ButtonWillowCottage

Outside Our Own Window

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living.  We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our own windows today.
~Dale Carnegie

(Repeat post from April of last year...it bears repeating, don't you think?)

The Wayside Flower

Pluck not the wayside flower;
It is the traveler's dower.
~William Allingham

Clover

Clover is a creeping plant in the pea family which produces large amounts of nectar. In many regions of the world, people use clover to control erosion on banks and hillsides, because the plant roots well, holding back the soil, and clover is also used for animal fodder. Beekeepers who want to make clover honey place their hives in an area with a lot of clover, and they may also plant clover around their hives to encourage their bees to feed specifically on clover.

"In May sunlight,
'Mid blossoms bright,
A happy maiden wanders singing.
A chain she weaves
Of clover leaves
And daisies, in her path up-springing."

Circles Of Spring

When you see upon the walk
Circles newly made of chalk,
And around them all the day
Little boys in eager play
Rolling marbles, agates fine,
Banded, polished, red as wine,
Marbles crystal as the dew,
Each with rainbows twisted through,
Marbles gay in painted clay,
Flashing, twinkling in your way,
When the walk has blossomed so,
Surely every one must know
None need wonder who has heard
Robin, wren, or Peter-bird;
Sure the sign as song or wing,
It is spring!

Tovah Martin

"The smell of a cake baked with scented geranium leaves on the bottom never slips from your memory, especially when your mother let you sift the flour. You never lose the image of lilies glowing in the dusk, with the flush of lantern light on your sister's cheeks. Although much of youth slips away, these memories never fade. Over the years they gain patina, until you pass them along to someone else who is keen to know the mysteries of morning glories and hollyhock dolls."

Heart Filled Hovel

Oh the unbridled envy
of welcoming spring
from such a romantic little home.
Enjoy little Small Dweller, enjoy.

Spring Had Come...

Spring had come once more to Green Gables--the beautiful capricious, reluctant Canadian spring, lingering along through April and May in a succession of sweet, fresh, chilly days, with pink sunsets and miracles of resurrection and growth. The maples in Lover's Lane were red budded and little curly ferns pushed up around the Dryad's Bubble. Away up in the barrens, behind Mr. Silas Sloane's place, the Mayflowers blossomed out, pink and white stars of sweetness under their brown leaves. All the school girls and boys had one golden afternoon gathering them, coming home in the clear, echoing twilight with arms and baskets full of flowery spoil.

Removing Gum From Garments

To Remove Chewing Gum

Insert soiled garment into plastic bag and place in freezer until gum has hardened and can be chipped off. Treat larger garments by placing a bag of ice cubes on the gum until it has hardened. Remove any residue by sponging with warm water.

Among The Blossoms

I think if I could spend the afternoon sitting amongst the cherry blossoms, my tail would get all in a knot from excitement also!

Wouldn't you agree?

Minister Lovell

Minster Lovell, in its beautiful dream-like setting against the gently rising Cotswold landscape, has a history stretching back to Saxon times. It has a five hundred year old bridge spanning the meandering Windrush, attractive cottage properties, and the spectacular 15th-century ruins of a once great house, home of the Lovell's, which was visited by Henry VII on no less than three occasions. Minster Lovell has beautiful mellow Cotswold stone houses and inns - The Mill and Old Swan is a fine example, it stands in the midst of a lovely estate on the banks of the river, where it has stood for over 600 years.

Ready... Set...

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks
GO!
~Christopher Morley

Refreshing the Linen Cupboard

Mrs. Rabbit reminds us; when going about your spring cleaning, don't neglect your linen cupboard. Things can get fairly stale in there when neglected for a whole season or two (or five).

To start:

Remove all linens from your storage space (this would include the canvas shelf units some now use).

 Sort through linens for any that have gone past their prime. Those that can not be mended, can be cut up and used for dusting or salvageable fabric pieces can be repurposed for household projects.  Make note of any replacements that may need to be sewn or purchased.   

  Launder all linens that haven't been used for some time (guest room sheets!) in regular manner plus some drops of essential oil of your choice in the rinse cycle. Pick something lovely and springtime'ish'!

 While laundering is going on, wipe down and dust all cupboard/closet surfaces, checking for visitors of course--bugs, moths and the like. Natural solutions to this sort of problem include bay leaves and lavender. Use your tattered linens to make small bags (great project for the little sewers in the home) and fill with odorous herbs of your choice.  

 Using attachments, vacuum all cracks and crevices. 

A nice touch is to line the shelves with a pretty paper or fabric of your liking.   After laundering is finished, dry as many linens as possible out in the fresh spring air. Fold in your particular manner--Mrs. Rabbit says "FOLD" don't scrunch and roll.  Make sure closet is not over-stuffed.  Keep in mind that fabrics need room to breath and too cramped quarters encourages pests, molds and mildew.  Going back, be sure to have been diligent about sorting!  Too many linens are unnecessary and overwhelming.  Donate those that are just taking up space.  Keep guest sheets together, perhaps tying with ribbon, this makes them asier to identify and grab when needed. Organize in a way that is pleasing to your eye. This way, each time you open your cupboard you will feel refreshed and not overwhelmed with disorganization.  Place scented herbal bags into cupboard, or alternatively a few sprigs of lavender can be placed atop piles.   Perhaps pin a lovely print or image of your choice to the back of the door. A surprise for the eye each time you go in! 

 Stand back and admire.

Above all else, enjoy the soothing rhythm of this sort of project. Choose a lazy Monday (traditional laundry day) or a weekend if need be and make a ritual of it. Spring Cleaning should be time for refreshment and contemplation of needed household adjustments. Out with the stale in with the Spring! Be sure to enjoy this wholly domestic chore.

Rainbow Scavenger Hunt

A lovely idea for a homeschooling nature excursion, even for city dwellers:

Make a check list of colors of an expanded rainbow (or have fun constructing a portable chart with saturated paint swatches) and take a stroll through the neighborhood performing a "color scavenger hunt". Small prizes could even be awarded to the child who finds all the colors or perhaps the most unusual color. Children will get reinforcement on learning  colors, and the added benefit of hunting for springtime! 

(And I'm sure the Teacher will gather some enjoyment from the whole affair also...)

For more experienced students, a check chart constructed of native flowers would be an even larger challenge.

A Fresh New Day

Ahhhhh...

Just lovely to wake up and feel like it's a fresh, brand new day. Hope this isn't a one day energy surge. Now off to the garden with Mrs. Rabbit!

Spring...Hiccup?

Full on spring fever hasn't quite hit me yet. Mrs. Rabbit is trying to get me motivated, reminding me that there is much work to be done in the garden...cleaning up winter's messes and such, but somehow, it's just not happening for me quite yet. Oh yes, a spring hiccup here or there, but not the full on "fever" so to speak. I can feel it though, just under the surface, bubbling away...growing. Perhaps it's still recovery from my long winter illness? Because all I'd want to do in the garden right now is nap. But, if I don't shake this off soon, I'll be napping in weeds!

Welcome Sweet Spring

It is so very nice to see you indeed.