Remember that half the joy of achievement is in the anticipation.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Spring...Spring...Spring...

Spring is here! Spring is here! It's the best time of the year. Okay, so it's not quite "officially" Spring, but I'm excited anyway. Spring is my very favorite season. Sunny skies, nice breezes, not to hot, not to cool and the best part? The flowers start to bloom!

This is one of the original orange trees from before this was a housing tract. This tree pre-dates 1954. When they built this housing tract they wanted to preserve some of the trees. This is one of them. As you can see it gives off plenty of oranges and look at all those orange blossoms! They smell so sweet!

The jasmine "bush" affectionately known as the "animal". Can you believe it started out as a small starter vine? I put it in this spot over nine years ago when we first moved to this property. I put it here because this particular area of our back yard gets full sun almost all day. I'm embarrassed to admit, but I never took it out of it's pot! It's grown right through and around the pot. We did start out with a lattice to begin it's "training", but I got lazy and let it go "wild". As you can see, this is the outcome of giving a jasmine it's freedom. It begins blooming every March, no matter what the weather is and it will bloom clear into the summer months. The smell is so wonderful and strong!

Now along with all the wonderful things I love about Spring, comes the things I know I must get done...SPRING CLEANING! I have to admit, that after I've finished my organizing, re-arranging and de-junking, I feel so great and love to "look at" what I've accomplished.

Linen Closet
Before
Oh Look! There's that pack of sheets I was looking for! I knew I had them somewhere!

Linen closet
After
Yes I know we have lots of sheets and towels but remember, I have a pretty large family and six beds to "sheet". In that basket is all our medicines. They are in a cool/dry place, they are out of reach from my littlest one and they are all neatly arranged inside. Below is a picture of my "out of season" sheet set. These are one of my set of flannels. I wash/dry them, and put them into one of the pillow cases. That way when I need them, I find them "all" at one time. Hmm, the color is "off" in this picture. They are a deep red color. You know how I love red :0)


So how are you welcoming in Spring? Any plans to Spring Clean?

12 comments:

The Raggedy Girl said...

Rechelle:

Thank you for posting the before picture before the after picture. Sometimes when I see all the beautiful homes in bloggy world I think I am the only one who doesn't have the time to get it all perfect at the same time. So it is nice to know that there are linen closets that look like mine. Good post today. I wish it was a little more Spring here.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday.
from Roberta Anne

Kim's Treasures said...

Beautiful, beautiful spring! I cannot wait until the flowers bloom!

Joanne Kennedy said...

I love spring too. The only thing I don't like about it is knowing Summer is right around the corner. I don't like the hot long days of summer at all.

Your garden must smell so wonderful with those plants blooming out there.

Love the idea of putting the sheets inside a pillow case so they all stay together. Now why didn't I ever think of that.

Hugs,
Joanne

Michele said...

Ohhhh Spring...I so want it! It was 70 degrees yesterday and then cold again today...grrrr!

Your linen closet looks awesome. I would love to have a closet that I could store all my towels and sheets. This is such an old house and doesn't have one...:(

I'm spring cleaning a little at a time!

Hugz,
Michele

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Ohhh the Jasmine - I can almost smell it. Great before and after photos. We have a huge linen closet in our new house and I love it, though I only have three beds, including the guest room bed. I've still managed to fill it up.

Love the music!!!!

Faye said...

GIRL YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY!I JUST LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.HAVE A BLESSED EVENING!

Anonymous said...

Your linen closet looks great! I'm welcoming Spring by hoping to downsize from a too-large apartment to a small house! What hopes eh?

Ali @ A Cosy Life

Sweet Woodruff said...

Orange Blossoms are one of my favorite scents in the whole wide world. I drive extra slowly by orange groves so I can take it all in.

We've been spring cleaning too.

Your red rose table cloth...I think I have the exact same one. I'll have to look.

Take care and God bless you. ((hug))

Anonymous said...

Hi Rechelle, Nice work on the closet. It was a challenge and if you can imagine I don't even have a linen closet. Nope, we decided it should be a coat closet instead. LOL. my linens stay fairly neat for about five minutes. They are in several places. I am ready to change this problem.. It will be my miracle post. BIG smile.

Hugs...Jeanne

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hello Rechelle...

Oooh...I can just imagine how lovely your outdoor yard smells between the oranges and vining jasmine!!! I had both of those things while I lived in south texas...I don't think either one would do very well in Colorado!

Girl, you have been busy with your Spring cleaning! Love your before and after photos of your linen closet...it's so organized and neat! You may have inspired...even me...in doing some closet cleaning of my own! Hehe!!!

Hope that you're having a wonderful Wednesday!
Chari

Anonymous said...

Hi Rechelle! Oh, your trees and flowers are just so beautiful! I just finished eating an orange. I am loving them this year - they're so sweet!
Now that linen closet looks fantastic. I always mean to tackle mine but then talk myself out of it!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Heidi Pocketbook said...

I love before and after pics since it shows you are "real"-lol! You are blessed to have a linen closet. Our house doesn't have that luxury--just a clothes closet in each bedroom, and an additional hard-to-get-to closet in the MBR that I have some interesting plans for.

Loved seeing your lovely blooming trees and plants. I can only imagine how good your yard smells! I get giddy in the spring, since I don't like winter.

My spring cleaning so far has involved cleaning two cars top to bottom inside and out(that way I can enjoy the outdoors in a productive way while it's still to early to plant here), and starting to price stuff for a garage sale I'm planning for next month.