on preparing for spring

with the dawn of each new season comes a bit of mindful preparation.  for the past week or so i've been nesting for spring and it has brought me much joy.  i am loving being able to take care of my babies at home while also tidying up our nest to make it a happy place for us to spend our days.  now that flowers are on the trees and it is warm enough to have the windows open, i have been making changes here and there to welcome spring.

as a person with very sensitive senses, scents are very important to me in preparing for a season.  a new candle's aroma drifting about our home is one way i embrace this transition.  long gone are the scents of pine, sandalwood, spiced amber.  instead, i have welcomed hints of meyer lemon, linen, and eucalyptus.  one of the first things i do upon waking up, after coffee of course, is light my seasonal candle on our dining room table.  the ritual in and of itself calms me and says, "ah, tis' a new, beautiful day!"

another way i prepare for the season is to rearrange our decor.  this past weekend i brought out from storage our pearly white milk glass vases and put one in various window sills to house colorful stems and buds and bits of greenery we've found on our park walks.  i also simplified our counter tops and kept with a cheery and bright color pallet, reflecting the colors outside our windows.  a day of rearranging what you already have is like getting all new things.  it makes such a difference and instantly makes our home feel alive.  to do this, i like to put on a new record and gather everything to one central spot like our dining room.  with bare bookshelves and countertops, i can better envision a new arrangement.  i will take things from other rooms and give them new homes around the house.  i am an aesthetically driven person and this part of spring cleaning is most fun for me.

andrew and i both like coming home to a place that echoes the current state of nature, both in its simplicity and beauty.  so given that spring brings with it more sunshine, i have taken to storage our colorful, cozy, thick knits and replaced them with more light-weight blankets and throws.  in addition,  i have stocked up on more succulents and potted herbs, replacing them with our many stacks of books and baskets of mittens.  our bed linens also got a good washing with lavender soap and i made our bed differently.  i tried folding back our duvet to brighten up our room and show a peak of our white bedspread.  it's the little things, you know.

and then there's cleaning that is part and parcel of this whole spring deal.  i made new batches of homemade cleaning products and got new brushes to scrub our white walls and baseboards.  older homes are inevitable dirty and dustier than new, therefore a good scrubbin' is much needed with the awakening of each new season.   dug out our leftover paint to cover up crayon marks made by a certain little girl and some wood polish to make our dining table and hardwood floors shine.  the smell of lemon is undeniable in our treehouse now and everything is looks sparkly clean.  next on my list is to tackle our long wall of windows  they are very dirty at the moment and will require an entire day devoted to making them shine.  i am eager to clean them as it will make all the difference when it comes to letting in more natural light.

one of the last things i do to prepare for the new season is simplify, a perpetual theme around here.  inevitably, things tend to accumulate as holidays and birthdays come and go.  living in a small home means constantly editing our belongings and donating what we no long use.  at the end of this process of sorting and donating, our abode feels like new.  it evokes freshness and serenity.  it begs for recipes with green peas and baby carrots and calls for suppers to be eaten on our porch with our globe bistro lights dangling overhead.  welcome, spring.  we are so happy you have made your grand appearance.

i hope this inspires you to prepare for spring.  if you'd like, i would love to hear how you prepare.