Daylight

One positive thing that I’ve been noticing since I was home sick all week. It’s the way the sunlight hits my windows in the afternoon. It’s not as low as winter sun, and the leaves are still on the trees, so it’s not direct sunlight in the windows. But it’s still hitting those south facing windows just right and making them glow with light. My plants are loving it. It’s been getting a little darker since summer solstice, of course, but now I’m noticing it in the afternoon sun as well. I absolutely love the autumn and winter sun. There’s a softness to it that you just don’t get in summer. So happy that I could consciously notice it now so I can pay attention as the season progresses. 

Officially Spring

It’s officially spring, but I’m not sure the weather agrees. I ran errands today and it was hot! I think SLC was to hit 81 today? We might have even hit 80 at home today. I was hoping for a slightly wet and 60s spring, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I guess I’ll see. 

Today, I ran a few errands and then got on the freeway to SL. I decided to go to another indie bookstore to cross one off my list for March. This one was the 1974 Bookstore and it was pretty easy to find and park at. The owner was really nice. It’s a very small store and doesn’t have a ton of stock. I did find some fun covers on books that I already own and did actually pick up 2 books, mostly because I was trying to spend money there, not because I actually needed those books. I ended up with the UK cover of Rebecca Ross’s Wild Reverence which is very pretty and I don’t mind reading since I loved another one of her books. It just wasn’t something I had planned on buying. And then I bought a weird little book called A Magical Girl Retires which has been translated from Korean and it could fit in my back pocket. Who knows? It could be really fun. I don’t really see myself going back to that particular bookstore. Maybe if I’m in the area, I could stop in? But it’s not a destination bookstore in the normal course of things. I think next month I might try and hit up one of the indie stores in Park City or Midway. Both of those places would be good for spring or fall trips. They are a bit more of a drive, but I could make a day out of it. 

Spring

Spring is here. I do love it. The trees are starting to turn green with tiny leaves and the grass has also started to green. The mornings and evenings are beautiful and the birds are singing. And I ask myself if they have to start singing so early on Saturday morning. :)

It's too early to plant flowers, but that will be coming as well. My flower bed even has some green growth in it. This year I want lots of color and a few more of my favorite coleus plants. Next week is supposed to be cooler and rainy so it truly does feel like spring. Ups and downs. I'm trying to enjoy it before it gets hot.  

Half of the family is leaving for spring break this weekend, so I've invited my brother and his family over for dinner. I've been missing mom and wanting some home cooking. I'm going to attempt a roast, potatoes, and rolls. I've even got some of her bottled green beans left. A Sunday dinner...I won't say just from my childhood since we've had it my whole life, but it feels nostalgic in a way. Hopefully, I don't ruin the roast. That's the only thing I've never really cooked before. 

Spring has Sprung!

Hard to believe that a month ago we had snow. Now we have blossoms. I do love the changing of seasons. 

Where are you Spring?

Ah Spring! How we love you. I'm sorry for all the allergy sufferers out there. I don't know if this weather pattern makes it better or worse. My biggest annoyance with spring is the little bugs that try and come in my house. Haven't had that yet this year. I guess that's one good thing. 

Yesterday, I woke up to basically a blizzard outside. Once it stopped snowing, it was kind of a nice, wet  day. My nephew had spent the night so we could keep watching Attack on Titan and we waited until the roads were cleared before I sent him home. So we got the entire of season 1 finished. 

Then this morning I woke up to another 5 inches or so. I decided today was a good day to work from home. And maybe file my taxes. 

The current view outside my window. And it's still coming down. LOL I'm wondering who prayed the reservoirs would fill up in just one winter? And yet, it's still quite pretty. It truly hasn't gotten warm or dry enough for most signs of spring to show up. Maybe next week? I have a few days off so it would be nice to have a tiny bit of sunshine. Just saying. 

Let it Snow!

Yes! We finally got a good snow storm in the valley. The mountains have been getting some but I wanted it at my house for Christmas. I'm guessing I'll still have a little bit by the 25th since it's going to be cold this week and the storms aren't over yet.  

Last night I woke up around 4 am and looked out my window. I knew it was supposed to snow and it was raining when I went to sleep. It was absolutely beautiful to see the snow coming down and there were no tracks of any kind in it yet. It was pristine. All white and pretty falling down from the sky. 

Needless to say, I'm in a great mood. I do love newly fallen snow. 

Happy Dance

It's September!!! I was so happy to move the calendar over to the next month. I mean, we are having record heat this week so it's not like summer is actually over, but it's getting there. This year has truly gone by so fast. The sun is even setting about 8 pm. Earlier this week, I knew summer was coming to a close because I was in my sister's garden picking blackberries. Yep, it's that time of year. Plus, the peaches are on and I'm hoping to pick some up at the farmer's market on Saturday. 

So I'm enjoying this time of year. Not wishing it away (even though 100 degree temps are not my favorite thing) but looking forward to darker, cooler days and nights to come. 

Long, Hot Summer

It’s so hot!!!! I know I just had some nice summer days, but this is the part I really don’t enjoy. It’s hot and dry and on fire. Once it’s past 9 am I just don’t want to be outside at all and getting in and out of a car for errands is so awful. Guess I shouldn’t complain since where I live, we are set up to have this kind of weather and I have a great 1 year old air conditioner. Other places with record heat are truly feeling it. 

Still, this summer has been flying by. I can’t believe it’s almost August. I’m heading to Cedar City again this year for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. It’s going to be even hotter there! And then I have to go to Charlotte for work. Not really looking forward to it. From the news, flying sounds like not a lot of fun and dealing with airports and then humidity is not something I would choose to do right now. At least the flights are direct. Flight delays won’t result in other missed flights. I’m trying to appreciate the now and not long for Fall. I think I manage most of the time. 

So lately I’ve been indoors in my air conditioning, doing puzzles and chilling. I’m sure my power bill will be outrageous this month. 

Here It Comes

It's finally September. It's still in the 90's but these next few months are my favorite of the year and I'm so happy it's here. I can't wait for soup and sweaters and books and walking with long sleeves so I don't have to be covered in sunscreen.  Plus peaches. I ate my first 3 of the season on Monday and they were delish. My mom's tree is almost ready so I'm hoping for a couple more from her and then I can get them from the farmer's market or the fruit stands on the highway. Yum!

Farewell, Summer

Can August be over really quickly, please? I’m SO ready for September thru December. My favorite time of the year can’t come soon enough this year.  

I know it’s 90 degrees still, but I’m making soup. I had some oral surgery done a couple weeks ago and even though I can chew my food now, I still have the stitches in and have found that softer foods are still easier to deal with since I have to keep them away from the grafted area.  I’ve been eating a lot of potatoes and scrambled eggs and now I’m going to go soup and pasta dishes. Luckily a lot of fresh fruit is soft enough and peaches are coming in season. LOL – if it weren’t for the ice cream and brownies, I could have even lost some weight.

Anyway, it’s been a good summer but I am ready for fall.

My Favorite Season

It’s September.  That means I’m eating lots of peaches! They are in season here in Northern Utah. Mom lost her peach trees when she moved but my sister also moved last year and gained 5 trees so I’ve still been eating them fresh picked as they ripen. Yum!

It also means we are entering my favorite time of year. September thru November is really kind of heaven for me.  It’s still a little warm right now, but the nights are getting cooler and the days will be too.  Up in the very tops of the mountains I am seeing some color as the leaves start changing. Pretty soon we’ll be seeing it in our yards also. I LOVE autumn!

Here's a small list why:

Warm socks
Hot Chocolate
Storms
My down comforter
Pumpkins
Leaves changing colors
Baking
Soup
Watching the rain from my front window
Curling up with a good book – ha ha ok I do that no matter the season
Scarves
Boots
Sweaters
Cooler days and nights