Printemps

As I look outside my window, to see a whole city covered in a blanket of snow, I’m reminded of Bing Crosby, Christmas carols and all things holiday.  Yet, the presents under the tree have been opened for some time now, the ornaments gone, and lights properly put away. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love winter, being from Colorado; I love skiing down the slopes of Breckenridge and walking in my snow-boots to Starbucks.  I love everything from the first frost to the last flake falling.

But spring, if you’re reading this… can you come visit soon? 

Garden Plans

The world is anticipating your inevitable return and causing me to miss the warm(er) weather. Not merely the warm breeze, but the color green! My favorite reads on this frigid day was anything garden, with the likes of Carolyne Roehm, Robert Norris, Privet Home and Garden along with Suzanne Cummings and her images of her hand tied bouquets. I couldn’t help but to daydream of white gardens, the scents, textures, accents, charm and finally entertaining in the coming spring.

Maiden Hair Fern

With that constantly in the back of my mind, I want to decorate the house with Maiden Hair ferns under cloches, pick out seeds, and rework the garden landscape. I daydream of spring’s potential. Nothing would make me happier than being able to start growing a few Paperwhite bulbs on the kitchen windowsill or placing them strategically around the house utilizing my collection of white pottery.

Where have those strong wheat grass blades gone that I took for granted during the summer? It’s time to start growing, don’t you think? 

Our good friend and Chicago’s premiere florist Ms. Suzanne Cummings brings her training with designer Jane Packer of London and her personal esthetic to every creation. When she’s not running about town, Suzanne can be found at http://www.suzannecummingsflowers.com

Mr. Robert Norris not only designs spectacular classical homes at http://www.spitzmillerandnorris.com throughout the country, he gardens. He has taken this hobby to the next level with grounds and combinations that will absolutely inspire. I met Robert on Facebook a while back and I’m so happy I did.

After all, magazines are starting to pile up. I’m simply running out of storage space for all of these articles. In my attempt to organize, I divide the catalogues and magazines into three categories: fashion, color, and garden. (The slow return of the season is definitely not helping my floor plans.)

With each turn of the page, I let my imagination run wild with landscape plans…

One of My favorites spots for Home and Garden. Privet Home’s goal is to provide and serve clients with those often "impossible to find pieces", pieces which are destined to become family heirlooms. If you haven’t checked them out you can find them here, http://www.privethome.com/

Usually, I’m against rushing the seasons. Enjoy them while they’re here is what I tell my family and friends. However, in the case of spring I’ll allow this one exception.

Family Style

With summer shortly coming to a close, friends and family cling to the shore to soak up the last rays and swap stories that only the season can provide. There isn’t much left to cross off on the lists we’ve made in May. Painted the mudroom, check. Gone to a baseball game, check. Spent hours at the beach, double check. In this, I find comfort. 

Indian spiced roast chicken

 Just last week, I invited some friends over for dinner around the kitchen table, to what seemed to be an ordinary gathering. Nothing too grand was awaiting my guests on their plates, simply grilled chicken, rice, and a summer salad. Yet, with music playing from the living room, the young adults at the table gave updates on their afternoons. One filled the air with his soccer aspirations, eyes lighting up when he told us that he got accepted to the high school varsity team. Another spoke about becoming a college freshman and the excitement that awaited her. 

Rather than reflecting on what had been accomplished this summer, they kept adding. They kept gazing towards the future. And every summer, that’s what the season affords us. It allows family and friends to be hopeful of the future with a childish arrogance and naiveté. Even the adults, myself included, shifted the conversation towards the Olympics, our hopes riding on a certain country or athlete.

Then Ping-Pong was broached.

Once Ping-Pong was brought up—That was the end of dinner. The kids cleared the dishes and dashed for the dining room table.  The boys scrambled for the portable set, and with that our own Olympics began. The light clicking from side to side was much less tension filled than the real competitions. However, I think that there was more teasing involved. Laughter filled the room whenever someone would completely miss. The ball bounced too quickly for the competitor to even see, leaving him stunned.  Although my favorite was when one of the adults would butt in by throwing another ball into play or needing suddenly grab a book during midgame that was on the other side of the table.

Standing there, watching the evening unfold, I couldn’t have been more pleased. At that moment, we were grounded by our mundane to-do lists in the backs of our minds, yes. However, we were able to enjoy the youthful attitude that summer affords us all; we were able to take full advantage of summer’s version of family style. A style bursting with life, opportunity, and daydreaming. And although Autumn in fast approaching, I embrace the next chapter, the future, my next to-do list. 

I find resolve in the idea that we will continue to make the seasons worthwhile.