As I write this, I am listening to my son play the piano in the next room, a song that I loved playing when I took lessons at his age. I am thinking about how much, despite being in a pandemic, I have loved all our extra time together as a family.
T has been in online school for several weeks now, and while he is doing well with that, the isolation is hard. He already felt confined in this small town, and now he feels trapped. But we are so grateful that my husband is able to work from home full time, we have access to good, healthy food (and I'm able to do weekly grocery shopping for my parents, which means I see them from afar weekly), and since we live on the edge of a small town, getting outside to bike or run or walk while keeping away from people is pretty easy. However, I know that we are very fortunate when so many are suffering right now; I don't take any of this for granted.
Last weekend for Easter, the three of us dyed eggs using a variety of things, including turmeric, blueberries, mint, spinach, purple cabbage, and avocado skins. Natural is beautiful.
We've been planting starts and seeds in our tiny backyard garden, but also out at my sister's place. But this year's harvest has already begun - I've gathered and dried nettles foraged on my morning walks, and I've cut back one of our rosemary and have two full quart jars. (I'm also taking an online herbalism mini-course for more inspiration.) After finally finding a recipe I like, I've been making whole-wheat sandwich sourdough every week. I like to top this with sprouted lentils, which are making me want to sprout all the things.
Sewing is a balm right now. I love a project. I made 25 masks for a local sewing shop that is giving them to the VA, the local hospital, and the local markets. Even though it was a very small gesture, it felt like something I could do for my town during this time. I've made two tops recently from a $3 thrifted pattern and scraps of fabric thrifted over the years. I'd like to have a closet more full of handmade things than not in the future. It just feels really good to work with my hands, to make useful and purposeful things.
Is it spring? Is it the pandemic? I don't know, but I feel on fire to make the most of this time, our resources, and those someday ideas. Growing more of our own food, living as low-waste as we can, and showing compassion to all ... these are the seeds I want to plant.