Spring has Sprung

Do you have spring rituals?

Yes, I dig out all my spring / summer clothes from the attic and put away all the winter clothes! During my spring break from work I switch everything out. It's so nice to see all the pretty stuff in my closet. -Steffy

I'm on the lookout every year for the "last" freeze because I know there will follow a few days with nice temps that I can spend cutting back my butterfly bush and planting any flowers.  We have drenching rainy seasons in the fall and late spring, and it does actually snow here, so watching for those few days that it's not going to rain, but won't be too hot to work outdoors is critical.  And, WV hasn't failed me yet!  Every year, I end up with 3-4 days that I spend happily tending my porch and garden area without it being too hot.
 
And then, very soon after those days, it starts getting really hot (at least for me), and Tom and I do the juggle the window A/C unit and turn off the furnace ritual.  The window unit's a pain in the rear and heavy, but at least we've learned from past mistakes and store it upstairs now! :)
 
I also really enjoy switching out my accessible shoe collection for the warmer season.  I have one of those over-the-door thingies for my shoes, and it fits just the right number for each season, give or take.  During the winter, I have boots and loafers, and at the beginning of spring, I get to put out all my flip flops and sandals.  I LOVE flip flops!  My favorite shoe.  I try to buy different colors every year.  Right now, it doesn't matter that they're all the rubber cheapy ones.  I just love the feel of bare feet. :)   - Cristy

My 'ritual' is to put up some colorful spring decorations and start to clean the flowerbeds. This year I have up my seasonal birdie and butterfly towels hanging on the oven and I bought a wreath with lavender and white flowers to hang on the door. I changed the seasonal garden flag outside to tulips & 'welcome spring'.
- Teresa

Do you look forward to spring or are you simply thankful that it's no longer winter and can't wait for summer?

Summer is my time off, so I'm always counting down the days to summer! -Steffy

 I love the spring because there is so much COLOR around here!  There are blossoming bushes and trees all around our neighborhood.  Gorgeous, delicate light pink and white ones and bright, bold yellow ones.  So beautiful.  And, we can see a ton of it just from our house or where we drive every day.  We have several bushes and trees that blossom one color during the spring, then turn green in summer, then bloom gorgeous, vivid colors in the fall.  All in one plant!  So amazing to watch.

I grew up in Texas where we had 2 seasons:  Summer and Christmas.  And, it doesn't normally "snow" in Texas.  You get iced out a few days a year and the rest of the time is blistering hot - above 100 in the areas I lived (West Texas, Austin, Houston, College Station & Dallas, though Dallas was a little milder), and depending on what side of the state you're on, you're either choking on the dust (west) or melting in the humidity (central and southeast).  Neither are fun.  And, forget green.  The only green in Texas is brought there from outta' state.  They get ONE bloom of color in Texas - bluebonnets - which last about
two weeks out of the year, then turn to yellow weeds.  Blech.  And, being a nature-lover, I LOVE to see blossoms and color, so moving to West Virginia and experiencing SEASONS has just been an incredible experience.  Really gorgeous! - Cristy

I'm always planning for summer because it's the best time of the year to do stuff. It doesn't feel like spring is here for very long, it's more of a quick transition to the hot days of summer.So from sometime in March until late April I'm looking for cycling events, concert calendars and festival dates. I LOVE Summer! - Teresa