Although I'm most definitely a winter girl (love the quiet, tucked-in feeling & the blanket of white outside), about this time of year, I begin thinking of blooms. Thus the purposely late-planted narcissus bulbs, timed to bloom in the early months of the new year, instead of the late months of the previous one. Thus the bunch of spray roses from the grocery, popped into the shopping cart, brought home, dropped into the silver julep cup of water, bloomed out, then intentionally left to dry, bringing months of color with them (oh, those yellow ones). Thus the shamrock that sits on the bookcase with its mass of delicate white flowers blooming in these early months too.
And all of outside remains fastened in frozen solitude.
These glimpses of spring are little boosts over winter's bumps. Have a particularly hectic week coming? Has sickness hit your house? Is it day five of clouds hiding the sun? Are you ankle-deep in that not-particularly-favorite project?
Blooms help.
So I was reminded when I was ankle-deep in my recent purge of the master bedroom, the pink-edged roses there on my nightstand reminding me. This is why I tend toward simplicity. This is why I want less clutter, fewer things, breathing room: so there can be such things as blooms in winter. Blooms in winter that aren't lost in the middle of the muddle. Metaphorically and literally.
A good reminder, indeed.
P.S. The winner of Erin Boyle's new book Simple Matters in last week's give-away has been randomly chosen! Congratulations Teresa! I just sent you an email with the good news! Thank you to all of you who entered, your thoughts on simplicity are enlightening and encouraging.
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