Season | April 2023. – mere-et-filles

Practice resurrection.
the closing line of Wendell Berry’s Manifesto

I have a complicated relationship with Wendell Berry but this poem still highlights my favorite part of the Easter season, which began, this year, on April 9. Honestly, I used to have a complicated relationship with resurrection, too … but now I see it as rebirth in all creation … it’s Spring! It’s also an invitation to shed things (bodily and spiritually) that have “died” (no longer working) to make space for those new and reborn things. I wrote in my journal today that I feel like I’m on the cusp (I did underline those words!) of a new season, which is exciting (and scary?!) and makes it all the more important to pause right now, to document about the season I’m in:

can you read the joy in Lucy’s face? It took MANY tries to get this one photo

and all of them were brought to you because (I think, hope, pray) we are done with the diapers. I’m happy about that, but I have to believe Lucy is even happier.

Noticing … all the different shades of green as the trees leaf out.

Seeing … a stack of washed cold weather sweaters, sitting on a chair … waiting to be swapped for the warm weather sweaters I put away last year.

Hearing … the whirr of the overhead fan in the bedroom at night. not often. but more than once. (and thinking about how much I love it now … and will dread it later.)

Feeling … scattered.

Eating … salads and leftovers. fun recipes from Ina and Deb. pretzels. almonds. apples. cheddar cheese.

Drinking … coffee. water. red wine. and a few glasses of rosé prosecco (hello warm weather!)

Wearing … jeans/skirts/shorts(??!!) and hand knit sweaters. I wrote last month about wearing makeup everyday (that’s continued) and that’s translated to getting dressed every day, too. It takes me back (in maybe the first good way EVER!?) to spring 2020 when I made a point of getting dressed every day to … just do it?! so yeah. I’m putting on real clothes and makeup every day. and loving it.

Exercising … walking Lucy 2-3 miles each day (a one-mile walk 2-3 times), knee strengthening 4-5 times a week, and shoulder strengthening 2-3 times a week. My knee still feels good and y’all – Lucy and I walked to the lake (and back. 3 miles!!) yesterday. I’m not sure when I saw it last … and it was just as pretty as I remember.

Reading … Stone Virgins and This Here Flesh. and looking forward to starting Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club (on audio) when we drive to Thomasville tomorrow morning.

Knitting … Lucca. and I finished the rainy stripes this morning.

Going … a little too much!? I was just starting to get back into my rhythm when Lucy went into heat last week … she’s coming out now and we’re leaving for Thomasville in the morning. I’m craving some “normal” at home time.

Shifting … the part in my hair. I got my hair cut today and we decided it was time to give the other side of my hair a chance to shine 🙂 A “curly cut” requires you to choose how your hair parts and I’ve been wearing my part on that same side since early 2020. The photo above is that shifted part – did you notice? (I must say, I do)

Looking forward to … Thomasville! we leave in the morning. and then … no more nights away from home for a long time.

Dreading … not much. which feels fine!

Noted today: sunrise/sunset (EDT) – 6:53am/8:16pm. low/high temps (F) – 53/58 (colder than last month – again!)

Many thanks to Carolyn for hosting this monthly check-in, and to all of you for being here with me.

and one last seasonal photo to close. from yesterday’s afternoon walk.

12 thoughts on “Season | April 2023.”

So happy that Lucy (and you) have survived this part of her puppy hood. I was wondering if adolescent dogs can roll their eyes 😂
I was noticing all the greens the other day and trying to figure out how to capture that beauty.
Also love this idea of changing the part in your hairstyle. I didn’t know that was possible but maybe something to chat with my stylist when I get my hair cut next week.

Yay for an extra long walk to the lake – your picture is beautiful! And what a relief about Lucy. Here’s to her surgery and moving on!

Your hair looks great! Sometimes I wish my hair was curly but I know I would never keep up the maintenance. yikes!

I’m glad to hear that you and Lucy have come through her heat and also glad that is the season of dogwood blossoms. They are one of my favorites to see in the spring. Enjoy your trip and your time at home once you return.

I’ve been thinking about you and this trip and I hope you come back with a ton of books, yarn and joyfulness!! Sounds like you will!

I’m so glad to hear you’re past the dreaded heat — I’m sure you’re all happy to say goodbye to the diapers! Does this mean Lucy will go in for surgery in the not-too-distant future? I hope you have a wonderful trip this weekend and look forward to hearing about it when you get back.

Enjoy your trip with the girls to Thomasville – should be a fun time for sure…books, yarn, friends and family – all wonderful. Glad you and Lucy survived her heat…here’s to a heatless time ahead – LOL. My hair is long (again) and I often just pull it back into a ponytail, but when I do not, I often switch sides on which it is parted. Just for fun. I’ve noticed that here our Redbuds are fuller than prior years, but dogwoods seem to be less full. I wonder what’s up with that.

You’ve covered a lot in this post, Mary, and it sounds like it’s mostly all good. I bet you’re excited about Thomasville!

Enjoy your trip, Mary! Isn’t it funny how that push and pull of too-much-away and too-much-at-home works? It’s good to find the balance . . .

Lots of good stuff for this current season-it is a complicated time of year with constant changing weather and shifting things when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

I hope you are having a great weekend away. Your post sounds like you are in a good place in your life right now. Lucy is growing up and your hair looks darling. I love that mauve sweater you are wearing.

So much wonderfulness here!! It sounds like a vibrant season you’re in there.
Thank God Lucy was done with her diapers before Thomasville!! Phew! Because yikes. Right?!
Curious how you liked Lakeside Supper Club (you had me at that title…)
And sometime I’d love to talk Resurrection. (It was the catalyst for an outrageous and unexpected shift in my life, stretching back to the late ’90s. So often I think how nice it’d be to have these conversations IRL!!)
Here’s to May!