Dear fellow coronavirus fighters, they say that spring has sprung. Which means it’s time for my 2020 spring bucket list reveal. Even though it doesn’t feel much like spring. As I type this, I am one of the few brave (silly?) people at Houston Intercontinental Airport. The place is practically empty. And I have a 3 hour layover before my flight from here to El Paso. I think this is the first time I have sat down for any length in a week. Might fall asleep mid-post!
In this recent post, I shared the benefits of creating bucket lists or activity lists. They inspire you to make goals and achieve them, to have a purpose in life this season. And purpose in this season of life. In preparation for making this year’s list, I read some of spring bucket list posts from previous years, here and here. My most ambitious list was the one I made for spring 2017, with 25 activities!
Spring this year is unlike any other. With the spread of coronavirus across the country and the world, activities I would normally enjoy doing this time of year are off limits. Travel is discouraged. For that matter, I am on self-quarantine after flying home. Restaurants and bars, gyms and theaters in El Paso are closed. At least for the time being. So, I am having to get pretty creative with this list.
My 2020 Spring Bucket List
Some seasons, I break my bucket lists into categories. Sometimes I don’t. That’s about the way I do everything. Sometimes I add garlic powder to the soup. But sometimes I don’t! Sometimes I brush my hair. Lots of days, I don’t!! Usually, but not always, because I’ve forgotten to.
For my 2020 spring bucket list, I’ve created categories. Have a look at the 20 activities on this season’s list.
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Good for the Heart
These are activities that strengthen relationships and warm my heart.
- Host Easter dinner – invite the kids to join us, set the dining room table with our good dishes, light some candles. Want to make these cutie pie napkins.
- Give each other couples massage – complete with candles, aromatherapy, soft lighting, soft music, oils, lotions, and a glass of wine.
- Listen to and finish our book together in the hot tub – also a wellness goal, just beginning When Christ and His Saints Slept: Plantagenets, Book 1 by Sharon K. Penman.
- Dress up for Easter – not sure if our church will be open for Easter service, would love for them to host a sunrise service outdoors, but not sure that will happen either, but certainly want to remember the reason for the season, and dress up for our Easter dinner at home.
Good for the Soul
A few things to warm me from the inside out.
- Tiptoe through the poppies – with all of the unseasonable rain we’ve had, our annual poppies are blooming to beat the band. All of my El Paso buddies are posting the most breathtaking photos. I can’t wait to get out in the flowers, myself!
- Pay it forward – lots of ways and reasons to treat someone this season. From the food pantry at church, to Red Cross blood donation, adding books to my neighborhood Little Free Library, donating bras to The Bra Recyclers.
- Repot and revive mom’s Phalaenopsis orchid – brought it home in my carry-on bag from Kentucky. Terrible photo but just want to show you how it looks now. Mom has kept it alive for years but it was in front of her window where she couldn’t easily see or reach it. I water it when I visit but it needs some more TLC than just H2O. Hope I can revive it to the beauty of the bloom in the second photo.
- Spruce up the yard and plants – hoping to add a few more succulents to the yard in some colorful pots, and do something more attractive in the front yard. Stay tuned.
Good for the Body
Activities that get me moving.
- Take the first dip of the year in the pool – you all know the troubles we’ve had with our pool, right? Well, I have surrendered. The pool will be 3 years old this May. It still has not passed city inspection. Had hoped to find the money to have the deck re-done, and now rust is coming up through the plaster. Shoot me. But I have promised myself to try very hard to enjoy the pool this year.
- Hike and picnic at a park or Hueco Tanks – “For thousands of years, people have trekked to these rock hills in far west Texas. In earlier times, they came for the rainwater pooled in natural rock basins, or huecos (“whey-coes”). Visitors today marvel at the imagery left by those ancient people. At Hueco Tanks, you can hike, rock climb, bird watch, study nature and history, picnic and stargaze. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view rock imagery.” [source] Haven’t been out there in years. Really excited to visit again.
[source]
- Utilize exercise videos and/or compete in Wicked Wine Run – Our gym is closed so need to be training for the upcoming 5k on my own. Shouldn’t have sold our treadmill, I guess. Am the captain of our team, the “Wacky Wine-Drinking and Tee-Totaling Young Whipper Snappers.”
- Take Cia on a nature scavenger hunt – will make up my scavenger hunt list and share it here with you.
Good for the Mind
Experiences that will hopefully require and build brain power.
- Paint spring rocks – have done this several times in the past, then set them out for others to find. Really like this carrot and bunny. Going to try to paint it and some other quick designs, as well.
[source]
- Take a class or course – signed up for a mosaic class but received an email saying the class has been postponed.
- Work online jigsaw puzzles – my sister reminded me of this activity. I love working jigsaw puzzles but it is impossible to leave a puzzle out with our kittens (who are actually 6 years old and not kittens at all).
- Organize crafts and craft supplies – this was a winter goal that has been pushed into spring. Had decided that bucket list activities should be fun…but organizing is fun for me. And my crafts desperately need some love. What I purge, I will share with the children’s hospital or the Y.
Just Plain Good
- Decorate for spring and Easter – had started before I left for Mom’s but want to finish up this week. And get my Valentines stuff boxed up.
- Find a copycat recipe for a favorite restaurant dish and make it at home – I don’t have a recipe or even a restaurant in mind, so this could involve some thought.
- Make a coconut cream pie or German chocolate cake just because I like them – my birthday is in April so thinking I will make one of these for my birthday ‘cake.’ Wish I could taste my paternal grandmother ‘Bubby’s’ coconut pie just one more time.
- Host a game night or investigate Pictionary Air – PC is quite the game-player and gamer. My mom didn’t like games so we never played them when I was young. But these days, I love, love, love to play Pictionary. Want to check out Pictionary Air or the game in another of its new versions.
[source]
By my count, that’s 20 items. Most of them are free, a lot of them are outdoorsy. Would consider this a quarantine-friendly list.
Your Turn
Oh, girls, I didn’t get this finished at Gate 40 of the Houston Intercontinental Airport last night. So, had to finish today. In between loads of laundry and trying to put out fires for my mom. She has fallen twice in the last 24 hours. Not sure how that happens in rehab with nurses who are supposed to be helping her.
Then we all 3 called her all afternoon. And none of us could get her to answer. Finally, I called the nurses’ station. One of the nurses said when she passed mom’s door, she was sitting on the edge of her bed (why?), with a ringing phone in her hand unable to figure out how to answer it (help her?). Exhausting, heart-breaking, frustrating.
How are you filling your self-quarantine hours these days, girls? Are you holed up at home? Are stores, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, beauty salons closed where you live? If so, then put together your own spring bucket list and join us! You can leave your list in a comment or link up your bucket list post below.
Then come back on 04.21 and 05.21 to share the progress you’ve made on your spring bucket list. Can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
Hugs and kisses,
Leslie as always you are inspirational and have given me some ideas. We are knee deep in spring cleaning our yard and its coming along quite nicely! Next planting all the pots. This time has allowed me to slow down and just enjoy the little things admist all the worry. I hope your mom is being looked after and taken care of to ease your mind.
Prayers for our nation.❤
Glad you are enjoying doing some spring cleaning and yard work. It helps to be outside during these times of self-quarantine. I want to get our patio fixed up but worry about spending any money. We need new patio furniture in the worst way. Maybe I can start with little things like solar lights and then see how the economy looks. Thank you for leaving these sweet words about my mom. She sounded good today. Music to my years!!
I am not making any plans for this spring as a lot of them are already cancelled! We will wait until it is save again to go out and see what there is to do! Stay safe my friend!
Isn’t that sadly true, that we really can’t make solid plans right now. That is something that probably bothers me most. I am a planner. Have had 2 5K races canceled and an art class, and all of my pickleball classes. But if we escape this crisis and come out well, it will have been worth it.
This is a great list. Just about everything is closed here and they are even discouraging outside activities and asking everyone to wait things out in their homes. Luckily we have a lot of land just outside our door so we can at least get out and hike. I hope to get our patio and deck spring/summer ready and at least sit outside!
You guys do have the most beautiful outdoor spaces right outside your door. I might have to come up to walk with you. Although our mountains make for some lovely hiking, too. I want to work on our patio, too. Maybe if we get all the nitty gritty done now, we can just sit back and enjoy when it warms up and the virus crisis has leveled out.
Isn’t it crazy how quickly our lives have changed? The things we took for granted!
You’ve found some good ideas for your bucket list and most of them can be done at home or the open air if you have to remember ‘social distancing’ like we are doing at the moment.
Hope your mum copes ok in her new home – it must be so hard to say goodbye every time you leave to come home x
It is so hard to say goodbye to mom. I never know when I will see her again. Told my brother I wish we could go for just a visit rather than an emergency. Maybe this summer.
I am loving your Spring list! I did not join you this time because my work life has been taking up a lot of time and energy (healthcare). But I was able to get some weeding done this weekend and that was a good thing. LOL
Take care, Anne
Oh, Anne, stay safe!! I wondered what kind of work you did. Maybe all of this crazy will soon subside and we can look forward to a carefree summer.
I hope that you’re able to cross all of these items off your list. I kept mine pretty vague and simple – just things that I can do from my house since we’re all pretty much self-isolating at this point. It’s a stressful time, but it’s good to have things to look forward to!
-Lauren
It is a stressful time. PC mentioned that I seemed unusually happy yesterday for a anxious time like this and today the other shoe fell. I was anxious all day. Hope I awaken feeling better tomorrow. I think we will make out okay on our spring lists because they are kind of vague and activities we can do without going into public situations.
This is a great list and things that I can even do with the stay at home order! I love making copycat recipes and paying it forward is so important now with the craziness going on!
Jill – Doused in Pink
You are so right. Paying it forward is even more important right now when everyone’s spirits are low. Need to think of some little ways I can do that.
First of all, Leslie, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. I know how challenging that can be. Must be doubly as hard during this time of social distancing. I’m sending lots of love your way. Now, on to your spring list, I love it! And, once again, you’ve impressed me with your grit. Maybe because of all the strangeness in the world, or because we didn’t get bulbs planted when we re-did our yard, or the coolish weather we are having…whatever the reason, I can’t wrap my head around spring. I did hear some lovely birds when I was out on my run this weekend. I’ve been mostly working out indoors at home. I busted out the old Beach Body PiYo DVDs. Boy was I sore the next day! I guess they are effective. Good luck with your list. Stay safe and happy spring!
Thank you for the love and good wishes for my mom. She sounded good today but the rehab center has lost her clothes!! Several times this week, she has been without clothes at all. So frustrating. We had taken about 7 outfits for her. She wound up today with a top and a nightgown, no pants!
It hasn’t felt much like spring here. The trees are beginning to bloom but March is usually a dry month, and instead we have had lots of rain. And then it is always windy in March, which has been true to this year. The wind can howl more than 50 mph so being outside is not pleasant.
Ha!! Thanks for reminding me of the Beach Body DVDs. They are fabulous!! Had forgotten them. I will be sore for days. Maybe I don’t want to find them after all!!
I haven’t really thought of any spring activities to add to a bucket list other than decorating my entry way and going out for walks!
There you go, make a mini-list…decorating the entry way, going for walks, taping Gabbie dancing on the driveway and her wood in the garage?
What a wonderful list, Leslie! Thank you for putting it together. <3
Thank you!! Now to begin doing some of the things I planned.
This is a fantastic list! I wish I’d read yours first to get some more inspired items on my list. I mean, I like my list, but I didn’t think about ALL the things. LOL. I guess I’ll just have to add to it as I go along.
And I didn’t grab that cute graphic so I just updated my post to include it. It’s so cute and spring-y.
I’ll be interested to follow along with your adventures. I like that you have a lot of things that involves family. And being outside. And that doesn’t cost a lot of money. And I love puzzles! I just worked 3 this past weekend.
I’m sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope things work out. It must be hard for you and your siblings knowing that you can’t be there to help out due to the current health situation.
Take good care.
xoxo
I wish we could work a puzzle together. PC isn’t into puzzles but my kitties are! Which means I can’t leave one out for long before the kitties are running off with the pieces.
Thank you for the sweet thoughts for my mom. She sounded better today. We are taking things one day at a time. I guess, we all are, these days.
You have a lot of fun ideas for your bucket list! It can be limiting since we don’t know how long this stay at home order will last. We’ve been doing a lot of crafts and family time with lots of schooling in between. It snowed yesterday so we made a snowman today for ‘recess.’ It reminded me of El Paso when you have to get out in the morning because the snow melted by 1pm!
Ha!! Love that you girls made a snowman for recess. These are crazy times! I have always been in awe of home schooling moms. With this virus, everyone is going to have home school teaching experience. I think teachers will have a new appreciation of parents and vice versa!!
Wonderful list!
Thank you! Your poetry is lyrical.
As always a good, well-balanced list. It’s a funny old world at the moment isn’t it? All our state borders are now closed and overseas travel prohibited, restaurants, clubs, churches etc closed, weddings limited to 5 people, funerals to 10, family gatherings to 10 it’s all a tad surreal and dystopian. I love our your bucket list factors these things in – it is possible to find pleasure and cheer in a different normal to what we’re all used to.
Yes, had to think outside the box with this season’s bucket list…no trying new restaurants, first pedis of the season, no play or musical or dinner theater. But we will never forget this time of our lives. Hope to build in some fun in unique ways. Hadn’t thought about funerals until I heard a doctor in New York saying they were storing the bodies in a refrigerated truck. I guess until families can have funerals with more than 10 people in attendance. So sad.
I haven’t made a bucket list, yet, but you really have me thinking. I think I’ll seriously considerate it once the quarantine is over. One thing I did do, was order a jigsaw puzzle. It’s not something I would normally do, or enjoy!
Yay for jigsaw puzzles. I just rediscovered one I had put away in the closet. Going to try (again) to persuade PC to work it with me. If you do a summer bucket list, hope you will join up with me.
Sounds like a great list, Leslie! Lots of nesting activities. I think a lot of our lists have become more home focused. I can’t wait to see how the orchid goes; I’ve never had any luck with orchids. I’ll join you in dressing up for Easter dinner, church or no church, we’ll do domestic church and celebrate His rising! I made German Chocolate Cake for our youngest last year for his birthday, and told him if he wanted it again, it was not going to be for a weeknight… But it did taste AMAZING!
MMmmm, already craving my German chocolate cake!! Might make it into cake balls so it lasts longer.
My orchid doesn’t look too encouraging right now but maybe it is just shock from the flight on the plane, being trimmed and transplanted. I hope.
I ordered a dress from Loft Outlet thinking it might work for my Easter dress. Just a bit worried it might be on the short side. Anxious for it
to arrive so I can see.
Hi, Leslie! I’m late to the party, but I’m HERE!!! I’m thankful you made it home safely, and I’m also so sorry you had to leave your mom. What a difficult time for her and for you. I’m adding you both to my prayer list. THANK YOU for carrying on with your bucket list posts! I opted out for winter, but seeing your recent post inspired me to put one together as well. My list is home-centric as well since we’ve been asked to go out only when necessary. In theory that should give me more time to exercise and blog! Sending big hugs to you, friend!
So glad to have you stop by. I will head over to check out your spring fun list. Felt like we probably need a list this spring more than we have in springs past, even in seasons past. We, too, are sheltering at home. I had last week to be sad and adjust, but starting tomorrow, this girl is going to make this slower time in life count. Thank you for coming by, thank you for joining me. And thank you for the kind words about my mama.
Lots of exciting things to look forward to, Leslie! I love your positive attitude! Please keep sharing these things. We need all the positive things we can get right now.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com