March came in that winter like the meekest and mildest of lambs, bringing days that were crisp and golden and tingling, each followed by a frosty pink twilight which gradually lost itself in an elfland of moonshine.
―
L.M. Montgomery’s quote seems to fit perfectly how March arrived here in Pittsburgh. February departed with tiny leaves emerging on slender branches that seem eager to welcome spring! The Song Sparrow Song Wars pierce the morning quiet of my morning walk with Sherman. I am also savoring the sunshine we have had since March blew in!
So, Dear March, I have some things I’d like to accomplish this month… it is not an extensive list, but rather one that is steeped in reality… you know, the reality that screams that I am not the much younger version of me who could do more with no body ill-effects. Sigh.
- Spring Clean the house… half a room at a time. I cleaned my closet *and* did the spring cleaning in our bedroom (note, I did not do the blinds, sigh) and I paid for it all day on Saturday. So I am breaking down the spring cleaning to avoid the “paying for it” portion. Getting older is truly not for the faint of heart!
- Sew… yes! I have a modest list of “spring supplements” for my wardrobe. Again, this will be a gradual process… starting today when I wash my material. I got some gorgeous sweatshirt material from Blackbird Fabrics and I have plans for a couple of Toaster Sweaters!
- Mammogram… which I have scheduled for later this month! (I am thankful for last month me for not procrastinating on this!)
- And a visit to the Sports Medicine Doctor for my hip pain. Oh my gosh, I can only say that after #1, I am even more eager to see her! And can I just say how excited I am that she is a Doctor of Osteopathy!! Holistic care is exactly what I am hoping for here. I am open to any and all suggestions she might have and I am especially hoping for some PT. Kym gave me some hope last week and I am eager to move from the living in pain to moving beyond the pain days!
- Speaking of eager… I am very eager to join the Read With Us Gang and discuss The Shipping News later this month! This will be the first book I have read twice before discussing! It is a book that is full of so many fascinating characters, I think it will be a fantastic discussion! (Hint… there is still more than enough time to read The Shipping News – it is available on Hoopla and you could join us!)
And so, Dear March… welcome!
Yes to welcoming March. Love the budded branches in your picture. I’ve been remembering how my Mom would Spring clean – an entire house (larger than mine) in a day or two. Not sure HOW she managed that! The Toaster Sweater looks like a great pattern. Finally, wish you all the good juju for your hip issues (and for a clean mammo). Yay you for taking care of all this stuff!
And yes to quirky characters in Shipping News!! I am not remembering anything of this book, but am enjoying my re-read.
I like the idea of having a house that has been “spring cleaned” far better than I like the actual spring cleaning. I used to help my grandmother wash baseboards and hang out the freshly-laundered curtains, but I call it good if I clean the bathrooms, vacuum, and dust. I have back and hip pain almost all the time, and while I’m trying to start walking again, the thing that has helped me most is Aspercreme and Lidocaine. After I take a shower I put Aspercreme on my lower back and both hips and then follow that with some roll-on 4% lidocaine cream. This usually helps for the rest of the day. I hope you find something that works for you!
I do hope the new consult gives you answers and pain relief! The older I get the more I love March, go figure!!
It has definitely been a mild start to March (though what’s with this return to the cold every weekend?!). I have been seeing more and more green every morning when I look out the window to the trees in the backyard. I hope your appointment goes well and you get some relief from the hip pain, but definitely take it easy on the cleaning in the meantime!
It sounds like you have a good list of things for the month of March! I hope the doctor can give you some relief from your hip pain, chronic pain is so exhausting.
Hope PT helps you with your pain..
My spring cleaning is usually year round.. I am the anti hoarder..
But I usually don’t touch the kids rooms till the summer.. good luck with all the cleaning.
Your March list seems about right to me. Do go easy on the cleaning part though. I am not seeing the little green shoots but am enjoying yours. I did see buds on an ornamental tree in the neighborhood though. I hope you get some relief from the hip pain. It’s not fun that is for sure.
The only cleaning I truly like is if I can see where I have been. Day to day dusting is just a chore. Best of luck with the health things, good to just get on with them. Enjoy your book.
Thanks for the Shipping News plug, Kat! There are so many fascinating characters in the book — I think it’ll be so much fun to talk about. 🙂 Take it easy on yourself as you go about your spring cleaning. (Although as Tom often tells me – and he is almost always right – “motion is the lotion.”) (But you’ve got to listen to your body carefully, and know when to rest.) Happy March! XO
Thnks for the Muna & Broad link in yesterday’s post. They have a pattern for exactly the kind of casual jacket-y thing I have been wanting for a couple years.