Yesterday

Yesterday, we walked out the front door to be hugged by the balmy weather and get down to business: the business of hanging Christmas lights, planting tulip and crocus bulbs, and, ahem, sledding pumpkins (our little girl is a bit between seasons, not that our activities aren't confusing her even more). It was an afternoon for getting our hands dirty, watching Audrey race down the sidewalk on her bike, and daydreaming of the season to come while enjoying what felt like remnants of the season past. Little hands, little bulbs, both bursting with big potential just waiting to bloom.

Secret Gardens

Continuing to take in the unseasonable warmth and sun we've been blessed with this week led to an outdoor project yesterday. We received our "Purple Royalty Garden" bulb package (a token of appreciation for a small donation) from the Arbor Day Foundation this week. So yesterday, armed with spade, garden soil, and 35 bulbs [a mix of Ruby Giant Crocus, Purple Prince Tulips, and Chionodoxa forbessili (Glory for the Snow) - and a mix of 5 red tulip bulbs I couldn't help but buy at a farmer's market on Saturday] we got down and dirty.

Audrey dropped in and covered a few bulbs before becoming distracted by berry picking, worm hunting, and random hole digging (holes that I later threw bulbs into - our front flower beds might look a little hap-hazard come spring) - all fine pursuits for a warm November day.

As a child, crocuses were my favorite flowers to see cresting the surface of the ground come spring. The rising of their purple flowers, petite but strong so early in the season, served as a sign of the warmer weather and outside adventures to come. Tulips remind me of my best friend. I couldn't help but feel a little giddy as I planted them, as if I were tucking away a little secret to sustain me during the cold months ahead - a little dormant promise of the vibrant days to come. It's almost enough to make a girl run out and buy all the bulk bulbs she can find with which to litter the backyard, not that anyone is getting any, ahem, ideas.

Transition

This weekend we headed outside and ushered in fall by planting some mums. Then we potted up some basil and brought summer back in.