I don’t know about you, but it feels like the whole year has gotten off to a very late start. For example, traditionally on St. Patrick’s Day we are supposed to plant peas around here, and my garden, as of this writing, is still covered by a good six inches of hard packed, ice-ridden snow.
New Year’s fitness goals have been foiled by icy roads and bitter cold, and good intentions to eat well lose their appeal when the supermarket’s produce section is piled with half-dead remnant food that looks as tired as I feel.
Although, the birds are chirping as if it will soon be spring, so I thought I’d create a new list of resolutions that are spring focused. Here’s a sampling:
- I am determined to plant peas and get a proper harvest from them this year, even if it means I finally have to just get ugly trellising and do it the old-fashioned way. Peas have been my nemesis and my one true garden desire. I’m talking about the fat shelling peas that don’t even make it into the kitchen because they are so delicious raw. I can’t plant enough of them, and they never seem to climb properly, which gets me frustrated and angry. Even pea shoots are now a family favorite. This year, I’m going all out: I’m going to plant multiple rows, get the proper climbing materials for them, and plant extras just for the shoots.
- I am going to plant lots of lettuce, even though I’ve never been that good at it. And I’ll plant in succession. I’m so tired of the store-bought stuff. Some people dream of fancy cars or shoes or jewelry; I dream of a delicious salad fresh from the garden. With wild violets!
- I am going to clean out everything…EVERYTHING! I am going to empty every room—even the garage—and scrub, shine, clear out, and simplify. My goal is to make my life so organized that I can squeeze every ounce of pleasure out of the good weather that I know—just know—will one day arrive.
- I am going to love my body as it is, and then exercise as a form of play. That means lots of leisurely runs and bike rides. Dance parties in the house! Yoga for fun. Lifting weights just because it feels so good, not because I don’t like what I see when I look in the mirror, because actually, I do love my body, even my winter-ravaged body. As I said to my little daughter the other day…I’m not fat, I’m VOLUPTUOUS.
- I am determined to have FUN! I already have some incredible concert tickets in my possession (BRUCE! Avett Brothers! Keith Urban!). And a few fun trips planned. I’m going to test my theory that the world is easier to save by focusing on the positive than on the negative. Let’s try it!
3, 4 & 5!!! Plus spending more time getting to know my husband and daughter better, and nurturing my friendships in person.
You are so spot-on! I was telling my husband last week that I REFUSE to sit around the house this summer doing yard work and killing myself weeding like last year! I am going to get ahead of everything, and try to stay ahead of everything so I can get out and have some F-U-N this summer! I’m going to go places that I’ve always wanted, and visit spots in this country, even my own state, this year!
The house, well, I have very little left to throw out. The garage, I started finishing clearing out yesterday, if you can imagine that!! All I want to do to it this spring is to paint, and get the floor repaired, clean my gardening tools, organize them, and ESCAPE!!! Here’s wishing all like-minded people a very happy spring/summer season, weather permitting. May we finally get to do what we want to do, and not necessarily what we need to, have to, or pushed to do!
Btw, I purchased a veg trug for the deck, so that I can plant my lettuces, and any other vegetable that I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. I’m sick of schlepping to the green grocer for things that I can grow myself. I’ve even said I would start growing cool weather veggies this September, to be ready to harvest by Thanksgiving, cutting down on the food bill. I’ll grow my own broccoli, lettuces, kale, spinach, maybe even brussel sprouts! Let’s see how it goes!
Good luck with the veggies, Donna! Sounds delicious… I can NOT wait until it’s warm outside again!
Thanks Maria. I can’t wait either. There’s nothing like going out and picking your own veggies warm off the vine, picking them and having them for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, or whenever!
Love reading still just on basil rosemary dill chives peppers cucumbers.Your all way ahead of me . I cant wait until gets warm here in Cincinnati are weather has not been bad. I have a new puppy lab Oh my gosh I forgot how much work. WE sure do love him. WE lost our Bailey at 15 last spring. I still miss him . I just planted panses for him the other day I am finally redy to get him a plack and more flowers.I hope someone fixes these mistakes HaHa have a gret day all