How to Embrace Spring in Your Homemaking
Over the past while, I’ve realized that as a homemaker, with the constant stream of to-dos to accomplish, commitments to fulfill, and people to care for, it can be so easy to suddenly find myself at the end of a season and realize I’ve been so focused on checking the boxes that I’ve hardly enjoyed the beauties and joys unique to that time of year.
Sometimes simply reframing our natural homemaking tasks as seasonal activities to savor and enjoy imbues our day-to-day work with new delight.
To do this, I enjoy sitting down with my planner at the beginning of the new season, and brainstorming ideas for how to embrace the season in our home and schedule. It usually looks like making a list of some new seasonal recipes I’d like to try, some activities that will immerse us in the joys of that season, and a few tasks to accomplish for that time of year.
It doesn’t have to take long; but having this time of planning imbues my homemaking for the proceeding months with intention. It helps opens my eyes to the particular beauties, flavors, and opportunities for the upcoming season, instead of simply chugging along on auto pilot.
I hope this collection of ideas helps you weave a little Springtime into your homemaking, and fills your heart with joy in the beauty of the season.
Recipes for Spring
Recipes to fill your meals and homemaking with spring flavors and smells
1. Strawberry Angel Food Cake Trifle
Bursting with berry flavor and featuring the light texture of angel food cake, it is hard to get much more “Spring-y” than with this lovely strawberry angel food cake trifle.
2. Creamy Lemon Parmesan Cod
Creamy parmesan cod is one of my go-to recipes, and coming after a season of comforting soups and breads, the light, flaky texture of cod seems so fitting for Spring.
3. Roasted Asparagus Lemon Orzo Salad with Fresh Mozzarella
This salad sounds (and looks) so fresh and delightful, and is one I’ve been eyeing for awhile. I may have to add this one to my Spring homemaking recipe list!
4. Carrot Cake Scones
Scones are a favorite around here, and what flavor is Springier than carrot cake? Featuring warm spices and delicious spring carrots, and topped with a lemon butter glaze, these carrot cake scones would be the perfect addition to an Easter brunch.
5. Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Spinach
What a delicious way to sneak some extra greens into your meal! This recipe looks amazing, with the parmesan creaminess over the pasta, and the pops of green spinach. This lemon ricotta pasta with spinach would pair nicely with some baked fish.
6. Avocado Chicken Salad
This avocado chicken salad is one of our family’s favorites, and I know we’ll be enjoying it again this year. Filled with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, avocado, chicken, and flavored with a lemon vinaigrette and cilantro, this salad is a burst of freshness and nutrition.
7. The Best Healthy Banana Muffins
Banana muffins are good any time of year, but they seem especially fitting in Spring. These delicious and moist muffins will be the perfect snack or breakfast this season!
To-Dos for Spring Homemaking
tasks that can immerse you in the spring spirit, and that prepare your home for spring
1. Outline your garden
Growing up, I always looked forward to creating an outline for how our family could lay out our garden that year. Using graph paper, I drew circles for the tomato cages and outlined where rows of green beans could be planted as I excitedly envisioned our summer garden. Childhood memories aside, creating an outline, or at least making a list of what vegetables (or flowers!) you plan to plant is the first step in preparing for your spring planting.
2. Order seeds and start plants indoors
If you are already envisioning home-grown bouquets on your kitchen table and fresh produce gracing your dinner plate, ordering seeds and starting a few things indoors can be a fun way to get started on those homemaking dreams before it is even warm outdoors. Besides, it can be a great indoor activity on rainy days. (Check out this online small business seed shop I like for some great heirloom finds!)
3. Plant your garden
Once you’ve done all the prep-work and it is warm enough outdoors (check your zoning and frost date to see recommended times for planting), enjoy spending some time in the sunshine and dirt, and plant your seeds or plant starts.
4. Wash your windows
In preparation for enjoying views of daffodils, blooming dogwoods, and golden sunlight, give your windows a little scrubbing, and marvel at how it brightens up your space.
5. Clean out your planters
Removing the old, dead plants (if you didn’t in the fall) and refreshing the soil in your decorative planters is a great way to prepare before the nurseries are even selling flowers. Plus, it can be so invigorating to get out in the sunshine and touch some dirt!
6. Plan for your landscaping
Think through your different landscaping beds or flower gardens, and consider what areas may need improvement. Do any needed research on what flowers or plants will grow best in the amount of light those areas have. You’ll be ready to go when the nurseries are stocked!
7. Put away your flannel sheets
Clean sheets always feel amazing, and changing out your flannel sheets for crisp cotton ones is a little way to prepare for Spring with your homemaking.
8. Declutter
I believe in decluttering as you go. However, Spring seems like an especially fitting time to take inventory of perpetually cluttered areas and make space in your home. Make a goal to fill one large box or trash bag with items to donate by the end of the season.
9. Decorate for Spring
Once you’ve decluttered, you have space to put up those cheery Spring items in your home! Change out the wreath, add a yellow or blue throw blanket to the couch, and switch up your kitchen hand towels. Decorating for Spring doesn’t have to involve adding lots of clutter. Sometimes it can simply be changing things we use everyday.
10. Clean out your Gutters
This one may not sound like the most fun spring homemaking task, but it gets you some sunshine, and you’ll be so glad you did it when those rainy days come!
Activities for Spring
Spring activities to schedule for some seasonal joy
1. Visit a local nursery or greenhouse
Combine shopping for your landscaping or gardening needs with some relaxation as you shop at your local nursery or greenhouse (or visit just for fun)!
2. Register to sell at a Farmer’s Market
If you have extra eggs, baked goods, canned jams and jellies, fresh produce… you name it! You can register in late Winter or early Spring to sell at your local Farmer’s Market. Add this to your Spring homemaking to-do list if you are looking to make some extra money!
3. Take a rain walk
This was one of my little brother and I’s favorite things to do together. We’d don weather-appropriate attire, find our umbrellas, and enjoy a leisurely walk, made even more relaxing by the sound of the rain.
4. Visit the chicks and ducklings at your local farm supply store
Add a little Spring excitement to your regular errands trip by stopping at your local farm supply store and visiting the chicks and ducklings! This is such an easy one to incorporate, doesn’t cost anything, and can help fill a rainy Spring afternoon.
5. Plan a read-aloud picnic
Now that days are beginning to warm, a read-aloud picnic is a perfect way to get out of the house. Pack a quilt, a favorite chapter book, and a few simple snacks (these delicious banana muffins would be perfect) and soak up the sunshine your body is craving.
I hope you take time to add a few of these ideas to your Spring homemaking list, and reframe the typical seasonal to-dos as moments to embrace the beauty of Springtime. Happy homemaking!
