While others are on spring break, we’re staying home.It’s tempting to envy those who are lounging on the beach right about now, staring at the sea or walking barefoot along the shore for a mile or more. It’s hard not to hanker for a big glass of southern-brewed sweet tea, steamed shrimp served with homemade cocktail sauce and a side of coleslaw and hush puppies. I can practically smell the salty water and catch the gleam of a chipped clam shell tumbling in waves that darken the sand and leave behind ribbons of foam.We’re going to look for ways to treat ourselves right here in our home town. While our friends are indulging in the metaphorical equivalent of a double-layer chocolate cake with icing and sprinkles, we’re hunting down butter, milk, vanilla, and a bag of powdered sugar to whip up a little butter-cream frosting for ourselves. We won’t have anywhere to spread it, but we can keep the bowl nearby…to sneak a teaspoonful now and then.I mean it figuratively. That is, I’m imagining a bike ride to the park as a teaspoonful of icing. Movie night? Icing. Sleeping in? Lounging in the hammock with a good book? Snapping photos for no particular reason other than curiosity and fun? Icing, icing, icing.Recently I snapped photos of our two apple “trees”, celebrating the blossoms. Could this be the year we get a little fruit?
And the lilac bush, nothing more than a collection of scraggly twigs, decided to bloom for the first time this year: three sugar-sweet clusters. They don’t look like much, but something about lilacs…I lean over, breathe deeply and feel like I’ve taken in a whiff of heaven.
The lilacs make me realize we need to nurture our senses this week. We need to get outside and enjoy color, form, texture and aromas. We need to find ways to feed our bodies, minds and souls. Maybe we can pay to swim at the local indoor pool. Maybe we’ll eat out at the local pizza place and sit on the patio that overlooks the walking trail.Maybe I’ll look for a bag of shrimp at the store and steam them with Old Bay seasoning. I could try making hush puppies for the first time. I could brew some sweet tea.I don’t know…now that I think about it, maybe we could use a literal bowl of icing on hand, as well?
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Staycations are ALWAYS my favorite. I choose them over going away every time =)
Enjoy!
We’re going to try to get a little creative. The weather in these parts (Midwest) may not fully cooperate, so we may have to head to indoor options.
Enjoy each teaspoonful.
This entire post? Inspired by you…and your sage advice to me.
Your lilacs are blooming already???!!!! I’ve told my children that, when I die, I hope it’s in May when the lilacs are in bloom. I want my coffin filled with lilacs.
Then again, I think in heaven, lilacs will bloom in perpetuity. And there will be an eternal beach. And probably lots of frosting. Literal frosting.
I truly enjoyed this, Ann.
Yes, so surprising, isn’t it? Everything is about a month early here! Lilacs in heaven…frosting in heaven. Sounds just about right.
In this months issue of Guideposts magazine, Joel Osteen gives some great suggestions on being a happy family. One thing his parents did for him and his siblings was it 5 or 6 or them, was to find simple ways of entertainment that costs little or nothing. They would go to the large airport and ride the shuttle from termanal A to B and back again for an hour. The kids laughed and it was more fun than an amusement park. I could go for it!!
Love that idea, Hazel–creative, unexpected, fun!
Mix yourselves a GREAT BIG BOWLFUL and enjoy every single scrape of it. Icing is the best and I’m betting you’ll have a great week, restful, with a little adventure on the side. And be sure and lick the beaters clean, too. :>) Thanks for this, Ann – it was perfect.
Thank you, Diana, for permission to lick the batters clean! 🙂
Watching, smelling, tasting, feeling, hearing spring arrive.
And eating icing.
It sounds just about perfect to me.
I hope you are having a nice relaxing week. I read this post earlier in the week and it has encouraged me each day as I think about spring break. Our spring break is next week and we are also staying home. I’ve felt jealous of others but mainly a longing to get away. Thank you for reminding me to take time to make the week special and enjoy the little things. I am going to breathe deeply and take time to nurture my senses. I am going to plan some free fun family activities. I have a feeling it will be a good week.