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Spring is the Time Freshen Up Your Home and Soul, Spring Fresh Contest

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Home Tips for Women

We live with a calendar that says the year begins in January but does it really?

  • September is the beginning of the school year and often defines our social lives
  • Spring is another beginning for many, when we wake up and crawl out of our cocoons

Just this week I heard children playing outside. For me, it meant spring was here> I wanted to run right outside like I did as a child (I did get to walk the dog later that afternoon.) On days like this I miss the bustle of running kids around to after school activities and lots of sports games, but ultimately our focus shifts as the kids move out to create their own lives.

Writing this I realize that as we move through various stages in our lives, the meaning of each season changes. Hopefully what we longed for once, can become a reality at a later stage in our lives. So I though rather than try to write about any one stage in life, I'd simply write a list of the things I used to do in spring ... all the way up to my wish list of those things I still want to do, but won't tell you where they fit in my life.

  • Selling Girl Scout cookies
  • Putting boots away, coats and mittens/gloves away
  • Planting seeds in boxes we could take out and/or bring inside on cold nights
  • Playing outside - street hockey, roller skating/blading, almost any type of game
  • Long weekends to visit friends when you don't have to worry about the weather
  • Cleaning up the yard so it's ready to mow when the grass starts growing
  • Watching for the daffodils and crocuses to bloom
  • Cleaning out my closets
  • Planning summer vacations

OK, I know I'm also supposed to write about the typical things I (we) do to start off this glorius time of year. Funny that when the flowers are starting to bloom, I'm more likely to buy cut flowers (sometimes blooming ones to replant outside) to perk up my spirits, especially after a long winter and too little color.

Speaking of color, I sometimes pick a room to paint to freshen up things. This year we'll be painting our master bedroom. It's a beautiful, rich blue but my husband wants to go with a softer color ... maybe peach, and any time he's ready to experiment with color, I'm right there.

Inside I always think it's the perfect time to clean, clean and clean. By this I mean, really go through the house top to bottom and box up things I'm not using, to include in a neighborhood tag sale or simply give away. If you do a really good job at de-cluttering, you find your house getting bigger and there's less to worry about so you can spend more time outside enjoying the great weather.

It's also time to check the house exterior to make sure there aren't any problems remaining from the winter (we had a lot of ice and snow this year), as it's better to fix things now before the problems get worse. Of course one of things to do is pull the deck furniture and grill out, as barbeque season is upon us.

Have a wonderful spring ... everyone!

 

family barbeque

 

Posted by

 

Meet Tina Gleisenr, founder of the Association of Women Home Owners ... www.HomeTips4Women.com Tina Gleisner, from handyman to home owner advocate and founder of the Assn of Women Home Owners

Tina Gleisner, Founder and Home Owner Advocate
Connecting Home Owners & Home Professionals

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Comments (12)

Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Very inspiring, Tina!  I am so ready for Spring.  Just having the extra daylight has been a perk!  I still have quite a bit of snow to melt before I can really feel like Spring is here, but at least I know it is close!

Mar 21, 2009 11:33 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

You could write whatever you wanted...this is Spring Fresh for sure...and wonderful to remember all the simple little things in life that are as wonderous as ....SPRING. :)  Thanks for your entry!

Mar 21, 2009 03:46 PM
Tina Gleisner
Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH
Home Tips for Women

Sharon, Even though it's still cold, we've had 2 great days with sunshine so yes ... spring is coming.

Sally, Thanks for your patience & I think I've got the tag where you need it.

Mar 22, 2009 09:00 AM
Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Hi Tina—You're the first to post for the Spring Fresh PAWS contest. I enjoyed reading your entry. We've had great spring weather for a few days, but's it's cooler and overcast today. Spring time in Texas can bit a bit fickle during this time. Thanks... Have a great week!

Mar 23, 2009 05:43 AM
Ann Cummings
RE/MAX Shoreline - NH and Maine - Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth NH Real Estate Preferrable Agent

Hi Tina - I am beginning to see the first of our spring flowers here in this area popping up, and love seeing those splashes of color, especially after all the snow we had this winter.

Ann

Mar 28, 2009 10:40 AM
Tina Gleisner
Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH
Home Tips for Women

Ann, You must have written yesterday as the sun isn't shining today, oh well. Hopefully all this rain will help the spring flowers relaly open soon ... as I'm still waiting to see some in Hampton.

Mar 29, 2009 04:38 AM
Sally Dunbar
Lyon Real Estate, Fair Oaks CA (Sacramento Area) - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks Realtor - Fair Oaks Homes for Sale

As I sit at my dining room table, a beautiful spring day is enfolding.  The sun is just peeking across the tips of the blades of grass,  there is the softest of breezes, the cat sleeps on the chair next to me, surely dreaming of chasing birds later.  I'll be out and about showing homes today... It will be glorious.  I can just feel the sun on my back as I beam into the lockboxes!  Your post was inspiring.

Apr 02, 2009 02:45 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Tina--Lovely family in your photo--great way to spend time together.  Hope spring is finally coming to your area.  Yesterday Erie, PA set a recdord for the second snowiest season.  Today the sun is shining and I plan to walk in the woods.  Nice to meet you here.

Apr 09, 2009 02:59 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Tina,

I was right there with you putting up my gloves and dreaming of spring. I spent my first several years in Indiana. I loved winter but nothing beat the first signs of spring.

Thank you,

Deb

Apr 11, 2009 06:40 AM
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Keller Williams Realty - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Area Real Estate
I'm so glad we have this contest- I need a reminder that it is spring. Brrrrr but ready for sunshine and warmth. You have some great thoughts.
Apr 12, 2009 02:12 PM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

That's a lovely post, Tina.  I'm spoiled being in Southern California because we get flowers blooming just about year-round.  But, I have to say that September is "the most wonderful time...of the year" (sing-song).  That's when my son gets back to school and I get a quiet house during the day. :)

Apr 16, 2009 08:24 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

I remember those days. My little angel (who is 4 and 1/2 inches taller than me) is now in college, which is only 2 hours away. She just shows up when she pleases (usually when all her clothes are dirty) and expects me to be at her beckon call. LOL

And no, you shouldn't write the typical stuff. We have enough of that  ;-)

Apr 19, 2009 04:30 PM