Spring 2019 Bucket List
For those of you joining in from my previous blogging stint via LULA, you know I love a good seasonal bucket list!
Taking a minute each season to intentionally think about beautiful things I associate with the season, or idyllic things I want to experience, helps me to plan out specific times in the coming months we might be able to enjoy some version of those things!
Even if some or many of them don’t happen, making a plan helps at least some of those things happen, so we can have fun and make some memories as the days roll by! It will be summer before we know it. My friend Nancy, who just launched her podcast Work & Play says in episode one, it helps to schedule your play just like you schedule your work!
Plant a Garden
That has been our #1 project happening around the cottage this spring! I’m happy to report we have one 8x4 raised bed, which we’ve separated into 1x1 plots, so we’ll be able to grow plenty of things to start! We’ve got tomatoes, peppers, spinach (my addition much to John’s chagrin), squash, zucchini, beans, cucumbers, and various herbs. Now - to keep everything alive! Wish me green thumbs and a gardener’s anointing!
Pick Strawberries
Tis the season! While I don’t suspect that we’ll be able to go picking, I have been able to patronize a local produce stand for the freshest strawberries, grown in Faison, NC. I love that the farmer’s hands are stained red whenever I go to pick up my weekly batch.
Easter Celebration
After 40 days of honoring the lenten season (we decided to do Keto during this time) it felt so good to break our fast on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. I made a fresh (absolutely gigantic) loaf of challah bread (Recipe from Jenny in How To Celebrate Everything), we made a lovely dinner, and read the Last Supper story on our front porch with John’s mom, then took communion. Then on Sunday, we went to church and ate a bbq lunch with John’s family, spending the rest of the afternoon just chatting and enjoying each other’s company.
Visit our Farmer’s Market
New town, new market! We’re so thankful that our community has a healthy weekly farmer’s market in the historic downtown area, so we’d like to make it out at least a few times this spring!
Get some chickens!!
We did it! My friend Reagan, who lives nearby, is moving and needed to offload a small coop and a couple of hens. I was MORE than happy to oblige! And so, the tiny cottage also becomes a tiny farm with actual farm animals and I am SO excited! Also spotted around the house - honeysuckle, wild ginger, several stray cats who have accidentally become pets (sorry John), two snakes (neither venomous), hundreds of butterflies, and a hummingbird!
Enjoy community park events
The big park nearby hosts all sorts of weekly events during spring, including Sunday night outside concerts, and free evening workouts. This seems like the perfect way to enjoy the season!
Invite friends for a drink outside on a warm evening
We’ve already invited some friends out for Cinco de Mayo, and that only confirmed the fact that we need to enjoy plenty of friend dates during this gorgeous weather.
Decorate our porch
We’re on the lookout for ways to make our porch more porchin’-worthy! Thrifted if possible.
Make chicken salad
Already done once, many more times to come! My favorite recipes involve grapes & nuts, like this one!