What I'm Loving Now

This post is all about what I'm loving these days. Spring is literally a breath of fresh air and feels like such an appropriate time for change and beginning creative endeavors, so I wanted to share some of the things I've just gotta have during this beautiful season. 

1. Outdoor Yoga. I'm almost positive I've posted about this before, but it is worth sharing again. One of my absolute favorite things about the warming weather is taking my yoga practice outside. I trade the spicy smells of incense for the smell of the river on the wind, my wall tapestries for the clouds in the sky and the low glow of candle light for nourishing sunlight! Being outside transforms my practice and makes it new again. 

2. Culottes. I hadn't worn a pair of culottes in years, and then my sister Sara gave me a pair. My love was rekindled. So comfortable, breezy and cute with a tee shirt or tank top, culottes are a major win for me right now. Maybe not suitable for all occasions though...I wore mine (which are soft knit cotton) to a yoga class I went to in Dublin, and lets just say my classmates got a peek of my legs ALL THE WAY UP TO MY BUTT every time we did an inversion pose. They are probably best left off the yoga matt.

3. Dried mission figs. Although these are even better if you can get them fresh, I like the convenience and lasting power of a bag of dried (one 16 oz. bag usually lasts me around 3 weeks). These flavorful babies provide plenty of health befits and go well with my morning bowl of oatmeal. I buy the organic black mission figs at MaMa Jean's Market. 

4. Raspberry Leaf Tea. This is my go to tea these days. Tasty hot or iced, it is refreshing and strengthens the female system. I love the organic Traditional Medicinals brand. 

Penny Marie

5. The Hound. Okay, I love this dog everyday 365, but c'mon! How cute is she? I had to share this picture. She is seriously the sweetest, most snuggly dog ever. And I totally love her. 

That wraps up my little post for the day! I'm headed to the market now to buy some fruit. I'll be back soon!

~ Love & Light ~

Spring Things

Spring fireplace mantel.

If you've noticed I haven't been blogging as much lately, you would be right. Spring is in the air and I have been keeping myself busy around the house and in the yard. I think we were all feeling a little stir crazy and it has been so nice to open the windows and get outside! 

Front door plaque. 

I spent the day of the Spring Equinox packing away all traces of winter and bringing out the spring decorations. You guys know from past posts how much I love celebrating the seasons and I always look forward to changing up the energy at Chigger Chalet on the Solstices. 

Silk flowers in a basket from Thailand.

I won't do most of my planting in the gardens until Mother's Day weekend (a tradition of mine) but I am cleaning up the herb and flower beds and we are putting in a vegetable garden this year. Our friend down the road got himself a truck load of zoodoo from the Dickerson Park Zoo, and had enough to spare a 4x16 foot bed for our yard! 

Zoodoo to become our vegetable garden.

I also made several spring planters for the front stoop and one for the back deck.

Spring planter.

Flowers are popping up from residents past...

Spring beauties!

The park across the river is buzzing with the sounds of children playing, dogs barking and people having fun. We have seen a lot of people kayaking and canoeing this past week too.

Spring planter on the deck, and a couple picnicking at the river bank.

Mark has been helping with the spring projects too. After loathing the wood paneling in the entryway every time I walked through the front door, we finally decided to do something about it! Mark painted the room a lovely pale gray over the weekend. The color is called woodsmoke by Eddie Bauer.

Wood paneling in the entryway.

We haven't added the finishing touches to the space (like new light switch plates, a new ceiling lamp and a storage bench) but I will post a picture when we have it finished. Just the fresh paint has changed the room dramatically and makes it feel much bigger than before.

New woodsmoke paint.

So, that's what we have been up to over here on the Finley. Soon the Farmers Market will be open, the festival season will be upon us and our calendars will be overflowing with things to do! I'll be sure to share my experiences with you! 

~ Love & Light ~