Last month, I looked out my office window and blogged about what I saw -- dark, dreary, cold weather and more snow than we usually have here in the South. What a difference a month makes. Today it's sunny, going to be about 60 degrees, and my daffodils are on the verge of blooming. I don't think there's anything that says spring to me more than bright yellow daffodils. We even just had our first spring-like storms a couple of nights ago -- tons of rain, lightning, thunder and wind. In parts of the city, the tornado sirens were wailing. Okay, so I could do without the tornadoes, but it's just another sign that spring is fast approaching.
This time of year (as opposed to January), I feel good, like anything is possible. My mood is great and I'm concentrating on lots of positive things:
1. My exercise/eating -- I've lost 7 pounds so far in February. That's because I've been tracking my calories and exercising a couple of hours a day. It is a thrill to get on the scale in the mornings and see the number go down. And that positive feeling propels me to keep doing what I'm doing.
2. I've dug out the genealogy records I haven't looked at in a decade and started working on them again. Yes, watching Who Do You Think You Are? partially inspired this, but I'm hoping I can eventually find out where my family came from when they came to America. I know my maternal line's history, but my paternal one is a mystery to me.
3. I'm headed to the Hill Country of Texas soon to do some on-site research for the trilogy I'm currently writing for American. I've been there before, but I wasn't in "writer mode", if you know what I mean. Now I'll be taking tons of photos and picking up every tourist brochure and local newspaper I can find. Plus, OMG, it's going to be in the 80s in Texas. I'll get a taste of not only spring but summer!
4. We had a new driveway and walkway put in over the winter, so now it's time for new landscaping. I can't wait to see what it looks like after Jason the lawn guy gets finished. I need to do before and after photos.
5. Even though both of my grandmothers were good seamstresses, they both died before I was old enough to be much interested in sewing. So I missed the opportunity to learn from them, and consequently I can't do much more than put a button back on my hubby's shirts. So I think I'm going to take a sewing class in April at the local Jo-Ann Fabric. I like to do cosplay at Dragon*Con each year, and it would be awesome to someday be able to make my own costumes, not to mention, you know, regular clothes. :) Maybe even a fabulous dress for the RITA ceremony at RWA National.
6. I used to cross-stitch before I got really serious about writing, and I have a half-finished project I'd like to finish, not to mention several cool patterns I haven't used yet. So after I meet my next deadline at the end of March, I think I'll pull out the cross-stitch stuff and get back into that again.
Does spring rejuvenate you? What new things would you like to try this year? What things haven't you done in a long time that you'd like to start again?
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13 comments:
Great post, Trish. Congrats on your weight loss--I too am trying to be a healthier writer, doing WW online and working out. I love to knit to relieve my writing stress. Your blog is the warmth I need on a 5 degree F night in Moscow, Russia.
I can feel your enthusiasm for spring with every word of this post! So positive. :)
I love the 4 seasons, and I always welcome the next one. Spring feels a little bit more special though. :)
we already have wildflowers in bloom here in Boulder City, NV. It is currently raining and I love that. I love this time of year also.
Oh, I LOVE spring! The only problem...I have to be careful not to watch QVC or go shopping in any manner in March. I've bought both of my last two vehicles in March, have been known to-more than once-spend and easy $400+ in 20 minutes or so on QVC in March buying yard stuff, and just generally go a little wild whenever out shopping-usually at Home Depot or places to get things to fix up the yard or house. Last year I almost ordered a hot tub and started the process tripling the size of my deck before the logical part of my brain kicked in and reminded me I didn't want to have to be paying for that for the next five or so years!
Spring like weather here inspires me to get out and walk. I used to cross-stitch and crochet a lot, and have been thinking about starting back up.
I just want to get outside and dig in the dirt!
Geri, 5 degrees? Ow, that's painful. Get yourself a big mug of hot chocolate, a thick blanket and a great book.
I have several friends who are knitters. Maybe I'll eventually learn that too.
Michelle, I like the changes of seasons too, but I can honestly say I don't welcome winter. You know how cold I get, and it's miserable. Also affects my mood.
Yolanda, yay on the flowers in bloom! We are on the verge here, and I bet I might see some in Texas when I go.
Kim, LOL! I can so see this scene of you in front of QVC, credit card in hand. :) But this time of year does make everyone want to get outside and beautify the yard. I bet Lowe's and Home Depot are crowded today.
We actually just grilled out for the first time this year. Barbecued smoked sausage, chicken and pork chops. And I made corn on the cob, potato salad and deviled eggs to go with it. And I'm proud that I managed to still limit how much I ate and didn't stuff myself. Going to go for a walk in all this glorious sunshine soon.
Debbie, maybe we can start a cross-stitch circle at M&M. :)
Estella, I venture that there are lots of people with that same thought right now.
Trish, what an inspirational post! I can see spring fever is really getting you fired up to do great things. We're just coming to the end of what has been a really rotten summer here in Australia. Floods (with a few major bushfires thrown in) amidst sweltering heat. I'll be glad when autumn arrives!
Trish, I didn't know you lived in Texas. And, yes, its almost eighty degrees here. Beautiful, beautiful day. Now I just want to get out in it. LOL
Loved the post.
Linda
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