spring has sprung

Spring in St. Louis is gorgeous!

It’s an amazing season that seems to vary with each sunrise. Trees and flowers blooming, green grass appearing, longer days, five inches of snow, followed by a crisp sunny day. Weird, but I love it. I LOVE spring in St. Louis! It might beat my current favorite season (fall). This will be our third summer, but it's MY first spring here (figure THAT out...)

My heart aches, but I’m thankful for a joyful reminder to enjoy during a sad time…

Over the past week or so, I’ve had less focus and less energy than usual. This is especially inconvenient since it’s about six weeks until finals (that means about 6 weeks, plus one day until nursing school begins!). When my mind is wandering it’s usually to the dark, bittersweet memories of this time last year.

Because of my mild masochistic tendencies and need for details, I reviewed some of my journal entries from a year ago. I was in Fairbanks from late February through late April. I stayed with some family friends, while helping my family to care for my mother as she fought for the last days of her life. What I found in my venting/writing surprised me. Now, I’d be among the first to tell you that it was a difficult time, but the things I wrote to myself –about hating Fairbanks, deciding there was only a handful of lovely people there, and going so far as to curse Fred Meyer (blasphemy!) don’t reflect how I truly feel about the place or my long visit there. It was cathartic and validating to go back and "revisit" that time but I wish I had the energy or foresight to have been a little more positive.

While it was admittedly a difficult, painful, and exhausting time, I would do it all over again. No question.

If I had to do it over I would try to enjoy a Fairbanks spring just as much as I adore spring here.

(thank you google image search for providing the pics!)

for Japan

The images are haunting and the news devastating. Although a developed and very well prepared nation, the people of Japan are still relying on our help. I have little to offer, but would like to do something....

Therefore, I'm offering these upcycled sweater scarves to offer to you! I'm taking donations, starting at $20.00 (plus shipping) and all proceeds from these sales will go toward Japan Relief. If you'd like to donate more, you can send me a check, or I would encourage you to donate through the American Red Cross.

My handmade scarves are available for purchase via etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLongFeather?ref=pr_shop_more

Thank YOU!!

a sampling of the scarves in my Etsy shop:

surprise snow

well, not that surprising considering it was forecast to snow today, then be 70 by mid-week. weird.

Not quite the spring break start I had in mind...but it makes for a great day to stay in with a ready coffee pot while I try to be productive around the house.