spring sprung and a table to prove it

The sun is shining in southern NH and I've just returned from moving the car back to the apartment parking lot after the street sweepers made their yearly pass. Freshly buffed pavement -- can there be a surer sign of spring? Ok, there's also the low nightly hum signalling the awakening of the mini-golf course next door...

For weeks I've been looking forward to tricking out our little balcony. Since we live literally in the shadow (or glow, depending on one's perspective) of Wal-Mart, it made sense to stock up at the W-M garden center. I've bought gerber daises, azaleas and a Thai hot pepper plant and transplanted some herbs from inside into this very nifty planter (forgive the sickly appearance of the herbs):



I'm also excitedly awaiting the arrival of this "storage cocktail table" we ordered from Target:



To complete the look we need to find a couple of comfortable chairs and an outdoor rug. I'm envisioning something along these lines for the rug:




With a string of pink star Ikea lights, a couple of hanging lanterns and our (hopefully) abundant plant life, it will be a perfectly cozy summer space. My excitement over this little project comes down to this: when it's sunny outside and I'm indoors, I feel like a caged animal. Trying to suck it up and exist indoors can make for a long, miserable summer. In order to spend as much time outside as possible, a welcoming place to go is a necessity -- hence, the "balcony project." Since I work from home, writing, I intend to slather on some sunscreen and adopt the balcony as my summer "office."

I realize that I've been MIA from the Mindsay world for, oh, nine months -- so maybe an update is in order! Here's a brief recap of life since last August:

- moved to New Hampshire from Canada
- got married
- started new business

Amazing how few words it takes to sum up some major changes! A year from now the list might read like this:

- turned 30
- bought house
- made baby

Those six words encompass too much change for the ol' brain circuits to handle at once -- for now maybe I'll just stick with getting through tomorrow. ;)