Spring Fever ♥

Good morning Friends! ♥

Look what I just noticed?  We have signs of life in here. 

Yay! 

This week we had two days of 70 degree weather. It was glorious and it's what we New Englander's call "false spring" ♥

We know we are being teased but we are living for it anyway. 

We open windows, go for walks without jackets, and would you believe John had shorts on yesterday?!  

Yes, we lost an hour of sleep from daylight savings but last night I was doing the dishes at 6:30 and it dawned on me that it was still light outside.  I saw neighborhood kids on bikes and one kid on a scooter.  We are all waking up.  

 

Its already dropped 20 degrees since yesterday, but it's ok.  We are heading in the right direction.  Our minds are fixed on spring now and nothing is going to mess with that.  

I went out for a walk yesterday for the first time in a while.  It was so nice to breathe in the fresh air and hear the birds chirping.  

We all have spring fever ♥

Within two days most of the snow from the blizzard (20 inches from just a few weeks ago!) has melted.  

The bushes (that were completely buried!!) are still here aaaand look what I saw.....

...alive and thriving ♥

Nature is so amazing.  She knows just what to do. 

I can't wait for these hydrangeas to be blooming.  

It's hard to believe these deadheads (that are so delicate) are still in one piece after all that snow.  

We had happy ducks swimming in the river yesterday morning.  

They were too quick for me to photograph, but I was thrilled to see them and hear their quacks!  

♥

I'm sure we have more cold days ahead, but they are getting fewer and fewer.  

We've made it through the winter of 2026.  It was a tough one! 

This is a side note, but did your mom have these porcelain China flowers?  This wheel barrel has lived in my house my entire life. I have no idea where it came from.  I remember it on a shadow box in our living room when I was a kid.  I recently found it on a shelf (when I was removing it for the painter!!! - who came last weekend!).  

Anyway, I always LOVED it and now it has a permanent place on my coffee table upstairs.  Why was it hidden on a shelf?  I put it with another one I have, that my mom gave me as a gift.  

It's a little trio of flowers and I love it ♥

My coffee table feels so springy now and colorful.  It's matching the mood outside.  

I have decided that this year will be the year I bring out the old antiques in my home and display them.  Our attic is full of them, and I have my mother to thank for never throwing anything away : )

Out with the new and in with the old, I say!  I'm in my granny-chic era and I'm loving it ♥

Happy Wednesday, my friends! Spring is officially here in 10 days!!  

We made it ♥

Xx

March: In like a lion, out like a lamb...hopefully ♥

Hello Friends! Happy March!! ♥

We are in the home stretch of winter now.  Yay! 

It's the winter that will not end.  Since I posted last we had a blizzard! It dumped over 20 inches of snow on us. It was crazy.  Every window was covered and when we could finally see out, all we saw was white.  Pretty? Yes.  But oh, so cooooold!  

We had three full snow days with no work or school. That hasn't happened in years.  Thankfully we didn't lose power!  I made pancakes for breakfast and soup for dinner.  

We ate comfort food and watched movies while the snow came down ♥

It wasn't so bad.  It was actually nice to see everyone slow down.  

They had no choice :) 

And then a few days later, the sun came out.  

My daffodils started blooming and I realized that Spring is almost here.  

March came in like a lion, but is slowing turning into a lamb...♥

It was 23 degrees on Monday...and we might reach 50 today.  

Yup, 50! 

To celebrate I started decorating for spring.  Not full-blown Easter yet, but a few pastels here and there never hurt anyone.  I put away the last of my winter snowmen.... packed away safely for next year, and out came some bunnies, spring dishtowels, new sheets on the beds, and new vanilla candle that is divine.  

This weekend I made a banana bread with (my new obsession) homemade butter.  All this is bringing me life.  I feel rejuvenated.  

Isn't that what spring is supposed to do?! ♥

YUM! ♥ 

Don't get me wrong, we are still in the throes of winter (I won't be fooled) but I know in a few weeks I'll see buds on the trees.  I knew it would happen.  

It always does ♥

Every morning, I come downstairs and open the blinds to see the sun shining in (insert happy face here).  My houseplants are thriving and I'm thrilled they have survived the winter.  

 I would like to get more plants this spring. I'm redecorating a baker's rack in my kitchen that will hopefully include some pretty blooms.  Once it gets a bit warmer, I'll head to the plant store and see what they have.  

A day strolling the nursery with an iced coffee is something I'm very much looking forward to ♥

And of course, with it being lent, I've been practicing gratitude now more than ever.  Here is what I remind myself of everyday.  Along with giving up chocolate (not easy, by the way:) I am trying to be my best self during this time and let go of things that don't serve me anymore (also not easy).

♥

This morning we've got blue skies and the drip, drip, drip of melting snow.  

These are ordinary days of March, friends ♥ 

In my next post I'm going to share a few new recipes I've made over the last few weeks and some books that I've read this winter that I loved.  I just wanted to do a little catch up first.  I hope you are all keeping cozy and are enjoying these last days of winter.  The season is about to change and that makes my heart happy. 

Have a wonderful day, friends! xx 

PS just because I mentioned it last time, here are my Valentine brownies I made a few weeks ago.  They were a hit ♥

Happy Valentine's Day ♥

 

Hello Lovely Friends! Happy Friday and happy day before Valentine's Day! ♥

We are slowly inching our way through February and frankly, things are looking up.  The sun is out today and there is a slight warmth (if you can believe it) in the air. Slight meaning "above freezing" but I'll take it :) 

Every once in a while we hear huge clumps of snow sliding off the roof like a literal avalanche.  It's awesome because it means it's melting up there.  The great thaw has begun! 

But alas, it's still winter and I'm trying to embrace it. There will be more snow and cold days but it's ok. Because I know for sure....spring is coming.  It always does.  

So what's new with you??! ♥

I took my first cup of coffee back to bed with me on this Friday morning. I took a few quiet moments to sip it and wake up a bit before heading downstairs....

Ok, I'm awake now and just processing that it's almost the weekend.  YIPEEEEE! ♥

Last night I made a cinnamon coffee cake to have for breakfast this morning.  I forgot all about it until I came down and saw it sitting on the counter - just where I left it.  I thanked my Thursday night self for planning ahead. 

Yesterday I ran to the market to pick up groceries for the week.  I treated myself to a Valentines Day present and brought home this daffodil plant for the kitchen window. The floral department was just bursting of tulips, hyacinths, roses, and these beautiful yellow daffodils that were SCREAMING springtime.  I was so happy to see it and didn't hesitate to pick one up and put it in my cart.  

I'm excited to watch it bloom ♥

 

She'll wait until the time is right because she knows we shouldn't rush these things, but regardless, I'll be waiting and watching for those pretty little yellow teacups. 

Strawberries were on sale this week for Valentines Day. I wish you could smell these! I can't tell you how many times I've stuck my nose in the bowl just to take a sniff.  So good!  

Another signs of warmer days to come! 

Not only are they yummy but it's also aromatherapy! ♥

Out back still looks like this.  

I promise you there is a river under all that snow and ice somewhere.  

  It's so quiet and still.  

I love seeing the long shadows of sunlight on the snow.  I don't think I could ever live in the city.  

I need nature every day ♥

Meals this week have been very simple.  One night we did breakfast for dinner.  I made Susan Branch's German pancake which is a family favorite.  The recipe is in her Heart of the Home cookbook.  A few years ago, I made a video about it.  Give it a click if you want to see a very cringy pre-covid me with short hair making this pancake.  Feels like a 100 years ago, but the pancake is still delicious.

 And very easy to make ♥

And that's it my friends.  

Same old ordinary days around here, which is just perfect for me.  This weekend I have loads of laundry to do, toilets to clean, and shelves to dust.  Just your average life as a princess - not really!  I'll catch up on chores, read my book of the moment, and make a yummy Valentines Day dessert that involves brownies and a heart shaped cookie cutter. I'm nothing if not creative! : ) 

Speaking of Valentine's Day, remember when Valentines looked like this?...♥

How fun! I miss those days!  So simple and yet so perfect. 

Have a wonderful weekend friends and Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

I hope you spend it doing something you love with the people who mean the most to you.  And of course, have something SWEET to celebrate!  

Love you! Bye! xoxox

PS I'm still waiting on the painter.  Patience is a virtue :) 

Hello from the Arctic Circle! ♥

Hello Lovely Friends and Happy February! ♥

I am so happy it's February because it means January is over and we are one month closer to spring! I have always loved winter my entire life, but to be completely honest with you, this winter has slowly been killing me.  It's so cold!!!!  It warmed up to a balmy 33 degrees today and I actually felt relief in the air.  We've been lingering in the teens for days. That's how cold it's been.  Now I know why snowbirds exist.  Why freeze to death when you can go to Florida in the winter?!

 Sadly, that's not me yet, but maybe someday.

Anyway, enough of my complaining! 

(that's a lie and I apologize in advance...this post is full of complaining :) 

I pinned this cute picture sometime in December and have been saving it to post in February.  I thought it was so cozy and cute and cheery and just we need right now in the dead of winter.  

Not only does February mean we are getting closer to spring (even though that dang groundhog saw his shadow :(  it also means Valentines Day is coming ...which means chocolate and hearts and a bunch of other things I love. 

 I'll try to focus on that during this thankfully short month (there I go again!). ♥

 

If you've been wondering where I've been, the answer is.... right here.  

Buried in snow ♥

We had a big storm last week that left us 20 inches deep.  The weather man said it's the biggest snow fall we've had in the Boston area in 4 years.  

I believe it and I kind of forgot what it was like.  

The worst part wasn't the storm, it's after that because it's been so cold that everything is frozen.  What you see here is rock solid.  

Today has been the first day we've seen sun and it's glorious ♥

The snow is starting to melt because every once in a while I hear big clumps sliding off the roof.  

I haven't seen a squirrel or bunny in days. They are smart and staying warm. In the early mornings I do hear the birds chirping.  I image they are also complaining about the cold and how they can't wait for spring. 

So that's pretty much all of January!  Just me under the frozen tundra! Drinking coffee, reading my book under a blanket, and trying to stay warm.  I'm a bit anxious with all the snow because this is also the first year of my life where I've had a teenage son who drives in it.  He's not the least bit concerned, which concerns me!  Moms, how did you do it?  If I have to say "drive slowly" one more time....Lord have mercy! 

However....there was a bight spot!  Last weekend we celebrated Rob's birthday which was really nice.  We went for a cozy breakfast at one of our favorite places with my in-laws.  We love going out to breakfast and for some reason it's extra nice in the winter. Anyway, it was yummy.  We ended up having dinner in (his request!). I made cheeseburgers and we ended the evening with a heart shaped chocolate cake. Of course, the best part ♥

So far February is off to a good start.  My Dad had two doctors' appointments this week. Both went extremely well, so I'm grateful for that. Yay 2026!  

We've had the house cleaned and is all ready for paint.  We're just waiting on our painter's availability, which hopefully will be soon.  I can't wait to get that done and over with.  Patience, I tell myself.  Patience. 

If you are reading this from a warm climate just know I am so jealous of you! If you are frozen like I am, we'll get though this!  Spring is coming!  Let's plan our gardens and summer vacations now.  It's always nice to have something to look forward to ♥

Stay cozy my friends!  Be back soon! xo