the winter of my discontent

Sorry to have been such a lazy blogger these past few weeks.

Well, not so much lazy, lately I feel I have not much sunny to share.   I want my blog to be a place where you can come for a smile, or a pretty picture, or a good recipe.  A place that will make you feel good, or laugh, or put a smile on your face.

But the last few months haven't felt very smiley, and my glass has seemed half empty. 
In the last few days I have tried to pull myself up by my bootstraps, clear the cobwebs (quite literally, the spiders have been busy in my house this winter), and I am hoping that on the next sunny day I can be cheerful again.  And find myself, the person I have lost.

I've tried lights, aromatherapy, beautiful music, mind-numbing movies, atmospheric books, and looking at sandals.  Being with friends provides a reprieve from the grayness.  And snuggling with Sir Claude is never a bad thing.

Thinking changing my environment would help, last weekend I took down the heavy curtains in the living room, and replaced them with pretty blue drapes.  I rolled up the rug and put down one with a soft pile that will feel good on my toes ( if they ever come out of wool slippers). 

I cleared off every wood surface and polished them with lemon oil, now the tables and mantel hold bouquets of bright flowers in cream pitchers, sweet birds,

and even a rabbit come to visit early.  I went to Home Depot and bought 10 pots of English Primroses in bright pots and placed them everywhere.

I pulled out my garden books, and have been doing a little green dreaming.  I spent a good bit of time with "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" this weekend, marveling over her beautiful drawings, and drawing inspiration from her diary entries.  I am headed in the right direction.

Classical music plays quietly in the background, when I have the house to myself and am busy going about my tasks.

I even took it so far as to clean out my kitchen cupboards, and throw out every expired item.  I emptied the refrigerator, and the shelves sparkle.  Perhaps I was thinking by cleaning out my house, I could clear the cobwebs from my mind as well.
Snow is still in cement-like piles everywhere, with more in the forecast, but I do not want to be pulled under again.  There are tulips in the grocery stores, and spring magazines have recipes with asparagus, and I have cleaned up my Liberty rainboots in anticipation of splashing in puddles soon.  Trader Joes had gerber daisies, and they are such a happy flower.

And even when it is still gray and gloomy outside, I can just pull up my blog and be reminded of a sunny day.