We mark our lives on a calendar, moving through days, weeks, months, and years. But in many ways, it’s our patterns, habits, and rhythms that really shape and form time for us. Another birthday comes and goes, a special anniversary, or a high school reunion (has it really been that long?). The weekend breaks up our weeks, and even if you don’t have kids in school, the idea of spring break, summer break, and Christmas vacation are often things we look forward to and give us a way to mark time. Even something as simple as morning coffee creates a pattern and a habit that sets a rhythm for our days.
We have a regular event that happens at our house each spring, and even though it is minor, it definitely creates a rhythm to our year. Every March for a number of years now, a pair of house wrens has made a nest in the wreath on our front door. In doing a little research, they only live from 2 to 7 years, but I’m pretty sure we’ve had them making nests longer than that in the same spot, so maybe it gets carried on in each little family through the generations. There is always a day sometime in March where we hear what sounds like a little tap-tap-tap on the front door. When we check to see if someone is there, the porch is empty, but there are the initial signs of nest building. A misplaced twig or a bundle of Spanish moss that wasn’t there before. And pretty soon, the little wrens get into the swing of it and a full nest is built inside the wreath.
Momma Wren can get a little territorial when she has a clutch of eggs that she is sitting on. Which always makes it a bit of a challenge to come in or out of our front door. Our neighbors probably think we are a little crazy doing this sort of duck and rush in the front door. More than once we’ve been dive bombed with a quick flutter through our hair. It doesn’t help that this year both of our garage door openers malfunctioned at the same time, meaning we are using the front door a little more. Fortunately, the eggs should hatch soon. Bird attacks aside, it is one of those annual reminders of the spring season and of the passage of time.
Speaking of spring and the passage of time, in just 9 short days, we will be hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt. I think it is the 15th one, minus a couple of years where we paused for the pandemic. This annual hunt, and the Easter season, is just another way that we mark the years, so mark your calendars to bring the kids out, baskets in hand, on Saturday, April 19 at 10 am sharp to hunt for Easter eggs among the beautiful plants. It’s a tradition that we love to host.
And when you do suddenly realize that time is passing and need a little de-stressing, you can always turn to plants, and with houseplants you can have nature right by your side all of the time. This Saturday, come out and learn all about maintaining beautiful plants indoors. We’ll talk philodendrons, monsteras, calatheas, and everything in between.
And while you go through your week, pay attention to all of those patterns, habits, and rhythms that fill up your life. From your morning routine to the things you do weekly, monthly, or just every once in a while, they all come together to create who you are.
