Time to Slide Into Spring

Late tonight is the official slide into Spring - Ostara, otherwise known as the Spring Equinox. Then we're on the climb up to summer. That's a bit hard to believe, up here in the Frozen Northlands. We have a winter storm coming in by the end of the week that should dump 1-3 inches of snow on us. But, I really can't complain - we've had excellent weather for the past three weeks with nary a snowflake in sight. This one will be in and out quickly. 

Many people use the rabbit as a spirit guide during the
time of Ostara. I only wish our area actually had
green grasses and flowers at this time of the year.
Still, we're above freezing and most of the snow of
winter has melted. 

I'm finding it very hard to get into a home exercise regime, but I know I really need to do it - no if's, and's or but's. If I don't get a schedule settled and start working on the treadmill and floor exercises, I'll balloon, and that won't be pretty. I don't have a pool (I'm weeping here in the corner because I really miss my pool), but I have two legs, I have equipment (old but still quite functional), and I have the time. No excuses. I'll let myself wallow for a day or two more, then make a new schedule for a "new" life. 

The seeds planted in Spring will become the harvest of
Fall, at least that's the age-old promise. This Spring is
a bit more strained and desolate than previous ones. I
hope things will be resolved by Fall. 

My store is still open, and I'm really hoping it can continue operations for as long as possible. We're prepared to close indefinitely if the order comes down, but so far we're OK. The coffee shop next door isn't allowed to have seating for customers any more - it's operating on take-out/pick-up only, so our parking lot suddenly has a lot of open spaces. That's rather refreshing and enjoyable, so I'll take the good along with the bad. But I know the coffee shop owner, Kathy, is taking a financial bath from the new restrictions. 

I really like this image because it looks as though
she's sitting in the remnants of winter's snow. This
is more like my part of the world - a bit cold for new
growth and flowers. 

I was shopping at my local grocer yesterday, and they had some pretty decent produce, which was an excellent thing. But there wasn't a chicken breast to be found. The entire chicken section of the meats aisle was empty! Of course I have things in the freezer that we can eat, but I really missed my weekly chicken dinner last night. Oh well, maybe I just caught the store at a bad time. They'll get restocked at some point and the store is very close. 

I loved the colors of this depiction of Ostara. Honor Spring in
whatever way seems best to you, but know that we're on a
recovery mode now - Spring is finally here as of late tonight,
and I can't be distressed when I'll soon see flowers. 

So, as the financial markets continue their bath in the red, and people continue to pull up their drawbridges and isolate themselves from their neighbors, I'm thankful for the internet. We're isolated, but we're not. Because of the internet, we're all in contact with many people, and I stretch my hands out to all of you who read my blog and who are my cyber-friends. Be safe, be happy, and I'll be back tomorrow.