Winter Doldrums

Yuck. This is the time of year that I really start to dislike things. Call it cabin fever, or something. It just seems like everything suddenly becomes old, shabby, dirty and boring. Maybe it's seasonal affective disorder.

I love all the seasons for different reasons. I don't really have a favorite. But, you know that feeling you get when you're tired of something? That's what I have BIG TIME. I love winter, the crisp clean white snow, fireside memories, Christmas, the freshness and sharp bite to the air, winter comfort food. But, along about March I get the blahs. Hate the snow, which is now dirty gray, the dead brown grass poking through, the pollution in the air that makes you cough, let down of the holiday season gone by, cold that gets into your bones and makes you hurt worse, the smell of dirt and decay, and the heavy food that makes you long for summer salads and lemonade.
I love spring for the new green plants poking through, daffodils and crocuses, tulips and hyacinths. Baby animals, Easter, trees coming back to life, warm rain, airing out the house and working in my garden and feeling the soil and smelling the new earth. I love summer for the bright blue skies, long days, green growing things, fresh tomatoes off the vine, barbecues, fireworks and fresh mowed grass. I love fall for the harvest, fire colors in the trees and across the mountain sides, canning fruits, apple pie with fresh apples, new school supplies, the smell of crayons.
Now, I long for spring. I find myself anxiously surveying my flower beds, willing the crocus to peek through. I get excited that the limbs of the trees have buds and growth. I want to see the "Daffydowndillies" coming up, see the grass spotted with green shoots. I want to see the roses unfurl their leaves, the daisies start to poke through. I want to see the baby chicks, the new calves at the farm by Mom and Dad's, taste the strawberries, plant the peas and pole beans. I want blue skies without the smog, to see the mountains without the haze, to take my kids to the park and let them run wild in the fresh air. I want to smell the lilacs, the lilies of the valley. Sigh.

Life is wild and crazy, par for the golf course of our mortal probation, I suppose. The kids got the cold crap for a few weeks. Sam had to get five freakin' cavities filled. Thank goodness for sedation dentistry. Jake passed with flying colors, no "holes", yay! He's still is into everything. Miley is crawling, pulling up on things. We had to remove the bassinet out of her play yard and drop her mattress in her crib. Here's some pictures of her, I can't believe how fast she's growing up!

There are some changes coming for us, but I can't go into detail right now. Suffice it to say they are good changes, so don't worry. (And no, no new little Fords on the horizon, do ya think I'm nuts?!?)