Welcome Home!

As far as I’m concerned, winter can land on my doorstep whenever it wants to. I got my jonquil bulbs planted before the ground froze, so let the snow fly.

I have a thing for daffodils; they are one of my favorite flowers. Wherever I’ve ever lived, I’ve planted them.

My first child was born in March, and we brought her home to a little house decorated with daffodils blooming in the garden.

A few years later, the February my third child was born, we had an early spring. The next morning her older brother and sister came to visit us in the hospital to get their first look at the new baby. I heard the sound of little feet running down the hall, and my 2-year-old son burst into the room. His curls were slicked back and his freshly scrubbed face was shining with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He was carrying a bouquet of jonquils that had just been picked from the flower beds in the front yard.

Now, whenever I see a jonquil, I remember that morning. And then I think all the way back to how it felt to be bringing a child into our house for the first time.

Last week, my youngest daughter and I took advantage of warmer-than-usual weather, and dashed out to plant daffodils in the flower beds of our newest house. A soft rain was falling as we dug holes and dropped the bulbs in. My jeans were tucked into my Wellies, and we were a muddy mess by the time we were through.

A row of bright yellow flowers is one of the ways I make myself feel at home. I have no idea how many blooms we’ll get out of the hundred or so bulbs we planted in the rain the other day, but all I’ll need is one. That’s all it takes to remind me of beautiful babies and happy days.

And it’s always a welcome sight after all that snow.

This week in HOME

One of my favorite indulgences is to slip away for lunch at Mizuna, a wonderful little place downtown. The food is great, and the atmosphere is soothing. I just have to look at the tall, elegant, urns filled with evergreens on either side of the front door and I relax.

If you’ve thought about adding a pair of potted ornamental evergreens to the exterior of your home, we’ve got the goods. Our garden columnist, Pat Munts, has made a list of great plants, and she gives us tips for planting them.

We’ve also got the story of a farmhouse that has been home to five generations and is still growing, and our pets page tells you everything you need to know about guinea pigs.

From stacking firewood, to what to do with all those pine needles blown from the trees, to the story of a quilt that inspired a complete bedroom redo, this issue is packed with ways to get the most out of life in and out of the house.

So let the snowflakes fall; it’s cozy here at HOME.