Monday, May 2, 2011

If it's Spring, can Summer be far behind?

If it's Spring, can Summer be far behind?




I spent my Sunday afternoon doing something I've looked forward to for weeks now. I packed up the winter clothes to banish them to the back room closet for at least six months! Gone are the days of sweaters and scarves, coats and boots, earth tones and dingey grays. I checked each garment carefully for any repairs that may need doing, making sure they were pristine clean for their banishment. The ones who were candidates for the ragbag were tossed carelessly aside, no longer repairable or even wanted. I took down the button tin from the top shelf and prepared to cut the buttons from those ragbag frocks. I remembered Mammy's (my grandmother) button tin, a big old coffee can (Lousianne Coffee with Chicory) which we loved to plunder through as children. She had such beautiful buttons in the depths of that can, they were like minor works of art. I remember her going through the buttons to add to a blouse she or my mother might be making and she would match them in size and color though not in appearance and make a blah blouse a wow blouse. Very innovative, was our Mammy.



So, now the winter things are packed in a box and ready to be put into the back of the closet. Funny how my Spring clothes get hung on the rail, not packed into boxes. It would be like packing the sunshine away to hide those sweet pastels and bright yellows in a box. I drew out the first of them, a warm yellow blouse with soft pale yellow slacks. I pulled it to my face and smelled the lavendar and rosemary sachet that had kept them company all winter and fall. It made me smile. I don't suppose the youth of today think about making their own sachets when they can just go into the nearest store and buy them. Or can they? Do they even know what a sachet is? Do they know how to make that little envelop of linen, stuffing it with dried herbs and spices so to scent your delicates or your closet?



So there I was, bringing out the bright colors and hanging them on my side of the closet and in walks Mac.

"So, whatcha doing?" asks he.

"Packing up the winter stuff, bringing out the summer stuff, " I reply. Oh, I was doing so much more than that. He could never understand.

He looks at his side of the closet, the jeans, the khakis the dress pants and long sleeved shirts mixed with the short sleeved shirts, the belts and ties. He snorts a laugh and wonders aloud why HIS side of the closet never gets the attention that mine does.

"What's the point?" I ask. "You're sort of a guy for all seasons. A one size fits all..." Lets face it, I gave up on getting him to wear bright colors and yes, even pink, years ago. In the long run, his refusal to wear fashion gives me more time to play on my own side of the closet! I'm a selfish wench!

24 comments:

Akelamalu said...

I used to love looking through my granny's button tin when I was a child. :)

MWM has a quarter of the wardrobe space, I have the rest. ;)

i beati said...

great feeling - amazing soldiers too even though the pres is taking credit

Vee said...

Cute post. Enjoy those pale yellow slacks and lovely spring colors.

Kathy's Klothesline said...

We had a wonderful day here on Friday and finally got all the mowing done. I wore capris and a short sleeved shirt, got my first sunburn of the season! Saturday was more of the same and I awoke on Sunday and donned a set of capris .......... and quickly cahnged into a set of sweats, complete with jacket. I was being teased!!!!

Judy said...

I well remember the button jar...with it's interesting collection of buttons. I still have a button 'jar'...though it is now plastic and the contents are very boring. Buttons just aren't what they used to be!

Spring has been quite a tease over here this year...and so I'm not quite ready to pack away winter clothes. Actually...I'm very ready...just a little afraid to do it! So I'll think of you in your pale yellows...when I pull on my sweater and scarf next time.

Candy said...

I would love to stroll under the canopy of your banner photo.
Thanks for visitin'
Blessings ;-)

Brian Miller said...

hehe...he is a man after my own heart...nah i have to switch out just a bit but nothing like...

bj said...

I have my mama's button box...and here I am, 73 years old..so the tin box AND the buttons are very OLDEN.:))

Yorkshire Pudding?
xo bj

Sally said...

Oh, I so love the button tin passed to my mom, then me. Some of those buttons are over 130 years old.

You always make me smile! :)

Sally said...

Almost forgot, I have some lovely purple satin lavender sachets made by a blog buddy! Smell SO good!!

tera said...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog to see my art via Brian. :)

I like your blog. This post is really cute. We do the closet shuffle, too, but mostly my hubs does. I'm afraid to do so just yet, because it keeps snowing here! I have no idea what's up with our weather. Anxious for spring, though.

Saz said...

everyone seems to love button jars...

l love jam jars full of anyhting, just love the way they are captured for a rainy day or just to look at

saz x

Luxembourg said...

I found your blog Monday and started follow your posts religiously. I have not commented on any blog just yet but I was thinking I would like to. It's pretty exciting to actually contribute to an article even if it's only a blog. I really don't know exactly what to say other than I genuinely enjoyed reading through 3 of the articles. Nice articles indeed. I sure will keep visiting your blog regularly.

Lee said...

LOL And they say men are the more colorful of some species. Obviously not humans. :-) I'm glad you had fun doing that. I need to do the same thing. Thank goodness I only have a single box to deal with.

Love,
Lee

larkswing said...

ahhh, the feel goodness of spring!! I must confess - I have not made the linen envelopes but have purchased sachets. I don't believe the younger ladies seem to care. I have boys so, you know, men of all seasons ;)

Diva's Thoughts said...

I love this time of year!

Maggie May said...

I used to love sorting out my mum's button tin!

You sound very organised putting away your winter gear! Now that would be a bit dodgy doing that in England because the weather can *turn* at any moment....... So it would all have to be unpacked again.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Hilary said...

I know that kind of snort.. it's a guy thing. They just don't get it. :)

Love Bears All Things said...

I moved some of mine today...I know what you mean about the manly closet..its all together although I do separate his long and short sleeves and hang his shorts together...last week he was wearing short sleeves and this week he took long sleeves because we're having a cool spell...
Loved hearing about your grandma's button box.
I was putting a new pocket in a pair of Jim's jeans today when Daughter came over to use my computer(she still has not internet)..something she will probably never do.
Mama Bear
Mama Bear

♥ Braja said...

Yes, but an adorable wench :))

Long time, Sandi...but I believe I'm back :))

Zuzana said...

Dear Sandi, I have similar ceremonies when I bring my spring and summer clothes out.;) They are not in boxes, only in the back of the closet, but as soon as I see them, I start my own fashion show, trying on all the old clothes, see if they still fit, mixing and matching them with some of the new outfits.;)
Thank you so much for stopping by my place and for your very kind comment on my Monday post...
xoxo

Jeni said...

Sandi -there's an award waiting for you at my place, so stop by and pick it up. I'm sure you can use an "Overlord" wand to the best of your writing abilities, can't you?

NitWit1 said...

The buttons reminded me I have a button collection of my Mother's which I helped collect. We were always collecting something. But now the buttons is all that remains.

What an appropriate day, Mother's Day, you reminded me of this special treasure from my childhood.

Jinksy said...

I have a button tin to this very day, which still has buttons in from my childhood... :)