For a good part of the Country the beginning of March is an ugly time. Winter hangs on. Gone are the picture postcard pretty snow falls, and left behind is the gray and brown slush, the piles of plowed snow, the leaky boots, wet mittens and dented snow shovels. We know spring is coming. It says so on the calendar. I live in Florida,  I’ve lived here since the 80’s and I STILL remember late February storms, and blustery March days, longing for sun and warmth.

Most winters in Florida, like the one just passed, are warm, not really winter at all. It’s already been in the 80’s for many days here. For some who live here it’s hard to decorate seasonally. Not for me. Maybe it’s those memories of earlier winters, maybe it’s just turning the page on another month on the calendar, whatever it is, I’ve never had difficulty decorating for the seasons. I was one of “those.” You know them. The ones who go all out for every season and every holiday, no matter how obscure the day. Autumn? Couldn’t wait. It’s my favorite season.  Thanksgiving? Yep. Christmas? Of course, beginning Thanksgiving Day night. (or even a couple of weeks before. eegads) Valentines Day? Hearts galore. St Patrick’s? Yes, because I’m Irish, well, a part of me is Irish. And that’s all it takes to decorate for the day.  Friends Day? Of course. OK, maybe not Friends Day, but you get the idea. I put my seasonal decor up early and before I even enjoyed it I was making plans for the next holiday/season. If you are like that, embrace it. There’s nothing wrong with being excited about the next season. Even though I’m embracing a simpler style doesn’t mean you have to be like me. (But why wouldn’t you, I’m pretty awesome…. but I digress as usual)

Looking back, I feel sorry for that woman. The woman I used to be. What was the rush? Why did I want time to move so quickly? Why did I feel so compelled to fill my home with temporary decorations? Some of them a bit tacky as I look back, and always over done.  I don’t have an answer to those questions. I never took the time to slow down. To savor the moments. I can’t pinpoint exactly when I began to change. To slow down. To savor. Maybe it’s age related, I’m getting close to my 7th decade after all. I WANT time to slow down.

A few years ago,  whatever the reason, I began cutting back on decor and putting things out more in line with what the calendar said, not the temperature, and not what I saw at the craft stores and on blogs. Yes, I do understand that bloggers must “jump the gun” to get their posts published so that they can share their ideas with their followers, after all, I’m a blogger now, I get it. And retail stores need to get their seasonal things out before the season, so that we can buy the items we want before the season. We need time to plan, purchase supplies and get projects done before the holiday or season is upon us. But getting projects completed doesn’t mean that one has to actually display them a month before the season. Does it?

Since re-defining my style and wanting a simpler, neutral look, I’ve also embraced a simpler, neutral look in my seasonal  decorating. I want my home to whisper the season I’m in,  not necessarily scream it. I want to savor each moment of  every season. Even the ugly endings. I may whine about the heat and humidity of our endless Florida summers, but I no longer want to opt out and put pumpkins and scarecrows out the first of September. September!  WHAT???? WHY???  Isn’t October early enough? OK, I’ll remove the flag displays from the front porch after Labor Day. But no pumpkins! I draw the line until October!

I now enjoy the shorter days of winter by curling up with good books, or snuggling with Mr B and the fur babies, and listening to music.  I love my simple after Christmas displays of winter greens and pine cones, and even in Florida we use chunky throws. I leave those even when the mercury says it’s 80° outside, long after it’s ridiculous to have a chunky throw out in Florida. When spring comes I  take the time to watch the  birds choosing mates, building nests, the ducks returning from harsher climes to lay claim to our pond once more without planning a flag themed summer display for the front porch. I sit outside on summer evenings and enjoy a beautiful sunset, or enjoy a glass of juice in the morning while butterflies flit around my flowers, I don’t think about fall.  I missed a lot of those moments before. I was so busy planning for the next holiday, the next season.

Before I actually go all Walt Whitman I guess I’d better get to the reason for this post. Transitioning from winter to early spring. Here in my suburban sanctuary, I’ve embraced the farmhouse style, or at least my version of farmhouse. Since I don’t live in one it must be my version. There are lots of versions of farmhouse style. I’ll talk about those soon, but not today. So here’s what’s happening now. Gone are all the winter greens. I put away most of the lichen displays, and the bleached pine cones are packed up until next October.  I got rid of almost all of the cotton stems (to tell the truth I’m sick of cotton stems). I packed up the chunky throws until next winter. I began bringing in spring as I usually do, in the dining room. Fresh greenery and a couple of nests, my natural wood bead garland. Some faux eggs. That’s it.

To bring early spring into your home, it’s as simple as getting your pitchers out. Milk jugs or mason jars. Milk glass or vintage  vases.  Or rusty cans of unknown heritage. Galvanized watering cans say spring with or without flowers. For now, fill them with simple greenery. I use greens I clip from shrubs in my yard.  Unlike fresh flowers, they’ll last for weeks. Look around your yard, I’m betting no matter what part of the world you live in, you have bushes or ground covers. Boxwood, Viburnams, Ivy, etc. Or go to a local florist and buy filler plants if you don’t have anything to clip. Ferns stay lush for a couple of weeks if you keep them in fresh water. Ivy will actually take root in water. Or buy a pot of pothos, ivy or philodendron to add that punch of fresh green. Pick up a faux nest, with or without eggs. Or make your own nest with leaves, pine needles, whatever is in your area and use egg shells from your own kitchen.  Add a vintage botanical print and all of a sudden you have spring!

Keeping this look simple means I can change it up easily by adding flowers later for a bit more color. (When the calendar says it’s spring.)  Easter isn’t until April this year so there’s no need for bunnies and chicks and pink and green to bring the feeling of early spring to your home. Remove heavy bedding, chunky knit throws and fur pillows. If you love themed throw pillows, look for ones with bird motifs or nests that can also be used for summer. Feathers are still trendy this year. Botanical prints have found new importance. Look around your rooms, remove what feels like winter. Open draperies and curtains to let the sun in. It doesn’t take much. Above all, savor this season. The season of renewal. Slow down. Let spring slowly blossom inside your home just as it does outside.   There’s still plenty of time to add bunnies and chicks. What’s the rush??

Create the home you see in your heart. Create your own sanctuary, no matter where you live.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save