I’ve been feeling a little blue – I guess I’m having Christmas withdrawal. I miss planning for company, fixing fancy meals, spending time with happy people. I miss the pretty lights. A lot. In fact if I had my way all outdoor lights would stay up throughout the winter because they make me smile. And during a long winter it never hurts to have a few extra sources of smile material.
Which is why, when I saw these lights upon parking at a middle school for band rehearsal this week, I let out a little gasp of pleasure.
A couple houses near the school have left their lights up. Possibly just for me, though I suspect the people that live there enjoy the pretty lights just as much as I do. Or maybe it was just too cold to take them all down. No…let’s go with the enjoying the lights through the dark winter concept.
As for me, well today I’m packing up all our Christmas paraphernalia and the thought was making me sad. Christmas is over, nothing to look forward to. But then this came in the mail:
And aside from the girl wearing the bathing suit and sand, there’s a small word that makes my heart sing. Can you see it now?
Yes! This is the Title Nine SPRING catalog! It’s not a garden catalog, there are no pictures of pretty plants and packets of seed. But running shorts, tanks and bathing suits do almost the same thing to lift my spirits.
So I thought I’d share it with you. Where spring catalogs go, good weather is sure to follow.
Still, I’m going to miss those lights.
Change Is Hard 
January 8, 2011 at 8:10 am
The lights are pretty. This time of year is hard. Day after day of cold weather. We have had a week of no sun, ugh! Try to do something fun today. Diana
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 8:35 am
I think it is the short days that make this time of year difficult. Spring seems a long way off, considering we just got another 6 inches of snow!
Snow makes those christmas lights sparkle even more though….
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 8:49 am
Good morning, Dawn. I hope your neighbors leave your lights up for you. Years ago when we lived in Leland, next to the courthouse, the lights on the outdoor tree there stayed on until March and were lit through all the dark nights and mornings. It meant a lot to me. My spring garden catalogs are cheery reminders of the future, too. Best of all, I’ve had several letters already in response to some I wrote a week or two ago. That’s enough to reinforce my resolution to keep writing letters, because what is cheerier than a letter from a friend in my mailbox?
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 9:30 am
Those blue lights in that first shot made me smile. Thanks for cheering me on a cold, blustery morning.
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 11:40 am
I understand how you feel about all the happy festivities of Christmas.
It’s always a sad time when we have to put our Christmas Tree away.
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 11:46 am
The lights are pretty and add color to the gray skies and white snow. Spring seems so far away to me.
BTW, I know you said that you couldn’t find any classes that fit your schedule for Katie but you can make your own classes up at home. Pick some stuff you want to practice and move furniture to make room and just do it! It is hard to stay motivated but so much fun when you learn something new! 🙂
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 11:59 am
The sparkly color is so welcome in this season of black and white. I’m ready for spring too, yet it’s only January. Usually it’s February before I get this feeling, but then the snow came early this year. Should we start a countdown? Except we never know when spring will get to us.
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 12:49 pm
The lights are really a nice offset to the post Christmas blues. Nothing is more exciting than your first day of the break. Nothing is more depressing than your first day back from that break.
Nice to find your post.
Tim
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I also love the holiday lights. I always keep everything up & lit until at least Twelfth Night, but now that’s past and I haven’t turned on my tree lights for 2 days and it sits there–pretty but not as pretty as with the lights.
Yesterday I was thriving on the hope brought by being able to stay out in the yard with the dogs until nearly 5:30 (it was getting pretty dim, but doable)–so much better than just 2 weeks ago, it seemed. But today is dark and grey and overcast. Ah, well, one step at a time in the right direction!
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I sure hope you’re right. I’m blue too, but not because I miss Christmas. I miss sunshine, long days and warm weather! I did get a Gurney’s seed catalog in the mail, so maybe you’re right, maybe spring is on it’s way.
LikeLike
January 8, 2011 at 8:06 pm
My Aunt Jimmie had a big collection of sparkly cut glass displayed in a corner cabinet. One year she filled it, quite artfully, with strings of tiny white lights for Christmas. It was so pretty she just left it that way, and it became her “night light.” Who says lights are only for Christmas?
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 9, 2011 at 12:17 am
Those neighbors left their lights on just for you, Dawn. I’ll bet if you walked up to their door, they’d say they’ve been waiting for you to come, and wouldn’t you like to sit and enjoy a mug of hot chocolate with them. Then you’d talk about gardens and best dogs in the world, and the world will be at peace.
LikeLike
January 9, 2011 at 8:01 am
Hot chocolate and best dog discussions would be nice.
LikeLike
January 9, 2011 at 11:28 am
Those lights are beautiful and I can relate but spring will come soon enough
LikeLike