Hello, Spring... Where Are You Hiding?

Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth

 It's about this time of year that I start to feel cabin fever.  I know we're on the downward side of winter, given the number of frost heaves starting to make their appearance.  I am also eagerly anticipating another trip to Washington DC at the end of this month, and closely monitoring the extended forecast projections.  I'm hoping and praying that I'll be able to enjoy some warmer weather minus the snow for a few days, at least.  Mother Nature just needs to remember to take her meds and behave!  LOL

For those who are clueless about frost heaves, in Vermont there is a lot of slate and ledge which moves and shifts as the ground begins to warm.  We can't see the ground warming up now that the sun is getting closer and shining longer on our portion of the world, because we are still buried under piles of snow.  Not like the folks in Boston, but we still have our fair share to contend with.  Anyway, as the ground warms, and with all the shifting and moving underground, roads quickly turn into a roller coaster.  Roads that are paved tend to buckle which then the game of dodge the potholes begins.  Roads that aren't paved turn into mud holes, thus explains the fifth season in the Northeast ~ Mud Season.

Today is a very cold and blustery winter day with dangerous wind chills.  My husband is off snowmobiling (crazy man) and attending the annual winter cookout (totally crazy man) for the snowmobile club he is a member of.  Not to mention, I'm quite happy to stay tucked indoors where it is toasty warm.

To pass the time, I'm buried under blankets on the couch armed with a crochet hook and a ball of yarn in spring like colors.  As I stitch away, the colorful ball of yarn is magically transformed into a useful item ~ A Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth, to be exact.  Made with 100% cotton yarn, a renewable resource, makes this an Eco Friendly option.  Colors may fade and shrink slightly on the first wash, but the cloth gets softer and more absorbent the longer you use it.  These spa washcloths quickly become a favorite to use for washing.

Greening Up Bit by Bit

I see some green!

It doesn't take much to get me excited except when I am anxious for winter to finish melting away and discover a small patch of green slowly making its appearance. 

I have been itching all winter to go sit on the bench under the pergola we built last summer and this afternoon I trudged my way through the snow to enjoy a moment of tranquility when I discovered a small patch of green grass poking its way around the snow melting away. 

The driveway and yard is rapidly turning into a lake and mud bog.  For the first time this winter I had to lug out my boots so I can get in and out of the car without ending up with water logged feet and/or shoes being sucked off my feet by the mud.

Lilac soap cut into bars

I was so thrilled with the results of the soap I made last weekend and wanted to share how the Lilac soap turned out.   The swirls look like whispers of purple in the base of the bar and the piping adds a fancy touch befitting of the delicate lilac fragrance.  I can't wait until it warms up enough for my lilac bush to bloom.  Until then, I will be enjoying the fragrance of this soap as it finishes curing. 

Hailley and Christina saying "cheese and macaroni"

Last Sunday my oldest Grand Girlie turned four.  Seems like just yesterday that she was born, the time has flown by so quickly.  We took a road trip to celebrate the occasion, and went from needing jackets to no jackets back to needing jackets in the time we were there.  We played in the snow and mud, blew bubbles, dumped some bubble water on accident (actually a lot), and took a nice walk on the muddy back roads.  One thing for certain, I was glad I wasn't the one having to wash the multiple jackets, boots, and clothes the girls got covered in mud. 

Cold and Rainy

Today it was back to reality as I returned to work after a week of vacation. We had such lovely weather last week and I'm glad we were able to get out and enjoy it while it lasted.

Back to reality with the weather, also. We're still not out of the woods for receiving more snow before summer gets here, but we also know that any snow we get now will disappear rather quickly. It has been raining heavily most of the afternoon. One of the bus routes at school had to be switched around this afternoon due to a road that had washed out.

For those of you who don't know... I would say about 90% of the roads in Vermont are DIRT and they call them GRAVEL roads. Dirt....Gravel...it's all relative I guess? In the rain they become slick grease pits.


In the spring we have a 5th season ~ Mud Season ~ as the frost comes out of the ground. It is not uncommon to find parts of cars stuck in the mud bogs on the road. And it takes some careful skill to maneuver through those mud bogs. If you stop, you are stuck and good luck from there! It takes a careful eye to judge whether you should stop before the bog if there is another car coming from the opposite direction. Not impossible for two cars to pass each other, just not wise or safe. When it rains heavily, and in our case still have snow melting in the higher elevations, water comes down the mountain and roads can wash out very quickly. You never know what is around the next corner.


Another reason why I really don't mind giving up the sanctuary of the country and living in town...on PAVED roads.