Life feels so much greater when there is a spring in our step.  It is time to wake up, get moving, and let ourselves be gratified!  We all have tasks that are MUSTS, so let's take care of these first, and quickly. Keep things simple and forward moving.   Put the things that you like to do least at the top of the list, dispatch them with haste and feel great about it.  Tidy up the house, file all those tax papers, ready the porch for company and move on. Success is the ticket!

Nothing feels better or gives one more energy than lending a helping hand: let ourselves be relied upon.  Offer a few hours each week to others.  Talking heads promise that "getting out of ourselves" by helping others can bring great rewards, and I can see that it's true.  I have never met such delightful people as those who serve so generously here in the Texas Hill Country, and they have so much fun doing it!  Our community offers myriad opportunities to keep things moving in a positive direction.  Helping at The Village Store on behalf of The EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens, for example, generates real dollars to the heart of our community.  The Crisis Bread Basket and our library's literacy programs also come to mind. Sign up, suit up and show up.   Just do it if only for a few hours- we can see that every little bit truly does help.

And lastly, enjoy this gorgeous Spring with folks you have been meaning to ask over.  Pick up the phone and get things rolling.  Maybe start (out of doors, of course) with a tangy martini or tart lemonade. Salty almonds and tomato-basil pesto brochette might be tasty.  Serve a generous, crunchy shrimp salad (there are some great, quick recipes available online), sour dough toasts with aged gouda cheese, and fresh grilled mixed squash with fresh dill.    Top it off with lemon meringue pie.  Yes, let's step right up to life this Spring - we'll all be glad we did!