This Perfectly Imperfect Life

I never know how to mark this anniversary and it seems to sneak up on me more quickly with each passing year. This blog is still a joy for me, as are you my dear friends! Here's to many more years!

Wednesday night I went to bookclub. I know, I had an IV session on Monday and going out within 3 days of it isn't usually a good idea, but I'd read our February book (The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - loved it!), I missed last month's and really wanted to go! (I haven't been to bookclub since December between being sick so often and the Wintry weather). I had so much fun! They're a great group of women to spend time talking books & life with and we share a lot of laughs too. Along with food of course. By the time I leave, I not only feel refreshed, I feel so normal! It's flipping wonderful! I'm sure you healthy folks haven't the foggiest idea what I mean when I say I feel so normal, although stay-at-home moms might. I've talked about this here before: Living with disease tends to be isolating and lonely, at least it is for me, an because of unpredictable & uncooperative body, I spend much of my time at home, alone.

We've been in a thaw since Tuesday with temps in the 40s through Thursday and temps in the 50s since Friday! It's been wonderful having the windows open daily and going out without being layered up to the nines. So much of the snow has melted, enough I was able to putter around the yard this morning (in only a t-shirt and yoga pants!) and clean up some of the mess Winter has left behind so far.  In doing so, I found the first signs of Spring here at The Portable Homestead! The Snow Drops were a pleasant surprise for sure. These photos make this officially the first #GardenWalk of 2014! Very exciting and refreshing. This thaw has been such a welcome break. Cold and likely snow return this week. Have you come upon any signs of Spring where you are?

44* and balmy! With a touch of snow fog. Windows open in every room again today makes my heart sing! Someone in the neighborhood is having trees cut down. The chainsaw has stopped, but the wood chipper is going now. Mama kitty is purring next to me, my little shadow since yesterday. The shower upstairs is running, hissing quietly, their noise machine is too. If I can hear it plain as day down here I wonder how in the world they can sleep with it on?! Rain arrives this afternoon. A brief, few days long thaw before the cold returns. Sent from my iPhone

Today is a celebration of all love , not just romantic love, (in my humble opinion anyhow) so I'm wishing everyone a Happy Valentines Day! Hope your day is a good one and that everyone affected by this latest Winter storm is safe & warm.

Outside, everything is quiet again and not just because it's nighttime. More snow is falling. The Moon keeps peeking through breaks in the racing clouds as this latest round heads out to sea and turns the snow into sparkly glitter each time. Windows in the surrounding homes glow softly, like candles. There's no traffic on our road or the highway. Sunday night in Winter. Sent from my iPhone

Looking out into the creek, snow covers the ground, outlines the trees. The bright orange brown of unknown bushes stands out against the white snow and lifeless brown bark on the trees. There are three small, green Christmas tree shaped holly trees, which refuse to show themselves in photos but stand out clear as day as I look at them now. Planted on purpose or happy accident? Tiny charcoal gray Junco birds and large Robins swoop from tree to tree as Black Birds fly overhead. Red Cardinals are sticking close to the creek, in the bushes and hopping along the snowy bank. The sky is no longer a stunning blue, but a dingy white. Clouds have arrived ahead of the next round of snow. It's cold and raw, making temps in the 20s feel bitter despite the lack of wind. Sent from my iPhone

The post below is from my Adventures In Gardening column archives and originally appeared elsewhere on January 19, 2013. While it has a gardening theme, it is also about falling in love for the first time, although in a perhaps unconventional sense, and it seems fitting to revisit it with Valentines Day arriving a week from today. It is also one of my favorite posts that I have ever written! I've had a follow-up of sorts in the works, which covers my first brief visit to Charleston in 2012 overall. My longing to return to Charleston arrives every February and March now. One day I will get there. Until then I have my memories and my Camellias. Adventures In Gardening: Love Struck! Filed under  #GARDENWALK ,  ADVENTURES IN GARDENING As gardeners, we fall in love over and over again.  Every time we flip through a catalog, make a trip to the nursery, or take a walk in a new garden.  Often, many of these new loves get pushed out of our minds and onto the “maybe one day’

I accidentally posted this to The Portable Homestead on 1/31.