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WHAT'S NEW
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Springtime rituals
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Homemakers readers describe how they celebrate spring's arrival.
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By Sarah Hatten
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As the last of the winter snow melts, and slowly, but surely green patches begin to appear on the lawn, what do you find yourself doing to celebrate the arrival of spring? Do you break out the barbecue and invite friends over for the first hot-from-the-grill dinner of the year? Or maybe you set your family to work doing a traditional spring clean? Whatever your ritual, the warmer weather certainly has a way of breathing new life into your days after a cold Canadian winter.
Below five Homemakers readers share how they refresh their homes, rejuvenate their gardens and reinvigorate themselves! (Thank you for all submissions; unfortunately we cannot print them all.)
A splash of colour
I like to celebrate by bringing bright colours into my home. I buy fresh flowers and have them in various vases around my home. I clean my windows so I can look out at nature and observe all the spring birds and nature at its best.
I dress in brighter colours and perhaps get a new hairdo to give me a "lift."
I invite people over for a special spring dinner and share stories with them of what people are looking forward to doing in the spring and summer. Sometimes getting out photograph albums of the past summers and trips taken can give everyone a great feeling of things to look forward to.
I put a beautiful decorative door hanging on my front door. Then I sweep the front walk and get rid of all the cobwebs around the doors that have accumulated over the winter.
But best of all I put on a special smile for all those I meet and the "bounce" in my step lets them know that spring is not far off.
--Wendy Kent, Waterloo, ON
Sprouts for warmer weather
With Vivaldi's Four Seasons playing in the background, I'm upbeat and carefully putting soil-less seedling mix in little trays. Then carefully depositing seeds purchased or collected from last year's gardens with visions of wee sprouts coming up under the care of gentle gro-lites suspended above. Setting up the timer on the lights for these 'green babies' is a sure sign that spring is near. Soon those two leaves produce two more and then four; then there's no stopping them as they promise great blooms or produce when the sun has warmed up the rich earth to welcome these new additions to the prepared beds. The three-year-old hydrangea is showing new growth barely above the surface and it's time to trim the old growth and make room for future clusters in purplish-blue when special acid fertilizer is added after the trimming. Lots of water weekly and an eastern windowsill will prompt luscious growth in time for Mother's Day. Yes, spring is on its way!
--Nettie Steeves, Hillsborough, NB
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