s song Love So Soft, which may or may not induce impromptu dancing on the bus to and from work.  I find happiness in spending time in our gardens.  My favorite time of the day is walking through the gardens to see what’s growing, and what’s about to bloom.  The Payaso and I took a quick walk around the house before dinner last night and we found these daffodils – one of my favorites – popping out of the icy ground.

Today marks the first day of spring.  A new season is upon us despite Mother Nature’s tease of a few snowflakes in the air this morning.  As we walked through the yard, birds were busy at the feeders.  It’s almost like they know the new season is here, and time requires a hustle and bustle to prepare for what the warmer weather will bring.   While I can’t be certain, I think this little guy saw me grab my camera and struck pose…after pose…after pose.  Go ahead red head, get yo vogue on.

Please take some time today to remind yourself of what makes you happy.  Reflect on those moments that bring a smile to your heart; find ways to fill your heart with joy and grace.  Work pays the bills, and is a necessity, but find something in your life beyond the daily grind to keep your heart full of life, and your cup to continue to runneth over.  Please be one of the few that lives life limitless, and are truly as good as spring itself .

And if anyone has tips for preventing rabbits from eating crocus flowers, I’m all ears!