Moments of Growth

The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size. ~Gertrude S. Wister



I have always been a fan of Spring, but for some reason this is the first year I can remember that I am actually soaking it all in. I have found myself starring out the window in the early evening marvelling that the sun is still out. It gives me this wonderful sense of freedom. Until now, I am not certain I was aware of just how precisely the darkness of winter had affected me. All winter, I rise in the darkness, spend all day inside my windowless office, and drive home in the same deary darkness. We'd shut ourselves up in the house all evening long, and it was difficult to break the rut of laziness.



In the last few weeks, the black is lifting, and we find ourselves driving home at the end of the day among the blue skies and beautiful white clouds. We go into our house just long enough to deposit our things, then rush back out to PLAY. So much to do, and so little time. LIFE IS GOOD!



Sugar is definitely feeling SPRING as well. She has been full of energy, and finds delight in having some FREEDOM to shake the doldrums off, and really move her body. There are times when we are so giddy with delight it takes something purposeful to slow us down....and offer us moments of growth.



The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days. ~Robert Leighton

This Spring, we are cherishing time together making our little piece of the world a bit more colorful. This is the first year that Sugar has been given the opportunity to plant flowers, and we are loving it. I am a bit surprised that she hesitates to get her hands dirty. She is working through it, and I think by the end of the season, my biggest challenge will be keeping her clean.



These photos document our first planting session of the season. Watering the flowers with her little watering can is by FAR her favorite activity. I am fairly certain that keeping the flowers hydrated this year will NOT be a problem. I have a perfect little helper. At least for now.....



Too bad I didn't get pictures of the SNOW we had this weekend covering these poor defenseless flowers. eeekkkk snow in April. Who would have thunk it?



Oh and NO, that is NOT ketchup on her chin. She had a vicious crash while running WILD and FREE on our deck. With the help of Neosporin, and lots of kisses, she has healed nicely. (I may or may not have edited her scrape out of this last photo....couldn't help it. It is one of my most recent favorite photos.)



In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood